We can see Zeng Guofan's ambition from these five proverbs. First of all, he made up his mind to bow to Tao and speak to Tao. In other words, we are responsible for the orthodoxy of China. On the road of life, no matter what difficulties and obstacles you encounter, who dares to regret it as long as God is not afraid? Zeng Guofan's stubborn spirit is evident from this. The progress of virtue depends on perseverance and will naturally succeed. These five proverbs can all be used as mottoes, and young people will certainly benefit from reading and thinking.
Once you make up your mind, you must put it into practice. Therefore, Zeng Guofan has been studying tirelessly since he entered imperial academy as an assistant minister. To this end, he once taught himself 12 courses and tried his best. At the same time, he also compiled a self-study course for himself: all the experiences of reading, dealing with people, self-cultivation and poetry creation were recorded separately. These records are divided into five categories, which are named as: tea conversation, film transmission, feeding the poor, poetry talk and poetry. And from the 19th year of Daoguang (1839), I started to keep a diary. Later, although there was a slight interruption, there was not much time; Since the eighth year of Xianfeng (1858) in June, there has not been a day of interruption. Even when he was marching or sick, he remembered it correctly until the day before his death. At this end, Zeng Guofan's perseverance can be seen.
A person who becomes a senior official should do his homework and implement it himself every day. This spirit of self-discipline is rare not only today, but also among the ancients. This kind of unremitting efforts of self-improvement is the basic condition for Zeng Guofan's success. After studying hard, Zeng Guofan can be said to have profound insights and formed his own theory.
Zeng Guofan's friend Tang Jian once gave him a sentence. Which word is it? Tang Jian suggested a way to save him. It's just a word, but it's easy to operate. Quiet. Tang Jian said: "If it is not quiet, it is not dense, and it is all floating. It is always quiet ... the most important thing is to be quiet. " Can't calm down, everything is empty. The problem is floating, and it is possible to calm down and correct it.
Zeng Guofan said: "I have a glimpse of my illness, but I am restless. In a word, sir, I have the right medicine. We must try to keep quiet and let the idol rise like the sun. That is to say, seek it and continue. "
The main problem was that he was active and restless, but it didn't take long for him to take on a new look. How did he do it?
First, he especially advocated sitting still. No matter how stressed you are, you must find time to sit still. Both Zen and Qigong need meditation. Let's say two dishes. This requires a lot of human ligaments. Zeng Guofan thought that a single dish was enough. Even if you don't serve, you can sit down. The biggest function of the double disk is physical calm. In fact, feet like to move best. It is said that in the past, my son-in-law looked at the sand under his feet. If it was messy, he couldn't take it down. Portrait Chinese characters must be stable. This can bring inner peace.
The second is indifference to the future. "Disrespect and restlessness in a day often lead to fatigue, which must be understood from the following four words: heart and righteousness." When something happens, you should form the good habit of calming down first. Calm down first. He has a famous saying: "If you can be indifferent, you will have some real knowledge." In the17th century, there were some young people in Holland who were lonely and poor and were still apprentices. Their hometown city hall recruits people with low wages. He applied for 40 or 50 years as a janitor, but as he said at that time, he didn't make progress. No one respects him. Insulted. He is always indifferent and never complains about his life. Why? All his thoughts are on another thing. His hobby is grinding lenses, which is more difficult. It is not easy to polish by hand. Be quiet. He just wants to grind the mirror, grind out the world's first microscope and open up a science. More than 500 microscopes in a lifetime. It opens up the field of microbial research. Leading humans to see bacteria for the first time. Later in his later years, the Royal Society called him an honorary scientist. The queen visited him herself. Calm down and not only make great achievements, but also keep fit. He is over ninety years old. The secret of his success is to be quiet as always. He can create the value of life by shaking hands and quietly polishing. My idea is to make simplicity pure, and life will naturally achieve something. The first is to be quiet. This extreme example is the best proof.
Zeng Guofan said that there is a kind of peace in his chest. Quiet can make people comfortable, and happiness is commendable. If you learn something from him, the lecture will not be in vain. Calm down and empty, he saw the key to success in life.
Although Zeng Guofan was full of problems and did a lot of absurd things when he was young, it is commendable that he dared to face his shortcomings and tried to correct them. However, in the process of self-cultivation, Zeng Guofan realized that two words are the most important, because no matter whether it is a mediocre person or a talented person in the world, it is because of these two words that nothing can be achieved in the end. This is the "most frustrating two sentences" repeatedly emphasized in Zeng Guofan's family instructions. So what are these two words? Why does Zeng Guofan think that these two simple words can ruin a person's life? Why do simple words have such great power? )
When I was young, I was also troubled by grandiose faults. Later, I learned to be quiet, and I really got rid of my grandiose faults, and I also got unexpected gains. Static energy produces wisdom, thinking is ethereal and clear, and seeing things clearly. Understand the problems and puzzles in life. There is a famous saying: "Losers are either arrogant or lazy." Simple but incisive. When introducing the life experience, it is extended to: "The mediocrity in ancient and modern times is defeated by a lazy word, and the talents in ancient and modern times are defeated by a proud word.
Zeng Guofan worked twelve classes a day and made twelve rules for himself.
First, the main respect-neat and strict, never afraid; When there is nothing to do, the heart is in the cavity, the matter is in the body, and it is not complicated, such as the rising sun. This is the most important requirement of Confucianism. You must have the belief of concentration.
Second, sit still-as long as you sit still for half an hour every day, you will be able to experience the kindness of being quiet and healthy, and be in a calm situation, such as Zhending.
The third is to get up early-get up at dawn and continue to fall in love after waking up. Don't kill time in bed after waking up.
Fourth, there is no other way to learn-I never read his books before I finish reading them. I read from east to west and learn from others, with a daily rate of ten pages.
The fifth is to read history-twenty-three histories are ten pages a day, although there are uninterrupted things.
Six, God knows his death-I tell an article in every diary after dinner, which is divided into the door of morality, knowledge, economy and art. When writing a diary, you must write it in block letters, and you need to record all the evils (body, mind and mouth) of the day. This article is to reflect on your mistakes.
Seventh, the month is unforgettable-write a few poems every month.
Eight is caution-attention is the first time.
Nine is to nourish qi-gas storage demonstration, there is nothing to say to people.
Ten is to protect yourself-obey the instructions of adults, abstain from sex, work and eat. This is what my father asked.
XI. Writing Ci-Writing Ci After breakfast, it's all pen and ink entertainment, as homework, and it can't wait until tomorrow, the more difficult it is to clean up. He was also a famous calligrapher in the late Qing Dynasty.
Twelve is not going out at night-exhausted, cutting and cutting.
Twelfth, the rules that must be done every day. The problem is that writing and doing are different, so we may do less, it is difficult to stick to it, and life goes on like this. He is not simple, but throughout his life, this perseverance is extremely great.
In a word, the same. He also said that as long as people persist, they can do anything. Perseverance, once not superior in wisdom, is an ordinary person. Why should we learn from him? It is his self-discipline, self-examination and self-development that made him move from ordinary to success, which is particularly meaningful for learning. When I realized this state, I had a qualitative change. Looking back, it was the canoe that passed through Chung Shan Man. The heart is strong, but it has surpassed it. He realized the nature of introspection. Mastering the core of Ceng Zi's introspection, true introspection is not only a self-requirement, but also a lifestyle and habit. Like eating, it is a need for survival. So as not to be passive. This kind of introspection has been integrated into life and become the content of life. This is the real core of Confucian introspection.
Learning from Zeng Guofan has gained a lot. There are three realms in life. One is self-reliance, which should be done when you are young, and values should be established. The second is self-confidence, not blind arrogance, not a "I can do it" to win the world. Self-control ability after rich experience. The third is introspection. If we can reach this state, life will really never stop. You can be sober when you are going forward or backward, and you won't get carried away. I didn't mention quitting smoking, but I did. From then on, I quietly dealt with the biggest bad habit before and gave it up completely. This is the fruit of life, which is beneficial.