Chapter 15 third quarter

I just talked about my understanding of Confucius' three sentences about "benevolence". ——Zigong asked, is there anyone who has a word that can be practiced for a lifetime?Confucius said, forgive me!Do unto others, do not impose on others. ——The Master said, it is rare to be benevolent in clever words. ——The Master said, only the benevolent can be good and evil. These words of Confucius, as long as you study and study honestly, the profound truth in them is not incomprehensible.But, to be honest, I think I can understand what Confucius said about "benevolence" is also very limited.When I was taking a break just now, a few words of Confucius suddenly came to my mind. Whether I can understand these words correctly is another matter, but these words are deeply imprinted in my chest and have been burned in my heart, which has not disappeared until now.Now I just pick a few out, for your reference.

——Zi said, fortitude is dull and close to benevolence. I don't remember how I remembered this sentence. If I say "smart words and sensuality, there is no benevolence" is to discuss "benevolence" from the surface, while "resolute and dull" is to explain "benevolence" from the heart.As for these four characters, should they be pronounced as "gang, yi, wood (pu), and na" or "resolute and dull"?It's not for me to decide.However, it can be asserted that people with this kind of personality and morality are completely different and incompatible with those who are "smooth and eloquent".Confucius meant that although such a person has not yet reached the realm of benevolence, he is not far from benevolence.

——The Master said, is benevolence far away?I want benevolence, and Siren is the best. "Benevolence" is not a distant and elusive ideal. As long as you want to practice benevolence and righteousness, "benevolence" is by your side, and "benevolence" will come to you. I have always kept this sentence of Confucius in mind, and sometimes when I feel down, I recite this sentence aloud to motivate myself, strengthen my confidence, and improve my courage.As long as you are kind to others, and sincerely put yourself in the shoes of poor villagers and travellers, you will truly feel that "benevolence" is right in front of you. "Benevolence is so far away", who taught me?I have no impression.I always feel that there is a tension in these short words.No one but Confucius would have uttered such strong and moving words.

——Zi said, people are not benevolent, such as etiquette.People are not benevolent, such as Lehe. If a person does not have a heart of benevolence, what is the use of learning etiquette?Similarly, if there is no benevolence, what is the point of learning music?Also useless. This sentence has a profound conception, a noble style, and an awe-inspiring air overflowing between the lines.It must be Confucius' words. The above is the "benevolence" that I can understand.However, it is also Confucius' exposition on "benevolence", there are many of which I am simply at a loss.Although Confucius also talked about benevolence, it is far from what I understand benevolence, and I can't grasp the main point.Therefore, I think the "benevolence" mentioned by Confucius includes two kinds of "benevolence": "big benevolence" and "small benevolence".I don't know how to distinguish between "big benevolence" and "small benevolence". I just think that Confucius chose "big benevolence" or "small benevolence" according to different objects, and adopted different ways of speaking.

For people like me who have lived in obscurity instead of showing their faces in society all our lives, Confucius must have adopted the view that "benevolence is understanding" and taught us to always consider others.As Confucius said, the life attitude of us ordinary people is to care for each other, considerate and take care of each other. Although this may be poor all our lives and we will not do a great career, we can confidently believe that we are not in It's a waste of time to come in this troubled world. For those who can turn things around and influence social trends, Confucius interpreted "benevolence" completely differently. He pointed out that "benevolence" has great power and influence to maintain peace.

——The Master said, a person with lofty ideals is a benevolent person, there is no one who seeks to live to harm benevolence, but one who kills oneself to achieve benevolence. When I was in mourning, I discussed this sentence in Zigong's room for several nights, and I remembered it when I was listening.Although I was immersed in sorrow, this sentence of Confucius was imprinted in my mind, and I often think of it in recent years. Gou Zhishi (those who take benevolence as their ambition) and Renren (those who take benevolence as their life credo) must not sacrifice "benevolence" in order to survive. In order to complete "benevolence", they must die.Give your life whenever you need it.This is very different from our "benevolence" of "understanding" by putting ourselves in others' shoes.The "benevolence" of a person with lofty ideals is a matter of life and death.Their survival cannot sacrifice benevolence, not only that, but when practicing benevolence, if necessary, they have to go through fire and water to face difficulties.This kind of "benevolence" is really severe and terrible, and its realm is by no means what we can imagine.Although the word "benevolence" is also used to express it, the connotation it contains is quite different from what we understand.

One is to teach us civilians to help each other and help each other in life.One is to teach those who can control social trends, to turn this war-torn era into an era of peace, and to save thousands of unfortunate people, the power of "benevolence" is the driving force for changing the world.The so-called people who "control social trends" range from the highest rulers down to county officials and village officials. However, whether it is the "big benevolence" that maintains society, or the "small benevolence" that puts oneself in others' shoes, the core is probably love for human beings, and they are all "sincerity" that people must possess.In this sense, what Confucius explained is the principle of "sincerity"—that is, "benevolence" that all people must adopt in life.

That's all for "benevolence".In recent years, I often think about the true meaning of Confucius about "benevolence" in the middle of the night, but I often miss the point. Once I have a little understanding, I don't know how to speak in public, and I am not afraid of being laughed at.I know my experience is superficial and full of loopholes.Now for your comments. ——Mr. Jiang Jiang made a detailed and profound explanation of Confucius's remarks on "benevolence". As a supervisor, I would like to express my gratitude on behalf of everyone.Today we only discuss the issue of "benevolence". Now please speak in the order in which you arranged them.

——I am a member of the Confucius Research Association in the capital of the State of Lu, and also a member of the "Ren Research Association" that was mentioned just now.Mr. Jiang Jiang's high-level remarks today opened a bright window for our research.We have also collected some of the remarks about benevolence that Mr. Wang mentioned, but we have no way of judging whether they were spoken by Confucius himself, and no one can identify them.Therefore, we need strong circumstantial evidence to prove its authenticity.Of course, it is very difficult to obtain these circumstantial evidence, and some may be impossible to obtain.In the capital of the state of Lu and its surrounding areas, apart from Mr. Jiang Jiang, there was no other person who had been with Confucius before.After listening to Mr.'s opinion just now, I can conclude that these words are indeed the words of Confucius.In this way, the materials of Confucius' speeches we have collected in the reference room have a new vitality.Now, I will rearrange the seven speeches of Confucius.

"Smart words and charming colors are rare and benevolent." "Only the benevolent can be good and evil." "Fortitude, dullness and kindness." "Is benevolence so far away? I want benevolence, and I am so benevolent." "People are not benevolent, such as etiquette. People are not benevolent, such as music." "People with lofty ideals and benevolent people do not seek life to harm benevolence, but kill themselves to achieve benevolence." There is another point. Zigong asked: "Is there a word that can be practiced for a lifetime?" Confucius replied: "It's forgiven! Do not do to others what you don't want."

Finally, I would like to trouble Mr. Jiang Jiang with one thing. Please review the Confucian remarks on "benevolence" collected by our "Ren Research Association", the speeches, dialogues, and discussion records of Confucius' disciples.My request is really unreasonable, but now that the world is so big, who else can bear such a heavy responsibility except sir? ——I am also a member of the Confucius Research Association and the "Benevolence Research Association".My research theme is "wisdom and benevolence".However, my research is not yet systematic, and I have not published any papers so far.I have the opportunity to participate in this kind of gathering today, and I would like to share a few thoughts. Just now I listened to Mr. Jiang Jiang's high-level discussion, and I admired it so much.Mr. Judging the authenticity of Confucius' remarks, he cited Confucius' unique characteristics of strength, beauty, awe-inspiring aura, and tension, which are refreshing and refreshing.This must be Mr.'s unique judgment method, but unfortunately, this unique judgment method cannot be mastered by anyone except Mr. Jiang Jiang. For more than 30 years after Confucius' death, various research conferences, large and small, and individuals have collected many of Confucius' speeches, conversations, and partial records of symposiums.I do not take a strict and intolerable attitude towards the situation of Confucius research like the friend who spoke just now.As a matter of fact, it is extremely difficult to collect only genuine Confucius' sayings, and all kinds of fakes are always mixed in.However, after a long period of time, just like turbid water is clarified, impurities will settle, and the clear stream of Confucius' words will rush forward. Now, please allow me to use a little more time to briefly talk about my research on "wisdom and benevolence".About ten years ago, I became interested in Confucius' remarks on wisdom and benevolence, and collected and researched relevant materials.At that time, Confucius said, "The wise enjoy water, the benevolent enjoy mountains. The wise move, the benevolent are quiet. The wise enjoy, and the benevolent live long."This sentence became a hot topic among us, and there was lively discussion at various parties about this beautiful, yet complex and profound meaning.I thought that Confucius must have said something about the difference between "wisdom" and "benevolence", "the wise" and "the benevolent", so I started to collect it.I regard the study of "wisdom and benevolence" as the subject of my life.In the past ten years, I have been busy and running around, sometimes in vain, and have achieved nothing. Others even laughed at me saying that "the benevolent man is tired" and "the wise man is dull".I have collected some information, and now I will release it to you.Of course, I cannot guarantee the reliability of these materials. It took me ten years just to collect and organize them, and I haven't started research yet.Collecting information is my main job. In the second year of my data collection, I met Fan Chi, one of Confucius' favorite disciples.To say it was an acquaintance, it was an acquaintance on paper, because he had already passed away.His date of birth is unknown.One is about Lu people, and the other is about Qi people.Moreover, some people think that he is a great sage, while others think that he is a fool among fools.His surname is Fan, his first name is Xu, and his style name is Zichi. He drives a chariot for Confucius.But I don't know if he was originally a coachman, or just occasionally.Confucius was thirty-six years younger than Confucius, and one said he was forty-six years younger.This Fan Chi likes to ask Confucius about everything.It took three years to collect his historical materials, and finally found the materials of his dialogue with Confucius on "wisdom and benevolence" at the site where he worked.I made it public for the first time at the Confucius Research Conference in the capital of the State of Lu, and I think it is a rare and precious historical material for the study of Confucius. "Fan Chi asked to know. The Master said, the righteousness of serving the people is to respect ghosts and gods and keep them at a distance. It can be called knowing. Ask about benevolence. The Master said, the benevolent is first difficult and then obtained. It can be called benevolence." Fan Chi asked, "What method do wise men use to govern the people?"Confucius replied: Respect the justice that the people think, and keep a respectful distance from all beliefs such as ghosts and gods, and do not interfere too much. This is the attitude of a wise man in governing the world.Fan Chi asked again: What about the benevolent?Confucius replied: The benevolent should solve the most difficult problems first, and don't think about accepting rewards and gaining benefits for themselves. When I published this material, the sky was dark, thunder and lightning flashed, and the expressions of heaven, earth, people and gods were moved, which shows that the response was huge.Since then, the phrase "respect ghosts and gods and keep them at a distance" has become a famous saying that people often quote.I wanted to stop here, but news came from various places, saying that I had discovered new materials about "wisdom and benevolence" and "the wise and the benevolent" of Confucius, and asked me to take a look.These materials are originally word of mouth, it is difficult to judge their reliability and accuracy.As soon as I receive these reports, no matter how far the journey is, I will go to find out in person.Therefore, in the past few years, I have been running back and forth between the capital of Lu and the suburban countryside.Heaven pays off, unexpectedly found three Confucius sayings, and two of them were related to Fan Chi.Although these two items are slightly inferior to the previously discovered brilliant item "Respect ghosts and gods and keep a distance", there is no doubt that the three items are important historical materials for the study of Confucius. "Fan Chi asked about benevolence. The Master said, love people. Ask about wisdom. The Master said, know people." Behind this short term, there is Zixia's explanation.As an important historical material, I am not sure whether Zixia's words should be deleted, so today I will only talk about the short but sharp four words "lover" and "knowing people". Recently, I found another piece of historical material related to Fan Chi: "Fan Chi asked about benevolence. The Master said, the residence is respectful, the deacons are respectful, and the people are loyal. Even though he is a barbarian, he should not be abandoned." Fan Chi asked Confucius about benevolence.Confucius said, you should pay attention to politeness and dignified behavior at home, be cautious and rigorous in your work, and treat people with sincerity. Even if you go to the country of barbarians, you must not lose it. When I saw this historical material, I couldn't help but burst into tears.One of Confucius' high-achieving disciples was about to go to work as a small local official. He asked Confucius about "benevolence" again and again, and Confucius patiently explained the principle of "benevolence" to this disciple.We can see the deep benevolence of Confucius.