Chapter 776: What the Gentleman values

What the Gentleman values

April 28: What the Gentleman values

「You have already given me much, yet I ask you to give more; I have come to you not for a sip of water, a bite of food—that would be too humble, too insignificant; I have come to you for an idea, to hear your teachings, to cultivate myself, to free myself; to obtain a kind of wisdom. 」 Kongzi naggingly asked Laozi.

Laozi, in response to Kongzi's question, pondered for a long time: "Yes, what kind of wisdom is this?" In Laozi's view, humanity, because it possesses much wisdom and many clever adornments, mentally bears a heavy burden; this "burden" binds and restricts human nature. In Laozi's view, true wisdom should be to discard cleverness and wisdom, discard clever adornments, so as to maintain simplicity and nature; with fewer clever adornments in the heart, one can also reduce selfishness and **. If humanity had no selfishness and **, it would not go into contention and crime.

If he answered Confucius in this way, could he accept it?

Yes. If Laozi answered Confucius's question in this way, Confucius would certainly not accept it.

Because Confucius's traveling and persuasion were not for food and clothing, nor merely for showing off, but for promotion, for change. He promoted his so-called benevolent governance, changing what he considered not in accordance with the 'Classic of Rites'. This promotion and change precisely require a kind of wisdom. Confucius once said to his disciples: 'What the Gentleman values has three aspects. One is benevolence, loving others; the benevolent love people; those with a benevolent heart have no worries; those without a benevolent heart will have petty people constantly troubled; those with a benevolent heart will have Gentlemen at ease; also there is wisdom—this wisdom is just wisdom, also what the Gentleman values—【To make people understand wisdom's instruction, discern eloquent speech, enable people in dealing with affairs to receive instruction in wisdom, benevolence, righteousness, fairness, and integrity; to make the foolish clear-sighted; to make the young have knowledge and strategy; to make the wise hear and increase learning; to make the clever obtain strategic wisdom; to make people understand maxims and parables; to comprehend the words and riddles of the wise.' …….