Confucian Cultivator Under One Person

Stop when there is no regret; success is not guaranteed.

It is enough to do things without regrets. As for the final result and whether it is recognized by the outside world, there is no need to be too demanding.

I examine myself three times a day: Old Heavenly Master, you are trying to destroy my Taoist heart!

……

A few days later, Feng Baobao called and said, "Zhang Chulan ran away! Help me catch him!"

Fu Yuan was happy. He had asked Feng Baobao to come to him if she had any problems before, but in the end, she really came to him whenever she had something she couldn't handle.

He asked knowingly, "Where did you go?"

"The world will meet."

Chapter 52: Transform Five into King

Legend has it that there lived a hermit deep in the mountains. He was well-versed in Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, and was often visited by seekers seeking his guidance. One day, three young men arrived: a Confucian scholar, a Taoist priest, and a monk. They all wanted to understand the true meaning of life.

The hermit led the three to the summit of a high mountain. Below, shrouded in mist, loomed a bustling city. Pointing down, the hermit asked, "What do you see?"

The Confucian scholar was the first to answer: "I see all sorts of injustice in the world. Some people don't respect their parents, some don't respect their elders, and some don't follow the rules of propriety. If we could educate the world with propriety, so that everyone would understand reason and uphold virtue, then the world would surely be peaceful."

The Taoist smiled and said, "What I see is the mystery of the workings of heaven and earth. The rotation of the sun and moon, the change of seasons, the growth of all things, all have their own laws. If you can penetrate this mystery of heaven and earth and understand the way of nature, you will be able to merge with the Tao."

The monk clasped his hands together and said, "What I see is the confusion of sentient beings. Blinded by desire, bound by attachment, people constantly create karma and suffer. If we can understand our minds and see our true nature, awaken to our true nature, we can transcend the cycle of reincarnation."

A mountain wind blew, stirring up layers of clouds and mist. The city below the mountain gradually disappeared into the mist. The hermit said:

Confucianism emphasizes education in order to help people understand how to be a good person, how to deal with the world, and how to get along with others. This is the fundamental principle of social interaction.

Taoism reveres the mystical so that people can understand the laws governing the operation of heaven and earth and the principles of the growth of all things. This is the foundation for achieving the state of Tao.

The Buddhist pursuit of enlightenment is to help people understand the truth of life and the path to liberation. This is the fundamental basis for understanding the mind and seeing the nature.

But the clouds and mist beneath the mountain gather and disperse, ever-changing and unpredictable. But what is the essence of clouds and mist? It is water. No matter how the clouds and mist change, their essence is still water.

In terms of spiritual practice, the three religions of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism may appear different on the surface, but tracing back to their roots, their essential goals are the same, which is to enable people to understand the true meaning of life and achieve spiritual liberation.

Appearance and essence are "mysterious"!

Those who belittle this and praise that are actually obsessed with appearances and ignore the essence!

Just like climbing a mountain, some people climb from the east, some from the west, and some from the north. The paths are different, but the destination is the same: the top of the mountain.

……

Since Feng Baobao had called, Fu Yuan naturally had to go. He rode his electric scooter and swayed out of the house.

Tianxiahui is easy to find. If you climb up to a high place, you will see the huge words "Tianxia Group" hanging on the top of a tall building, which is clearly visible at a glance.

If Fu Yuan was driving a car, he would definitely take the main road or the street, but he was riding an electric scooter, so he naturally went through the alleys and went wherever was convenient.

Don't worry about getting lost, as long as you're heading in the right direction, you'll find your way back sooner or later...

Then Fu Yuan looked at the dead end in front of him, sighed helplessly, and turned the car around.

Who could believe that the end of an alley is not another road, but a wall?

Turning around, Fu Yuan saw a sparrow standing on the wall, tilting its head and looking at him.

A sparrow, no bigger than a fist, wouldn't have attracted much attention, but Fu Yuan felt uncomfortable watching it...

What I see with my eyes is a sparrow, but what I perceive in my heart is... it's actually a person!

An old man, short and skinny, squatted against the wall, looking light and fluttering, as if he could be blown away by a gust of wind.

I see a mountain as a mountain... I see a mountain as not a mountain... I see a sparrow, but in my heart I perceive an old man...

Fu Yuan looked at the sparrow, then turned his head to look at the wall behind him. He couldn't help but complain, "You did this? I was saying it, why is there a wall at the end of the alley? The layout is so unreasonable!"

The sparrow tilted its head, shook its wings, and still looked at Fu Yuan.

Fu Yuan was helpless and said, "Old man, don't play dumb. I have something else to do. Please make way..."

As he spoke, he turned the car around again, his mind and mouth in unison, his righteous spirit overflowing as he softly shouted, "Right!"

The surrounding scenery did not change much, but the wall in front of me seemed to dissipate like smoke and merge into the walls on both sides.

The view in front of me suddenly opened up to a road with constant traffic. Across the road was the entrance to Tianxia Group.

Coincidentally, Feng Baobao was wearing high heels and a dress, stumbling into the group's gate...

Fu Yuan turned the handle, but the electric scooter did not respond.

"..." Fu Yuan turned his head helplessly and said, "Old man, everything should be done in moderation!"

The sparrows on the wall disappeared, and a short, skinny old man lightly leaped down from the wall, exclaiming in amazement, "The Confucian spirit of righteousness is truly invulnerable to all attacks! I control the changes of heaven and earth, but these changes cannot affect you no matter what... I am Zhou Sheng!"

As he spoke, he walked around to Fu Yuan and looked at him closely.

Fu Yuan said perfunctorily: "Greetings, senior... Can you give way now?"

Zhou Sheng asked curiously, "You haven't heard of my name? You must know the Eight Wonders, right? What I have mastered is none other than Feng Hou Qi Men... Do you want to learn?"

Fu Yuan sighed and said, "Old Senior, you came here for no apparent reason and wanted to teach me some unique skills. What's your intention?"

Zhou Sheng said with a smile: "I heard of your name by chance. I didn't expect there are still Confucianists in this world. I came here specially to see you and test you."

Fu Yuan remained expressionless, his eyes fixed on Zhou Sheng's. Suddenly, he said something completely irrelevant: "Did you do this to my grandparents?"

Zhou Sheng's expression changed slightly and he frowned.

Fu Yuan said calmly, "I've long felt that there's something beyond mortal understanding, driving everything and trying to arrange my fate, starting with the death of my grandparents!"

Zhou Sheng hesitated, but saw that Fu Yuan's expression was not one of doubt, but of certainty. He could also feel the righteousness within Fu Yuan stirring, and even the pressure in the air was palpable. Helplessly, Zhou Sheng said, "Okay, I know about your grandparents, but I didn't do it!"

Fu Yuan stared at Zhou Sheng for a moment, and the pressure in the air suddenly vanished. Fu Yuan smiled and said, "That's good... I guess even if I continue asking, the old senior won't tell me, right?"

Zhou Sheng sighed and said, "It's not that I can't speak, but I can't speak, and I can't explain it clearly!"

Fu Yuan nodded and said, "I understand. When I established my mind for the world, I also felt that unspeakable existence... Then I won't ask. I am a Confucian scholar. Your Fenghou Qimen should be left to those who practice Taoism."

Zhou Sheng said solemnly, "Isn't Confucianism about being a sage within and a king without? Coincidentally, the general principle of my Fenghou Qimen is 'to control the changes of the Zhoutian, to transform myself into a king, and to lead the Zhoutian innately'." We are both kings, so our principles are similar. It's just right for you to learn from us!"

Fu Yuan glanced past Zhou Sheng and saw that Feng Baobao had already joined the Tianxia Group. He decided not to rush and smiled. "Transform me into a king, that's what I should say. You...transform Wu into a king, right?"

Zhou Sheng looked at Fu Yuan in surprise and asked, "Oh? What do you mean?"

Fu Yuan said with a smile: "Confucianism practices the way of saints internally and cultivates all things externally. This is the true meaning of 'transforming myself into a king'. With my heart and the way of saints, I can rule the world!

As for Taoism... you also said that the innate Qi that Taoists cultivate cannot represent the entire person!"

Zhou Sheng asked in return: "Why can't it be represented?"

Fu Yuan chuckled and said, "Aside from this innate Qi, humans also have all sorts of emotions and desires, as well as all sorts of turbid Qi. Only when these are added together can we be considered a complete person!"

Zhou Sheng shook his head and said, "Taoists abandon all desires and cultivate the innate Qi. How can this not represent the whole person?"

Fu Yuan simply said four words: "People's hearts are no longer the same!"

"Ha ha ha ha……"

Zhou Sheng suddenly burst into laughter, and he couldn't stand still. He swayed and was about to fall.

In ancient times, there were many beasts but few people, so people built nests in trees to avoid wild beasts. They picked up acorns during the day and lived in trees at night. Therefore, they were called "people of Youchaoshi".

In ancient times, people did not know how to wear clothes. They stored a lot of firewood in the summer and burned fire to keep warm in the winter. Therefore, they were called "people who know how to live."

In the Shennong era, people lived in peace and leisure, and moved about at ease. They only knew their mothers but not their fathers. They lived with deer, cultivated their own food, wove their own cloth, and had no intention of harming others. This was the era when Taoism reached its peak.

In other words, the ancient people had natural minds and natures, without any extra desires, and without any artificially formulated concepts and ideas. People could be in harmony with nature, and it was easy to achieve the unity of man and nature.

Those who knew the truth in ancient times followed the laws of yin and yang and were in harmony with the art of numbers.

What Taoism pursues is the spiritual state of people in this era, so Taoism has always advocated simplicity and inaction.

The true nature of nature, without any artificial impurities.

When the Yellow Emperor fought a fierce battle with Chiyou, blood flowed for a hundred miles. Yao and Shun became emperors and appointed officials. King Tang of Shang exiled his monarch, and King Wu killed King Zhou... From then on, human nature began to become false, all kinds of desires flourished, and all kinds of artificial constraints and shackles were added!

This is what is called people’s hearts are no longer as they used to be, they are beginning to stray away from the Tao, and people cannot be in harmony with Heaven!

Taoists seek inaction and practice the "law of inaction". However, wanting to be a "king" is itself a kind of "law of action", which conflicts with Taoist theory.

Therefore, the phrase "transform myself into a king" is itself a contradiction in Taoist philosophy.

Isn’t it a contradiction that you want to be genuine and without any artificial interference, but you also want to be “king” and dominate the world?

Zhou Sheng understood Fu Yuan's meaning, which is why he laughed so hard. He panted and said, "Good! Good! Good! Then what about "Transforming Five into King"? "

"Because the number of heaven and earth stops at five, this is more in line with the Taoist concept of seeking the way of heaven!"

Chapter 53: Heaven Five

The "Book of Changes" is hailed as the first of all classics. All the ideas and concepts of the various schools of thought in the pre-Qin period were derived from the "Book of Changes"!

Tai Chi gives birth to two opposites, two opposites give birth to four symbols, four symbols give birth to eight trigrams, and the eight trigrams determine the universe.

However, those who studied the Book of Changes throughout the ages stopped abruptly at "Tian Wu" when they were deducing.

These five are the pivots of heaven and earth.

There are five gods of the five directions in heaven, five organs in the human body, Chinese medicine talks about the mutual generation and mutual restraint of the five elements, architecture pays attention to the five elements and directions, there are five notes in music, there are five primary colors, and the Great Derivation has fifty...

The ancients were obsessed with the number "five"!

……

After a long while, Zhou Sheng finally stopped laughing, took a breath, and said, "I didn't expect you to even study the I Ching. That's quite something. Tell me, what does the I Ching talk about?"

Fu Yuan shook his head and said, "It can't be said to be studied. I just referred to it when I encountered relevant problems while reading ancient books. As for the Book of Changes..."

After a pause, Fu Yuan said, "I am just talking nonsense, and you are just listening nonsense. Heaven one, earth two, heaven three, earth four, heaven five, earth six, heaven seven, earth eight, heaven nine, earth ten, heaven number five, earth number five, these five positions fit in with each other and have their own corresponding positions.

"Heavenly numbers are odd: one, three, five, seven, and nine; Earthly numbers are even: two, four, six, eight, and ten. Odd numbers represent yang, and even numbers represent yin. Only through the union of yin and yang can all things be created. This is the most fundamental principle of the Book of Changes."

Zhou Sheng nodded and said, "The Book of Changes says: 'One yin and one yang is the Tao.' Qian and Kun complement each other, and heaven and earth are in harmony. This is exactly the principle."

Fu Yuan exhaled and said, "Observe the astronomy to understand the changes of time, observe the humanities to transform the world... Heaven is Qian, and Earth is Kun. Qian's way changes, Kun's way follows.

Heaven one produces water in the north, earth two produces fire in the south, heaven three produces wood in the east, earth four produces metal in the west, and heaven five produces earth in the center.

Earth is the center, the mother of the five elements. The number five in the sky corresponds to the center of the earth. Earth is the root of all things, hidden and silent.