Chapter 25 Thanks to Buddhism

... Liang: I think he is a layman and isolated. When he was younger, he was considered an important figure in the revolution. At that time, he criticized and refuted Confucius a little bit, but later changed, and he admired Confucius again in his later years. Ai: Before the Revolution of 1911, Confucius did not want the principles of the quintessence of China, but Mozi and Xunzi still wanted them. So which aspect do you most admire about Zhang Taiyan? Liang: He is very knowledgeable and has a strong personality. He is not a casual person. Ai: Is there anyone else?you said... Liang: Two chapters.

Ai: When you moved to the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, did the people you admire change? Liang: At that time, wasn't there Kang Liang among the Chinese celebrities? (Ai: Yes.) I don’t like Kang very much; I admire Liang Rengong, I like Liang Rengong, and I happen to have contacts and closeness with Liang Rengong, and this closeness is, I am a junior compared to him, a primary school student, he came to my house to see first I am very modest, and I admire him very much for this.He is 20 years older than me. I loved reading his articles since he started Xinmin Congbao, and I got to know him later.As I said just now, in the ninth year of the Republic of China (1920), he was an old man who was very famous. He first came to visit me at my home. I was not famous at that time, so I admired him very much.So why did he come to see me?It turned out that he was paying attention to Buddhism at this time. People told him that I taught Buddhism, so he came to see me.In terms of Buddhism, he is very modest, even though we are juniors, he is very modest.It's a pity that he sent me a lot of letters, and I lost them all and didn't keep them. (Referring to those who were destroyed in the "Cultural Revolution" - finishing.)

Ai: You kept in touch with him until... Liang: Until later, in the spring of the eighteenth year of the Republic of China (1929), he passed away.In the 18th year of the Republic of China, I came back from Guangdong to the north. When I arrived, he was already dead. When I was in Guangdong, he still corresponded with me.But I don't like Kang very much. Ai: Yes.Especially after he advocated Confucianism as a religion, it seems that you... Liang: Isn't he trying to set up a Confucian church?But this problem is still small. (Ai: This problem is still small? You say he...) The biggest problem is that he is a fake person, and he cheats on many things.For example, when he writes articles, there is a matter of backdating the date, and he regards the things written later as things written many years ago.Why do you have to come here?Not honest.

Ai: Yes, yes.I thought that you might have some objections to his "Book of Great Harmony", do you disagree with it? Liang: Doesn't he have a "Book of Great Harmony"?I still have it on my bookshelf.I think this ideal of "Great Harmony" is not profound, and it is not worth touting it like that.Imagine what the society in the distant future will be like, you can imagine, you can make some imaginations, you can also write and talk about it, but it should be considered of little value.We should pay attention to science and not make any illusions.Fantasy can also be said, but it will not be of great value, and this kind of research that seeks truth from facts is valuable.He is very arrogant and arrogant. Of course, he wanted to help the emperor restore the new emperor at the beginning. At the beginning, he was very great, very creative, and very creative, but he couldn't do it later.

... Ai: The last question is who is the Chinese person you admire the most, Zhang Shizhao or... Liang: Two chapters, and one Zhang Taiyan. Ai: If you were asked who is the greatest Chinese in your opinion, would your answer be different?Is there a difference between admiration and feeling great? Liang: There are differences. Ai: Who do you think is the greatest Chinese figure—whether historically or alive? Liang: I don't think it's too much of the past, nor of the present. I'm afraid it's still Mao Zedong. Ai: Or Mao Zedong?Then you... Liang: Mao Zedong is really great. I am afraid that there are few in history. I am afraid that he is a world-wide great figure in the world. However, he failed in his later years, became confused in his later years, and made many mistakes.

Ai: So what was Mao Zedong's greatest achievement? Liang: The Communist Party was created entirely. Without Mao Zedong there would be no Communist Party, and without the Communist Party there would be no New China. This is a 100% fact, a 100% fact.However, he became confused in his later years and did many wrong things.There was no such thing as wrong or failure in Zhou Enlai.Zhou Enlai was what China used to call a "perfect man"—a complete person, you can't point out his bad or wrong things, almost nothing, and he is very complete.However, coincidentally, he was born to be the second in command, a person who was born to be Mao Zedong's assistant.On people is the best, and Zhou Enlai is the best, the best.

Ai: I also think that what you said is quite right. Liang: Everyone commemorates Zhou, but some people are dissatisfied with Mao, not satisfied with a certain thing. Ai: Comparing Chairman Mao with figures in Chinese history, what figure in history do you think he resembles more?In another 100 years, when historians study the Chinese history of this era 100 years later, will they compare the role of Mao with the role of someone in the past? Liang: In the history of China in the past thousands of years, it is generally said that Henkel, Tang Taizong, Han Gaozu, Tang Taizong, generally speaking like this.But (laughs) Mao looked at these people differently, as if he saw them as normal.

Ai: Another question, who is the foreigner you most admire?That is to say, you have heard that there are foreigners, or you know them in books, who do you think is the most admired foreigner? Liang: My favorite in terms of philosophical thought, which can be regarded as admiration, is the French Bergson. Ai: Up to now, I remember that you said the same thing when you wrote "Eastern and Eastern Cultures and Their Philosophy". You said that reading Bergson's works for the first time was a very pleasant event in your life.So you still feel that for foreign thinkers... Liang: Of course Kant in Germany, I also admire his profundity of thought.

Ai: So foreigners in the political circle, do you feel great? Liang: I don't know much about politicians and military strategists.Generally speaking, the great people who are often mentioned, like Napoleon, are generally mentioned by everyone, so I will follow everyone, and I have no special views. Ai: Many people think that you are a contemporary figure with unique wisdom. You have achieved today. What is the driving force behind you? Liang: The driving force behind me?As if I don't quite understand this... Ai: Oh.It can also be said to be motivation, and it can also be said to be psychological and spiritual sustenance, that is, why have today's achievements?

Liang: I think it is still thanks to Buddhism, Buddhism. Ai: Well, I understand this question. Liang: I would like to talk about Buddha and Confucius again, because didn’t you say (laughs) that I am the “last confucian”?I want to talk about the similarities and differences between Buddha and Confucius.Perhaps we have already said that Confucius and Confucianism always speak from the standpoint of human beings, and what they say always comes down to human beings.But in Buddhism, he speaks beyond human beings. What he says does not come down to the human body, but to the place beyond human beings, so they seem to be very different.But there is another side, that is, "without self" -- "save the world" without self -- in Buddhism, it is sentient beings, and the suffering of sentient beings is his suffering.As far as China is concerned, Confucianism, Mozi, and Mozi are like this. They are all at this time of his life, and he is always running for everyone all his life.So on the surface there is not much difference, but I will talk about the difference between Confucius and Buddha.This distinction is on the issue of "I", and about the issue of "I", the one who explains it most clearly and analyzes it most clearly is the Consciousness-only practitioner.The consciousness-only school of Buddhism talks about the eight consciousnesses.The eight senses, the first six senses, eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, these are five, plus one "mind", this is the first six, the first six are all dealing with the outside world, they are all tools, they are all external .Those who use the first six senses are living beings, such as human beings. Living people, this is called "the seventh relationship and the eighth relationship" in the Consciousness-Weijing school.

Ai: In fact, I should put more effort into this area. When studying your thoughts, you are studying only consciousness, which is very complicated. Your thoughts are very rich. I haven’t put much effort into Buddhism. Liang: The seventh is the "mana consciousness", and the eighth is the "alaya consciousness". It is the "seventh relationship and eighth" that uses the tools of the first six consciousnesses to be the master.How is it called "the seventh relationship and the eighth relationship"?It is at this time that one is attached to a "self", which is called "self-attachment". Ai: "Ego"? Liang: It is this "holding" (pointing).