Chapter 339: 432 chapters, one transcender

432 chapters, one transcender

_____One branch of red apricot protruding from the wall (part six)

One person, the demand for enjoyment of life is boundless. If a person lives in this world and pursues only the enjoyment of life, what then is the meaning of living?

Once, Kongzi and his students were together discussing topics about life and existence. Kongzi said a passage that modern people hearing it cannot accept.

He said, regarding this world, I have no special demands; I only demand to be able to eat coarse grain and drink cool water (drinking cool water is unhygienic, that was something Kongzi did not yet know. I have heard that in Japan there is a nutritionist who specifically tells people to drink cool water; Japan has many cultures transmitted from China. Is that person who tells people to drink cool water, a Japanese nutritionist, perhaps having read this passage in Kongzi's 'Analects', been inspired, and thus told his countrymen to drink cool water? Experts, if interested in this, should not fail to investigate.), then bend his arms, using his own arms as a pillow to sleep. This is my greatest happiness.

Modern people, regarding Kongzi's such demands on life, will certainly raise objections: wouldn't that old man be calling for society not to advance, not to progress? Everyone would go eat coarse grain, drink cool water, and sleep with their arms as pillows? Wouldn't that mean the state would cease to be a state?

Because Kongzi is not before me, I answer on his behalf with one sentence: 'no!'

Because Kongzi still has further text.

He said——

The gentleman loves wealth, acquiring it by proper means. That wealth obtained by unjust means and enjoyed as riches and honor, to me, is like the floating clouds in the heavens (the original text of this passage is: Master said, 'Eat simple food, drink water, bend one's arm and use it as a pillow; joy is also therein. Wealth and honor obtained unjustly are to me like floating clouds.')

Kongzi's meaning is that a person, no matter what situation they are in—whether in the mountains, or in a boat; whether safe, or in adversity; whether encountering brightness, or walking as if in darkness; or……

All must ______

Do not listen to the sound of leaves being struck in the forest; why not chant and stroll slowly?

A bamboo staff and straw sandals are lighter than a horse; who fears? A straw cloak lets one face wind and rain for a lifetime.

The chilly spring wind blows, waking one from wine; slightly cold. The slanting light on the hilltop yet greets.

Returning to the desolate place, I go back. Neither wind nor rain, nor sunshine.

Kongzi lived just like that, carefree: neither wind nor rain, nor sunshine.

When a person reaches the state of neither wind nor rain, but sunshine, that is also the highest realm of life.

Someone might perhaps say, that is an ideal realm, cannot be found in reality.

At this moment, I answer on behalf of my friend Zhong Wei Yun with one sentence: 'no!'

He says: 'I am a farmer. Only after graduating junior high school. Due to family poverty, I left school at 16 to farm. After leaving school, in extremely harsh conditions, I did not extinguish the fire of my ideals in my heart. I persisted in self-study with purpose. Writing and establishing ideas for society became my entire pursuit in life.'

I will use my conviction to prove to the world the value of my existence! I will use my arduous effort to prove my worth!

I cannot, cannot stop the steps of my pursuit! Even if mountain paths are perilous! Even if wind is fierce and sudden!

The night is long, the road is also long! Yet I cannot forget! Cannot forget my dream, my ideal!

In the countryside, daytime must be busy with farm work. 'Nighttime is beautiful, and also precious; in this tranquil night, how many diligent people work tirelessly, they work for the benefit of humanity, they struggle for the four modernizations. At this moment, I deeply feel, these diligent workers, how worthy they are of respect!'

………………………….

He is a good person______-

One struggler! Pursuer! Transcender!

(Heart tied to disaster area, affection tied to disaster area: wish peace, courage, confidence, strength to be with and accompany the people of the disaster area!