Chapter 1023 "University" and "The Mean"

"I'm a little tired! Zengzi! Take a break! Le Ge said, closing his eyes and entering the cultivation state.

"Uncle Le! Uncle Le? "I saw Uncle Le close his eyes and practice, so he didn't speak again. He gently took out another roll of bamboo slips and looked at it.

This time, he brought not only "The University", but also the draft of "The Mean".

The university writes about the relationship between people, family, and society, and "The Mean" is the idea he wants to express: set a rule for vulgar people. What rules? That is: the golden mean. If you don't explain the relationship between people, family and society clearly, it will be difficult for people to really know how to behave and understand the golden mean.

"What's wrong? Zengzi? Wei'er didn't hear the conversation inside, so she was surprised and ran in in a panic.

"It's okay! Aunt! Uncle Le said he was tired and would take a break! Zeng Zi whispered.

"Oh?" Wei'er looked at Lege's cultivation and responded suspiciously.

Seeing that Lege was breathing evenly and looked very normal, she was relieved.

Maybe it's because of his age, now Lege is often like this, suddenly stopping everything and entering a state of cultivation, and after a while, it will return to normal. And also! Nowadays, there is no distinction between day and night. When he was tired, he entered the state of cultivation. Woke up and everything was fine.

After a long while, Le Ge opened his eyes and looked at Zengzi. Seeing Zengzi reading a book and reading silently, his heart was very happy.

"Uncle Le! Are you awake? Zeng Shen found that Uncle Le was awake and asked in some surprise.

"Hehehe! It's okay! I'm old! I'm going to see Lao Tzu! It's okay! You're not gone yet! I thought you were gone! ”

"I'm not gone yet! Uncle Le! I? ”

"Didn't I finish reading 'University' for you, you?"

"Uncle Le!" Zeng Shen looked at Uncle Lege and said, "I also wrote a draft, I want to ask Uncle Le's opinion?" ”

"Draft?" Lege asked.

This draft is called "The Mean", and it is a supplement and extension of the "Analects" and "The Mean"! Uncle Le! I know that my "University" only talks about the relationship between people and their families, others, and society, which can be regarded as a supplement and improvement of my husband's "Analects". But? I still feel that there are some things that have not been clearly stated, and they must be reiterated and emphasized. So! That's what I wrote about "The Mean"! ”

"Oh?" Le Ge nodded: "That?" Read to listen? ”

In his memory, it seems that the Confucian "The Mean" was written by Zisi, why is it now that he has participated in it?

Confucius's "Analects", Zengzi's "University", Zisi's "The Mean", isn't it? How? Don't? "The Mean" was written by Zeng Zi, but it was not published? Or! Zeng Zi wrote a draft, and Zi Si revised it. Later generations didn't know what to do, so they thought it was written by Zisi.

Or to put it this way: the Analects represents the thought of Confucius, and the University represents the thought of Zengzi. And "The Mean"! It represents the doctrine and thought of Zisi. They are all Confucians, and when their ideas are fused together, they become complete Confucian ideas.

"Yes! Uncle Le! Uncle Le, who agreed, began to read.

The predicate of the Mandate of Heaven is sexuality, the predicate of recklessness is the Tao, and the predicate of cultivation is teaching.

Lege nodded and asked, "What do you mean?" Interpret it? ”

Zeng Shen said: "Uncle Le! Meaning: The natural endowment that nature endows people from other things is called 'sex', that is, 'human nature', and the natural attributes that distinguish people from other things. Acting according to the natural attributes given to people by nature is called 'Tao', and Tao is 'method and rule'. Changing past behaviors, methods, and rules is called 'teaching'. To teach is to educate, to teach! It is only through teaching and edification that people can be transformed! ”

Le Ge nodded and said, "Very good!" You are emphasizing that man is man, and man is different from other things. People have their own way of living, the way of survival, and the habits of life. That's what it means, right? ”

"Yes! Uncle Le! ”

"You think that people are to be educated, and if you don't educate and don't train, you won't become talented, just like animals! Right? ”

"Yes! Uncle Le! Zeng Zi replied again.

"Only by consciously learning can people make progress and distinguish themselves from animals! For those who can't learn consciously, educate them! For the little baby, it is necessary to educate them in order to make them become people! ”

"Yes! Uncle Le! Zeng Zi responded.

"Good! Read on! ”

"Yes! Uncle Le! ”

Those who are in the Tao do not need to leave the Tao, but they can leave the Tao. Therefore, a gentleman is cautious of what he does not see, and fearful of what he does not hear. Don't see it, don't see it. Therefore, the gentleman is cautious.

"Interpret it!" Lege stretched out his hand and gestured.

Zeng Zi explained: "The 'Dao' cannot be left for a moment, and if it can be left, it is not a person's 'Dao'." Pigs and dogs have the 'way' of pigs and dogs, and people have 'humanity'. According to the essential characteristics of human beings, people find their own way to survive and live. So! 'Humanity' is different from 'the way of pigs and dogs'. Therefore it is prudent for a virtuous person to walk where no one has seen, and he is wary of walking where no one has heard. Everything is done in accordance with 'humanity', and we will never dare to violate it, which is the foundation of being a human being. Don't think that if you hide from others, you won't know, and don't think that subtleties won't be noticed by others. Therefore, a person with high moral character is also cautious when he is alone, and acts in accordance with 'humanity' in everything, and never dares to disobey it, which is the foundation of being a human being. ”

"Hmmm! Good! Le Ge responded: "Your husband Confucius, you also said this in the Analects!" Isn't it? ”

"Yes! Uncle Le! ”

"Read on!"

"Yes! Uncle Le! ”

Joy, anger, sorrow and joy have not yet occurred, which is said to be in the middle; It is said to be the sum of the middle sections. Those who are in the middle are also the great capital of the world; Those who are harmonious are also the way of the world. To neutralize, heaven is in the ascendancy, and all things are nurtured.

"Interpret it!" Lege asked.

Zeng Zi explained: "If the time when people's joys, sorrows, and sorrows have not yet been expressed are called 'medium', then! If a person's joys, sorrows, and sorrows are so reasonable, it is called 'harmony'. 'Harmony' is the nature of all human beings, and 'harmony' is the result of everyone following the principles. Only by attaining the realm of 'neutralization' and letting heaven and earth each take their place can all things grow and multiply naturally. So! People must act in accordance with the 'way' of man, so that human society can achieve the state of 'neutrality'. ”

Lege concluded: "Medium! It is the foundation of being a human being, which is determined from the perspective of the natural attributes that distinguish people from other things. People are different from other things, different from pigs and dogs. Therefore, everything about man must be determined from the point of view of the natural attributes that distinguish man from other things! This is the foundation of being a human being! And! Harmony is the result of the principles that everyone follows. Everyone must act according to such principles in order for society to be harmonious! ”

"Thank you! Thank you Uncle Le! Zengzi thanked.