Reflections after reading "Mencius" - an Illuminati's path to good deeds "Mencius·Wan Zhang 2" "...Yi Yin said: "Heaven gives birth to people, so that they can perceive first and then know. I will wake up first and wake up later. I will be the first to wake up to the people of heaven. I will wake up this people in this way. 'Think of the people in the world who are not as good as those who were benefited by Yao and Shun. Among them. His self-reliance is the most important thing in the world..." Mencius praised Yi Yin as a "sacred leader", and he himself regarded the suffering and sorrow of the people as his own suffering and sorrow, and ran around in the troubled times of the Warring States Period. Between vassal states one after another. Although his ideas were difficult to adopt under the social background of the time and indeed were not adopted, his talents still convinced many monarchs to try their best to retain Mencius. Finally, he wrote books and systematically promoted Confucianism. The essence of it is worthy of being revered as a sub-sage. How could Mencius not be regarded as the "sacred leader" of that era and the "illuminator" of the entire society? Mencius embraced an intellectual's sense of mission, used what he knew and felt, and used his "righteousness" and "dao" to guide people to do good, from the "should" of individual situations to the bright road of life, that is, "Aware of this people". All Mencius' views must first be based on the so-called "human nature is good" view, and this view is closely related to each of us and is most worthy of everyone's careful consideration and understanding in today's era. Mencius's theory of "human nature is good" first proposed that the heart of compassion, the heart of shame, the heart of resignation, and the heart of right and wrong are the four ends of "benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom" that everyone has. If it can be expanded In other words, "if the fire begins to burn, the spring begins to reach", so it is said that "no one is bad, and there is no water that cannot flow" "but if it is emotional, it can be good". Since everyone has a good intention, how can there be evil people? This is exactly the second question that Mencius wants to explain. Why can't some people "be as affectionate" as they are? Mencius gave us two answers in "Gaozi 1": First, it is an external reason that cannot be ignored, that is, environmental factors, which is also the reason why Meng's mother moved three times, and the environment here is not only the people around her or The influence of the incident also includes the era and social conditions in which they live, as well as the specific difference between adversity and prosperity. In a discussion about the food that came in "Gaozi 1", the shame inspired by people in adversity can make people feel ashamed. Instead of using life to uphold principles, people in good times are more likely to lose their way and give up those principles of "the country will die for the sake of one's own body and not accept it". The environment can be said to be an important factor in determining whether to do good or evil, righteousness or unrighteousness. Secondly, a very important internal requirement to be kind is persistence. Mencius also used the metaphor of "a drop in the bucket" in "Gaozi 1". Righteousness can overcome unjustness, and benevolence can overcome unkindness. However, without persistence, there is no way to achieve success. success. When a person is able to withstand the environment and persist in his original intention, a benevolent and righteous man must be a wise man and a gentleman. "You can't help yourself but cannot straighten others." Only those who adhere to principles can assist the monarch and induce the people to do good; "The benevolent are invincible", benevolence and righteousness How can the princes not "ruler the world" if they enjoy themselves with the people and keep close friends with the virtuous and sparse the necessities? Therefore, in the days of Yao, Shun, and Yu, filial piety, brotherhood, etiquette, and righteousness were universally followed, and the world was peaceful and happy. Although Mencius has a complete theory from human nature to goodness to the invincibility of the benevolent, his extraordinary eloquence is indispensable in order to guide goodness. Whether he was answering questions to the emperor or debating with his opponents, Mencius was able to quote scriptures and flexibly apply the "Poetry" and "Books"; he also started with common sense and used small things to see the big things, which was very vivid; he was also good at asking questions, and finally used the opponent's The answer is relied on by oneself to answer the other party's question, leaving the other party speechless and recognizing Mencius's ideas. This Illuminati, whom Mr. Fu Peirong calls "a magical combination of thought and eloquence", still relies on the 30,000-word "Mencius" to follow his path of guiding good people for thousands of years.