3.12 祭如在1，祭神如神在。子曰：“吾不与祭2，如不祭。”
【译文】
孔子祭祖先时，好像祖先真在那里，祭神时，好像神真在那里。孔子说：“如果我不能亲自参加祭祀，就会觉得像没有祭祀过一样。”
【YZG解释】
孔子祭祖先时，当做祖先真在那里，祭神时，当做神真在那里。孔子说：“如果我不能亲自参加祭祀，那就等于没有祭祀过。”
【English translation】
When Confucius offered sacrifices to ancestors, he did it as if the ancestors were present at the ceremony. Meanwhile, he offered sacrifices to the God as if the God was present as well. Confucius said: “If I cannot attend the worship in person, it is as if I haven’t done it at all.”