Chapter 3

Twenty-one, the greatest of these is love

Chapter twenty-one, the greatest of these is love

Liu Guozong

To love someone is a kind of happiness; to be loved by someone is also a kind of happiness. Birds love humanity, so their song is clear and pleasant to the ear in all seasons; humans love birds, and their thoughts are often drawn to the free sky.

What is love? "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." Because of our love, the world becomes warm like spring; we also, by offering the love in our hearts to the world, make this small life great and valuable.

A person without love in their heart will have a life like a bitter branch in spring, unable to feel the world's beauty and warmth. Therefore, the spring flowers say: "Love me! I will give you imagination, I will give you beauty." The summer green leaves say: "Love me! I will give you freshness, I will give you fragrance." The autumn

fruit says: "Love me! I will give you sweetness, I will give you what you like." The winter snowflake says: "Love me! I will give you crystal clarity, I will give you purity."

The high mountain says: "Love me! I will give you strength, I will lead you upward." The river says: "Love me! I will give you gentleness, I will teach you how to ride the wind and break the waves." The beggar says: "Love me! I will repay you, I will say 'thank you'."

The rich person says: "Love me! I will let you understand what struggle and striving are." Time says: "Love me! An inch of time is an inch of gold, but an inch of gold cannot buy an inch of time."

O humanity!

Love one another,

we are all travelers on the long road

with the same destination.

Love is completing others,

love is saving oneself.

Now there remain faith,

love,

hope,

these three,

and the greatest of these is love.

Chapter twenty-two, I want to turn my hidden love into a ray of sunshine

Liu Guozong

A friend who has achieved success in their career said to me: "Not caring about gains and losses of fame and fortune, always full of youthful vigor, cutting through thorns and brambles toward one's own goal—this is success. Can you do it?"

"Me?" I was asked by my friend and became speechless. I am not a success, I cannot reach your level, I can only do: "The silkworm spins silk until death, the candle burns to ash before tears dry."

I am the silkworm, I want to become a cocoon and transform into a butterfly, flying in the midst of blooming flowers, letting my ugly life bring to the world a beautiful creature that can fly; I am the burning candle, I want to turn my hidden love into a ray of sunshine that shines before the feet of those seeking truth in darkness.

Who says: "Life is a road that gradually approaches death"? Who says: "Happiness is a brief cessation of suffering"? This is a vivid portrayal of a hopeless life, this is the helplessness and despair of a tragic life. What is life? Life is a process, it is an experience of loving the world. As long as life does not cease, this love for the world will never cease. Love can make our broken, incomplete lives whole, for there is no fear in love. Love is sincere giving. Only sincere giving is true love.

Someone told me this little story: A little girl took the one yuan her mother gave her, went to the store downstairs to buy snacks, and saw an old beggar begging along the street.

The little girl felt great sympathy for this old beggar, walked up to him and said: "Grandma, I give you one yuan, you give me fifty cents back, okay?" The old beggar, of course, happily accepted.

The little girl took the fifty cents change from the old beggar, bought a string of candied haws, took a string of joy and happiness, and ate it very sweetly and happily.

I was moved by this simple story. How pure and lovely the little girl is, she gave half of the love in her heart to the weak and kept half for herself. She made me understand what true human love is in today's commercial society, and how pure true love is.

Although I do not have a successful life, I have love for the world within me, and this love is still growing.

Chapter twenty-three, he wants to use money to buy Asia

Liu Guozong

Recently, I saw this news in the newspaper: An American gambling king has already stretched his black hand toward Macau, using 25o billion yuan to buy Macau's Golden Sands Beach, building the world's best casino. He has also made huge investments in Singapore, preparing to build the best casino there. He declared with conviction: his wealth will surpass Bill Gates', and his next plan is to buy Asia.

After reading this news, I felt a chill in my heart: If Asia is bought by this gambling king, then we and our descendants will all be his slaves? Then what meaning and value will our labor and creation have? No matter how hard we strive, the end will be slavery to the gambling king?

Later, I thought again: Initially, Hitler wanted to conquer the world with guns and force. The result was that he not only failed to conquer the world, but in the end he could not even conquer himself, and the result was that he actually shot himself dead.

More than ten years ago, when I saw Saddam invade Kuwait, I still felt a little worried, fearing that this ignorant thing would one day come and wage war on our China. Thinking back then, old Saddam only stared at the US dollars in his pocket, his eyes grew dizzy, his head swelled, and he became domineering, bullying the weak. He even thought the whole world was his.

Actually, thinking back then, old Saddam didn't have much money. He just relied on that bit of oil resources, thinking he could possess the whole world. Later, old Bush gave him a heavy blow, first letting him taste bitterness. Then later, little Bush finally dealt with that mad tyrant (although some say little Bush bullied people, in reality Saddam got what he deserved). As Jia Yi satirized Qin Shihuang: dead at human hands, laughed at by all under heaven.

Can having money make one unkind and lawless? Someone says: "Having money means having everything, money can make ghosts turn millstones, no money means pushing the millstone as a ghost." Perhaps that American gambling king is seizing this opportunity to realize his ambition of buying Asia?

Can his wish be realized? Friends who also saw this news mocked: "This gambling king is truly violent, he is like a toad wanting to eat swan meat!" Having heard friends' mockery of that American gambling king,

I thought of what Laozi said: "If one desires to take the world and act upon it, I see that they cannot succeed. The world's sacred instrument cannot be acted upon. Those who act will ruin it; those who hold will lose it." Laozi said, those who want to take the world as their own can never succeed. The world this sacred instrument is not something that can be done however one wishes. Because the world belongs to everyone; how can the shared wealth of all be monopolized by one person? Even if you have great abilities and inexhaustible wealth, you cannot take everything that belongs to everyone and make it your own.

If you have money and power to "eat fish and eat meat," then leave some "soup" for others to drink!

People cannot speak absolutely, nor can they act absolutely.

Chapter twenty-four, for the "beautiful girl under the rose flowers"

Liu Guozong

In chapter thirty of Dream of the Red Chamber, it wrote that Jia Baoyu, for the sake of the beautiful girl under the rose flowers, forgot the story of wind blowing, sun shining, and rain beating:

At this time, it was precisely when the rose flowers were in full bloom. At that time, only the red sun was high in the sky, green shade covered the ground, cicadas filled the ears, and it was silent with no human voice. Baoyu had just arrived under the rose flowers when he only heard someone sobbing in the green shade. Baoyu felt doubtful in his heart, so he stopped and listened carefully. Indeed, he saw someone on the other side of the wall. Looking more closely, under the rose flowers, there was still a girl crouching.

Only see that girl, under the reflection of the rose flowers, appeared extraordinarily beautiful. When Baoyu carefully examined that girl, he only saw the girl's eyebrows like spring mountains, eyes like autumn waters, face slim, waist slender, graceful and elegant, greatly resembling Daiyu in appearance and Baochai in manner.

Ah, I have never seen such a beautiful girl before! Baoyu was stunned by the beauty of this girl under the rose flowers before his eyes. This beautiful girl actually made him forget everything outside himself. Baoyu's two eyes only looked at this beautiful girl, his two eyeballs moved with her. At this time, the clear sky suddenly changed. Just moments ago it was the red sun high in the sky, in the blink of an eye the sky was full of dark clouds. From the gaps in the dark clouds, a sudden downpour fell, drenching Baoyu from head to toe, yet Baoyu remained completely unaware. Until the rain stopped, Baoyu only then knew that it had rained.

Look, how infatuated Baoyu is, how focused Baoyu is, for the sake of the beautiful girl under the rose flowers, he actually forgot the wind and rain outside himself.

Yes, for the sake of the beauty in one's heart, enduring wind and rain outside, what is that? Wind and rain can only wet our outward appearance, but they cannot wet the heart that pursues beauty. On our life's journey, there may sometimes be sudden wind and rain, as long as we focus our spirit on one thing, as long as we, like Baoyu, fix our eyes on "that beauty under the rose flowers," and think of "that beauty under the rose flowers," what fear is there in wind and rain?

Ge? said, whoever wants to achieve great things must concentrate their attention, and show mastery within limits. Friends, we each have in our hearts a pursuit of beauty, and in that pursuit, perhaps when the weather is fair and sunny, and then suddenly the sky is full of dark clouds and heavy rain pours down. But as long as you keep your eyes firmly fixed on "that beautiful girl under the rose flowers," you will surely be able to see the "rainbow after the rain."

Chapter twenty-five, when the angel comes to save you…….

Liu Guozong

Someone told me this little story: In America, there is a person walking on the beach, swept away by a suddenly arriving tide. The person swept away struggled on the waves while praying to God to quickly send an angel to save him. People on the shore saw this, immediately tried to save him. Some called the police, some went to find a rope, and threw it from the shore toward him. But when the people on the shore threw the rope toward him, wanting him to quickly grab the rope's end, he instead abandoned the rope people threw to him, saying: "Don't, God's angel will come immediately, he will come to save me."

Thus, this person gradually was swept by the waves to the middle of the sea. Not long after, the rescue helicopter sent by the police also arrived. The people on the helicopter, seeing the target, immediately carried out rescue. The people on the helicopter threw down a life ring from the air, signaling him to quickly put it on. But this person struggling in the seawater, half-drowned by seawater, still foolish and uncomprehending, refused people's help to him. Not long after, this person struggling in the seawater was drowned to death.

His soul went to heaven, and on the way he happened to meet an angel, and blamed the angel saying: "Angel, I was drowned by seawater, struggling in the waves, I begged you to save me, why did you see death and not save? You are so lazy and neglectful, I want to go to God to complain about you."

The angel said: "Sir, it is not that I am lazy and neglectful, but that you refused my help and rescue. When you were swept away by seawater, I had already arranged for people to help from the shore, behind, behind is what, now you know, behind is regret and death. You died as you deserved."

This story is a bit suspicious, hearing it makes one feel pity for the person drowned by seawater: How could you be so unaware of good and bad, unable to properly grasp and cherish opportunities, thus losing your life?

Someone says, there are two kinds of people in this world: one kind of person, when facing opportunity, can well grasp and seize it, thus obtaining happiness, joy, wealth, and honor; another kind of person, when opportunity comes, always watches, hesitates, waits, or because of a single thought, lets the opportunity quietly slip by from beside them, thus ruining their future, complaining all their life. Because they do not know, every time opportunity comes, it is God's blessing and grace to us. And to silently endure, coldly treat, or refuse God's blessing and grace, to miss opportunity, that regret medicine, only you yourself can taste.

Friend, when the angel comes to save you, you must make good use of the opportunity, and not misuse it.

Chapter Twenty-Six, speaking to this mountain…….

Liu Guozong

On April 1, 1953, the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Permanent Undersecretary Dag Hammarskjöld suddenly received a letter from the United Nations Security Council. The letter's content was simple and clear: Dag Hammarskjöld, you have been nominated as a candidate for United Nations Secretary-General; please reply as soon as possible whether you will participate in the election.

After reading the content, Dag Hammarskjöld felt both delighted and anxious, because the news of letting him become "World President" came too suddenly. At that time in the international community, Dag Hammarskjöld was still an obscure, unknown figure. Whether he could perform well as "World President," as the "chief" of Earth, he had no confidence in his heart. Therefore, Dag Hammarskjöld went to consult his 91-year-old father, Arvid Hammarskjöld.

Arvid Hammarskjöld, who deeply understood his son, said without hesitation: "Son, you should certainly accept the nomination; your entire life is the pursuit of this goal."

Encouraged by his father, Dag Hammarskjöld dispelled all doubts in his heart, and became full of confidence and courage in running for "World President." He thus gladly accepted the Security Council's nomination for him to run for Secretary-General.

Six days later (April 7, 1953), Dag Hammarskjöld ran for United Nations Secretary-General.

Dag Hammarskjöld, carrying his father's admonition, carrying courage and confidence, and of course wisdom and talent, flew to the United Nations Headquarters—New York, to fulfill his life's vow. Due to his outstanding work and modest character, in 1957 Dag Hammarskjöld was re-elected for another term as Secretary-General (1957–1961).

What is confidence? Confidence is that if others can do something, I can too; confidence is that if others cannot do something, I can! Confidence is challenging one's own limits, letting a small life exert a great influence on the world!

In all things, as long as one has confidence, there is no mountain that cannot be climbed, no sea that cannot be crossed. The Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, during the Long March, relied precisely on confidence and courage to climb snow mountains, cross grasslands, defeat the enemy, and accomplish its mission. The Bible has a small story: once, Jesus walked on the sea, and his disciples saw it, and were all very frightened, thinking he was a "ghost," and screamed loudly. Among his disciples was one named Peter. Peter, however, was not afraid, nor did he shout. At that moment he thought, since Jesus could walk on the sea, why could I not walk on the sea? He confidently said to Jesus: "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water." Look, how great Peter's faith was: you can walk on the sea, I can too. Under Jesus' encouragement, Peter finally also walked on the sea to his destination.

There is a story everyone knows: a poor monk and a rich monk both prepared to go to the South Sea, while the South Sea was ten thousand li away from them. Although the rich monk had money, he feared hardship and difficulty. He had ideals, but lacked the confidence to take the difficult road. While the poor monk, although he had no money, had the confidence to overcome difficulties. He brought nothing, only bringing his own confidence and perseverance, and set out. One year later, that poor monk returned from the South Sea as desired, while the rich monk still lingered in place, gazing and sighing.

During the Spanish-American War in the United States, at that time U. S. President McKinley urgently needed to send a letter to the Cuban insurgent García. This had to be done en route, passing through layers of enemy blockades, at the risk of death. At that time, the one entrusted with the important task, Rowan, took the letter, stated no conditions, swiftly took action, and gave his all to accomplish the mission—"deliver the letter to García." Finally, he relied on confidence, courage, and wisdom to complete the important task.

The Bible says, as long as you have faith, say to this mountain: "Move away!" and it will depart according to your will.

Chapter Twenty-Seven, "Absolute Theft" and "Falsehoods"

Liu Guozong

According to reports: in Shanghai there is a gang of thieves who, in broad daylight, can openly "absolutely steal" others' household money and valuables. This gang of thieves is called "Absolute Theft" by Shanghai residents.

The theft method of this "Absolute Theft" gang is: posing as moving company staff, inquiring about a certain lane, a certain alley, a certain family that has all gone out, then seizing this opportunity, boldly driving a car, openly in front of the street neighbors, using a pre-prepared key, opening the door of the absent household, and openly "moving out" all indoor valuables. This method of theft, in the whole world, can be said to be absolutely unique, hence it is no wonder that Shanghai residents call it "Absolute Theft."

All swindlers in the world are full of tricks, for to deceive people, they can all compose fallacies into truths, making people believe that only they are the most honest people in the world. While truly honest people, on the contrary, do not know the true face of Mount Lu, and are thus deceived, taken in, and cheated.

American writer Singer once told us such a story. The gist of the story is: humanity sinned, God could not tolerate it, and decided to send down a flood to punish. The flood came, and all the animals gathered beside Noah's ark; Noah was a kind-hearted righteous man, and God had once told him, to save his family, he must build an ark, so that when the flood came, his whole family could enter the ark and escape the deluge.

Upon hearing that the flood was coming, God instructed Noah to bring the best animals into the ark. The animals, fearing they would be drowned by the flood, all gathered beside Noah's ark, and fabricated beautiful lies to boast of their abilities and talents, claiming they were the best.

The lion roared: "I am the strongest among beasts, naturally I should live." The elephant trumpeted: "I am the largest among beasts, with the longest trunk, biggest ears, and heaviest legs." The tiger roared: "I am as strong as the lion, but my fur is more beautiful than the lion's; the lion eats people, I never eat people." The fox howled: "I am of the same family as the tiger, but I am more agile and clever than the tiger." The sycophantic dog said: "I am a flatterer, although I have no talent, I am the best at flattery in the world."

Friends, look, these beasts all used lies to dress themselves up, making people believe that only they are the world's "best." No wonder swindlers ancient and modern, at home and abroad, will utter nonsense; originally, the swindlers' nonsense is learned from the beasts.

There is a foreign proverb: "The characteristic of a swindler is: one mouth, two tongues, three minds."

Kind and honest people, must guard against the swindler's deceit!

Chapter Twenty-Eight, on preventing "knives and salt" to remind

Liu Guozong

Taiwanese poet Ximurong said, in Taiwan there is a kind of fruit tree, called the "wax apple tree." The wax apple tree's flowers bloom very beautifully, and its fruit is also very delicious. Therefore, people all like it, have many expectations for it, and also have a special "deep affection" for it. But, if the wax apple tree betrays the owner's deep affection: when it blooms sparsely that year, and bears few fruits.

Then it is sorry, when winter comes, the owner will take the prepared knife and cut on it one gash after another, deep and long, letting it ooze much juice.

Although its "tears" have flowed out, the owner still will not spare it lightly. Then, again on the place where the knife wound oozes juice, sprinkle several handfuls of salt. Let the wax apple tree suffer excruciating pain all over. Thus it can be reminded: we have shown you such deep affection, why do you betray our expectations? Bloom these few flowers, bear these few fruits, to fool us? You had better think it over, and next year we shall see what you do!

Under the reminder of the owner's knife and salt, the wax apple tree dares not be lazy anymore. Thus, it will in winter accumulate nutrients, dig out potential. Prepare in spring to give people a tree of beauty, in autumn to give people a tree of sweetness. Of course, the second year, it will bloom many flowers and bear many fruits.

Why is this so? The poet says, this principle is very simple. The wax apple tree is a very sensitive tree; when you treat it with knife and salt, it feels this is a harm, a crisis. And its only way to deal with crisis is to desperately bloom, desperately bear fruit. Using flowers and fruits to gain people's trust, and maintain its right to survive.

Blooming and bearing fruit for the world is the wax apple tree's mission, and also the mission of every living person. One cannot say I have already bloomed and borne fruit for the world, and thereafter can slack off, bloom less, bear less; even not bloom, not bear fruit. Then, it will hinder others' affairs, trip others' hands and feet. It will be like that wax apple tree, receiving the "knife and salt" reminder.

In the Bible, Proverbs, it says: "You sluggard! How long will you sleep? When will you wake up? Sleep a little longer, doze a little longer, fold your hands and lie a little longer, and your poverty will surely come like a robber, your lack will seem like an armed man coming to you."

Yes, as long as our life still exists, we must exert our utmost effort, use all our wisdom, to make others bloom and bear fruit. Only thus can we win people's true deep affection. Only thus can we avoid the lament: "If one does not strive in youth, in old age one will only grieve in vain."

When we face a survival crisis, face others' "knife and salt," if we can also, like the wax apple tree: contribute more "flowers and fruits" to the world, can we also gain people's trust and maintain our right to survive?

Chapter Twenty-Nine, the appearance of occasional "clouds and mist"

Liu Guozong

Remember Gibran said: "My soul once told me, it taught me not to use my own language, yesterday… tomorrow will… … to measure time." Yes, time no one can calculate its length. Chinese people like to read the "Song of Tomorrow": "Tomorrow follows tomorrow, tomorrow how many," tomorrow boundless and endless, no one can say the exact number of tomorrow. The author of the "Song of Tomorrow" painstakingly intended: to grasp today, do not wait, use tomorrow to delimit time and space.

The great Tang poet Li Bai also sighed over "Those who abandon me, yesterday's day cannot be retained."

Since yesterday has already abandoned me, all regret and stamping feet and beating the breast cannot bring back yesterday.

My friend said, life is like a wheel, this wheel, under the push of the ages, eternally moves forward without stopping. She has passed yesterday, and arrived at today. As long as life does not cease, she still must turn toward tomorrow. This wheel of life, in the three major regions of yesterday, today, and tomorrow, proceeds gradually.

When we stand on today's high mountain, looking back at the region we passed through yesterday. Perhaps you will see misty rain in the mire, on the muddy, uneven, thorn-choked road, where your drops of sweat, even streaks of blood, are left, now glimmering. At this time, you will surely say: "Ah, such a difficult road, I have after all walked through it. Henceforth, even if there are roads more difficult than this, I will not beat my breast and sigh. Although I cannot, like Napoleon, boast: in his dictionary one cannot find the word 'difficult.' But I have found the way to overcome difficulties, and also possess the perseverance and confidence to overcome difficulties."

Some admire today's region: look at the sky so blue, so radiant, moon bright, stars sparse, clear breeze brushing the face. Seize her, how lovely today is, cherish her with all your heart, all your intention, all your strength, all your nature. If yesterday you were a failure, do not let the worry of failure become a stumbling block to progress; please raise your ideal's sail, and continue your journey.

Because "the mistakes of life, you and I have both had, the tears of regret, you and I have both shed. Having fallen, rise again, do not let yourself feel lost." If yesterday you were a success, then you "must be careful, lest you stumble."

For yesterday, the great Indian poet Tagore said, my heart has already flown over, the sky has left no trace of wings. The path walked yesterday, whether it is the "ice-blocked river Yellow River," or the "snow-covered Taihang Mountains," or whether it is the "spring breeze proud horse hastens," or the "hundred steps ninefold winding cliffs," yesterday has already become the past; for yesterday, we besides gratitude, are still gratitude, because God let us walk over the rugged path, we will then see today.

Regardless of whether today is bright sunshine, or gloomy wind and rain, we after all possess today.

For yesterday, we have already expended all the value of life; for today, we still must persist in yesterday's obsession.

Look, the second hand moves second by second toward tomorrow. Our life's time, on the universe's straight line, occupies only an infinitesimal point. We should well utilize and cherish this infinitesimal space and time. Otherwise, when tomorrow comes, there will only remain a corpse filled with sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, salty to be given to the world, to be despised and discarded.

As for tomorrow? Tomorrow is a day full of hope, but, tomorrow is a day as mysterious as a riddle. The Bible says: "Actually, how tomorrow will be, you still do not know. What is your life? You originally were a bit of cloud mist, appearing briefly then disappearing." For this "bit of cloud mist that appears briefly then disappears," we should today use our life's sweat to daub some color upon it. Otherwise, tomorrow will feel indebted to this "bit of cloud mist."

Chapter Thirty, stories of people and ghosts

Liu Guozong

(One)

In the "Continued Records of Searching for Spirits" there is such a story about ghosts: in Xiangyang there was a man named Li Chu, who suddenly died, and his wife guarded the corpse, mourning. At midnight, Li Chu suddenly came back to life. The revived Li Chu desperately tried to take off his wife's gold bracelet; the wife, seeing this, was greatly startled. She then actively took off the gold bracelet and gave it to him; Li Chu received the gold bracelet, hid it in his sleeve, and died again.

At dawn, Li Chu again came back to life.

The repeatedly dying and reviving Li Chu said to his wife: "Many people are sent to the ghost officials; as long as you give it a gift, bribe the ghost officials, you can come back to life. So I pledged your gold bracelet to it. The ghost official received the gold bracelet, and let me return."

Li Chu's wife, hearing Li Chu's words, felt enlightened: "Ah, how similar people and ghosts are; as long as the gift arrives, those doomed to die can all come back to life.

(Two)

In the "Records of Strange Things" there is also a story about ghosts. The story tells: in Nanyang there was a youth named Ding Bo, who one night, on the road, encountered a black shadow.

Ding Bo asked the black shadow before him: "What is this?"

The black shadow said: "Ghost too!"

The black shadow again asked Ding Bo: "What are you?"

Ding Bo thought: If I say I'm a person, this ghost will surely harm me. So Ding Bo said: "I am also a ghost."

The ghost asked Ding Bo: "What do you do?"

Ding Bo replied: "Going to the market. And you?"

The ghost said: "Same, also going to the market."

Thus Ding Bo and the ghost walked side by side.

After walking a few steps, the ghost had an idea. It said to Ding Bo: "Walking together is tiring for us two. Better to carry each other."

Ding Bo said: "Great. Who goes first?"

The ghost said to Ding Bo: "You carry me first?" So Ding Bo carried the ghost, feeling very light, like air.

After walking a while, it was the ghost's turn to carry Ding Bo. The ghost used great strength to lift Ding Bo up. The ghost puzzled asked: "Why are you so heavy?" Ding Bo said: "I am a new ghost, new ghosts are heavy."

Thus person carrying ghost, ghost carrying person, after walking a while, Ding Bo asked the ghost: "I am a new ghost, unaware of ghost world rules. What do you ghosts fear most?" The ghost said: "Most fear human spit."

When Ding Bo and the ghost arrived at the market, the sky was already bright. The ghost wanted to run, but Ding Bo quickly grabbed it and hurriedly spat on it. The ghost was terrified, turned into a sheep. Ding Bo then sold the sheep that was the ghost transformed into.

Ding Bo, who had gained money, said to the people nearby: "No matter how cunning the ghost, it still lacks human wisdom. Ghosts are ultimately ghosts, ghosts can never defeat humans."

Thirty-first chapter, do not because of childhood dreams...

Liu Guozong

In ancient Greek mythology there is a story of an old playboy. Hero Jason, while celebrating victory in a festival, saw his dear father about to depart this world, and was very sorrowful.

Jason wept and asked the heavenly messenger Mia to take a few years from his lifespan and give them to his wind-candle-aged father, so his father might return to youth. The heavenly messenger agreed to his request and prayed to heaven and earth. He knelt on

the hard ground, stretched his hands toward the starry sky and prayed: "O night, please guard my secret; O earth, please prepare for me boundless magic herbs; O starry sky, please lend me a flying dragon chariot that travels ten thousand miles a day; O goddess of youth, I now need celestial dew, to make the old regain youth and return to boyhood."

See, how beautiful a wish: the old regain youth and return to boyhood. Can this dream be realized?

Man is a strange creature; in reality what cannot be achieved is often sought in dreams. The Southern Tang emperor Li Houzhu, in his fallen homeland unbearable to recall, lay beneath the bed of Song Taizu, facing the rustling spring rain among the forest flowers and spring reds, and actually "in dream unaware he is a guest, momentarily indulging in pleasure."

See, Song Taizu is even sharpening his sword, having prepared the "seeing-off" wine for him, death at hand, yet this Li Houzhu still indulges in "childhood dreams," still revels in dreams, still thinks of good things in dreams. However, dreams are ultimately dreams; beautiful dreams cannot become reality. Man cannot forever dwell in dreams; dreams are merely temporary resting places for the soul. Therefore, when a person has a beautiful dream, you need not rejoice over its beauty and goodness; nor need you grieve because you had an evil dream.

Moreover, some say people have different dreams at different life stages. Yet the most nostalgic and moving are still childhood dreams. Because childhood dreams are all beautiful dreams, true dreams.

The old writer Bing Xin said: "Childhood ah! It is truth in dreams, dream in truth, a tearful smile when recalling." Although childhood dreams are truth in dreams, pure and naive.

But she can guide you to strive, to struggle, to sweat, even to sacrifice your own life.

People can forget anything, except that childhood dream. She waits every moment in that unattainable place; or we can say, each of us, every moment, is approaching our childhood dream. And precisely because beautiful dreams await us afar, we tread heavily, stumbling and crawling forward.

Perhaps someone regrets or even suffers from not achieving or approaching childhood dreams; then you are mistaken. A Western sage, on his deathbed, told us: "You should appreciate all the beautiful, real things in your present life; looking back will breed competitiveness, and age cannot be competed with.... When I should have been a child, I delighted in being a child; when I am a wise old man, I also delight in being a wise old man.

I delight in accepting all rights nature gave me. I belong to any age, up to my present self. Do you understand? I will not envy your life stage—because I have lived through it." See, how open-minded and cheerful this old man is. He does not grieve over lost childhood dreams or unfulfilled childhood dreams like that Southern Tang Li Houzhu, because of fading beauty, because longing for the carved beams and painted pillars still there, he alone leans on the railing, sighing "fallen flowers and flowing water, spring gone, heaven and earth."

Ask yourself: "How much sorrow can one have? Like a river of spring water flowing east." Yu Qiuyu said: "Reject aging and illness, a person will not be happy." You say, is that right?

Thirty-second chapter, leave yourself an extra retreat

Liu Guozong

Putin once self-assessed: Engaging in wrestling is something I voluntarily and consciously do in life; it is not only a sport, but also seems a philosophy, teaching me to treat opponents with respect as well.

I greatly admire Putin's saying "treat opponents with respect." Since he can be your enemy, he surely understands your shortcomings, weaknesses, and inadequacies better. Your opponent will exploit your shortcomings, weaknesses, and inadequacies to surpass you, defeat you, become strong, become the award recipient on the champion's podium. For this, the British poet Blake also said to his friend:

"I said to my friend: I am angry with you.

The anger then faded,

I dare not speak anger toward my enemy,

Leaving anger to take root deep in the heart.

Day and night, trembling with fear,

Watering with tears,

Illuminated by a smile and feigned warmth.

Until the anger grass grows into a tree,

Bearing fruit for the eyes,

The enemy sees its luscious, desirable fruit,

If unattainable, what a pity.

Hardly had night fallen,

This is the good time for stealthy picking.

Look! This morning's sight truly brings joy to the heart.

The enemy lies four-square and steady beneath the tree."

To see one's enemy lying four-square and steady beneath the tree, feeling joy—such breadth of mind is enough. In life's journey, everyone inevitably suffers or inflicts harm to some degree.

Those who harm you, or whom you harm, may become your enemies or foes. In the world, there is no one without enemies or foes, unless you are not human (even non-humans have natural enemies). How to treat one's enemies—this is indeed another major life lesson. Jesus told his disciples in the Bible: "Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you." To love your enemies, to bless those who persecute you—can we do it?

Friends, on your life's path, if you can have such people who understand you, can you fail to respect them? In life, regarding those who often remind you of your weaknesses, how can you fail to respect them? Such people, besides your kin, also include your enemies.

Therefore Laozi said: "Knowing others is wisdom; knowing oneself is enlightenment." Those skilled in knowing and understanding others are wise in expression. Do you understand your enemies? If you once hated him, from the time you read my words, please love him. Tolerate him, understand him.

Putin also said: Tolerance toward people is also leaving yourself a retreat; you must not push things to extremes, for if you push things to extremes, that equals pushing yourself into a dead end. In life's journey, who does not wish for lifelong safety, smooth passage, who wishes to push oneself into a dead end? Then you should hold your opponent in respect, be tolerant toward others, and leave yourself an extra retreat.

Thirty-third chapter, no regret even covered in scars

Liu Guozong

Some say living is like peeling an onion. What lies inside the onion, no one can say; only by peeling can one know.

Out of the desire to know the "onion's inner secret," this curiosity to "peel" arises. When one day we have "peeled the onion completely," what will you see? The great Indian poet Tagore tells us: "When at the day's end, standing before you, you will see my body covered in scars."

"Body covered in scars"—is this what we want to see?

"Body covered in illness"—this is what we each inherently do not wish to see yet see, but this is also an inevitable result of life. However, the content of these scars differs: some are from self-inflicted wounds, some from wounds for others; some are for one's own fame and profit, some are for country and people.

In the Bible, Paul inside and out, to spread the true gospel, endured whippings, beatings with clubs, stonings, imprisonment, slander, abuse, suffering all kinds of torment and hardship; yet no external adversity or setback could shake his innermost resolve.

Mengzi said that he wanted both fish and bear's paw, but these two things cannot be obtained at the same time. Why is that? Because one of these things is in the deep mountains and forests, and the other is in the rivers, lakes, and seas.

A person cannot both go hunting in the mountains and go fishing in the rivers, lakes, and seas; in short, you must give up one. Actually, everyone knows that Mengzi was using a metaphor. The meaning he wanted to express comes later: life is something everyone cherishes, and truth is something everyone wants to pursue. But truth is a good thing, and all good things in this world must be obtained by paying a price.

Sometimes life must be paid as the price. In the face of life and truth, what have we chosen? If our bodies covered in scars are for "clothing on our backs and food in our mouths," then what meaning do these scars have? Could it be that we live just to see ourselves earning these scars all over our bodies for clothing and food?

Remember Hu Shi once said somewhere: "Do not let others lead you by the nose." Being led by the nose by others, in this way, the "secrets in the onion" you see are all designed for you by others, and the scenery you see of yourself are things others have had enough of. Is the "body covered in scars" that "peeling the onion" brings you meant for "letting others lead you by the nose"?

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