In Qufu City, Shandong Province, a young beggar walked slowly in the street. He is tall, with fine features and shabby clothes, but extremely neat. Although it is a beggar's costume, it is still very imposing.

At the moment, he stopped a man in the street and asked, "Is there an old man with a hunchback in Qufu?" . His back bulges like a hill, and his eyes can only see the ground? "But after asking for a long time, passers-by shook their heads and said there was no such person in the city.

The young beggar looked disappointed, but he still begged along the street, entered the East Gate and wandered around the West Gate for a long time. He asked half of Qufu City to find the old man.

This beggar is Monk. At that time, he was still a teenager and was very interested in Confucianism. He is going to find a master to study. At that time, after the death of Confucius, it was his disciple Ceng Zi who inherited Confucianism. Unfortunately, when Monk arrived in Qufu, not only Zisi, a disciple of Ceng Zi and Ceng Zi, but also Zisi's son Ye Zi died. Monk had to hope that the master who worshipped Zisi was his teacher.

When his idea was confirmed, Monk began to make friends with a group of young people who claimed to be masters of Zisi, learn from each other and discuss Confucianism and Taoism. However, these "Zisi masters" did not realize the essence of Confucianism, and even knowledge was equivalent to Mencius. Monk was very depressed: he came to learn from the teacher, not to make friends and learn from each other.

Someone saw Monk moping and asked him, "What's bothering you?" Monk said: "I originally wanted to learn Confucianism from Mr Zisi's disciples. But now it seems that truly capable people have not appeared. "

Hearing Monk's words, the man clapped his hands and smiled: "So you want to learn from your teacher. I know someone who can definitely meet your requirements. I just don't know if he still lives in this world. " It turns out that there is a student named Situ Niu under Zisi Gate. He reads from memory, knows everything and understands the teacher's intentions best.

This Stuniu is not only clever, but also very noble and virtuous. At that time, people said that he would be the next saint. At this time, a sudden serious illness devastated his body. The handsome young man turned into a hunchback. In order not to be laughed at, he disappeared after his illness.

"He disappeared for some years, I don't know if he is still alive. But not long ago, someone seemed to have seen him outside the city. You can try to find him. " Hearing this, Monk was overjoyed. In order to find Stuart Niu, he disguised himself as a beggar and traveled all over the streets. In this way, he searched for a whole month, but he didn't see the shadow of the hunchback old man.

A friend said to Monk, "You'd better stop looking. Maybe Stuart Niu is dead. " But Monk's stubbornness appeared. He said: "Some time ago, someone saw Mr. Situ, which means that he must still be in Qufu. A noble person like him, even if he retires due to illness, will not be too far away from the teacher. "

Since you can't find it in the city, look outside the city. Monk's temper has always been like this, and once he makes up his mind, he won't look back. He looked everywhere and traveled all over the city.

This day, it was midsummer, and the weather was extremely hot. Monk came out of a village and was covered in sweat by the sun. There happens to be a willow forest on the roadside, with lush foliage and dense trees. Occasionally, a few gusts of wind blow, bringing a little coolness.

Monk was tired from walking and was very happy to see this forest. So I found a clean grass and sat down, leaning against the trunk with my eyes closed. The whole forest is quiet, with occasional cicadas singing, neither slow nor noisy.

When Monk was resting, he was suddenly awakened from the chaos by a little song. When he opened his eyes, he saw a hunchbacked old man holding a bamboo pole and a bag, and sticking cicadas singing on the branches with a bamboo pole as he walked.

His movements are very skillful, bamboo poles are everywhere, and cicadas can't escape, just like picking up garbage on the ground. Monk's eyes lit up and he seemed to think of Confucius. Confucius also met such an old man who caught cicadas. Confucius also asked the old man why it was so easy to catch it, and drew a truth from it: practice makes perfect. You can achieve something as long as you concentrate on it.

Now, he is also a hunchback old man, doing what saints praise. So could this person be Stuart Niu? Monk is a little skeptical. At this time, the hunchback old man also found Monk. He smiled at the young man in front of him.

"Young man, what are you doing outside on a hot day?" The old man's voice is gentle and gentle. While speaking, his hand did not stop and continued to stick to the cicada.

Monk bowed respectfully and said, "I'm here to see the master. Does the old gentleman know a man named Situ Niu? " While speaking, he paid close attention to the expression of the hunchbacked old man. Sure enough, when he heard the words SiTuNiu, the old man's eyes flashed a strange mood.

"Stuniu ... I don't know this man." With that, the old man lifted his leg and left. Seeing this, Monk stepped forward, made a big gift and said sincerely, "Old gentleman, disciple Monk is polite." Said, kneeling on the ground.

The old man really is Stuart Niu, and he has lived in seclusion in the village since he hunched over. Reading on weekdays, imitating the hunchback old man catching cicadas in Confucius' books in his spare time, he has also cultivated a good skill for decades.

This time, the news that Monk was looking around for the hunchback old man also reached his ears, but he didn't know whether this Monk was on a whim or really wanted to learn Confucianism. So he didn't show up, just watching Monk's behavior coldly. It was not until Monk searched for more than a month that he didn't give up and found the city outside the city. There was still no intention of retreating. Situniu believes that he really has a master's heart.

Seeing Monk standing in front of him, Situniu reached out to help him and said, "Well, I'm Situniu. For your sincerity, I accept you as an apprentice. "

Hearing this, Monk was very happy, but he still followed the etiquette, bowed again, then took out a gift from the basket that had been prepared long ago-a live wild goose, then took off his shabby coat and knelt on Mr. Stuart's knee again with his hands clasped.

There is a deep mountain canyon outside Qufu. Among the lush Woods, there are several thatched huts, which is the place where Situ Niu lives in seclusion. He not only planted some fruits and vegetables, but also raised chickens, ducks and geese. Although rural life is poor, it is also quiet and comfortable.

Monk settled down in the hut and concentrated on reading. Before the lecture, Situ Niu said to him seriously: "The news that you worship me as a teacher must not be leaked. If anyone knows about it, then you are not my apprentice. " Although he didn't understand why, Monk nodded and agreed to this condition.

Stu Niu teaches Monk, which is different from Gong Xue's teacher. Instead of blindly instilling his own thoughts, he made a list of books on a regular basis, let Monk borrow them in the city, and then added something himself. Monk has something that he can't read and understand deeply, so he puts it forward for teachers and students to discuss and study together.

This teaching method made Monk deeply understand the subtleties of Confucianism. He studied in a thatched cottage for three years. For more than a thousand days, Monk hardly touched the bed. He always has a book in his hand, and when he is tired of reading, he falls asleep on his desk. It's hot in summer, and he doesn't care to shake the fan to drive away mosquitoes and flies; It is too cold in winter, so he doesn't like to make a fire to keep warm. As the saying goes, three volts is not as good as one volt, but it is difficult to count to nine. Whenever it's freezing for nine days, Monk's fingers are cracked. Speaking of blood, he often dirties the letter, and he can't return it without wiping it with water. ...

In these three years, Monk laid a solid foundation. One day, Situ Niu said to him, "You have been studying here for three years. These days, I feel very gratified to see you study hard. Now that you have finished reading the books you should read, I have also taught you what I can. It doesn't mean anything to you to stay in this thatched cottage any longer. "

Situniu patted Monk on the shoulder, just like patting a friend, and said, "The purpose of studying is to manage the family, rule the country and level the world. So you can't study for life, it's time to go out and show your talents. "

Listening to Stuart Niu's teaching, looking at his thin face and loving eyes, his eyes filled with tears, he lowered his head and said, "Teacher, thank you for your teaching in the past three years. Without you, I wouldn't be here today. After I return to my hometown, I will take Confucius as an example, carry forward the Xuegong and run a good education. Strive to carry forward Confucianism and spread the teachings of saints and teachers throughout the country. " Say that finish, monk to SiTuNiu respectfully upon three heads.

After saying goodbye to Stuart Niu, he returned to the city. Unsurprisingly, he began to implement his own ideas and prepare to start a school. More than a year later, the school was finally completed and named Zisi Academy. At the same time, Monk announced that the school will recruit students from all over the world, regardless of the rich and the poor, and everyone has the opportunity to receive education. But not to recruit children who need enlightenment education, but to recruit young people with a certain foundation.

During his teaching in Zisi College, Monk answered questions and communicated with people in the society, knowing everything and saying everything, which was welcomed by people.

Reason for selection:

A good seed needs a good teacher to carve, and a good teacher needs to work hard to find it. Obviously, Mencius did this.

Ali's words

Mencius is a model figure used by countless modern parents to educate their children. First of all, he listens to his parents. His mother, Meng Mu, was afraid that her son would be affected by the bad environment around her, so she moved again and again, really letting her children concentrate on their studies. Although there are external objective factors, such as a good learning environment, it is also inseparable from Mencius' subjective desire to study hard and make progress every day. That's why it made a good story that has been circulated for a long time, called "Three Movements in Meng Mu".

In fact, it is still difficult to shape the role of a saint only by this legend and story. Mencius' fame comes from his theory, or his character of never hitting the south wall and never looking back. Of course, successful people should have persistent personality, or * * *. Mencius lived in troubled times. Although people in troubled times are not as good as Taiping dogs, it is easy to produce heroes at this time. At that time, the seven countries of the world competed for hegemony. To ask this tripod and chase that deer, tactics are the key, and the red one is Lian Heng's staff. There is obviously no market for Mencius to sell benevolent policies to powerful people.

But this kind of "benevolent king" and "sincere man, human way" without market are actually close to the essence of human life. As long as you are sincere, you can realize the power of self-demand, embark on the correct life path, cultivate "noble spirit" and live out the dignity and greatness of your personality. This sounds like the slogan of a sales company, but in fact people need to pursue it a little.

Mencius' condescending attitude is different from others. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, it took some ability to stir things up inside. At that time, he met the powerful prince. What people want is how to fight and make money, but Mencius told them to implement benevolent policies. This irrelevant approach can actually fool a group of people, relying on eloquence. His eloquence comes from rich knowledge and life experience. He quoted the Book of Songs and the Classic casually, which shows his super memory. Because these materials are all ancient information that everyone can accept and have strong persuasiveness. He can also use it flexibly, introducing classicism into real situations, leaving the princes speechless and nodding blankly.

In fact, the ancient saints at that time were not all such eloquent people. Zhuangzi, for example, is very silent. Although Mencius' eloquence is good enough to be a marketing manager, he still wants goods in his stomach. Mencius' benevolent policy is not purely theoretical, and he also emphasizes reform from the perspective of economic policy. As far as the agricultural society is concerned, let the people live and work in peace and contentment, recuperate, and then properly educate and improve the level of human relations and order, and the country will naturally be on the track. To implement benevolent government, the monarch must reduce taxes and take care of the people, or just pay attention to the word "having fun with the people". How can the world be governed? Mencius repeatedly explained how to carry out economic reform, but it did not cause * * *. It can be said that Mencius was the earliest economic theorist.

Fortunately, gold always shines. Even though Mencius was not very popular in his time, it did not prevent him from becoming one of the representatives of later Confucianism. Although being canonized in a shrine means little to him, it is enough for a person to live to this point.