Chapter 8 The existence of the Tao and the existence of the teacher——Disciple of Cai Shi Deze

When I decided to choose this topic to describe the teaching process of my mentor Mr. Cai Shaoqing, I have been understanding the true meaning of this sentence of the ancients.To be called a teacher, in the eyes of the ancient Chinese, the necessary conditions are specified.What I want to highlight here is that "Tao" is "Virtue", that is to say, if a teacher does not have a certain amount of "Tao" and "Virtue", he cannot be a teacher.From the perspective of the disciples who are taught, that is, to follow a teacher is to learn from his "Tao".

Since the time when I studied under Mr. Cai Shaoqing, I have been truly and concretely bathed in the virtue of being called a teacher all the time, and it is really an extraordinary time in my life. Master Cai often talks to me about his fifty-year teaching journey.I get something out of his feelings every time.Then, when Mr. Cai looks back and is in the present moment, the greatest feeling is of course the joy he enjoys when facing the objects he cultivated with his own hands after they grow vigorously one by one.There are more than 60 disciples personally inspired by Master Cai.It can be said that under the guidance of one person, so many qualified doctors in modern Chinese history have been trained for the country, which is also a rare event in the Chinese history circle.Based on this alone, we have every reason to be sincerely proud of our mentors.Knowing this, you can appreciate the artistic conception contained in that sentence of the ancients, that is, the reason why Mencius regarded "obtaining the best talents in the world and educating them" as one of the three joys of a gentleman.This artistic conception can only be obtained by those who are like Master Cai.Because before obtaining this kind of happiness, it is the process of their hard work and hard work.

As a teacher, his happiness is to make his students become talents as soon as possible.And in this cultivation process, the teacher has surpassed the utilitarian self.He will selflessly provide students with what he has learned and obtained without reservation.Only when he possesses this "transcendent" virtue can he obtain happiness.Regarding this point, Master Cai left an extremely deep impression on the disciples.It is no exaggeration to say that each of his disciples has more or less received materials provided by Master Cai himself. You must know that there are many materials that Mr. Cai spent at home and abroad and copied them himself.Academics are the public weapon of the world. It is easy to say this, but it is not easy to practice it.

Because in my opinion, to achieve this, the "big one" must stand up.This big one is a heart of benevolence.This is based on my own personal experience as a teacher to understand Master Cai's intentions.As the ancient philosopher Wang Yangming said: "East China and West China share the same heart." Confucius once said: "What's more polite than human beings without benevolence?" It means that if a person does not have the benevolent nature of being a human being, then the ritual system will lose its true value.It goes without saying that this statement is extremely profound.Here I just want to use this sentence of Confucius to express my argument.I will put forward such a proposition: "Teaching without benevolence is better than teaching?"

That is to say, if a teacher does not have the benevolent nature of being a human being, then enlightenment will lose its true value.It should be said that Master Cai is a teacher with a very benevolent heart.The purpose of benevolence is to establish others.Another feeling that Master Cai gave us is that he actively created all the necessary conditions for his disciples to establish themselves in the academic world.We can no longer remember how many disciples published their individual monographs under his personal care and planning, and went abroad to attend academic conferences and study abroad under his personal care and recommendation.We really have no reason not to express our gratitude to Master Cai and his disciples for their selfless deeds from the bottom of our hearts.Bathed in such a profound moral style of Master Cai, there is only one thing to "look up at the high mountain".

In terms of the spirit of traditional Chinese education culture, it emphasizes the dual cultivation of "morality and karma" and the simultaneous advancement of "Taoism".Confucius said "literature, conduct, loyalty, and faith." "The Doctrine of the Mean" advocates "a gentleman pursues morality and practice." Han Yuming "teachers, so preaching, teaching, and solving puzzles." It is the two sides of the teacher.That is to say, as a successful teacher, in the process of educating students, he must use certain "skills" or "methods" to educate them, so that the educational objects can learn and research according to their own characteristics.In the final analysis, this is still the problem of "teaching students in accordance with their aptitude" emphasized by Confucius.

The idea of ​​Confucius is not how to correctly understand its meaning, but to implement it concretely and practically in practice.One of Master Cai's greatest successes in teaching lies in his specific application of Confucius' thought, which has been proved by practice.And the beauty of this kind of application is indeed a matter of one-heartedness for the disciples who are benefited.If you pay a little attention to the majors of Master Cai’s disciples, as well as the achievements they have made in the academic world, you will be impressed by the unique effects brought about by Master Cai’s handy implementation of the method of "teaching students in accordance with their aptitude".It is worth emphasizing that if Master Cai wants to use this method successfully, he must establish a comprehensive understanding of the students' learning history, hobbies, knowledge structure, and thinking methods.But this alone is not enough, you also need to have a very thorough understanding of the history and current situation of the academic research you are in, as well as a penetrating ability to the academic future.All three are indispensable.It can be seen that it is a system engineering.If you don't have considerable skills, you can't do it.

As mentioned above, all disciples of Master Cai are the beneficiaries of this teaching method, but as many disciples as there are, there will be as many different personal feelings.In other words, this is a matter of "being in one mind".In view of this, I will take myself as an example to illustrate this method. My undergraduate major is philosophy, and I have had a keen interest in traditional Chinese philosophy from the very beginning.In the following master's degree and ten years of teaching in the philosophy department, I have been conducting research on traditional Chinese philosophy and religion.And when I entered the school of Cai Shi to study for a doctorate in modern Chinese history, I immediately involved a direction and the topic selection of the doctoral dissertation.How to formulate and implement the training plan according to my own characteristics such as my learning history, research expertise, knowledge structure and thinking method has become the first step of Master Cai to "teach me". I am really touched by the new breakthroughs brought about by academics.I remember that I wrote in the postscript of my monograph "Luojiao, Buddhism, and Zen": "A few years ago, I had the honor to join the Department of History of Nanjing University under Cai Shaoqing to study for an in-service doctorate in modern Chinese history. Cai is a Chinese history scholar. He is a well-known scholar in the field of social history and has a deep understanding of the research situation in the field of Chinese folk religion. He feels that there is a lot to be done in this area of ​​research, so he has been encouraged to be engaged in the teaching and research of the history of Chinese philosophy from the very beginning. I came here to do some research on Chinese folk religion, and I chose 'Luojiao and the Study of Five Parts and Six Volumes' as the topic of my doctoral thesis. I thank my supervisor for trusting me from the bottom of my heart. Although philosophy and history are two Disciplines have certain similarities, but they have their own different "Tao" after all, especially Chinese folk religion, which is a new research field for me. As the saying goes: Interlacing lines is like a mountain. Therefore, in the face of this rich I am always afraid of challenging research topics. I am afraid that due to my lack of ability, I will not be able to fulfill the high expectations of my supervisor, and I will insult my teacher. Mr. Cai is a very caring person. He discovered my fear of difficulties. , in many subsequent conversations, he helped me analyze my own strengths and weaknesses in a targeted manner and build up my confidence in overcoming difficulties. It was this kind of persuasive temptation that finally made me devote myself to the research of this topic without hesitation... Since Master Cai introduced me to the research field of Chinese folk religion, my knowledge structure has undergone new changes. A brand-new research space has brought me an extra surprise and joy.”

Now I can also proudly believe that in the study of Chinese folk religion, especially on the relationship between Chinese folk religion and Buddhism, my research results are breakthrough and I have the right to speak.It can be imagined that if Master Cai did not educate me based on my aptitude and understanding people, I would not be able to expand my existing Buddhist research perspective, and I would not use my own advantages to have a natural theory of Buddhism. Research on the origin and relationship of Chinese folk religions.Therefore, this is related to the update and change of the knowledge structure.Everyone should understand how important this point is to those engaged in theoretical research.

To be honest, although I am a student of Master Cai and I am also a supervisor of doctoral students, my "guide" in this regard is really not comparable to that of Master Cai. The "guidance" of "convenient enlightenment" cannot be obtained without a considerable amount of time and unique comprehension. "Where the Tao lives, the teacher lives." When I was about to finish writing this short article, I seemed to have a new understanding of this language.Facing the sacred way, what should a noble teacher do as a disciple? The ancients have answered on my behalf: "Looking up at the high mountain, even though I can't reach it, I yearn for it."