Hong Yingming, a Taoist in the early Ming Dynasty, wrote Preface to Caigen Tan.
Original: Do not take credit for doing things; If you don't, you will get credit. Don't think it's virtuous to be with others. Complaining is virtuous. Where the path is narrow, leave a step with pedestrians; When the taste is strong, subtract three points for people to taste!
Explanation: life does not need to fight for credit, as long as there is no fault, it is credit; You don't have to expect the other person to be grateful to help others, as long as the other person doesn't dislike it, it is a virtue. When the road is narrow, leave a step for others to be able to; Share some with others while enjoying delicious food.
Hong Yingming, Ming Cheng, was a Taoist at first. The place of origin is unknown, and Caigen Tan has been passed down from generation to generation. According to his other work, Wonders of Immortals and Buddhists, we know that he was keen on official career and fame in his early years, and retired from the mountains to wash his heart and worship Buddha in his later years. Around the 30th year of Wanli (1603), he once lived in Qinhuai River in Nanjing and devoted himself to writing. Have contacts with, Feng and others.
Extended data:
1, creative background
In the middle and late period of Wanli, Zongshen ruled the country badly, eunuchs were authoritarian, officials were lax, and party struggles were everywhere. At this point, the Jiajing dynasty began to show signs of internal and external troubles, and people of insight were extremely dull and could not be freed from the fierce social contradictions at that time, so some people would express the voice of the times. ?
2. No mistakes are merits, and no complaints are virtues.
There is no need to struggle for credit in life. In fact, as long as there is no fault, it is credit; Rescuers don't need to expect the other party to repay them, as long as the other party doesn't resent themselves.
We were born in the world, especially gentlemen should have made meritorious deeds, but we should not be excessively driven by fame and fortune, or do unspeakable things by dirty and despicable means to increase our glory and dignity and cause various disasters. It is better to be down-to-earth and honestly work hard for a lifetime career, which is a great achievement.
It is also a good thing to be kind to others, but when we give, we should also give with kindness and understand the true meaning of "giving up" The real giving up is by no means giving up a little affection for others, and holding a hope for return in your heart. If there is a little bit of such psychology, it is greed rather than giving up.
A real house has no conditions to give people light like a candle and shine on the earth like the sun. Don't look at the price, don't look at the return, so it is in line with the true meaning of charity. Otherwise, goodwill in return will attract resentment, and no resentment is goodwill.
Baidu Encyclopedia-Hong Yingming