"To contend" means to contend, argue and compete, while "not to contend" means to be humble and give up. The "indisputable dispute" put forward by Laozi is a kind of "dispute" within the scope of philosophy.
There is a saying in the Tao Te Ching: "The world can't compete with it because it is indisputable", and it is indisputable that it is the highest level of "contention". "Fight" is everyone's innate nature, and you have to fight if you want to survive.
struggle is a way of life, and it is also an important means to live a better life. But Laozi exhorted the world to "do not dispute" and occupied a vital position in his philosophical thought.
why did Laozi skip "contention" and warn the world "no contention"? This point is very important in Tao Te Ching.
in Lao Tzu's Chapter 73, Ceng Yun said, "Heaven's way is to win without dispute". In fact, this also tells the true meaning of "indisputable", because only "indisputable" can "win".
First, the connotation of "no competition"
In the minds of the general public, the idea of "no competition" advocated by Laozi is often understood as not competing. But the reality tells us that the result of "indisputable" will often be reduced to the bottom of society.
Digging deep into the "indisputable" in Laozi's thought, we can find that this is a warning to the king. Because only by understanding the truth of "indisputable" can we better govern the country.
The "indisputable" mentioned here is not doing nothing, but saying that we should understand the relationship between contention and non-contention. For example, in Chapter III of Laozi, there is a saying: "If you are not virtuous, the people will not dispute."
It is to warn kings not to push people who know nothing about Tao or act against it to high positions, so as not to make secular sages compete for fame and position.
' not being the first in the world' in Laozi's thought and the well-known' governing by doing nothing' are not telling everyone to do nothing, or to be content with others.
In fact, this is also an explanation of the idea of "no struggle", because only "no struggle" can achieve the purpose of "struggle". Don't show off too much when you are a man or do things. Only by constantly improving your personal ability and morality can you naturally form a competitive edge.
Obviously, Lao Tzu also pays great attention to the meaning of "struggle", but he teaches people that "struggle" is not a one-time success, but a way to make himself invincible forever.
that's why "saints don't argue with laity, they do, and they avoid death. How can laity argue with it?" The statement.
In Chapter 66 of the Tao Te Ching, it is said: "The reason why Jianghai can be the king of a hundred valleys is that he can be the king of a hundred valleys because he is good at it ... because he does not argue with it, the world can't compete with it."
This is actually described as "being good as water", which will give you a more intuitive feeling. Water has never been contested, and it can flow in both high mountains and low valleys.
It seems that water has never been contested, but it has become a big winner in the end. This also reflects Laozi's "indisputable dispute". Why is there a saying that all rivers run east to the sea?
in the final analysis, it is because the sea level is extremely low that it will become the king of the hundred valleys. Only by letting go of the means or saying "indisputable" can we accept "indisputable" frankly.
second, it is indisputable that life is the ultimate goal.
nan huaijin said, "Life is only in the hearts of people who are fascinated by desires, and they must be distinguished from each other. It is indisputable that life is the ultimate goal. "
This sentence once again emphasizes the true connotation of "indisputable dispute" in Taoist thought. Only by understanding and understanding the realm of "indisputable" can we understand the mystery and mystery.
In fact, the relationship between contention and non-contention is revealed. If a person tries to compete everywhere, he may end up being the target of public criticism.
most of the time, sharp-edged will only attract the envy of others and bring disaster.
Liu Bei in the Three Kingdoms period was originally a peddler of shoes, but because he knew the truth of forbearance and indisputable, he escaped crises again and again.
with the help of Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei entered Shu and created a foundation. It can also be seen from this point that "indisputable" is sometimes the great wisdom of keeping a low profile.
Liu Bei must have understood the philosophy of "indisputable", which is why he always looks like he can't help himself when he is standing side by side with others, but in the end, he is in a tripartite confrontation with Cao Wei and Hao Dongwu.
this is actually a model of "it is indisputable, so the world can't compete with it" and a realistic example of "indisputable struggle".