Confucian Cultivator Under One Person

Even though the original plot is called the passion of the old, the young people who appear in it can be regarded as absolute geniuses in the martial arts world!

Even these geniuses may not recognize Dou Mei's methods.

But Du Xiaozhai can!

There is also Lotus Mountain. There are many places with this name. If it is Lotus Mountain in Liangzhou, it can be related to "Sanmao Zhenren". If it is Lotus Mountain in Kang County, it involves the Tibetan Buddhist lineage...

However, Du Xiaozhai did not say it clearly at the time, and even though Fu Yuan realized it later, he did not ask again.

……

Strolling back to the villa, Tan Yutong was busy making money and was not there. Fu Yuan ordered a takeout, ate it, and continued painting.

Everyone talks about "cultivating oneself and improving one's character". "Cultivating oneself" means cultivating the body and mind, so what exactly is "improving one's character"?

The Analects of Confucius says in Yang Hu: Only the wisest and the stupidest are unchangeable.

Only the wisest people whose wisdom is the most open and the foolish people whose wisdom is the most closed will not have their minds and hearts changed by the pollution and education of the external environment.

Between the "wise and foolish" are the vast majority of ordinary people who are easily influenced by the environment. They can be sublimated by education, but will sink if they are polluted.

The environment can cause pollution, but at the same time there are also ways that can enable people to stay clean and pure. Due to the principle of mutual generation and mutual restraint, there are evil ways in the world that can pollute and degenerate people, and there must also be righteous ways that can purify and sublimate people.

Therefore, in the "Yang Hu" chapter of "The Analects of Confucius": The Master said, "People are alike in nature, but differ in habits."

People's natures are similar, but the environment they live in, the knowledge they learn, the concepts they acquire and their persistence vary greatly from person to person.

The more bad thoughts, bad concepts, and attachments you have, the more your wisdom will be closed. On the contrary, the more your primordial spirit’s nature and wisdom will be revealed.

Confucianism cultivates oneself in order to learn the right path, and cultivates one's nature in order to gain wisdom!

Wisdom is not equal to IQ!

Music, chess, calligraphy and painting cultivate wisdom.

……

Fu Yuan was not paying attention to Zhang Chulan.

On the contrary, three guests, three Taoist priests, came to the villa.

The leader had white hair and a handsome face, looking like an immortal. The two Taoists following behind him were one tall and one short, one fat and one thin, and seemed to be the standard set of followers.

"Longhu Mountain, Zhang Lingyu, greetings to Mr. Fu Yuan! By order of my master, please come to Longhu Mountain in a month to attend the Luotian Grand Ceremony!"

Fu Yuan returned the gift, took the invitation, glanced at it, and said with a smile, "Thank you, Master Lingyu. Fu Yuan will definitely go!"

Zhang Lingyu bowed again, but stood there with an embarrassed look on his face.

The two Taoist priests behind him quietly tugged at his sleeves.

Fu Yuan asked curiously, "Master Lingyu, is there anything else you want to say? Feel free to speak frankly."

Zhang Lingyu was silent for a moment, took a deep breath, bowed, and said seriously, "Please teach me, Mr. Fu Yuan!"

Fu Yuan was confused: "What does Master Lingyu mean by this?"

Zhang Lingyu did not answer.

The fat Taoist priest behind him could no longer hold back and said, "Mr. Fu Yuan, this is what happened. The master scolded my junior uncle, saying that he was pedantic and inflexible.

Before we left the mountain this time, the Grandmaster said that he would let Junior Uncle ask you for some advice. The Grandmaster said..."

Glancing secretly at Fu Yuan, the fat Taoist gritted his teeth and said, "Master said that everyone says Confucianism is pedantic, but Junior Master is obviously a Taoist. Let's see who is more pedantic!"

Fu Yuan couldn't help but grin: "..."

I really want to curse!

Chapter 51 Zhang Lingyu

In the living room of the villa, Fu Yuan sat on one side, and opposite him sat Zhang Lingyu and two Taoist priests.

Fu Yuan and Zhang Lingyu's expressions were not very good, but the two Taoists were laughing secretly.

"Did the old Taoist really say that?" Fu Yuan looked at the fat Taoist priest suspiciously and said, "I ask myself, am I not pedantic?"

The fat Taoist priest smiled and said, "That's what the master said anyway."

Fu Yuan was speechless. He looked at Zhang Lingyu and said, "Master Lingyu, what do you say?"

Zhang Lingyu still bowed seriously: "Please teach me, Mr. Fu Yuan!"

It seems like asking for advice, but isn't it also a form of dissatisfaction?

Fu Yuan looked at Zhang Lingyu carefully, then smiled after a moment and said, "Master Lingyu, I'll go first... What do you think is the difference between humans and animals?"

Zhang Lingyu was stunned for a moment, then pondered, saying, "People can distinguish between good and evil, understand justice, and have morals... They can respect others and restrain themselves... They understand benevolence and righteousness, and pursue fame and fortune..."

Fu Yuan gasped and said, "Master Lingyu, you are a disciple of Longhu Mountain. You are studying Taoist philosophy, right?"

Lingyu Zhenren was bewildered and said, "Isn't that right?"

Fu Yuan was amused and said, "In the eyes of Taoists, aren't humans and animals all part of nature? They all live in accordance with the laws of nature. If you follow nature, you won't be disturbed by worries. If you strive for benevolence and righteousness, if you let fame and fortune take over, anxiety and worries will arise.

The universe and all things in heaven and earth have their own laws. Humans, like animals, should just follow the Way of Heaven and be content. Constantly advocating and promoting so-called good and evil, right and wrong, benevolence, righteousness, and propriety will only disrupt human nature and lead us further away from the Way.

Zhang Lingyu quickly retorted, "What's the difference between that person and a beast? Is he also like a beast, unable to distinguish between good and evil, right and wrong, and without any sense of shame?"

Fu Yuan rubbed his forehead and said, "Master Lingyu, these things, good and evil, righteousness and evil, and shame, are the cognitive principles promoted by Confucianism in order to maintain social stability... You Taoists don't talk about these things!"

Zhang Lingyu was stunned. He opened his mouth but couldn't say anything.

Fu Yuan sighed and said, "Confucianism established a set of cognitive principles in order to stabilize social order, which includes what you mentioned... But in essence, Confucian self-cultivation does not ignore these things, but the focus is not on them!"

Zhang Lingyu's eyes widened immediately: "Does Confucianism not value good and evil, integrity and shame?"

Fu Yuan shook his head and said, "Confucianism is a worldly discipline, just like the Legalists made laws for the purpose of establishing order. The Legalists themselves would abide by the laws, but the law is the bottom line of human nature, and the Legalists would not use the law as their own code of conduct! The same is true for Confucianism.

The means to achieve the goal and one's own practice are not the same thing!"

Zhang Lingyu understood and was a little upset. He couldn't help but ask, "In Mr. Fu Yuan's opinion, what is the difference between humans and animals?"

Fu Yuan leaned back and said, "Mencius said: 'The difference between humans and animals is very small.' The difference between humans and animals is only 'very small'!"

Zhang Lingyu was bewildered: "How rare?"

Fu Yuan nodded and said, "Yes, the difference is very small. Xunzi's Wangzhi says: Water and fire have energy but no life, plants and trees have life but no knowledge, animals have knowledge but no morality, and humans have energy, life, knowledge, and morality, so they are the most precious in the world.

Compared with animals, humans have only one more thing: "righteousness". The so-called "righteousness" means knowing what you should and should not do.

Sacrifice your life for righteousness. What makes us human is the word "righteousness". It is more precious than life, more precious than anything else!

Zhang Lingyu was silent, as if thinking about something.

Fu Yuan was not in a hurry and poured tea for the person opposite him.

After thanking, the fat and thin Taoist priests raised their teacups and exchanged glances. They could see the admiration in each other's eyes.

After a while, Zhang Lingyu finally figured it out and asked, "Where is the principle of 'righteousness'? There must be a principle for what to do and what not to do!"

Shouldn't this code be about good and evil, right and wrong, integrity, shame, etiquette...?"

"Why is it so troublesome!" Fu Yuan pointed to his chest and said, "The principle is right here. It's just everyone's original mind... Regarding the original mind, no matter if you are a Taoist or a Confucian, there is not much difference. So no matter if you are a Taoist or a Confucian, when practicing, you are cultivating your original mind!

Lingyu Zhenren has practiced Taoism for many years, is it possible that he still cannot understand his true nature? "

Zhang Lingyu pondered and said, "What if there is a conflict?"

Fu Yuan said calmly, "Confucianism values ​​righteousness over profit! Of course, this is under the premise of conflict. When there is no conflict, righteousness can be taken, and profit can also be taken!

A beautiful woman throws herself at you, do you want her?"

Zhang Lingyu said decisively: "Of course not!"

Fu Yuanle asked, "Why? Does this conflict with your original intention?"

Zhang Lingyu was silent.

Fu Yuan continued, "Confucius said, 'When a country is governed by the Way, it is a disgrace to be poor and humble; when a country is governed by the Way, it is a disgrace to be rich and noble.'" The focus of "valuing righteousness over profit" is not on poverty or wealth itself, but on the reasons for poverty and humbleness, and the reasons for wealth and nobleness.

Mencius also said: If it is not the right way, then even a bowl of rice should not be accepted from others; if it is according to the right way, then Shun would not be happy to receive the world from Yao.

As long as "righteousness" and "profit" conflict, I will not even give up a bowl of rice. On the contrary, when "righteousness" and "profit" are not in conflict, I can calmly accept the whole world... let alone a beautiful woman?"

After a while, Zhang Lingyu said with difficulty: "What about the world's evaluation..."

Fu Yuan nearly spit out a mouthful of tea, put down the teacup, and said strangely, "Taoists only communicate with the spirit of heaven and earth, so why do they care about the world's evaluation?"

Zhang Lingyu was somewhat embarrassed and annoyed by Fu Yuan's reaction and asked, "Don't Confucians care?"

Fu Yuan sighed and said, "Confucius said: 'A gentleman is most afraid of dying without a good name.' A gentleman's greatest worry is that he will never achieve a reputation that will be praised by future generations."

But Confucius also said: "If one is not offended by others, is he not a gentleman?" Confucianism values ​​the opinions of others, but does not dwell on them.

Although external evaluation is very important, it is ultimately just a "statement", and this statement may not be objective. Mencius said: There is unexpected praise, and there is criticism for seeking perfection.

Therefore, we should achieve the state of “I will not be moved at the age of forty” and not be disturbed by external praise or criticism.

"Mencius" says: "If others know it, I will be noisy; if others do not know it, I will also be noisy. Regardless of whether others approve of it or not, I can still be happy."

After a while, Zhang Lingyu bowed his head in sincere admiration and said, "Thank you for your advice!"

Fu Yuan stared at Zhang Lingyu for a moment, then smiled and said, "If you teach without changing, you haven't taught yet! Master Lingyu, there's no need to do this."

Many people are like this. They accept the truth after being taught by others, but if they don’t follow it, it is the same as not being taught.

People teach people, but they can’t teach. Things teach people, and they can learn it once.

Zhang Lingyu stood up and said, "I understand the principle, but I still need to think carefully about the details."

Fu Yuan also stood up and said with a smile: "It's okay, Mencius also said: If you are successful, you will benefit the people; if you are unsuccessful, you should cultivate yourself and be seen by the world. If the world recognizes you, then you will benefit the people. If the world does not recognize you, then just be yourself.

But this is Confucianism, Taoism... no matter whether the world agrees or not, just be yourself!"

"Thanks for the advice."

"You're welcome."

After seeing Zhang Lingyu and the other two off, Fu Yuan returned to the villa, leaned back on the sofa, and muttered to himself, "Am I old-fashioned? I don't think so. The old Taoist priest is talking nonsense... But who cares!"

Xunzi's "Fei Shierzi" says: "What a gentleman can and cannot do: A gentleman can be valuable, but cannot make others value him. He can be trustworthy, but cannot make others trust him. He can be useful, but cannot make others use him. Therefore, a gentleman is ashamed of not being self-disciplined, but not ashamed of being tainted. He is ashamed of not being trustworthy, but not ashamed of not being trusted. He is ashamed of being incompetent, but not ashamed of not being used."

A gentleman can deserve respect from others, but cannot demand respect from others. A gentleman can deserve trust from others, but cannot demand trust from others. A gentleman can deserve appointment from the monarch, but cannot demand appointment from the monarch. A gentleman is ashamed of his own lack of self-cultivation, not of being insulted. A gentleman is ashamed of not being worthy of others' trust, not of not being trusted. A gentleman is ashamed of his own lack of ability, not of not being appointed.

Not being tempted by honor, not being afraid of slander, and insisting on doing what you should do, this is a true gentleman.