Life is but a thought: Nan Huaijin's 15 Life Wisdom Lessons

Chapter 37 Thrifty frugality is also simple simplicity (3)
The emperor's approach was influenced by Taoism. Taoism believed that the heaven and earth are a big universe, the human body is a small heaven and earth, and the earth is also a big life with vitality.We cannot easily damage this living body, otherwise, we are destroying ourselves.It is for this reason that China, with its vast land and abundant resources, is fortunate enough to preserve its rich mineral deposits to this day as the capital and conditions for the survival of future generations.

One summer in the Spring and Autumn Period, Duke Xuan of Lu enthusiastically cast his fishing nets in the pond to prepare for fishing.At this time, Li Ge passed by the pool and saw Lu Xuangong fishing, he cut the rope of the fishing net without hesitation, then pulled the net up and threw it away.Lu Xuangong was taken aback by his sudden action, and was very angry: I really don't know why, why did you throw away your fishing net?
When he was about to get angry, Li Ge hurriedly explained: "Have you ever heard that when the spring is warm and the flowers are blooming and all things are recovering, the birds and beasts are just pregnant, but the animals in the water are basically mature, so the hunter will order to prohibit the use of rabbit nets, Bird nets catch birds and beasts, and only spears are used to stab fish and turtles. Then the caught big fish are dried and prepared for summer consumption. This method is to promote the growth of birds and beasts; in summer, birds and beasts grow If the water animals start to breed again, the fisherman will once again order to prohibit the use of large and small nets for fishing, but to set traps and install animal traps in the traps to catch animals. This method is not only to let fish, shrimp, birds and beasts They can recuperate and live, and it is to accumulate material resources to make up for the needs of the country. And only in this way, people will not be greedy and blindly ask for immediate benefits. For example, people will not cut down the new shoots of trees on the mountain; , you have to wait until the young deer grow up before hunting; you have to wait for the eggs to hatch before you catch birds; in the grassland, you will not randomly cut the grass that has not yet matured; When it comes to fish, it is forbidden to catch fish with eggs and small fish; even for edible insects, eggs and unwinged larvae must be kept... This is to allow plants and animals to live and reproduce, and people will therefore Only with benefits can there be a continuous supply of food! If the predecessors did not care about the consequences for temporary pleasure and satisfaction, then we would not have the conditions to catch fish today. Now the fish are spawning, you don’t wait for the fish to grow , and use such a small hole net to fish, the king is a bit greedy! As the king of a country, if you do this, other people will follow your example. In this way, there will still be fish and shrimp in it Of course not. Insatiable greed will only end up with nothing for yourself and future generations!"

After listening to these heartfelt words, Lu Xuangong was no longer angry, and he no longer thought about fishing.

When the ashes of the current life are exhausted, and there are few future assets left, it may be impossible to exchange life for the last breath of nature. People should leave some natural wealth for their children and grandchildren!

According to historical data, human beings have long been able to overdraw the earth's resources, but the ancients have always cared for the essence of nature.The ancients still knew that coal and other things enable the sustainable development of the earth and did not touch it in order to preserve the ecological environment. However, people today are exploiting the earth with high-tech tools under the command of desire, and the consequences can be imagined.

A lumberjack went to apply for a job, and the foreman said to him: "Go and try the woods ahead and see how many trees you can saw in one minute?"

One minute passed, and a large piece of trees in front fell down.The foreman was overjoyed: "Where did you work before?"

The worker replied: "Sahara forest."

The foreman was surprised: "I've only heard of the Sahara Desert, but never the Sahara Forest!"

The worker nodded and said, "Yes, yes! It was originally called the Sahara Forest, but since there were no trees, it was renamed the Sahara Desert!"

This is a very ironic joke.However, if it is true that the last drop of water on earth turns into human tears, you will probably not be able to laugh.

Therefore, whether it is for "self" or "everyone", we should cherish the existing resources and not waste or damage them, so as to create a good environment for future generations.

Don't fall into the early consumption trap

With the development of the times, people's consumption concept is also quietly changing. Buzzwords such as "moonlight family" and "sunlight family" continue to appear, and the wave of credit cards is getting bigger and bigger. However, early consumption is not suitable for everyone.

For those who are financially capable and good at managing money, credit cards do facilitate their lives.But for those who have average financial ability and poor financial management ability, using credit cards is tantamount to "drinking poison to quench thirst", they can only sink deeper and deeper into the abyss of their own desires, and endure endless troubles and pains.

In "The Analects of Confucius: How Can You Get Kung Fu If You Want to Worry", Mr. Nan Huaijin realized that it is easy to go from thrift to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality.

Once we enjoy the "advanced consumption" of credit cards, we will be in short supply for the rest of the day, and even have to rely on borrowing money to survive.At this time, can those who "spend tomorrow's money to pay for today's happiness" still laugh?
Rongrong has just started working not long ago, and she is a small white-collar worker in the company who works from [-] to [-].One Christmas, Rongrong saw a bank in front of a large shopping mall promoting credit cards, with very cute Kitty cat images printed on the credit cards.As long as the user who handles the credit card will receive a delicate Kitty cat toy.

Rongrong likes collecting Kitty toys very much, so she went forward to apply for a credit card from the bank.The boyfriend at the side tried to persuade her not to do it, fearing that Rongrong, who has poor financial management skills, would become a "card slave".

Rong Rong vowed: "I promise not to use indiscriminately, even if I want to avoid the annual fee, I only use the minimum limit. Don't worry, I will control myself!" Seeing her insistence, her boyfriend had no choice but to turn a blind eye. up.

In this way, Rongrong became a "credit card family".After getting a credit card, Rongrong found that all major shopping malls were holding discount promotions at the end of the year. She could get a [-]% discount on shopping with her bank's credit card, and there was even a free lucky draw.Rongrong couldn't resist the temptation all of a sudden, walked into the mall impulsively, and spent thousands of dollars.Looking at the big and small bags in her hand, Rongrong was very happy!Really cheap and good mood.

But when Rongrong's salary was paid, she couldn't be happier anymore.After one month's salary to pay off the credit card arrears, there is not much left.When she had no money, Rong Rong had to pay with her credit card, and then repay the credit card debt after her salary was paid.So month after month, Rongrong still fell into the abyss of "Kanu", and her life was very tight every day.

After one year of miserable "card slave" years, Rongrong decided to follow her boyfriend's advice, and after paying off the full amount of the credit card, she returned the card and announced her farewell to the card slave life.

Rongrong, who doesn't have a credit card, can buy things much more easily, and has more and more money in her wallet.It turns out that not blind consumption is a kind of financial management!

Rongrong, who originally had poor financial management skills, was blind to apply for a credit card.What's more, when she sees discounts in shopping malls, she really only sees "much cheaper than before" in her eyes, ignoring her wallet and spending power.

Of course, we cannot deny that credit cards are more convenient, but for ordinary office workers or "moonlight clans", "advance consumption" does not allow themselves to obtain temporary economic relief, but to quietly fall into a consumption trap. The mentality of "spending tomorrow's money to pay for today's happiness" is not a happy ending of "keeping the clouds open to see the moonlight", and it may also be caught in a vicious cycle that keeps people trapped in desires. In the quagmire of life, it is difficult to extricate oneself, and troubles and pains follow like a shadow.

As the saying goes: "The human heart is not enough to swallow the elephant." Human desires are like black holes in the universe, which cannot be filled.If it is allowed to expand, the consequences will be extremely disastrous.

Therefore, to live in the world, a person must first learn to be content. A person who is not satisfied will never be happy.Furthermore, when choosing a credit card, you must decide whether to apply for it according to your own situation and financial management ability.

Thrift does not mean stingy
A person knows that frugality is a good thing and a virtue, but if you are too frugal, you will breed stinginess, which is not a good thing.

Regarding thrift, Mr. Nan Huaijin believes that "thrift" is not wasted.From the point of view of Buddhism, frugality is an act of stinginess, which requires people to cherish all their belongings very much, not to waste casually, and not to be extravagant.

However, if miserliness is overdone, it becomes intensely selfish miserliness.People who are stingy are often very concerned about personal gains and losses. They are always afraid of losing money when they encounter problems, but they will not make any concessions to their personal interests.For example, if you don't go shopping often, don't pay attention to food and clothing, and only want to be clean and tidy, this is called thrift.But if you are only willing to "crack" other people's money, whether it is food, clothing, housing, transportation, or a pack of tissues, and never take the initiative to pay for it, then you are stingy.This will only make your friends sneer and label you a "stingy".Over time, your friends will just keep you at arm's length.

For such people, only money and possessions are the most important.Russian writer Gogol once wrote a famous book "Dead Souls", in which the character Plyushkin is a complete miser.

Plyushkin is very rich and is a relatively large local landlord with thousands of serfs. There are mountains of wheat and wheat flour in his warehouse, and the warehouse is full of linen, sheepskin, dried fish and various vegetables. fruit.

But he was very harsh on himself, as if he treated himself like a beggar.He was poorly dressed and poorly fed.When he was walking on the road, even if he saw an old shoe sole, a piece of rag or a nail, he would pick it up and take it home.

His room was also very simple, and no one would believe that there was a big living person living in this house if it were not for the testimony of an old nightcap on the table.There are very few things in the room, except for the bed, the table, a wine glass on the table, and a yellowed toothbrush.

Pryushkin was so stingy with himself, and even more stingy with others, especially with his own children.When his daughter was married, he gave no dowry, but a gift—a curse; and when his son wrote from the army, saying he wanted some money for a new suit, he was very angry!So, he cursed his son, and he still didn't want to see his son again, and he didn't even care about his life or death.

Pliushkin was so rich and yet so miserly.The most unexpected thing is that he actually went to steal other people's things...

After reading the story of Pliushkin, we are really speechless.Such a person who is stingy with himself, harsh with his children, speaks viciously, and even ignores him is simply the wrath of God and man!Plyushkin's miserliness is hateful and deplorable.If being stingy has become a habit, as time goes on, the popularity around you will become worse and worse, and even affect your life and work.

Would you like to become a man like Pryushkin?I think most people will answer in the affirmative: no!Therefore, we should know how to give, know how to reciprocate, and know what life is.For example, when someone needs your help, you extend a helping hand; when someone invites you to their home or treats you to dinner, don’t forget to invite you back; when someone remembers your birthday and gives you a gift, don’t forget others I need your blessings on my birthday too.Also, don't be too hard on yourself.Spend the money that should be spent, just like eating fruit regularly, it is good for your health.But in order to save money, if your body lacks the nutrition of fruits, you will get sick. Seeing a doctor is not worth the candle.Only in this way can we get more, learn to give, to gain happiness, and know how to give, to gain more.

In short, between frugality and stinginess, there is a degree of emphasis.Frugal people uphold the concept of not wasting, while stingy people only care about money and do not hesitate to reduce the quality of life.A person knows that frugality is a good thing and a virtue, but if you are too frugal, you will breed stinginess, which is not a good thing.

(End of this chapter)