《菜根谭》是明朝还初道人洪应明收集编著的儒家经典，是一部论述修养、人生、处世、出世的语录集。其文字简炼明隽，兼采雅俗，言辞中流露出山林意趣，渗透着万物一体的世界观。开出的处世之方偏重心态和人事，悟虚妄真实之理，指出贫富、尊卑、穷达因为心念使善恶、祸福相互转换，告诫世人及时转念，戒贪少欲，取中庸之道。著作前后内容和深度有所不同，反映出了不同的阅历和境界。
Caigen Tan “is a Confucian classic collected and compiled by Hong Yingming, a Taoist during the early Ming Dynasty. It is a collection of sayings discussing cultivation, life, social interactions, and worldly affairs. His writing is concise, clear, and elegant, with a blend of elegance and vulgarity. His words reveal the charm of mountains and forests, permeating the worldview of the unity of all things. The way of dealing with the world emphasized on mentality and human affairs, realizing the truth of falsehood, pointing out that wealth, hierarchy, and poverty can be transformed into good and evil, as well as good and bad, due to the mindset. It warned people to change their mindset in a timely manner, avoid greed and desires, and take the middle way. The content and depth of the work differ before and after, reflecting different experiences and realms.
《菜根谭》（念头起处、切莫放过）
念头起处，才觉向欲路上去，便挽从理路上来。一起便觉，一觉便转，此是转祸为福，起死回生的关头，切莫轻易放过。
As soon as you find your thoughts deflecting to the path of material desires, switch them immediately back to the path of preserving your essential nature. As soon as you become aware of an evil thought flitting through your mind, turn away from it. That way you can turn disaster into a blessing and snatch life from the jaws of death. On no account should you lightly miss such opportunities.
（保罗·怀特 译）
As soon as a thought comes into being and is sensed approaching the path of material desire, bring it back immediately to the rational path. Better sense the vicious thought the moment it arises, and reverse it the moment it is sensed. This is a critical moment to turn bad fortune into good and bring the dying back to life. Never let off such moment.
（周文标 译）
When some idea emerges, the moment you see that it may lead to the road of desire, you should turn round to the road of reason. See as soon as the idea emerges, and turn round as soon as you see: this is the critical moment for turning misfortune into fortune and, as it were, bringing the dying back to life.
（蒋坚松 译）
