—— Yoshida Kenko
Yoshida Kenko (1283-135), a Japanese singer in the Southern and Northern Dynasties, was equivalent to the Yuan Dynasty in China (1279-1368). He is proficient in Confucianism, Buddhism, and the study of Laozi and Zhuangzi. In this collection of essays, the Taoist thoughts of Laozi and Zhuangzi are permeated between the lines, namely, quietism, conforming to nature, being indifferent to fame and fortune, and not contending with the world.
Yoshida Kenko showed great wisdom when he was a child, and he traced the essence of Buddhism to its source and studied the cause and effect. For example, paragraph 234 at the end of the book reads:
When I was eight years old, I asked my father, "What is a Buddha?"
My father replied, "Buddha is humanized."
I asked again, "How can people become Buddhas?"
My father replied, "You can become a Buddha by following the teachings of the Buddha."
I asked again, "Who taught the Buddha?"
My father replied, "It belongs to Buddhism before him."
I asked again, "So what was the first Buddha who taught people to become a Buddha?"
My father laughed and said, "It either fell from the sky or rose from the ground, who knows."
In paragraph six or eight, he wrote about the importance of sincere faith:
There was an escort in Zhuzi who claimed that white radish could cure all diseases, and he had to bake two pieces every morning for many years. One day, my enemy attacked his official residence when the defense was empty. Suddenly, two samurai appeared in the mansion, desperate to defend the enemy, and finally repelled them and led them to be greatly confused. They asked, "I have never seen two of them in the mansion at ordinary times, but I don't know who to fight for the next life." They replied, "We have always been trusted by you, and we are the white radish that you eat every morning." Then they disappeared.
only those who have firm faith can have this blessing, right?
............................................................................................................................................................................ Others, such as ephemera, are born in the morning and die at night; Xia Chan, for example, only lives for one summer and doesn't know there are spring and autumn. However, living with a calm and calm mind, a year seems endless; Living with a greedy and persistent attitude, delaying wealth, and short-lived dreams, although the life span of people is a little longer, it is still impossible to stay in the world forever. What is the purpose of living in the world as a passer-by and waiting for the inevitable arrival of the old and ugly year? There is a cloud in Zhuangzi, "Life is more humiliating."
Zhuangzi: Little knowledge is not as good as great knowledge, and small years are not as good as big years. What's the matter with knowing it? I don't know the future, and I don't know the spring and autumn.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Those who don't understand are not afraid, but still indulge in pursuing fame and gain, only to find that their death is near. However, foolish people are afraid of dying in their old age and want to live forever, which is a natural reason that they don't understand the replacement of life and death. (Paragraph 74)
Yoshida Kenko: Death is not ushered in from the front, but pursued from behind. (paragraph 155)
Laozi: There are many things, and each of them returns to its roots. In the final analysis, it is quiet, which means to call me back. Life is often said, and knowledge is often said. I don't know often, and I am a murderer. (Tao Te Ching)
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Yoshida Kenko: If you are afraid of death, you should cherish life, so you should enjoy life every day. But foolish people forget the joy of life itself and go out of their way to pursue the joy outside; Forgetting that life itself is a treasure, and regardless of life and death, I am greedy for wealth outside my body and never satisfied. People who don't know the joy of life and are afraid of death are unhappy because they are not afraid of death. People are not afraid of death, but forget that death is what is in front of them. Only by transcending life and death can we know the true meaning. (para. 93)
Zhuangzi: When the time is right, the master can do it. When appropriate, the master is also; Appropriate, master shun also. When you are at peace, you can't enter the sorrow and joy. ("Health Master")
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On fame and fortune
Yoshida Kenko: In this world, the most important thing is to covet fame. (Paragraph 1)
Zhuangzi: Those who are famous are also competing. Those who know are also contending. Both weapons, not so all right. (Human World)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Since ancient times, it is rare to see rich and virtuous people. There is a reason for Tang Tu, and there is nothing outside. When someone saw him drinking water with both hands, they gave him a ladle. He hung the water ladle on the tree, because the wind was rustling and he was upset, so he abandoned it and still drank it with his hand. How clear it is in this man's heart! (para. 18)
Lao Tzu: Be simple, be selfish, and have no worries about learning. (Tao Te Ching)
.................................................................................................................................................................... (Paragraph 38)
Zhuangzi: Wren nests in the deep forest, but only one branch; The rat drinks the river, but it is full. (Happy Travel)
..................................................................................................................................................................... What is true wisdom? That is, to understand the truth that can and cannot be the same. To a man who has no wisdom, no virtue, no work, and no name, no one knows him, and no one will make his name known to later generations. Such a person does not mean to be wise as a fool, but has transcended the distinction between virtuous and foolish, gain and loss, and reached a higher level. (para. 38)
Zhuangzi: To a man, there is nothing left; to a god, there is no work; to a saint, there is no name. (Happy Travel)
..................................................................................................................................................................... Once you find out the most important thing, don't think about anything else, just concentrate on it. In a day or an hour, there will be many things in front of us, and we just need to do the most useful one, and the rest can be ignored, and we can concentrate on this first important thing. If you can't let go of everything you should give up, you will surely accomplish nothing. (para. 188)
Lao Tzu: If you have less, you will get it, but if you have more, you will be confused. (Tao Te Ching)
.................................................................................................................................................................... (para. 13)
Lao Tzu: The husband does not dispute, so the world can't compete with him.
? The way of a saint, do not fight for it.
? Dare not be the first in the world. (Tao Te Ching)
.................................................................................................................................................................... People should have the virtue of not boasting about their own strengths and not competing with others for victory or defeat. It is a great mistake to be competitive. (para. 167)
Lao Tzu: If you don't know who you are, you won't show yourself; if you cut yourself, you won't do anything; if you flatter yourself, you won't last long. (Tao Te Ching)
.................................................................................................................................................................... (para. 139)
Lao Tzu: inexpensive and rare goods keep people from stealing. (Tao Te Ching)
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Yoshida Kenko: People should look ignorant and incompetent. (para. 232)
Zhuangzi: Clever people work hard and wise people worry, but incompetent people want nothing. Lieyukou