The meaning of this sentence is: A righteous saint will be able to take the lead among others by humbly retreating without fighting when encountering difficulties; by putting himself out of control, he will be able to preserve his own survival.
Source: Spring and Autumn Period·Laozi's "Tao Te Ching" Heaven and earth last forever. The reason why heaven and earth can last forever is because they do not generate themselves, so they can live forever. Therefore, the sage follows his body and comes first, and his body exists outside his body. Isn’t it because of his selflessness? Therefore, it can be done privately.
Vernacular interpretation:
Heaven and earth last forever. The reason why heaven and earth can exist for a long time is because they do not move naturally for their own survival, so they can survive for a long time. Therefore, a righteous saint can stay ahead of others by being modest and uncontested when faced with problems; by putting himself out of control, he can preserve his own survival. Isn't this because he is selfless? So he can achieve himself.
The text takes "morality" in the philosophical sense as its outline, discusses the ways of self-cultivation, country governance, military use, and health preservation, and mostly focuses on politics. It is the so-called "inner sage and outer king" study. It is profound in meaning and comprehensive in scope, and is known as the King of Scriptures.
"Tao Te Ching" is one of the greatest masterpieces in Chinese history and has had a profound impact on traditional philosophy, science, politics, religion, etc.? According to statistics from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Tao Te Ching is the cultural masterpiece that has been translated into foreign languages ??the most and published besides the Bible. Extended information
Writing background:
According to literature records, Lao Tzu was quiet, studious and knowledgeable. In the process of teaching knowledge by his teacher Shang Rong, I always inquired about the root cause and was very eager for knowledge. In order to solve his doubts, he often looked up at the sun, moon and stars, thinking about what the sky was, so that he often couldn't sleep. Later, Teacher Shang Rong "actually knows everything I have learned."
Recommended me to study in Zhoudu. Documentary records: "Laozi entered the Zhou Dynasty, met with doctors, and entered Taixue. He learned everything from astronomy, geography, and human relations. He read everything in "Poetry", "Books", "Yi", "Calendar", "Rituals" and "Music", and cultural relics. He was familiar with all the classics, canons, and history books, and made great progress in his studies. The doctor recommended him to the Shou Cang Room as an official.
The Shou Cang Room was the place where the classics of the Zhou Dynasty were collected and collected. There are a lot of books, everything is included." Through this experience, Lao Tzu accumulated a wealth of knowledge, which also made him famous far and wide.
Laozi was born in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. The environment at that time was that the Zhou Dynasty was weak, and wars continued among the various princes to compete for dominance. The severe turmoil and changes made Laozi witness the suffering of the people. As the guardian of Tibet in the Zhou Dynasty, he put forward a series of ideas for governing the country and bringing peace to the people.
Yin Xi, the commander of Hangu Pass, also played a huge role in the completion of the Tao Te Ching. When he was young, he was fond of astronomy, loved reading ancient books, and was deeply cultivated.
Sima Qian recorded in "Historical Records of Laozi" that Laozi "lived in Zhouzhi for a long time, and saw the decline of Zhouzhi, so he left. When he arrived at the pass, Yin Xi said to the passer: "You will be in hiding, and you will be strong for me." "I wrote a book, so I left with five thousand words of morality, but I don't know the end." Yin Xi moved Laozi, and Laozi used his own life experience and the rise and fall of the dynasty, the safety and misfortune of the people as a guide to trace its origin, and wrote , the next two chapters, a total of five thousand words, are the Tao Te Ching.
Article Appreciation:
Mainly discusses "Tao" and "De": "Tao" is not only the way of the universe and nature, but also the method of individual practice, that is, cultivating the Tao; "De "It is not morality or virtue as we usually think of it, but a special worldview, methodology and way of dealing with the world that are necessary for ascetics.
Lao Tzu’s original intention is to teach people how to cultivate Taoism. Virtue is the foundation, and Tao is the sublimation of virtue. Without a foundation of virtue, it is very likely that one will fail in conducting oneself, running a family, and running a country, and one will not have the ability to "cultivate the Tao."
So cultivating "virtue" is to create a good external environment for cultivating Taoism, which may be what people need; ascetics need to have a peaceful state of mind and a transcendent life, which also lacks "virtue" "No. The moral part of the Tao Te Ching occupies a large part of the scriptures, which is the basis of Taoism.
"Tao" is the simplicity of simplicity, "the door to all wonders". "Tao" generates all things and is embedded in all things. "Tao" is in things, and things are in "Tao". All things lead to the same goal through different paths, and they all lead to "Tao".
"Tao" is not only the tangible "matter", the "spirit" of thinking, and the rational "law", but the formless, ethereal and spiritual root of the universe that causes all of this.
"Material", "Spirit" and "Law" are all derivatives of "Tao". "Tao" is the innate Qi, Hunyuan Wuji. "Tao" is the ancestor of nature and the great master of all things, which is as big as it is without outside, and as small as it is without inside, as simple as easy, as refined as subtle, as profound as subtle, as profound as profound. The source of all things in the universe.