Note: This article is some of the author’s views and thoughts while reading the book, and is not biased or directional.

As the opening chapter of the plain book, the original chapter is obviously to set the tone and express the point of view of the book. I think the original chapter mainly expresses two attitudes, first, the attitude towards oneself, and second, the attitude towards waiting for opportunities.

First of all, treat yourself, improve your self-cultivation, and lay a solid foundation. Therefore, the book says that "the five elements of Tao, virtue, benevolence, righteousness, and etiquette are integrated into one body." This is the foundation of establishing oneself. Chinese culture highly values ??self-cultivation, and the same is true in Su Shu. Like Confucianism and Taoism, the purpose of self-cultivation is to see the essence of things clearly, respect the laws of natural development, understand all living things with an inclusive attitude, view the changes in the current situation with a broader perspective, and face success and failure with an attitude of indifference. Only with sufficient cultivation can one "understand the path of ups and downs, know the numbers of success and failure, judge the trend of controlling chaos, and understand the principles of getting rid of troubles." Of course, for ordinary people, this requirement is too perfect. I think what we need to understand in self-cultivation is to think far, see broadly, have long-term plans, and be able to face the results calmly, which is amazing. .

So, if a person has noble moral character and outstanding talents, can he achieve great things and realize his dreams? No, we still have to wait for the opportunity. A person's talent is often reflected by the opportunities created by the current situation. Just imagine if it hadn't been for the general trend created by the peasant uprising at the end of Qin Dynasty, Xiang Yu would not have become the overlord of Western Chu, and Liu Bang would not have become the emperor of the Han Dynasty. Maybe the best outcome for them is to spend their lives peacefully in their respective places. Therefore, it is said that wise men and gentlemen can clearly see the general trend of the times and the pros and cons, and they must "lurk in hiding and wait for the right time." Only when the time comes can they achieve success. However, opportunities are more scarce than talents. If you don’t have opportunities, you will be dead. There is no regret in changing your mentality and lifestyle. Fortune and fame in the world's eyes are not the real destination in our hearts. What we yearn for in the world is mostly because we can't get it, and we don't necessarily have to cater to it. It's good to be an ordinary person who is independent and unique!

Therefore, the book tells us that our attitude towards opportunities is not only to be able to seize them when they come, but also to be open-minded and calm, so that we can let them go when they are not available. Down. A person with great talent should not only have the ability to strategize and conquer thousands of miles, but also have the freedom and ease to retreat to the countryside and pick chrysanthemums on the east fence. If the time comes, you can help the world. If the time does not come, you can also take care of yourself. No matter whether there is an opportunity or not, it is great wisdom not to be obsessed with fame and not to be bound by the times.