1483, Wang Yangming studied in a private school in Beijing. One day, he solemnly asked the teacher, "What's the first thing?" The meaning of this sentence is actually asking, what is the ultimate value of life?

His teacher was taken aback. No student has ever asked him such a question. He looked at Wang Yangming, smiled, thought for a while, and then made what he thought was the most perfect answer: "Of course, he studied to be a big official."

Wang Yangming is obviously not satisfied with this answer. He looked at the teacher and said, "I don't think so."

The teacher gave an unnatural "Oh": "What? Do you have a different opinion? " Wang Yangming nodded exaggeratedly and said, "I thought the first thing should be to study and be a saint."

2. "When you didn't see this flower, it died with your heart. When you look at this flower, the color of this flower suddenly becomes clear. "

One spring, Wang Yangming and his friends went to the mountains to play. A friend pointed to a flower among the rocks and said to Wang Yangming, you often say that there is nothing outside your heart. Everything in the world is in your heart and controlled by your heart. Look at this flower. It blooms and falls all over the mountains. Can your heart control it? Whether your heart lets it open, it will open; Your heart let it fall, it fell?

Wang Yangming's answer is very tasty: "When you didn't see this flower, it died with your heart;" You will know that this flower is not in your heart. "

3. "I am ashamed of being tempted to fall behind."

1496, he failed again in Sun Shan. Someone cried at the publishing site without seeing his name, but Wang Yangming was indifferent. Everyone thought he was too sad to use a sad expression, so they came to comfort him.

A vicissitudes of life smile flitted across his face. He said, "You are all ashamed of being the last one, but I am ashamed of being tempted to be the last one."

4. "The decisive victory or defeat is only in this heart."

A disciple asked Wang Yangming if he had any specific skills in fighting. Wang Yangming replied: Where there are any skills, you just have to study hard and keep your heart still. If you have to say that you have the ability, then this heart is the only ability. Everyone's wisdom is similar, and the decision to win or lose is only here.

For example, Wang Yangming said that we were at a disadvantage when fighting Zhu. I issued an order to the people around me to prepare for a fire attack, but that person was indifferent. I told him four times before he came to his senses. This kind of person is usually not knowledgeable and panics whenever something happens. The wisdom of those who use their quick wits does not fall from the sky, but is due to their pure learning.

5. "You see that the streets are full of saints, and people all over the streets regard you as a saint."

One day, Wang Gen, who has a strong personality, came back from a business trip. Wang Yangming asked him, "What do you see?"

Wang Gen said in an unusually surprised tone: "I saw saints all over the street."

We should note that this sentence by Wang Gen has profound meaning. Before Wang Gen came to worship Wang Yangming as a teacher, he was arrogant and unruly. After worshipping Wang Yangming as a teacher, he will not change his "arrogant" temperament. Wang Yangming has said many times: "Everyone can be a saint." Wang Gen doesn't believe it. He always thinks that saints are out of reach, so his sentence "I see saints all over the street" is a mockery of Wang Yangming's remarks: "Look, those ordinary people in the street are saints. Why can't I believe that there are so many saints in the world? "

Wang Yangming probably guessed Wang Gen's mind, so he tried his best: "You are full of saints, and people all over the street regard you as a saint."

Wang Gen smiled awkwardly: They are all saints.

Wang Yangming nodded and said, yes! Everyone is a saint, and no one is worse than anyone else.