Chapter 21 Advanced Eleventh-1

half Now let's start talking about it.After finishing the second discussion, come back to the tenth chapter of the previous discussion as the general conclusion.If you teach the young people of the next generation in the future, I can offer you your opinions in two ways. One is to first talk about "Xiangdang", a sketch of Confucius' life, and then continue to talk about it from the first "Xue Er".Or, according to our current method, after the ninth chapter is covered, it will be reserved for a while and the conclusion will be made later. At the same time, here we think, and it was also mentioned before, that Zhao Pu, the founding prime minister of the Song Dynasty, said that "the half of the people rule the world", which is a famous saying in Chinese culture.Because Zhao Pu and Zhao Kuangyin were classmates when they were young. They came from a relatively difficult background and came from the countryside. "Half part" is a modest word, which means that I haven't read much and only read half of it.

On the other hand, according to historical records, when encountering major national affairs or important issues that cannot be resolved, he would stay there and put aside the issues that cannot be resolved today until tomorrow.When people saw him go back, they often took out a book in the study to read.Later, his friends, out of curiosity, wanted to know the secret, secretly took it out and read it, and it was a copy.In fact, it doesn't tell us how to govern the country, let alone the political skills of Confucianism. It talks about big principles.Originally reading should not use the words in the book rigidly.Usually the principle of a certain sentence can inspire people's inspiration and make associations.When we were young, when we encountered sentences that we didn’t understand, when we asked the teacher, the teacher said, don’t worry about it, just memorize it, and you will understand it in the future.We were very dissatisfied with this answer at the time.But after memorizing it, the age gradually increases, and the experience of being a person and doing things increases. When encountering a certain event, this sentence of the book is suddenly triggered, which gives us great inspiration and wisdom, and often we know how to do it. To deal with things, that's the truth.

Now that you understand the above principles, start reading the eleventh "Advanced" chapter.At the same time, I would like to tell you an experience. We used to study old books, not in schools, but in private schools.What I read is not the whole one as it is now, but it is printed on paper with woodcuts.One article is packaged in a thin volume, and each volume is two or three copper coins. I plan to buy a new one if it is broken.And when we read it back then, we started to read the "Advanced" chapter instead of the "Xueer" chapter. Simple beauty Now we talk about the concept of "Advanced", and the following twelfth chapter "Yan Yuan", etc., are equivalent to the annotations of the chapters "Xue Er", "Wei Zheng", and "Li Ren" discussed above.With practical examples as annotations, it describes the discussions between Confucius' teachers and students at that time, as well as some of his own deeds in the field.So it's still consistent.

Why is the article called "Advanced"?We have seen that in the above articles, almost all of them use the first two characters of the first sentence of each article as the title.Many works of the ancients are often contrary to ours.Our current procedure for writing an article is to first conceive a general idea, then divide it into several chapters, set up a big topic, and then divide it into several items and points, and write it down in an orderly manner.Just like building a house, first draw a picture, build a steel frame, and then pour cement.The ancient Chinese wrote articles, which were completely different.When we wrote things when we were young, we all followed the route of the ancients, and generally there were no problems.For those who are truly lyrical, write wherever your own feelings and thoughts go, and think of a topic after you finish writing.Look at the poems written by the ancients, especially Li Shangyin's poems in Tang poetry, which have a lot of "untitled".After writing, there is no title, forget it, it is called "untitled" poem.But don’t be fooled, some untitled poems really have a title, but it’s just not easy to label; or the author’s private affairs cannot be made public, so just write “Untitled”!We know that the titles of "Xueer" and "Advanced" in the Analects of Confucius may not have been created by the people who compiled the books at that time, but perhaps later people, in order to divide the chapters, took the first two characters as the title of this chapter.

The title of this article "advanced" means "predecessors". Confucius said: Advanced in ritual and music, savages are also.If you are backward in ritual and music, you are a gentleman.If it is used, then I will be advanced. Ritual and music are the center of Chinese culture, and Confucius attached great importance to it.There are issues of cultural philosophy involved here.He said that the ancestors of mankind—how did the ancient people create culture?The ancient times may have no culture, just like animals.Human beings are called worms. They have no hair, no clothes, and naked worms. They are also a living thing.Therefore, human beings did not have culture before, and human culture was gradually accumulated based on life experience.That's why Confucius said that the ancestors were "savages" to the culture of ritual and music.Primitive life is the life of savages, and only through gradual evolution and evolution can culture be formed. "Late in ritual and music, a gentleman is also".He said that our younger generations will be different after we have culture.People who have received cultural education from birth, have been educated well, have advanced cultivation, have been influenced by culture, and are very knowledgeable. We call this kind of person a "gentleman". "If you use it, I will follow the advanced." If it comes to practicality, it advocates the simplicity of the ancestors.What is the truth of this passage?That is to say, human culture is great, but it is too bookish—in our old concept, it was "turban-like"; the current concept is "nerd", which can also be said to be contemptuous of culture.In fact, the true culture of human beings, such as rites and music, comes from the heart, from the mind.True sincerity, in fact, is the best culture and the true spirit of ritual and music.However, after being influenced by these knowledges, sometimes they are overly crafted, and instead lose the essence of human nature.For example, Hong Zicheng, a Neo Confucianist in the Ming Dynasty - this book has been missing for more than two hundred years. It was only at the end of the Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China that someone bought it back from a Japanese bookstall.His book is of the same type as Lu Kun's "Moaning Words".The first article in the book says, "It is shallow to be involved in the world, but also shallow to be dyed, and deep in history, but also deep in machinery." Being involved in the world is the experience of living in the world.When I first entered the society, my experience in life was relatively light, like a piece of white cloth, not many colors dyed, relatively simple and lovely.Gradually getting older and having more desires, (the so-called desires are not necessarily smoking, drinking, gambling, and whoring, but including fame and wealth.) The psychology of scheming - all kinds of ghost ideas are also increasing.This experience means that sometimes the older you are, the more knowledge you experience, which is valuable; but from another point of view, the older you are, the more trouble you will have.Some people become taciturn, seem to be very calm, and seem to be very well-cultivated, but in fact they are more mechanical.Because I dare not say what I have to say, I offend people when I say the right thing, and I also offend people when I say the wrong thing.If a person's mood is more simple, he will dare to speak.For example, Yang Zaisi, the prime minister in Wu Zetian’s era, although he was born in the Ming Dynasty and experienced a lot, after becoming a prime minister, he became "respectful, cautious and shy, not disobedient." Others asked him, "Why is it so inflexible because of a high name and high position?" Said: "The road of the world is difficult, and the straight suffers. If you don't do this, why do you have the whole body." Therefore, we understand what Confucius said, "Advanced in ritual and music, a savage is also. A backward in ritual and music, a gentleman is also. If you use it, then I will follow Advanced." Same idea.I would rather take Pu Ye's, "Pu Ye" is indeed cuter.Here we are talking very simply, but the relationship is very important. You can understand the meaning of Confucius "I would rather choose simplicity than machinery."Therefore, adding sophistication and experience to a person can sometimes completely change the quality of a person, which is not a good thing.

Know people and discuss things Below Confucius proposed his students. The Master said: Those who follow me from Chen Cai are not as good as the sect.Virtue: Yan Yuan, Min Ziqian, Ran Boniu, Zhong Gong.Words: Zaiwo, Zigong.Political affairs: Ran You, Ji Lu.Literature: Ziyou, Zixia. Confucius was trapped between Chen and Cai, which is a famous story in history.At this time, he was in a very difficult situation, and some of the students he led were not separated, and everyone surrounded him and united together.This is what he sighed in his later years. He said that the students who suffered with me in Chen Cai were gone now.This is his nostalgia for the past.The students who followed him at that time all had outstanding achievements in some field, and they were also the most famous ones under Confucius' sect.Confucius commented on the achievements of the students and said that Yan Yuan, Min Ziqian, Ran Boniu, and Zhong Gong were the best in moral character.In terms of language—of course not the current language department, but those who are good at speaking, there are two people, Zaiwo and Zigong.Political affairs include Ran You and Ji Lu.Literature is Ziyou and Zixia.The four kinds here, combined with what Confucius said in the above discussion, "Aspire to Tao, base on virtue, base on benevolence, and play in art." When combined, it can be seen clearly that a person's achievements have their own Expertise, all-rounders are rare.As far as Confucius' students are concerned, people with good morals may not necessarily be able to do things.We observe talents, especially among students, we can see that some students have very good moral character, but they must never be asked to do things, as soon as they do things, they will be bad.Therefore, as a leader, you must pay attention to not being partial. Honest people are liked by everyone, but they may not be able to do things.A talented person can do things, but he cannot be required to be virtuous.Therefore, in the past, Chinese emperors employed people based on their talents, especially when they were in troubled times, when ordering the chaos out of order, they needed to use their talents and had no choice but to ignore their virtues.We know that Cao Cao's order to solicit talents is also a well-known document in history. He said that he was stealthy if he didn't ask, and as long as it was helpful to me, he could come and vote for it.Only Cao Cao had the courage to issue such an order. People in later generations did not dare to say so, but they all did so.Secondly, Han Gaozu had only Zhang Liang, Xiao He, and Chen Ping to help him pacify the world.Among them, Chen Ping once made six tricks for him, but only he and Chen Ping knew about it at the time.At that time, Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty fought against Xiang Yu, and asked Chen Ping to do intelligence work for Xiang Yu, and used countermeasures to give Chen Ping fifty yi gold as funds.At this time, someone challenged Han Gaozu, saying that Chen Ping was the most unreliable person to steal his wife.Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty

I listened to the words.Before Chen Ping went out to do business, when he came to bid farewell to ask for instructions, he mentioned the matter of stealing his sister-in-law. After Chen Ping heard about it, he immediately returned the gold to Han Gaozu, saying that he would not go.He said that what you want me to do is a national event, so what does it have to do with your national event whether I steal my sister-in-law or not?In fact, Chen Ping has no elder brother at all, and of course he has no sister-in-law. It was fabricated by others, but he doesn't try to justify it. This is the attitude of a talented person.Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty was very clever, so he immediately apologized, and still asked Chen Ping to complete the task, which is also Gaozu's wisdom.Some people lose the big because of small things, and often miss the big things because of these small things.Later, there was a famous story in literature - Zhang Chang Thrush.Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was also a great emperor. Zhang Chang was a talented man at the time and later became a famous minister.He and his wife have a very good relationship, because his wife was injured when she was young, and her eyebrows had defects, so he went to work every day after drawing her eyebrows for his wife, so someone told Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty about it.Once, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty asked Zhang Chang about it in front of many ministers in the court.Zhang Chang said, "The joy of the boudoir is better than that of the thrush." ​​It means that between husband and wife, in the boudoir, there are things that are more exaggerated than the thrush. You just need to ask me if the country is doing well, and I will take care of my wife. If you don't have a thrush, what do you care about it?Therefore, reading and reading history is to understand human feelings, know how to behave and do things.sometimes

Some supervisors manage their subordinates too trivially, as if requiring everyone to be a sage, but those who handle affairs may not be able to be a sage.We have seen among the disciples of Confucius that those who are successful in virtue may not necessarily be successful in speech.But those who are accomplished in speech, such as Zai Wo and Zi Gong, may not be as standard as Yan Hui in terms of virtue.People who are successful in politics have a different attitude from those who are virtuous.The literature is good, the articles are well written, let alone ask, since the ages, literati have been romantic.In history, literati complained the most. The emperors rewarded a few court ladies, found some beautiful wives for him, gave him more money, and a higher official position, so he would have no time to complain.This is all to say that talent is hard to find.But it is not that there are no all-rounders in history, but it is rare to have good morals, speech, political affairs, and literature.

Obedient Yan Hui Next comes the issue of virtue. The Master said: "Hui Ye is not a person who helps me, and I say everything." As mentioned in the above discussion, Yan Hui "doesn't violate the words of Confucius like a fool" and never violated his words. Not stupid.This is different from being obedient to the face but not being able to play it behind the scenes, or doing it but violating the principle.The former is sincerity, while the latter is manipulation.Confucius thought that Yan Hui was of no help to him personally, and he listened to everything he had to say.It is in this place that Confucius became a saint.He meant that Yan Hui thought everything he said was right, but was it really all right?Be more introspective.This sentence does not refer to moral standards, but only to the cultivation of personal behavior. If a chief says that he is right when he meets his subordinates, and there is absolutely no objection, he must reflect on the degree to which he is right.Confucius said "he who is not helping me" does not help me.Those who are really helpful to themselves will definitely have different good opinions.Therefore, the most difficult thing for a leader is to accommodate opposing opinions.After we listen to the opposing opinions, we push our own views away.It makes sense to think about his opinion, and then neutralize it with your own opinion. This attitude is a high degree of self-cultivation in life.Confucius had this tolerance, thinking that, like Yan Hui, he thought everything he said was right, and that would not help him.

Min Ziqian The Master said: Min Ziqian is a filial piety, and people are inseparable from the words of his parents, Kundi and his younger brother. He said that the one who can truly be called a filial son is Min Ziqian.Everyone has seen the story of twenty-four filial piety. His stepmother treated him badly. She made cotton clothes in winter and used cotton as a lining for her own son, but she used cheap reed flowers that could not keep out the cold for Min Ziqian, but he was still very filial.Later, he finally moved his stepmother.Therefore, it is listed as one of the twenty-four filial piety.Confucius said here that Min Ziqian is really a filial son, "a person is not different from what his parents and younger brothers say." The most rare thing is that others can't understand his stepmother and the disparity in treatment between their brothers.Min Ziqian, on the other hand, doesn't listen to other people's grievances. He is still filial to his stepmother and friendly to his half-brother. This is a rare and true filial son.at this point

It is very difficult to do it. It is really difficult to have your own independent opinions and not listen to outsiders to change.Like the story of Zeng Mu's throwing a shuttle, we all know that Zeng Shen is a person of high moral character.Another person with the same name was arrested for murder, so someone told Zeng Mu that Zeng Shen had killed someone.At first Zengmu didn't believe it, so she continued to weave on the loom.But after the three people came to tell her, Zeng Mu still lost the weaving shuttle and got off the machine to inquire, which meant that her confidence was shaken.This will happen between mother and child, and it will be even more difficult between officers and subordinates.It is not uncommon for an officer to say bad things to a subordinate, but three people will not listen to what they say, and the fourth person can still trust him absolutely, but it is rare. of.Especially when it comes to Min Ziqian, there are many problems in the family. The problem does not lie in the family itself. Relatives, friends, and neighbors talk about it, which leads to problems between brothers, husband and wife, and even between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. .This requires you to have your own opinion.So Confucius said that Min Ziqian's stepmother was not good, and Min Ziqian knew it was not good, but he knew it well, no matter what others said, he would not be affected.To extend this principle, leaders must pay more attention.There is a saying in ancient times, "Don't use doubtful people, but don't doubt people when employing people." While doubting and using him at the same time, this problem is too big. Not only did you miss yourself, but you also missed things. You must pay attention to these. Nanrong returned to Baigui three times, and Confucius married him as his brother's son. This matter was also mentioned in the above discussion.Nan Rong was one of the most virtuous students of Confucius. After reciting the poem "Bai Gui" three times, Confucius married his niece to him.After reciting poems and singing songs a few times, I got Confucius' niece as his wife.Of course, this is not accidental. If you just sing to your wife, it would be too hasty for Confucius to marry his niece.Did Confucius want his niece and son-in-law to be a singer?Of course, that's not the reason, but I have already inspected Nan Rong. The original meaning of the poem "Bai Gui" is to praise the virtue of being flawless.A little flaw in a person is a lifelong burden.Nan Rong married his niece to him because of his ambition and character in "Bai Gui", coupled with the results of Confucius' usual investigation of him. Yan Hui Ji Kangzi asked: "Which one of the disciples is eager to learn?"Confucius said to him: There was Yan Hui who was eager to learn, but unfortunately died of a short life; now he is also dead. Ji Kangzi was a doctor of Lu State, mentioned in the above discussion.He asked Confucius, who is the best student among the students?Confucius mentioned repeatedly that only Yan Hui died short-lived.There is another saying that Confucius, Yan Hui and other students once stood at the east gate of Lu State together, watching the scenery below Mount Tai.Confucius suddenly asked the students, what is that thing in the distance?Some students with good eyesight replied that they saw a white chain, and it passed quickly.Yan Hui said, it was a man in white clothes, riding a white horse and running very fast, so it looked like a white chain, Yan Hui's eyesight was too good.So later generations said that Yan Hui studied too hard, his eyesight was too good, he was malnourished, and he was often hungry. Therefore, he died short-lived at the age of thirty-two.Confucius was very saddened by Yan Hui's death, "today he will perish", and now he is not so eager to learn. When Yan Yuan died, Yan Lu invited his son's car to think of it as his coffin.The Master said: If you are talented or not, you should talk about your own son.The carp also dies, with a coffin but no inner coffin.I don't walk in vain as the coffin. After I follow the doctor, I can't do it in vain. This story is also used by later generations to attack Confucius. Yan Hui died, and his family was very poor. Yan Hui's father, Yan Lu, who was also a student of Confucius, came to discuss the funeral.When the ancients held funerals, there was something called "coffin" outside the coffin.There are also modern times. We see the procession of mourning, and there are things like a flower "cover" outside the coffin, that is the ancient system of the outer coffin.At that time, Yan Lu couldn't afford an outer coffin, and Confucius had a car, so Yan Lu discussed with his teacher about selling Confucius' car and buying an outer coffin for Yan Hui's funeral.Confucius said this is not allowed, you love your son, you have this idea.But when my son died, he was as poor as you, had a coffin but no outer shell, and did not sell the car to make an outer shell for my son.And he said his So I can't use a car on foot because I was engaged in government affairs and often communicated with some ministers at that time, so I couldn't live without a car.Only those who have experienced this will know.I remember when I was in mainland China, because I had something to do, I went to see a senior official of a certain province. I took a rickshaw and got off at the gate of the provincial government. The guards questioned me many times and I had to go through some troublesome procedures. .It happened that a director of the department called me because he had something to do, so I borrowed his car and drove in. It was very convenient and simple.After the May 4th Movement, some people attacked Confucius for putting on a ostentatious show. He neither gave his son nor his favorite student a broken car.But Confucius meant that people should do their duty, which is "The Doctrine of the Mean" The fourteenth chapter said, "If you have been rich and honored, act like you are rich; if you have never been poor, act like you are poor." When you are poor, live a poor life, and don't do things outside of your duty.The family has no money, and in order to save face, they borrow money from others to arrange funerals for the living. It doesn't matter if there is a coffin but no coffin. When Yan Yuan died, the Master said, "Hey!God mourns!God mourns!This is Yan Hui's death, and Confucius said very sadly, because Yan Hui was the most capable of passing on Confucian knowledge among all his disciples.Now that he is dead, the successor of Confucius' knowledge will also become a problem.It is rare to have someone like Yan Hui who can preach, so Confucius said, "Heaven Sangyu! Heaven Sangyu!" When Yan Yuan died, the son wept bitterly.The follower said: "My son is mourning!"Said: Is there any mourning?Lament for non-madame And for whom? The so-called mourning means very sad. When Yan Hui died, Confucius cried very sadly.The students who followed Confucius at that time said that the teacher cried so sadly.After hearing this, Confucius said, Am I really crying so sad?But when a sincere and studious person like Yan Hui died, I was naturally very sad.If I am not sad when Yan Hui dies, then who else should I be sad about?Who else's death would make me so sad? When Yan Yuan died, the disciples wanted to bury him generously.Confucius said: No!The disciples buried him generously.The Master said: "Hui Ye, treat Yu Yu's father, but I can't see Yu Yu's son."It's not me, but my husband's two or three sons. After Yan Hui died, his classmates advocated a generous burial and suggested to Confucius, but Confucius said no, because a heavy burial would no longer help Yan Hui, and according to Yan Hui’s moral thought, he would not want a heavy burial. .However, the students did not listen to Confucius' words, and buried Yan Hui generously.When Confucius knew about it, he sighed and said, Yan Hui always regarded me as his father, but when it comes to burying him, "I can't be regarded as my son."The so-called "Yu" is like that, Youzi is like a son, and later generations call his nephew as Youzi.Here Confucius said that in the matter of burial, Yan Hui should not be regarded as his own son, and should be handled according to Yan Hui's frugal and simple life.So he said apologetically to the dead Yan Hui, "It's not me." This kind of burial is not my idea, but your classmates' idea.This exclamation of Confucius is just an expression of frankness and frankness.Talking about Yan Hui makes us think of many talented but short-lived or poor-lived people throughout the ages, which is quite sad.Du Mu, a poet of the Tang Dynasty, said in two poems: "The middle road follows my strengths, and it is because of the origin that the fate of the two is hindered." Don't ask common people, ask ghosts and gods Here comes the following question: Ji Lu asks about ghosts and gods.Confucius said: If you can't serve people, how can you serve ghosts?Said: Dare to ask death?Said: If you don't know life, how can you know death? Regarding ghosts and gods, there are two questions. The first is whether there are ghosts and gods?All the religions in the world unanimously recognize the existence of ghosts and gods, but each religion has different theories about the existence of ghosts and gods.In universities, these theories of different religions are gathered together for research, including theories about ghosts and gods, which is called "comparative religion".From this standpoint of learning, every religion recognizes ghosts and gods.In addition, idealistic philosophy also admits that there are ghosts and gods.Materialist philosophy does not recognize the existence of ghosts and gods, while scientists do not object to the existence of ghosts and gods, but remain skeptical and are seeking the answer to this question.As mentioned earlier, Einstein finally believed in God, which is the best example.Now the scientific community is very keen on the research of this science. There are "spiritology" and "occultism" that are actively researching, and using scientific instruments, such as infrared cameras, to prove the existence of the soul.They have been discovered and documented quite a bit.For example, the human body emits a kind of light that is invisible to the naked eye; where a person has sat, seven or eight hours after the person has left, the shadow of the person can still be photographed with a special camera; plants are also considered to have sentience and emotion.These studies are common and positive.If one day the science of spirituality in the scientific world can prove the existence of the soul with scientific methods, the soul is not a kind of substance, but a supermaterial and superelectronic thing.At that time, human culture will undergo very major changes.Now thriving science is exploring the mysteries of life. The issue of ghosts and gods is also very important in Chinese culture.Now everyone talks about the fusion of Chinese and Western cultures, but one thing to note is that American culture cannot represent Western culture, it is only a branch of Western culture.To study Western culture, one must understand Europe, and the original source of European Western culture is religion, so it is necessary to study Western religious thoughts.European religious thought used to think that China had no religion.In fact, the concept of ghosts and gods is the religious thought in China in the past.The difference is that the dead souls of the ancestors are mixed with ghosts and gods.Therefore, the issue of ghosts and gods is a big issue in the study of Chinese religion.Confucius’ attitude towards ghosts and gods has already mentioned the phrase “respect ghosts and gods and keep them at a distance” in the above discussion. Here he also said, “If you can’t serve people, how can you serve ghosts?” It is believed that people should be made good first, and then ghosts and gods should be studied.They haven’t even done a good job in human beings, and they don’t even understand human beings. It’s too far to go further to understand the things of ghosts and gods. "The way of heaven is far away, but the way of humanity is far away." Of course, the way of heaven is not the way of astronomy and space science.In the past, the way of heaven in China represented the metaphysical, and it was too far-reaching.We live and behave as human beings, and human affairs are superficial.But we have been human beings all our lives, and we haven't studied human affairs thoroughly, so why bother to talk about the way of heaven so far away?This is tantamount to his passive admission that there are ghosts and gods. But he thinks that the level of the students is not enough, so we will not discuss it for now.So he replied to Zilu, "If you can't do things with people, how can you do things with ghosts?"Next, there is a big question that is consistent with ghosts and gods: "Dare to ask death?" Zilu asked how people died?Everyone thought Zilu's words were quite funny, why did he still ask?But "death" is indeed a science. How do people die?Confucius answered very well, "If you don't know life, how can you know death?" How did you live, do you know?Where do you come from?Most people know that it was born by the mother.Where does "man" come from in philosophy?This question is important.and each Everyone has philosophical thoughts, but due to differences in environment or wisdom, some people pursue philosophy, while others do not.Like everyone had a philosophical question when they were young: "How was I born?" When we were young, we asked our parents, and our mother told us that people were born from the armpit, and we were still surprised.Now that education is popularized, everyone knows how to give birth to a human being, but that is just a physiological explanation. Is life really that simple?According to physiology and medicine, it is very simple; but in philosophy, it is not satisfied with the explanation of the medical profession.Medicine doesn't solve the problem.Even according to the medical explanation, I was born by my mother, my mother was born by my grandmother, and my grandmother was born by my grandmother. Going back, how did the first person come from?Still a problem.Where does human life come from?this is a big problem.How did he die?Why die?Looking at life from a philosophical point of view, the universe is playing tricks on people. What Lao Tzu said, "Heaven and earth are not benevolent, and everything is a humble dog." It can also be interpreted in this way.Heaven and earth are simply playing with everything, since they have brought life to life, why should they let him die?What a pity! Speaking of regret, we think of another problem in philosophy.According to our Eastern philosophy, when looking at the world, it is always changing, and its changes are always incomplete.Our film starts with the two hexagrams "Qian" and "Kun", and the last hexagram is "Weiji". "Weiji" can also be said to be inconclusive.Looking at the world since then, nothing is over.Does life have a conclusion?We have also discussed that "closing the coffin" is not a conclusion, and there is no conclusion when a person dies.Are there conclusions to the universe and history?According to the understanding of science, religion, and philosophy, the universe will eventually be destroyed, and after being destroyed, it will be reborn again, and there is no conclusion.So life is one A life without a conclusion, and this life without a conclusion will always be regrettable.In Buddhism, this world is called the "Saha World", which translates into Chinese as a world that can endure many shortcomings.The world is inherently flawed, and if there are no flaws, it is not called the human world. The human world already has flaws, and if it is perfect, it will be over.Like between a man and a woman, everyone seeks perfection, but there is an old saying in China that a noisy couple can grow old together; if the relationship between the two is good and everything is fine, there will be other shortcomings, if it is not for having no children , or one of them died early.How good is the relationship between Shen Sanbai and Yun Niang in the movie!One of them died early.Take novels as an example, the beauty of romance novels lies in the fact that they are written about events in two or three years, or even in a few months.Love novels that never achieve their goals are beautiful, but if they get married and become a chaimi couple, they are not beautiful!Just kidding, the sun is out, why should it set?There will always be a sun, and there is no need to invent even the electric light. Wouldn't it be great!There are also people who tell jokes, thinking that God created man by mistake. Eyebrows should not grow on the eyes. If they grow on the fingers, there is no need to buy a toothbrush. These are jokes about shortcomings.This is a world of regrets, and in a world of regrets, there is a life of regrets.The flowers are blooming so well!Why should I thank you?Life, living so well, why do you have to die?These are philosophical questions.Who is the master of the mysteries and wonders of this universe?Does anyone manage it?If someone is in charge, the person in charge probably uses a computer to calculate.People also have nose, mouth, eyes and other facial features, but there are so many people, but no two are exactly alike.Just looking at such a little bit, there are so many differences.So people say that humans are created by God. I said that in that factory, sometimes the models were grasped wrongly, so some had bad noses and some had bad ears.How on earth did this come about?Some Western religions tell us not to ask any more questions, because God created man according to his image.So what is the form of God?have no idea.Western religions say, stop here, you can’t ask any more questions, you will be saved if you believe in it, and you will not be saved if you don’t believe it; in Eastern religions, those who believe in it will be saved, but those who don’t believe it should be saved, good people should be saved, and bad people should be saved even more; In Eastern religions, it is believed that life is not dominated by any one, neither God nor God, and another name is given: the first cause.Where did the first factor come from?Where did the first "human body" come from?Buddhism from India and Taoism from China both believe that human beings did not evolve biologically, nor were they created by a master, nor were they accidental. This is a big problem. Simply tell everyone that the issue of life and death is connected with the issue of ghosts and gods.The Eastern theory holds that the male sperm and the female egg cannot form a human being.The formation of human beings requires the "three-element harmony", which is composed of male sperm, female eggs, and souls to form human beings.Now some people have developed test-tube babies, put sperm and eggs into test tubes and watch him grow up. Isn't that three yuan?Still three yuan.It is one thing for sperm and eggs to grow in a glass tube or in a human body.The combination of sperm and egg still depends on the power of a soul.After birth, people are divided into tall, short, fat, thin, wise, and stupid. It is not entirely genetic. Genetics are only one of the factors, and there are other causes and conditions.The concept of karma comes from Indian Buddhist culture.For example, what I am talking about here is the cause, and everyone listening here is the reason, and both parties have this cause and this relationship.On the contrary, everyone is the cause, because everyone is listening, I have the opportunity to speak here, and I am the cause.The interlocking relationship between cause and condition is called cause and condition.Then, there are four kinds of karmic conditions when people are born, one is kinship: it is caste, (discussing these issues cannot be finished in a few words, but I will only briefly mention them.) Including the relationship between the soul and the relationship between people's inertia , from the past life course to the present world, and from the present world to the next life.As for the inheritance of parents, etc., it belongs to the relationship of sparse karma, also known as the relationship of increasing and rising.What is increase?A seed itself is kinship. After it is planted in the soil, it will change due to the different geology and the nutrients it absorbs. Although it has changed, its nature will not change much.So what Western genetics talks about, in terms of our Eastern philosophy, it is just a little effect of adding the upper edge, not the whole effect.After having the present life, it is called object and condition.What is predestined relationship?For example, Su Dongpo's poem said, "It is too late to read books in this life." It is too late for people to read books in this life, and they should read books quickly today so that the wisdom in the next life will be higher. This can also be used as an explanation of objects and conditions.The fourth is to wait for the endless relationship.The relationship of karma is continuous forever, so it is equal, there is no intermittent, and it will always go on, which is equal to our galaxy system, which is always going on, and the continuous relationship goes on.Here is a brief introduction. This is a special topic in philosophy, and it is also a special problem in science. It is very troublesome and delicate.We can only give a rough outline now, and this is a matter of life and death. There is another thing to discuss in Eastern philosophy, where did the first life come from?There is a so-called "primitive human theory" in Eastern philosophy. Where did the original life come from?Zen Buddhism, which is popular all over the world now—a specialty of China—mainly asks "Where does life come from? Where does death go?" Ok?Can't be satisfied.Facts have proved that it is better to die than to extinguish the lamp.For example, investigations in sociology, psychology, medicine, and spirituality have shown many examples. For example, some people are not dead, but have signs of death.Not to mention far away, but what happened in Taiwan. There was an old friend’s old man, three mornings before his death, his own old lady saw her wife standing at the door and going out.The old lady called him not to go out to catch the cold, but suddenly disappeared again.When I went back to the room, I saw that the old man was still lying on the bed and fast asleep.At this time, the old lady knew in her heart that her wife was about to die, and the so-called soul came out of her body first.果然三天以后老太爷去世了。这种事例倒蛮多的，这许许多多事例，在科学上都还是不可知之数。生从哪里来？死往哪里去？我们大家都活到死，死是一个大问题，一个人正常的死到底是怎么死的？生命的幽默 书中有句话妙得很，他说：“不亡以待尽。”这话怎么说呢？意思是我们活在世界上并没有活，是在那里等死。所以庄子又说“方生方死，方死方生。”当一个婴儿出世，我们说生了，但庄子的观念中，那不是生了，而是死亡的开始。自生之时就开始慢慢走向死亡。两岁时，一岁的我过去了；十岁时，九岁的我过去了；四十岁时，三十九岁的我过去了，天天都在生死中新陈代谢，思想也在生了死，死了生。我们一个新的思想生了，前一个思想马上死亡了，流水一样。正如孔子说的“逝者如斯夫！不舍昼夜。”所以庄子说看着这生命活着，没有死，是在等最后的一天。从哲学的观点来看人生，的确是这样。所以有人学哲学，学得不好的，反而觉得人生没有意思，你说搞了半天有什么结论？没有结论。这个世界就是一个缺憾的世界。但是也有人通了的，晓得这个世界本来就是个缺憾的世界。像曾国藩在晚年，就为他的书房命名为“求阙斋”，要求自己有缺憾，不要求圆满。太圆满就完了，作人做事要留一点缺憾。如宋朝的大哲学家，通而能知道过去未来 的邵康节，和名理学家程颢、程颐弟兄是表兄弟，和苏东坡也有往来。二程和苏不睦。邵康节病得很重的时候，二程在病塌前照顾，这时外面有人来探病，程氏兄弟问明来的是苏东坡，就吩咐下去，不要让苏东坡进来。邵康节躺在床上已经不能说话了，就举起一双手来，比成一个缺口的样子。程氏兄弟不懂他作出这个手势来是什么意思，后来邵康节喘过一口气，他说：“把眼前路留宽一点，让后来的人走走。”然后死了。这也就是说世界本来缺憾，又何必不让人一步好走路！ 这里是谈生死问题，孔子并没有作结论。依哲学上来谈这个问题，在这里也无法作详细的介绍，如果像现在这样讲法，一个星期讲两个小时，就是五六年，甚至十年的时间也讲不完。而且谁知道生从何处来？死往哪里去？没有人敢说，没有人敢作绝对的论断。只有在医学上，以科学的观念说，人怎样是生，怎样是死，有生命的延续，就有新陈代谢的作用。可见医学上也认为人随时都在生，也随时都在死，人的身体就和一个小宇宙一样。就是一片树叶，在科学的观念中，比一所核子工厂 还复杂，而人体的结构，就有如宇宙一样复杂。譬如我们一餐三碗饭下去，如何的消化，如何的供给人所需要的热能，如何排泄废物，其间的过程是够复杂，也够奇妙的。如果再加上一些寄生虫和那些帮助消化的细菌在内，那关系可就更不简单了。 生死的确是个大问题，孔子在这里答得很奥妙，他说鬼神是属于天道的事情，“人道迩，天道远。”人本身的问题，都没有解决，怎么去谈那么遥远的天道问题？也就是他说的“中人以下，不可以语上也。”他认为子路他们这批学生，程度还不够，对于生死问题，就难说了。只要我们活着的时候，好好活下去，尽到活着的本分，先把人作好再说。 鬼神问题、生死问题，人类文化上两个大问题，现在再重复一下，让大家注意。 世界各国大学的哲学系，各派宗教乃至现在有许多科学，都在研究这两个问题。人类文化到现在，对这两个大问题，还是没有解决。究竟有没有鬼神存在？生是怎么来？死是怎么去？原始的人种究竟怎么来的？ 当然，我们晓得，现在共产主义的哲学，一方面是基于马克思的经济思想，一方面是基于黑格尔的唯物辩证法，以及吸收希腊方面的唯物哲学而来的。其次，影响了人类思想的，是达尔文的进化论，和弗洛依德的性心理学。这几种学说，同时构成今日世界人文文化一个大问题的存在，不过目前被物质科学的进步，将这问题掩盖住了，使我们不大感觉得到，实际上这个问题是很严重地存在着。 生与死问题的研究，现在已经把达尔文的进化论推翻了。新的理论，一部分已经成立——整个的还没有解决。所以这是一个很大的问题，不是短时间可以讨论得完的。中显然提到这两个大问题，我们要特别注意。不过现在没有办法专门针对这两个问题，再作讨论，只能在这里作一个交代，将来我们有别的机会，再来研究这些问题。 孔门弟子的素描 《先进》这一篇，到了这一段鬼神问题与生死问题是一个高潮，现在继续下来，是对于人物的评论。 闵子侍侧，訚訚如也；子路，行行如也；冉有、子贡，侃侃如也。子乐。若由也，不得其死然。 这是孔子对于这几个学生的评论。 “闵子侍侧，訚訚如也”，闵子骞是有名的孝子，孔子非常喜欢的学生，孔子观察他，说他讲话很温和，有条有理。为什么讲话那么重要呢？这就好比曾国藩在中所说，看一个人头脑够不够精细，不一定要看他的鼻子、眼睛，只要听他讲话，就会知道。有些人有条有理；有些人说了半天，主题还没有讲出来。一个人处事有没有条理，在言语中就可以看出来。所以，闵子骞在旁边是“訚訚如也”，温和，有条理，看着很舒服。子路呢？“行行如也”，什么是“行行”？光从书本、知识上，是难以了解的，要配合人生经验，才会知道。司马迁写《史记》，他自述读万卷书，行万里路。光读书读多了，不是学问，是书呆子，没有用。还要行万里路，观察多了，才是学问。从前，看到好几位当代的大人物，观察的结果，就懂了“行行如也”这句书，此公说话很简单，但不断在动，好像坐不住一样。这才想到就是子路的“行行如也”。冉有、子贡这两个人“侃侃如也”，这“侃侃”是形容他气度很大，现在的话是很潇洒。对于这几个人，最后孔子下断语：“若由也，不 得其死然。”他说子路将来不得好死。结果孔子看对了。子路后来是在卫国的政变中战死的，死得非常光荣。前面说过，他是为了赶回为卫国平乱，身受创伤，然后整肃衣冠，端坐而死。在中国历史上，唐、宋、明各代，这种人物很多，战死了以后还站着，尸体绝不倒下来，以致敌人的将领都对他崇拜万分，往往为他立祠建庙，这就与鬼神、生死的问题有关了。所以我们中国人说“聪明正直，死而为神。”只要人的品格好，如忠义的人，死了以后就可以为神。我们看见许多庙，大家都去膜 拜，里面所供奉的神，就是这一类人所升华的。这一段是由子路的“行行如也”所引起的。 “子乐”，描述当时孔子对于这几个围绕在身边的学生，觉得很高兴。可是他很遗憾地深深惋惜子路将不得善终。我们这里也要注意子路的“行行如也”。譬如有些人坐下来会抖腿，在相人术上，这种人有多少钱都会被他抖光，这是一种“败相”，不但钱会抖光，事业也会抖光，实际上也就是“行行如也”的一种小动作。人坐就是坐，睡就是睡，坐有坐相，睡有睡相，走有走相，吃有吃相，前面有相，后面有相，真正看相，太不简单，这是以中国文化中，形名之学作的说明。这是孔子对常在身边几个学生人品修养，表现在外形上的一个定评，虽然是简单一句话，但是很扼要。 言语的艺术 下面跟着就是说到处事了。 鲁人为长府。闵子骞曰：仍旧贯，如之何？何必改作！子曰：夫人不言，言必有中。 这是说鲁国当时财政经济发生问题，鲁国有一个人出任长府，这个“长府”相近于现代的财经首长，不过不能完全和现在比。现在财政经济是分开的，会计也是独立的；过去所谓长府就是管钱的，包括了财政、经济，国税局乃至于审计部，这些业务都集中在一起。换句话说，是管如何收钱，如何用钱。鲁国当时主管长府这个机构的人，大概想对当时的制度有所改变。闵子骞说话了。他说，制度不要轻易变动，还是沿用现有制度，方法变一变就好了。如果变更制度，影响比较大，整个社会又要经过一番波动，才能适合新的制度，不如用旧的制度。what do you think? 这就是闵子骞说话的态度，很谦虚、很温和、有礼貌，就是上面说的“訚訚如也”。他是一位社会贤达，始终不想出来做官，立场超然，所以他说了：“何必改作！”这一点很重要，我们先不讲外国，研究中国历史，不论社会结构，或者政治制度，政治结构形态，如果一下子把它完全改过来，在当时几乎没有可以成功的先例。这就是的道理。天下的事只有渐变，没有突变，突变要出毛病的。这是政治哲学的大道理，研究起来也很麻烦。因此闵子骞当时不主张一时变制度，否则突变的结果，社会要出问题，所以他在客气话以后，下一个结论“何必改作！”这是闵子骞在政治上提出了一个重大的意见。后来传到他老师孔子那里，于是孔子说：“夫人不言，言必有中。”这里的“夫人”不是太太，“夫”是起语的“语助词”，话还没有说出来，先发的声音。孔子认为闵子骞“訚訚如也”，平常老老实实，不大说话的，但是这次他为了国家的利益，大众的利益，他说话了，而且，说得很有意义，很对！他一说话，就把握住重点。这是赞赏闵子骞。但是，我们不要仅看作是孔子称赞闵子骞的话，而把“夫人不言，言必有中。”这八个字轻易放过， 这也是我们要学的，当处大事的时候，不要乱说，要说就“言必有中”，像射箭打靶一样，一箭出去就中红心，说到要点上去。 子路的琴学入门 子曰：由之瑟，奚为于丘之门？门人不敬子路。子曰：由也升堂矣，未入于室也！ 子路学习鼓瑟——瑟比现在流行的古筝一类的乐器还要古老，有现在普通写字台那样大，有五十根弦，很复杂。“鼓”字，便是敲弹的意思。子路正在鼓瑟，孔子看见，觉得很好玩，于是讲了一句笑话，他说子路啊！他对于鼓瑟，还没有入门呢！说到这里，我想到一个事实的笑话：我有一个学生是学科学的，他原有个外号叫“科学怪人”。这人做事、讲话，什么都是机械化的。后来，住在我家里，我所讲的一些关于中国文化的东西，还是他记载的，他很有兴趣。他的弹筝，也是机械化。我笑他是科学弹筝，他也不管。但有一点，他做事是很科学的，他开始学筝的时候说，每天只学十分钟，以后就固定化，每天尽管忙，必弹十分钟，不多不少。半年以后，还真的弹得蛮好了。由他的修养，我就感觉到，做任何事情，不要怕人家笑，这也是科学精神。他除了“科学怪人”的绰号之外，还有一个外号是“紧张大师”。后来到了美国，有个场合，人家要他表演，他就在很多人面前表演弹筝，一上台，手就发抖。不知道的人，还以为是一种特别的指法呢。常常有些人说，年纪大了，要学什么东西没有时间。我就常拿他这个精神告诉人家，一天只用十分钟好了，一年、两年下来就不得了。实际上，我们回想起来，读书也好，学别的也好，很少用超过一天十分钟，连续三年加起来那么多的时间。如果真下这个工夫，无论哪一件事情，都会有成就。子路鼓瑟，孔子也是对他作这样的批评。 同学们听到孔子这个批评，对子路就不佩服了。在这里就看出群众的心理是盲从的。这个地方，我们读书就要注意了，真正头脑冷静，任何事情不跟着别人转变，要用自己真正的智慧、眼光来看一件事、看一个人。所以，孔子看到同学们这个盲从的毛病就说，你们也真是太看轻人，我说子路，是勉励激发他的话，实际上，子路鼓瑟的成就，已经进入了厅堂里，不过没有进入内室去而已。“升堂入室”的典故，就是从这里来的。堂与室不能用现代的建筑格局来讲的，中国过去的建筑，有 明堂格式，一般人讲话骂人“你是什么明堂？”过去的建筑，都是四合院式的，中间一个大天井，中间的大厅是明堂，深入明堂是内室，再后面就是后院了。孔子认为子路鼓瑟已经升堂了，不过没有深入到内室，如此而已。我这样说了一句话，你们就轻视他，太不应该，太轻率了。 低昂失律的资质 子贡问：师与商也孰贤？子曰：师也过，商也不及。曰：然则师愈 and?子曰：过犹不及。 我们都会用的成语“过犹不及”，就是出自孔子说的话。师就是子张，商就是子夏，都是在前面介绍过的孔门高弟。子贡有一次问孔子，子张和子夏两个人，哪一个比较好，孔子说子张太过了，子夏不及。现在我们讨论“过”和“不及”这两个词。所谓'过”，不是过错的过，不是犯了罪，而是聪明过头，有些人脑筋动得快，反应过敏了。有些人拚命研究一个问题，研究得太多了，反而走上一条错误的路子，这就是过。像讲道德，过分了就难免偏差，有一个学生，连我对他都肃然起敬，但也很难相处得自然。因为他的态度太讲礼，太过严肃了。他随时一定端容正坐，可是一身好像僵硬了，从来没有过自然的姿态。他说他自幼读中学时，就读儒家的书，效法书中所说的孔子，所以养成这个样子。我说孔子并不是这个样子，这是宋代的理学家所塑造的形相，太过分、太呆板，这样人生都会感到枯燥无味，这就是过分了。“不及”是有些人懒得用心，对一个问题，想了想：“大概这样”，觉得“差不多了”就停下来，这就是中国人“不及”的毛病。所以人家骂我们中国人“马马虎虎”、“大概”、“差不多”的观念，这都是“不及”。科学精神是买酱油的钱，绝不能移来买醋。中国人买酱油与买醋，两样都差不多，马马虎虎，酸咸混淆一起，这就是作人做事“不及”的地方。总之，不及则不够标准，或者过则超过了标准，都是偏差。孔子说，子张过头了，子夏则是不及。子贡就说，这样应该子张比子夏更好了；因为子张超过了头了，总该是好的。孔子说，不见得如此，超过了标准与不够标准，一样都是毛病。我们这里只能讲一个原则，要发挥起来， 可举的事例太多太多，作人做事，稍有不慎，都会过犹不及。做得恰到好处，符合中庸之道，才是对的。中庸之道很难做到，现在也有人故意讽刺中庸之道就是马马虎虎，这不是中庸，这是不及，把不及当作中庸，这就错了。