Many researchers have been excited to report their upcoming "big book" writing experience to Mr. Ren, but Mr. Ren advised them not to worry, read more books and collect more materials.
He once taught his children this way: "study is very rigorous." Writing a book depends on whether it is useful to society and can stand the test of time. Life is a 10,000-meter long-distance race. Don't just see the 100 meters in front of you, don't just pay attention to the immediate interests. "
Learning is a social tool. Taking academics as our life, we need to keep a heart of awe at all times.
This awe is reflected in the meticulous and meticulous attitude.
Mr. Ren's greatest wish in his later years is to complete his own history of China philosophy, and this wish will be revealed from time to time. Seeing that the old man was really too busy, someone once asked Mr. Ren to dictate the framework and the general idea, and asked students or assistants to start writing first. As soon as this proposal was put forward, it was rejected by Mr. Ren on the spot.
Writing one's own heart with one's own handwriting and saying one's own words with one's own materials are the principles of lifelong learning that the elderly adhere to.
In 1960s, he was appointed as the editor-in-chief of the textbook History of China's Philosophy. He particularly emphasized that it is not easy to make such a request to give a realistic evaluation of history and not to "borrow the past to satirize the present" considering the historical background at that time. Because of this, this textbook "The History of China's Philosophy" can be reprinted for decades, leaving an unforgettable mark on the hearts of a generation of young people.
"What I wrote was entirely my idea. I didn't say what others said. I am opposed to joining in the fun. " Mr. Ren Yuji said this.
Until his later years, the old man presided over many ancient books sorting projects, but he never became a nominal editor-in-chief at his desk, and the manuscripts reviewed by him were often marked with countless corrections. The word-for-word sketch poured into the old man's understanding of the word "academic".
Awe is embodied in the critical spirit of independent thinking.
Mr. Feng Youlan is a famous philosopher in the history of China. Outside, Ren is a student of Mr. Feng; Inside, Ren is Feng's nephew. However, when it comes to academic views, Ren can have a face-to-face debate with Mr. Feng.
Mr Xiong Shili is another teacher whom Ren worships. However, after accepting the Marxist point of view, Ren wrote to his teacher and no longer believed in his research direction of Buddhism. "I believe that Marxism-Leninism is the truth and the relationship between teachers and students is long-lasting." This move was praised by Mr. Xiong as "upright and upright, with ancient style."
Face the sages and be kind to yourself.
Mr. Ren studied Laozi all his life, and his achievements were recognized by academic circles. However, his criticism of himself comes from the study of Laozi.
1959, when meeting with ren, he said that he disagreed with the latter's view that Lao Tzu's thought was materialism, but ren still insisted on writing this view into the textbook "History of China Philosophy" edited by him in 1963. But with the deepening of the research, Mr. Ren changed his original view. In A Brief History of Chinese Philosophy edited by 1973, he classified Laozi's thoughts as idealism. For decades, the old man never gave up asking this question. In 198 1, he once again overthrew his point of view and made a more thorough reflection on this issue. He said, "When I demonstrated before, there was not enough evidence to refute the view that Lao Tzu was an idealist; After argumentation, there is not enough evidence to refute the view that Laozi belongs to materialism. I re-examined the article about the debate of Laozi, but I was actually testing myself. If both sides are wrong, first of all, my own method is wrong. "
From this, he extended: "Looking back at the research articles and works about Laozi in the past 20 years, there are definitely many places that have not been thoroughly explained, but there are more mistakes, not because they have not been thoroughly explained, but because they have been explained too thoroughly, which has exceeded the understanding level of Laozi and its era. So the clearer you say it, the farther away you are from Lao Tzu's original face. We told the ancients some concepts that they didn't realize, which caused mistakes in methods. "
It undoubtedly takes a lot of courage for a well-known senior scholar to admit his mistake publicly. "However, the pursuit of academic truth is above all else. It is in this self-criticism that Mr. Ren constantly realizes academic self-transcendence. " Professor Hou Cai of China Central Party School said.
The realm of life determines the academic height.
Taking learning as a life is a realm of life.
In the eyes of many people, the collation of ancient books is a completely "marriage for others" job, which is regarded as a fear of the road. Mr. Ren is also deeply worried about this: "The collation of ancient books is difficult and boring, and fewer and fewer young people are willing to sit on the bench, and the plight of the lack of successors is becoming more and more serious. I can do a project with peace of mind for ten years and have no time to publish personal articles. However, the current employment system, such as the evaluation of professional titles, wages and other practical issues, is very unfavorable for people who have been sorting out ancient books for a long time Regardless of remuneration, it is difficult to find people who are willing to contribute. "
In order to change this situation, while striving for the due academic status for the collation of ancient books, he took the lead in undertaking this important task without hesitation. Because, he knows, cultural construction needs to be accumulated bit by bit. In order to let the latecomers climb the academic peak, he is willing to be a paving stone and devote himself wholeheartedly to it.
"More than 20 years ago, when we were graduate students, Mr. Ren used a glass fiber-covered cup to drink water. I visited him not long ago, and the glass cover is still in use. " Researcher Zhuo Xinping, director of the Institute of World Religions, China Academy of Social Sciences, has many feelings.
In people's eyes, Mr. Ren Yuji is not moved by foreign things, is not disturbed by honor or disgrace, never loses his temper and is rarely impassioned. He is always on his own academic road, going forward bravely.
He said: "Reading some history makes people understand that' the scenery should be long and eye-catching', and you can't judge the academic right or wrong by temporary travel or negligence. With this understanding, you can be more open-minded, not chasing fashion and not falling into vulgarity. "
Mr. Ren once again proved by action that the realm of life determines the academic height that a scholar can reach.
The Sri Lankan is not here, but Long song is crying.
We still remember Mr. Ren's simple sentence-"Intellectuals should dedicate their knowledge to the people".
Let every scholar who silently contributes to China's academic career enjoy eternal glory.