“虛”指世界或者心靈的一種狀態(tài)。大體有兩種不同的含義：其一，指世界的本原，萬(wàn)物皆由虛無(wú)中來(lái)。但古人對(duì)“虛”的這一含義又有不同理解：或認(rèn)為“虛”就是空虛無(wú)有；或認(rèn)為“虛”指“氣”的存在狀態(tài)，因?yàn)椤皻狻钡拇嬖陔[微無(wú)形，故以“虛”稱之，但并非完全空無(wú)。其二，指虛靜的或沒(méi)有成見(jiàn)的內(nèi)心狀態(tài)。
Xu refers to a state of the cosmos or a state of mind. Basically, it has two different meanings. The first refers to the origin of the universe, indicating that everything originates from xu, Different ancient thinkers have different interpretations of this notion: Some take xu as being devoid of anything; others believe it is the state of existence of qi (氣). Because qi is invisible and formless, It is said to be empty, but not a vacuum totally devoid of anything. The second meaning of xu refers to a state of mind that is peaceful, not preoccupied or simply free of any preconceptions.

Examples

太虛無(wú)形，氣之本體。（張載《正蒙?太和》）

（“虛”是無(wú)形的，是“氣”的本來(lái)狀態(tài)。）

Xu is formless; it is the original state of qi. (Zhang Zai: Enlightement Through Confucian Teachings)

唯道集虛，虛者心齋也。（《莊子?人間世》）

（只有道匯集并呈現(xiàn)于虛靜的心靈，“虛”就是心齋。）

Dao gathers and presents itself in an unoccupied and peaceful mind; being unoccupied means the pure state of the mind. (Zhuangzi)

（來(lái)源：中央編譯局翻譯服務(wù)部，編輯：Helen）