The phrase "Quietness and Zhiyuan" first came from "Huainanzi: Main Techniques" by Liu An, a Taoist in the early Western Han Dynasty. It is also quoted in "Book of Commandments" written by Zhuge Liang, Prime Minister of the Shu Han Dynasty.

Original text:

"Huainanzi: Master's Training" (Excerpt) Western Han Dynasty: Liu An

The residence of the master is like the brightness of the sun and the moon . Everyone in the world looks sideways, listens with ears, and stretches his neck and raises his heels to look. Therefore, if you are not indifferent (same as: indifferent), you cannot have clear virtue, if you are not tranquil, you cannot reach far, if you are not broad, you cannot cover everything, if you are not kind, you cannot care for others, if you are not impartial, you cannot control.

Interpretation:

Governing the country for politicians is like the light of the sun and the moon. People all over the world carefully opened their eyes and looked up, raised their ears to listen respectfully, stretched their necks and stood on tiptoes in eager hope. Therefore, only through frugality can we have upright behavior; only through peace can we have a long-lasting and stable society; only through forgiveness can we have a wide range of benevolent beings; only through kindness can we have the power to appease the people; only through integrity can we have impartial judgment.

"The Book of Commandments" (Excerpt) Three Kingdoms: Zhuge Liang

The journey of a husband and a gentleman should be quiet to cultivate one's character and frugal to cultivate one's virtue. Without indifference, there is no clear ambition; without tranquility, there is no far-reaching goal. Learning requires tranquility, and talent requires learning. Without learning, there is no way to expand talents, without ambition, there is no way to achieve learning. If you are lascivious, you will not be able to stimulate your energy. If you are impetuous, you will not be able to cultivate your nature. Years and times keep pace, and your thoughts and ideas fade with the sun. Withered and withered, many will not take on the world, and they will sadly stay in the poor house, how will they be able to survive!

Interpretation:

The conduct of a gentleman improves his self-cultivation through tranquility and cultivates his character through frugality. If you are not calm and have few desires, you will not be able to clarify your ambitions, and if you do not eliminate external interference, you will not be able to achieve lofty goals. Learning requires concentration and concentration, and talent comes from learning. Therefore, without learning, you cannot increase your talents, and without ambition, you cannot achieve success in learning.

Indolence and laziness cannot inspire the spirit, and impatience and risk-taking cannot cultivate the temperament. Time flies by with time, and will with time. In the end, they withered and fell into pieces. Most of them had no contact with the world and were not used by society. They could only sit sadly in their poor homes. How could they regret it at that time?

Extended information:

May tranquility become the normal state of mind.

It is said in the "Tao Te Ching" that being heavy means neglecting the roots, and being quiet means losing the ruler; being light means losing the roots, and being impetuous leads to the loss of the ruler. If you want to leave something to society and future generations throughout your life, and if you want to realize your self-worth, you must avoid the hustle and bustle of society, reject external temptations, get rid of inner anxiety, calm down, and be down-to-earth and down-to-earth. Concentrate on what you do and don’t get caught up in the noise and impetuousness of the outside world.

"I live in a human world, but there is no noise of carriages and horses. How can I ask you? My mind is far away and I am distracted." (Interpretation: Living in the human world, but there is no noise of carriages and horses. Ask me why Can it be like this? As long as you have a high mind, you will naturally feel that the place you are in is quiet.) What Tao Yuanming reveals is a peaceful state of mind amidst the hustle and bustle.

Inner peace is a kind of power that transcends the world and puts aside impetuosity. With it, you can be calm when facing big events, you can't hear the noise of the outside world, and you can endure loneliness and loneliness. Be able to bear hardships, see through traps, and bear down on temptations.

Indifferent and clear aspirations, tranquility and far-reaching goals. Only with a background of tranquility can we have a perfect realm, a calm temperament, and a harmonious style, and can make the script of life refined and elegant. Being able to maintain inner peace is common practice and is within the capabilities of ordinary people.

Inner peace is the most profound practice. "Two orioles sing in the green willows, and a row of egrets ascends to the blue sky." (Interpretation: Two orioles sing gracefully among the green willows, and a neat team of egrets soars into the blue sky.) "The fragrance of rice flowers speaks of a good year, and listening to the sound of frogs "(Interpretation: In the aroma of rice flowers, people are talking about the good harvest year, and there are bursts of frogs croaking in their ears, as if they are talking about the good harvest year).

What the ancient poems describe is not only the scene, but also the mentality. Let tranquility become the normal state of mind. We don’t have to be transcendent, but we can definitely concentrate and achieve extraordinary things.

Baidu Encyclopedia - Tranquility and Zhiyuan

Baidu Encyclopedia - Book of Commandments (works of Zhuge Liang)

People's Daily Online - Viewpoints gt; gt; People's Daily People's Daily Forum: May tranquility become the normal state of the soul - making our lives more open①