Confucius asked for gifts.
One day in 538 BC, Confucius said to his disciple Nangong, "Zhou Cang Shi Shou, make the past serve the present, know the source of rites and music, and know the importance of virtue." Today, I want to ask Zhou for advice. Would you like to go with me? The nangongshan JingShu readily agreed, immediately report to lujun, Lu Jun must do. Send a car, two horses, one son and one imperial palace, and Nangong Jingshu will accompany Confucius. I'm glad to see Kong Qiu coming all the way. After the professor left, I invited Kong Qiu to visit Dr. Changhong. Changhong is good at music, giving Kong Qiu music rules and music theory; Kong Qiu's introduction of sacrificial ceremonies, his inspection of missionary sites and the etiquette of temple fairs made Kong Qiu sigh and benefit a lot. Stay a few days. Kong Qiu said goodbye to Lao Tzu. Lao Dan sent him out of the building with a message: I heard that the rich give people money and the righteous give people words. I am neither rich nor expensive, and I have no money to send you; I'd like to send you a few words. In today's world, smart and knowledgeable people are almost dead, because they are good at mocking others' mistakes; Those who talk eloquently and are smart, are always in trouble, just to publicize the evil of others. As a son, don't think highly of yourself; As a minister, don't put yourself first. I hope you will remember. Kong Qiu nodded: Disciples must remember this!
When I reached the bank of the Yellow River, I saw the river surging, the turbid waves rolling, and the momentum was like Ma Benteng, the sound was like the roar of tigers, and the sound was like thunder. Standing on the shore, Kong Qiu sighed: The deceased is like a husband, never giving up day and night! The water of the Yellow River keeps flowing, and people's years are passing by. Rivers don't know where to go, and life doesn't know where to smell Kong Qiu's words. Lao Tzu said that between heaven and earth, life and heaven and earth are integrated. Heaven and earth are natural things; Life is also a natural thing; People are young, young, strong and old, just like the alternation of spring, summer, autumn and winter in heaven and earth. Born in nature, died in nature, let nature take its course, why is it sad? If you don't let nature run, you will be bound by nature. If fame exists in your heart, you will feel anxious; If you want to stay in your heart, you will have more troubles. Kong Qiu explained: I can't do anything because I'm worried about the road. I can't do anything with benevolence and righteousness. The war will not stop, and the national chaos will not be cured. So life is too short to contribute to the world and sigh for the people!
Laozi said: heaven and earth are not pushed, the sun and moon are self-evident, the stars are self-ordered, and animals are born without man-made. This is natural, people are born like this, so they are not proud, so they lose face. Only by following the principles and ways of nature can the country be autonomous and the people be self-righteous. Why do we advocate benevolence and righteousness by talking about rites and music? This is far from human nature! Just like those who beat drums to escape, the louder the drums, the farther they escape!
After a pause, Lao Tzu pointed to the Yellow River and said to Kong Qiu, Why don't you learn the virtues of water? Kong Qiu said: What is the virtue of water? Laozi said: if water is good, it will benefit all things without fighting, and it will be evil for all. This is the virtue of modesty; Therefore, Jiang Hai can be the king of all the valleys, and if he is good at it, he can also be the king of all the valleys. The water in the world is not weak, and the strong can't win, which is also gentleness; Therefore, softness wins, and weakness wins. Because it has nothing, it can be integrated, so it can be seen that teaching without words and inaction are also beneficial. After listening to this, Kong Qiu suddenly realized: Sir, this sentence made me suddenly enlightened: everyone is in the world, and water is alone; Everyone is easy, and water is alone; Everyone is clean, and water is alone. It is good to be in a place where everyone is evil. Lao Tzu nodded and said, you can teach me! You can remember: if you don't fight against the world, no one in the world can compete with it, which is to imitate Shuide. Water is more than Tao: Tao is everywhere, water has no disadvantages, avoid heights, never oppose, and be good at its place; The empty place is quiet and unfathomable. Goodness is deep; Losses are inexhaustible, efforts are unrequited, and kindness is also benevolent; You must rotate, you must fold, you must stop, you must flow, you must be kind and trustworthy; Wash the filth, smooth it out, and handle things well; There is a load floating, a clear reference, a strong attack, and a good use of energy; It's also good for you to stay up all night and fall behind. Therefore, saints can do whatever they want, and saints should change because of things; Wise men govern by doing nothing, while great men live in harmony with the weather. After you come here, besides your desire for appearance, you should be arrogant in words. Otherwise, people will walk in the street before they smell it and the wind has moved. Who dares to use your Kong Qiu way: Teacher Wang's words came from the heart and entered the disciples' hearts, and the disciples benefited a lot and will never forget them. Disciples will be obedient and tirelessly grateful to the teacher for his kindness. Say that finish, say goodbye to Lao zi, get on the bus with uncle Nangong, and reluctantly head for Lu.
When they returned to Lu, the disciples asked, "Can you see Confucius when you visit Laozi?" ! Disciple asked: what kind of Confucius said: bird, I know it can fly; Fish, I know it can swim; Beast, I know it can walk. A walker can tie it with a net, a swimmer can catch it with a hook, and a flyer can take it with an arrow. As for the dragon, I don't know why it braved the wind and waves for nine days! I have met Lao Tzu, whose knowledge is inscrutable, his interest is high and he is hard to know; As a snake bends and stretches at any time, as a dragon changes in time. Lao Dan, you are my teacher!
Laozi taught Yang Ziju.
One day, I rode an ox to the outskirts of Liang (now Kaifeng, Henan), and when I was closing my eyes, I suddenly heard someone shout .. Lao Dan heard the sound, opened his eyes and found that it was disciple Yang Ziju.
Yang Ziju, wei ren, went to imperial academy to learn from Lao Tzu. He once worshipped Lao Tzu as a teacher in private. I didn't expect to meet Lao Tzu in Liang, but Yang Ziju hurriedly turned over from the marooned horse, lifted the brocade robe and green robe, and bowed down in front of the green cow. Lao Dan stepped down, picked up Yoko and walked with him.
Lao Dan asked: What are the disciples busy with recently?
Yang Ziju salutes: Come here to visit ancestral houses, buy real estate, decorate Liang Dong, recruit servants and rectify family rules.
Lao Dan said: A place to lie down and eat is enough. Why do you need such publicity?
Yoko said, Sir, cultivate self-cultivation, sit still, relax during the trip, drink quietly and lie still. If there is no single family in the deep house, how can there be such a single family in the deep house, without hiring servants and equipment, how to recruit servants, how to equip and how to rule?
Lao Dan said with a smile: The avenue is natural, so there is no need to be quiet. Do nothing but relax, drink nothing but sake, and lie down without desire. Why do you need to stay in the house and eat hungry, rest tired, work at sunrise and sleep at sunset? Why do you need all the servants at home to let nature take its course and do nothing, then you will be healthy; Back to nature and camp, then god was confused and his body was damaged.
Yoko, a humble confidant, said with shame that his disciples were vulgar. Thank you for your advice.
Lao Dan asked: Where do you live?
Yang Zaidao: Pei County (now Pei County, Jiangsu Province).
Lao Dan said: Just accompanied by peers. Yang Ziju is very happy. Go east with the teacher happily. When they reached the difficult waters, they crossed by boat. Lao Dan led the cattle to climb first, Yoko led the horse, and then climbed. Lao Dan smiled kindly. Talking and laughing with passengers on the same journey; Yoko lives on his high horse, and the guests sit down when they see him. Tea is served and towels are handed on the boat. It was difficult to cross the water, and the two continued to ride horses. Lao Dan sighed: Just now, I saw your attitude. You are arrogant, arrogant, look down on others, self-centered, arrogant, and you can't teach. Yoko was ashamed and said earnestly, Disciples' habits become natural and must be changed! Lao Dan said: a gentleman gets along with others, and when he is in water, he cooperates with others, as humble as a child servant; White and flawless, it seems to contain dirt and hide dirt, and its virtue is rich and vulgar. Hearing this, Yoko changed his arrogance, looked disrespectful, and his words were neither arrogant nor flattering. Lao Tzu boasted: the boy has made some progress! Born in the body of parents, standing between heaven and earth, natural things are also. It is against nature to value oneself and despise things, and it is also against nature to value oneself and despise oneself. When things are in harmony, things and I are integrated, taking advantage of the trend and stopping at the trend. If our words and deeds are unnatural, we are in line with the Tao!
Confucius worshiped Lao Tzu again.
It is said that Kong Qiu is different from Lao Dan. In the blink of an eye, it will be seventeen or eighteen years. At the age of fifty-one, I haven't learned the way. Hearing that he had returned to Song's seclusion, he took his disciples to visit Laozi.
When I saw Kong Qiu visiting, I lifted him up in the main room and asked him, after more than ten years, I heard that you have become a great talent in the north. What suggestions do you have for your visit to Kong Qiu? He said: "I have no talent, but I have been wandering in the air for more than ten years, but I have never entered the gate of the avenue." . So I came to ask for advice. Laozi said: If you want to see the road, you must swim at the beginning of everything. Inside the world, outside the world. Heaven and earth, the sun, the moon and the mountains are different in shape and quality. The same person lives and dies with nature, and stops with nature. Knowing its difference is to see its appearance; To know that they are all the same is to know that they are the same. If you look the same and there is no difference, you can swim at the beginning of things. At the beginning, things are mixed into one, invisible and asexual, no different. Kong Qiu asked, "What's the fun of seeing their similarities?" Laozi said, "If you look at their similarities, everything will be harmonious. Me, too. I have my own rights and wrongs. So life and death can be regarded as day and night, disaster and blessing, blessing and fierceness. It's neither expensive nor cheap, it's neither honorable nor humiliating. Like an ancient well, it goes its own way and enjoys itself. What's wrong with it?
When Kong Qiu heard about it, he felt that he was nothing, and found that his reputation was like dust. I thought about my body, what honor I had before I died, and what skin I had after I died. As a result, I was relieved, carefree, carefree. Laozi went on to say: the Tao is as deep as the sea and as high as the mountain, all over the world. There is no end to everything, and it is impossible to get it, let alone talk about it! Tao, born in heaven and earth, does not fade, and raises everything without want; The sky is vast, the sun and the moon walk together, the seasons are orderly, and everything takes shape. When Kong Qiu heard about it, he felt as if he were floating in the clouds, diving into the bottom of the sea, entering the mountains and absorbing all kinds of substances. Heaven and I are one, everything is their own, and everything is relaxed and happy. He couldn't help crying, "How broad!" Hiro Boundless! I have lived for fifty-one years, and I only know benevolence, righteousness and propriety. I'm afraid Yuhuan is so empty and vast! Have fun and talk to you later! Let's talk about Laozi's point of view first. Kong Qiu has entered the gate of the avenue. Kan Kan said: A saint should live in the world, never return to adversity, move things without saving them, follow the logistics and let nature take its course. Reconciliation and obedience are moral; Those who conform to the situation gain enlightenment. Kong Qiu heard this, and if the cloud fluttered, it would go with the wind; If water flows, it will move. Xi Dao: leisurely! Idle! Floating on the sea by boat and traveling on land by car. If you enter, you will enter together, and if you stop, you will stop at the same time. Why do you have to use your own strength instead? Wonderful! Wonderful! Talk to you later! Let's talk about Laozi again: from the beginning of the universe, everything is evaporating, evaporating and destroying. Life, gas gathering; When people die, they lose their breath. Life between heaven and earth is as sudden as a blink of an eye. Everything is full of vitality, but nothing else; All kinds of people have changed a lot, and they can't help but have something before they start. The birth of things, from scratch; The death of things, from there to nothing. Yes, gas is visible; No, gas is dispersed and invisible. There is qi. Nothing is also qi, and everything is qi, so life and death are also in one breath. The living do not die, and people are happy to see the living and sad to see the dead. Blaming people's death is like releasing the shackles of form, getting rid of the entanglement of temperament, and returning to the original position from the temporary world. This is not surprising. People are far away from the original, such as wandering away from home; Death is to return to nature, like a wanderer returning home, so life is unhappy and death is not sad. Those who gain the Tao regard life and death as one, living for joy and dying for interest; Regard right and wrong as the same, right and wrong, right and wrong; It is neither cheap nor expensive to regard the noble and the humble as a whole; Regard honor and disgrace as equality, honor and disgrace. Why do you want to stand on the avenue and look at the problem fundamentally? Life and death, right and wrong, honor and disgrace are all artificial values, and they are also in a state of instantaneous change. In the end, it makes no difference. If you know this avenue, you can let it change without worrying about it. The sun and the moon alternate, the heavens and the earth shake, the wind roars and the tsunami, and the thunder shakes calmly.
Hearing this, Kong Qiu felt that he was a magpie, flying in the branches; I feel like a fish, wandering in the rivers and lakes: I feel like a bee, gathering honey and flowers; I feel that I am a person, seeking Tao from Lao Dan. I can't help but be open-minded: stand at thirty, but not confused at forty. Now I don't know what nature is until I am fifty-one! If you make me a magpie, you will follow the nature of magpie, fish, bee and human. Magpie, fish, bees and people are different, but they are the same according to natural changes; Change according to nature, that is, go and pass; Standing in the difference and wandering in the realm of Datong is also suitable for the avenue. I seek Tao every day, I don't know if it's me! Said, and got up to say goodbye.