【原文】原始计实，本其所生。知其象则索其形，缘其理则知其情，索其端则知其名。故苞物众者，莫大于天地；化物多者，莫多于日月；民之所急，莫急于水火。《白心》

【汉解】追索事物的来源，研讨事物的实质，由此来探索事物生成的根据。了解现象就可以探查形体，考究道理就可以掌握实情，找到事物的始末，就知道应该给它什么名称了。看来，包藏物类广泛的，莫大于天地；化育物类众多的，莫多于日月；人民生活急切需要的，莫急于水火。

【英译】The sage goes back to the beginning to gauge the reality of things and determines the base from which they have sprung. Through coming to understand their personal qualities, he examines their basic nature. Through determining their inherent structure, he comes to understand their inner reality. Through examining their beginnings, he comes to know their names. Now, many things may encompass other things, but none are greater than Heaven and Earth. Numerous things may cause transformations, but none more so than the sun and moon. Of those things about which people worry, none are more pressing than water and fire.