This lecture continues with "cultivation". Self-cultivation seems to be a personal matter, but it is not possible to do it behind closed doors, let alone self-promotion. How is the cultivation going? It also depends on what contribution you have made to society - is it a moral act? Or did he make meritorious deeds or make a speech?
Let’s take a look at Mr. Shen Wei (1862-1945) first:
Organizing benevolence and righteousness and pondering morality, he is the pillar of China and the boat in the river.
This diction is very fresh.
Look at the first couplet "Organize benevolence, righteousness and consider morality". "Organization" and "Contemplation" are both subjective efforts. "Organization" is like mobilizing troops and generals, and "Contemplation" is like meticulous carving. One focuses on the whole and the other focuses on the details. At the same time, the rhetorical technique of "intertextuality" is used here, which means that "benevolence, justice" and "morality" both need "organization" and "thinking".
Let’s briefly talk about “intertextuality” - for example, “Smoke covers the cold water and the moon covers the sand”, which does not refer to “smoke covers the cold water” or “moonlight covers the beach”; but “smoke and moonlight” One, covering the cold water and the beach.” Another example is "Don't be happy with things, don't be sad with yourself", which means: Don't be happy or sad because of changes in circumstances and your own gains and losses.
? Look at the second line of the second line, "The pillars of China and the boats and rivers", it says - to be talents useful to the country, whether they are the "pillars" of houses or the "boats" of rivers. The construction of the motherland requires all kinds of talents. There are three hundred and sixty industries, and there must be someone to do something in each industry.
Next, look at Mr. Qi Junzao (1793-1866):
Read the books of the sages, put it on your back, and apply it to your four bodies;
Perform loyalty and filial piety, This body is used to conquer the common people.
This couplet is said to have been written by Mr. Yu Shenxing (1545-1607), a scholar in the Ming Dynasty.
Look at the first couplet, "Read the books of the sages, put them on your back, apply them to your four bodies", from "Mencius", the original text is as follows:
Mencius said: "The nature of a gentleman is benevolence. , Righteousness, propriety, and wisdom are rooted in the heart. Their appearance is visible on the face, abundant on the back, and applied to the four bodies. The meaning of this passage is self-evident. It is: What is the nature of a gentleman? That is, virtues such as benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom are rooted in the heart, so his complexion is moist, showing on his face, filling his shoulders and back, and extending to his limbs. People can feel it without speaking.
You see, it is difficult to say whether a person with high moral standards has a big air, but his own aura is definitely extraordinary. There are two stories in "Shishuo Xinyu" that illustrate the problem very well:
One is about Cao Cao: When the Wei general met the Xiongnu envoys, he thought that his appearance was not good enough to conquer the far country, so he sent Cui Ji Guidai, the emperor took a knife and stood on the bedside. After that, he ordered the spies to ask: "How is the King of Wei?" The Huns envoy replied: "The King of Wei is very elegant, but the person who catches the knife on the bedside is a hero." When Wei Wu heard this, he chased and killed the envoy.
One story is about Yu Liang’s nephew Yu Tong (also known as Changren): Yu Changren and his brothers entered Wu and wanted to stay in a pavilion. The younger brothers came up first and saw a group of small people in the house, none of whom wanted to avoid each other. Changren said, "I'll try to see it." He then used his staff to lead the boy to the door. The guests looked at his majestic appearance and retreated for a while.
Look at the second couplet "To perform loyal and filial piety, start from all the bodies, and conquer the common people", from "The Doctrine of the Mean", the original text is as follows:
Therefore, the way of the gentleman starts from all the bodies, and conquers the common people. , Examine the three kings without making mistakes, build the heaven and earth without contradicting them, question the ghosts and gods without doubt, wait for the saints for a hundred generations without being confused. To understand the ghosts and gods without doubts is to know heaven; to wait for the saints for a hundred generations without doubts is to know people. Therefore, when a gentleman acts in the world, he becomes the way of the world, when he acts in the world, he becomes the law of the world, and when he speaks in the world, he becomes the principle of the world.
The phrase "from the body to conquer the common people" here means "to promote oneself and others", which is what Confucius said, "If you want to establish yourself, you can establish others; if you want to reach yourself, you can reach others." Mencius said "I am old and old, and young and old."
The second line can be understood as - a gentleman's loyalty and filial piety should start from himself and gradually expand outward to let more people Many people benefit from grace. Only in this way can we gain the recognition and approval of the people.
Let’s take a look at Mr. Wu Peifu (1873-1939):
If you have virtue, you can achieve the Tao, but if you have benevolent words, it is not as good as a benevolent voice.
"With great virtue, one can reach the Tao, but with benevolent words, it is not as good as a benevolent voice." The general meaning is - no matter how beautiful your virtues are, no matter how good your benevolence is, if you don't serve the people, you will be ruined. Worthless.
Looking at Wu Gong's calligraphy, it is as fierce as a battle and as powerful as breaking a bamboo. His cultural heritage and pen skills are very impressive. I remember that Lu You once wrote a poem "Inscribed on the back of the cursive script written in drunkenness", which quite agrees with this idea:
There are five soldiers hidden in the chest, and there is no way to try.
The wine is like flags, drums, pens, knives and spears, and its power falls from the sky to the Milky Way.
The stone pond in Duanxi is thick with ink, and the candlelight is flying vertically and horizontally.
After a moment, I rolled up the wine and saw that the smoke and dust from thousands of miles away were clear.
The husband must be well established when he is alive, and he must act calmly even if he goes against his luck.
When I go out of Wuyuan fortress at night, I don’t hear people’s words and hear the sound of whips.
Next, let’s look at Mr. Wang Guan (1847-?):
Being quiet is enough to rule out vulgarity, and being chaste is enough to do things;
There is no better way to nourish the heart than to have few desires. There is nothing better than caring for the people in governing the world.
Everyone, look at this, "Quietness is enough to abide by vulgarity, chastity is enough to do things; there is no better way to nourish one's mind than to have fewer desires, and there is no better way to govern the world than to care for the people." No matter how "quiet" or "low desires" you are, this is just you inner cultivation. To reflect the value of your existence and the meaning of life, you have to rely on external practice - that is, to "do things" and "love the people."
Let’s take a look at Mr. Zhang Yuesong (1773-1842):
He who is knowledgeable and strong in knowledge will not slack off in action.
"Being knowledgeable and knowledgeable" is to practice "internal skills", and "being diligent and not lazy" is to seek "external application". The combination of the two is the combination of theory and practice. Put your passion and talents into unlimited service to the people.
The second line of the second line, "If you are weak in ambition, you will be quick to cultivate, then you will come", from "Shang Shu·Shuo Ming Xia", the original text is as follows:
Nailai. "
The meaning of this sentence is that you must have both a humble attitude and a sensitive curiosity when studying. If you combine the two, your knowledge will inevitably advance by leaps and bounds.
Next, let’s look at Mr. Wu Shijian (1868-1933):
Don’t regard wealth as fame, but turn fame into morality;
If you want to be at ease, be loyal and trustworthy , Practicing loyalty will bring out talents.
The first couplet "Don't regard wealth as fame, but turn fame into morality", which means that morality should be regarded as fame, rather than wealth as fame. The ancients said that "to establish virtue and establish merit and establish words", if the premise of "establishing virtue" is removed, "establishing merit and reputation" will become water without a source and a tree without roots.
The second line of the second line, "If you want to be at ease in mind and body, be loyal and faithful, practice faithfulness and develop talents." It means that only by being loyal and faithful in life can you have peace of mind; only by doing things faithfully can you express your talents. Mr. Ouyang Xiu said: Those whose virtues surpass talents are called gentlemen, and those whose talents surpass virtues are villains. That's what it means.
No need to seek wealth from others, no need to seek wealth from others, and no harm to people's longevity.
The first line of the first couplet "Don't lecture but taste, don't chant Sanskrit but meditate, don't guide but maintain health" means - don't just look at the appearance, pay attention to the essence. Don’t just look at the program, look at the purpose. Just like practicing martial arts, some people dance with guns and sticks all day long, and their movements are decent, but they are not just fancy tricks, they have to be tested in actual combat.
The second line "No need to seek wealth from others, nothing to gain wealth from others, and nothing to harm people's longevity." The views on wealth, honor and longevity here are unique. Self-confidence, self-reliance, and a husband who is never pitied by others are spiritual wealth. If you don't do things that harm others and benefit yourself, you will naturally avoid grievances, eliminate disasters, and prolong your life.
Of course, people cannot think that you are aloof, stand out from the crowd, do not ask for anything, and are different from ordinary people. This is not good either. You should also apply some "protective color" to yourself appropriately, "to be in harmony with its light and dust". Some of Mr. Zeng Guofan’s practices are worth learning from:
Zeng Guofan once wrote a letter home to his younger brother in his hometown, saying that our family is a wealthy family in the local area and is not short of money, but you should always look for it. People borrow a little money.
Why? The first is that it seems that our family is also asking for help from others. This is intended to show weakness. Second, if you borrow money when you have money, you will definitely not be able to repay it, which will accumulate credit. Everyone knows it is safe to lend you money. Third, this is the most important thing. If you keep borrowing small amounts of money, you will know who will help us and who will not help us. This way, if you ever need money in a hurry, you'll know who to borrow it from.
? ——Excerpted from Logical Thinking "Human Breakthrough"
Next, look at Mr. Wu Leichuan (1870-1944):
Establishing one's morality and establishing one's word Respectfully, my friend, I will respect what I have heard.
The first line of the first line "Lift your moral character and speak with respect" means - your moral character is your life, you cannot say one thing and do another.
The second line of the second line "Friends are honest and friends respect what they hear", which means - to make good friends, you must learn from them with an open mind.
Let’s take a look at Mr. Wu Hufan (1894-1968):
Wen Jun is as clear as a mountain, and his deeds are based on the ancient sages and the present.
The first line of the first couplet reads, "Wen Jun is as handsome as a mountain and as pure as water." I won't go into details.
The second couplet, "Things are based on the ancient sages and the present", should also be considered intertextual. What it means is that good people and good deeds throughout the ages are essentially the same, and we all need to learn from them.
Next, let’s look at Mr. Chang Yuzhao (1823-1894):
A calm mind and a peaceful mind will achieve nothing, but a rough mind and impetuous temper will accomplish nothing.
This couplet "A calm mind and a thousand auspicious parallels gather, and a rough mind will accomplish nothing" is about having a good attitude. Although serving the people requires seizing the time and seizing the day, everything has its own rules. If you are impatient, you cannot eat hot tofu, and trying to push things forward will only make matters worse.
Finally, let’s take a look at Mr. Kang Youwei (1858-1927):
He was a man of great talent and a heroic voice.
The first couplet "Duan Jing Yuan Zhi Biao" comes from the "Shangxie Chapter" in "Fifteen Songs for Advocating Cymbals" by the poet He Chengtian of the Southern and Northern Dynasties. The meaning of this sentence is - when the body is upright, the shadow will naturally be upright. As the saying goes, "If you are upright, you are not afraid of a slanted shadow", which also means this.
The second couplet "Mao Shi Ying Sheng" comes from "Yongming Le" written by Wang Rong, a poet of the Northern and Southern Dynasties. The word "even" here means "pair", which means that "Maoshi" and "Yingsheng" are always paired. The meaning of this sentence is - prosperity and good reputation always go together.
As long as you make contributions to the people, the people will definitely give you a good name in return.
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