孟源有自是好名之病，先生屡责之。一日警责方已，一友自陈日来工夫请正。源从傍曰：「此方是寻著源旧时家当。」
先生曰：「尔病又发。」源色变，议拟欲有所辩。
先生曰：「尔病又发。」因喻之曰：「此是汝一生大病根。譬如方丈地内，种此一大树，雨露之滋，土脉之力，只滋养得这个大根；四傍纵要种些嘉榖，上面被此树叶遮覆，下面被此树根盘结，如何生长得成？须用伐去此树，纤根勿留，方可种植嘉种。不然，任汝耕耘培壅，只是滋养得此根。」
孟源有自以为是、爱好虚名的毛病，先生多次责备他。一天，刚刚警责完毕，一位朋友陈述自己近来的功夫请先生指正。孟源在旁边说：「这才正是找到我旧时的家当。」
先生说：「你的病又发作了。」孟源脸色一变，想要辩解。
先生说：「你的病又发作了。」于是开导他说：「这是你一生的大病根。譬如一丈见方的地里，种了这么一棵大树，雨露的滋润、土壤的养料，都只滋养得这个大树根；四旁纵然要种些好庄稼，上面被这树的枝叶遮蔽，下面被这树的根盘结，怎么能长得成？必须砍去这棵树，细根都不留，才可以种植好种子。不然，任你耕耘培土，只是滋养得这个病根。」
Meng Yuan had the fault of self-satisfaction and love of fame, and the Master repeatedly reproved him. One day, just after a reproof, a friend was recounting his recent practice for correction. Yuan said from the side: "This is just recovering my old family stock."
The Master said: "Your illness has flared again." Yuan flushed and moved to argue.
The Master said: "Your illness has flared again," and instructed him: "This is the great root of your lifelong disease. Suppose in a ten-foot plot a great tree is planted: the rain and dew, the strength of the soil, all nourish only this great root; even if you wished to sow fine grain around it, above it is covered by the tree's branches and leaves, below entangled by its roots — how could anything grow? The tree must be felled, every fiber of root removed, before good seed can be planted. Otherwise, all your tilling and banking only nourishes that root."