Chapter 24 If I go to college again

"If I go to college again", I have repeatedly thought about this question for many years.I once got two diametrically opposed answers: one is that it is best not to go to college again, "the more knowledge the more reactionary", I really have lingering fears.One is that you still have to go to school, and you still have to learn what you are learning now.The latter idea eventually prevailed, where it remains today. Why do I still have to go to college and learn what I'm doing now?There is no grandiose reason.I just feel that the road I have walked is beneficial to myself and others.To ordinary people, the set of things I have created is like a bible, and it seems to be of no benefit to the national economy and the people's livelihood.However, all technologically advanced countries in the world have studied Sanskrit, Pali, and Buddhist classics, and have achieved brilliant results.There really seems to be some connection between this set of out-of-the-way things and advanced science and technology.The news is intriguing.

Didn't we propose to carry forward the excellent culture of the motherland and promote patriotism?This set of heavenly scriptures can indeed be linked to these two slogans.Let me give a specific example.Dr. Moto Nakamura, the master of Sanskrit studies in Japan, said in the preface to the Japanese translation of my collection of essays "The Spiritual History of Chinese Intellectuals" that China's South Asian studies were originally quite backward.However, in recent years, a group of middle-aged experts suddenly appeared, and they wrote some high-level works, which made Japanese scholars feel "unprepared".These are some very interesting words.In fact, the relationship between Chinese Buddhist scholars and their Japanese counterparts is very friendly.First, we did not "attack", and second, we did not fight. We just sat on the bench and worked hard.With some achievements, Japanese scholars see it in their eyes and think in their hearts, and feel that the past evaluation of China's South Asian studies is outdated.I think it contains both "promotion" and "promotion".How can we say that our system is useless to the national economy and the people's livelihood?

It's a long way to go, let's come back to our topic. My university life was relatively long: I studied in China for 4 years, and studied in the University of Göttingen in Germany for another 5 years before I obtained my degree.The "set" I mentioned above was learned abroad.When I was in China, I was interested in "this set", but I had no chance.When I arrived at the University of Göttingen, I finally found an opportunity. I was like a fish in water, and I have been studying for nearly sixty years now.If Marx is not eager to call me, I will continue to learn. It's not difficult for me to talk about what I learned most about my college years.There are two things that I will never forget while studying in Germany, both of which are related to my doctoral thesis.

I think it is necessary to talk about the German doctoral dissertation-related system here.When I was studying in Germany, Germany did not stipulate the number of years of study.As long as you have money, you can study indefinitely.There is a word in Germany that is not found in other countries, which is "eternal university student".There is no empty concept of "graduation" in German universities.Only when the doctoral dissertation is written, the oral examination is passed, and the doctor's degree is obtained, can this be regarded as graduation. Writing a doctoral dissertation also has a formally simple but extremely rigorous process, and everything depends on the professor.In German universities, academic matters are decided by the professor.There are no entrance exams for German universities.As long as you graduate from high school, you can enter any university.German students usually enter several universities first, and after a period of time, they think that a certain university and a certain professor are the most suitable for them, so they settle down.In a university, learn from a certain professor.Listen to the professor's class first, and then attend his seminar.In the end, the professor thinks that you are "teachable", so he will give you a doctoral dissertation topic.After a few more years of hard work, I collected information and wrote a thesis outline, which was reviewed by the professor.There is no stipulation on the number of years for writing a dissertation, at least three or four years, and there is no limit to the length.It is not uncommon to get a topic and not be able to write a paper for ten or eight years.All of this is determined by the professor, and the dean and the principal have no right to ask.When writing papers, they emphasize the word "new". If there is no new insight, there is no need to write an article.No matter how big or small an insight is, the only thing that is new is a picture.The thesis topic is not afraid of being small, but not new.Personally, I think this is a very important point.Only in this way can academics be "innovated every day" and progress can be made.Otherwise, it will be full of statements, copied here and there, and pieced together, and it will be nothing but a waste of tens or even millions of words, except for wasting paper and wasting the energy of readers, what benefit will it have?

The process of getting my doctoral dissertation title was basically the same.I got a topic about Buddhism mixed with Sanskrit, and spent three years collecting information, writing cards, searching for related books, reading books and magazines, and reading about a hundred kinds of books and periodicals.Then organize the information, make it organized and systematized, write an outline, and finally write an article. I personally wondered: How can I show my hand to the professor?I feel that although the copying of those thousands of cards is like bees collecting honey, it is extremely hard; but they are dry, without much literary talent, or unable to express literary talent.So I wanted to write an "introduction" at the beginning of the thesis, which can not only show off knowledge, but also show literary talent, which is really a wonderful idea that kills two birds with one stone.I do so.It took a long time to write a rather long "Introduction".I felt good about myself, and I was very flattered, thinking that the professor would appreciate it a lot, and maybe even boast a few words.I first showed the "Introduction" to the professor, and went home to have a wonderful dream.I waited, waited, finally waited until the professor wanted to see me, and I met the professor with the feeling of walking on the podium.Yet it took me by surprise.The professor put a front bracket before my "Introduction" and a back bracket at the end, and said to me with a smile: "I don't want this introduction at all! You are full of flashy empty words, and there is nothing new in it." No! People are going to attack you, there are exposed points everywhere, and there is no defense at all!" To me, this was really like a bolt from the blue, and I couldn't speak for a while.However, after my own reflection, I deeply feel that the professor's stick is good, and I will never benefit from it in my life.

The second thing is that after the dissertation is completed, the oral examination is passed and the degree is obtained.The thesis needs to be carefully checked from beginning to end, not only the articles, chapters, words, and sentences copied from the card, but also all the cited books, newspapers and magazines.You know, within three years, I borrowed a lot of books and newspapers from the university library, and even from the Prussian Library in Berlin, which took a lot of time.I felt very bored at the time.Now, in a short period of time, if I borrow so many books again, I will be as bored as I want.However, the teacher's teachings must be followed, so we have to bite the bullet, be patient, borrow one by one, check one by one, and recheck the large number of sources cited in the paper to prevent any mistakes.

Later I discovered that when German scholars finished writing a book or an article, they used this method to check each one carefully when they read the proofs.People in a research laboratory often participate in the work of reading proofs.Each person has a copy of the proofs, and the division of labor can also be agreed upon.They use collective strength to ensure that no mistakes are made.This method seems extremely stupid, but besides this, can there be a "smart" method?The German book is famous for its few errors.Some extremely complex books are free of a single error, including punctuation marks.Anyone who has read the proofs knows that it is very, very difficult to achieve this step.Why can the Germans do it?Not all of them are superhuman geniuses, their knack of being a head above others lies in their "stupidity".I would like to change a few words in ancient Chinese books: Germans are as intelligent as they are, but as stupid (stupid) as they are beyond their reach.

Looking back at our Chinese academic circles, the situation is quite different.There are several situations here.Chinese scholars have extensive knowledge and strong records, and are known in the world.The ability to recite is even more surprising.In the past, some people could recite the Four Books and Five Classics, and it is said that they could also recite them backwards.When writing an article, you don't need to look up books, just write it out, and it becomes an article.But memory can be a bit of a problem from time to time.If the works of some great scholars in modern China are carefully checked, there are often cases of citation errors.This is a great mistake.After all, authors often try to save trouble, and when they copy other people's articles, they don't check them, so the articles they write can't stand the check.This is a manifestation of a weak sense of responsibility and insufficient academic conscience.Worse still is to copy nonsense.As long as books and articles can be printed, it doesn't matter what readers it is!Fame and fortune are in hand, regardless of everything.The book review work in our country is far behind.Even if a problem is discovered, they are often "keep it out for the sages", afraid of offending others, and keep silent.In our current academic world, can this situation be said to be rare?I hope that our academia can change this extremely bad style of work.

I went to university for 9 years, and when I was studying in Germany, I think the above two points were the most rewarding.Some people may think that this humbleness is not very high.I'm not going to argue.I am now an octogenarian, and if young scholars do not abandon their old age and ask me if I have anything to say to them, I will say these two points. Written at Peking University in May 1991