Confucian self-cultivation: Scholars start from Daqin

Gao Jing looked up at Master Xun, and said seriously, "Exactly! There is no kindness or disgusting body, there is goodness and maliciousness, knowing the good and knowing the evil is conscience, doing good and eliminating evil is investigating things."

Master Xun's expression shook: "Speak in detail!"

Gao Jing took a deep breath and said: "Sex is the essence of the mind, and heaven is the source of nature. The ruler of the body is the heart, the origin of the heart is the mind, the essence of the mind is knowledge, and the location of the mind is the object.

There is no good or evil in the original mind. The so-called good and evil are only intended to move. Everyone has a conscience, which is used to distinguish good from evil.

Investigating things is estimating the mind, investigating one's own mind, getting rid of malicious intentions, and achieving the unity of conscience and knowledge and action! "

Xunzi's face was shocked. After a long time of contemplation, he breathed a sigh of relief, looked at Gao Jing complicatedly, and sighed: "Although it has the meaning of Taoism, it is full of the true meaning of Confucianism. I can't be your teacher..."

After a pause, Master Xun said again: "I would like to accept apprentices on behalf of my master, would you like that?"

Gao Jing froze for a moment, then was dumbfounded, unable to believe his ears.

Chapter 4 Confucian self-cultivation and righteousness

Shenxiu of Zen Buddhism once wrote a Buddhist gatha:

The heart is a bodhi tree, and the body is a bright mirror stand. Wipe it diligently at all times, so as not to stir up dust.

From the point of view of Buddhism, this gatha is not enough, there is no real "emptiness", and it is not as good as Huineng's "Bodhi has no tree", but it is just right for Confucian self-cultivation and righteousness!

It is similar to "Three Examinations of Myself".

"University" has a saying: "If you want to cultivate your body, you must first correct your mind. If you want to correct your mind, you must first be sincere in your mind. If you want to be sincere in your mind, you must first extend your knowledge."

In order to learn, one must first know how to do it, which is "to know first".

Then put your heart and soul into doing it, and try to be as focused as possible, that is, "sincerity".

Then there is "rectification of one's mind", the body must be focused, and the mind must be straight and pure, without a bunch of distracting thoughts and wandering off.

As long as we are "sincere in mind and righteous in heart", we can do the best in this matter and "stop at perfection".

After "knowledge and stop", spiritual practice begins, which is the first spiritual state of the Confucian state of mind: "fixation"!

"Knowing stop and then having steadiness, steadiness and then being able to be calm, being still and then being able to be at peace, being at peace and then being able to worry."

"Stability", "quietness", "security", and "concern" are the four levels of state of mind in true Confucian practice.

In fact, it is not only about learning, but also about doing anything!

Just like practicing swordsmanship, you first need to know the standard movements of practicing swordsmanship, and then concentrate on practicing to drive away distracting thoughts in your mind. As long as you can achieve "sincerity and righteousness", then the swordsmanship will be regarded as entering the room.

When the swordsmanship is practiced to perfection, as long as the intention is sincere enough and the heart is righteous enough, the so-called "epiphany" can be opened...that is, a short period of time to enter the state of "settling"!

Wang Yangming's "Biography and Learning Records" starts with "University" to explain the psychology in depth.

How to achieve "sincerity and sincerity"?

Wang Mingyang also said in "Biography and Xilu": As long as you don't forget it, you will naturally gather in your heart for a long time, just like the so-called "consecrated womb" in Taoism.The thought of this heavenly law always exists, and it is only a single thought to be cultivated and expanded from now on.

To put it simply, it is to never forget to demand yourself with "sincerity and righteousness". After a long time, it is like a planted fruit, which will bloom and bear fruit sooner or later.

……

Gao Jing liked Wang Yangming's philosophy of mind in his previous life, so he was hesitant about "good and evil human nature".

It's just that the Confucian method of "cultivating the body and rectifying the mind" emphasizes a "spiritual city and a righteous heart", so although it may not be possible to learn from Xunzi, it does not violate the original heart.

Did not expect such a surprise in the end.

Xunzi laughed and said, "What? You don't want to? That's right, based on what you said just now, you can already be my teacher..."

Gao Jing blurted out: "I am willing!"

The tone was impatient and eager.

Master Xun stroked his beard, raised his head with a smile, and said, "Fu Nian, I will leave it to you to prepare the relevant etiquette."

"Yes, uncle."

Fu Nian bowed to salute, and then saluted Gao Jing: "I have seen my little uncle."

Yan Lu also saluted with a smile, "I've met my little uncle."

The surrounding Confucian disciples looked at each other, and finally bowed together: "I have met the little master."

Even if Gao Jing had the mentality of two lives, he couldn't help but be overwhelmed by this scene, blushing and unable to maintain his mood.

I had no choice but to bend down in the same way: "I've seen... I've seen you all..."

What nephew, nephew, grandson, he really couldn't say it.

In the eyes of others, it was only at this time that Gao Jing showed the bewilderment that a child should have.

Xunzi laughed loudly, took Gao Jing's hand and said, "Haha, junior brother, just follow me. I have some doubts about what you said just now, how about you and I discuss it?"

Although he was asking, Gao Jing was never given a chance to refuse.

Master Xun famously said: "This old man doesn't know martial arts."

No shit!

The old man in his 80s pulled him away quickly, and Gao Jing was like being pulled away by a train, with no resistance!

……

As Master Xun left with Gao Jing, the crowd of onlookers gradually dispersed.

But the news about Gao Jing was also passed on to various forces.

An eight-year-old boy, with a lowly body, fought against Confucianism, refuted a group of Confucian disciples with debates, baffled the head of Confucianism with three questions, and asked Xunzi to accept disciples on behalf of his teacher...

No matter where it is placed, it is the headline hot search.

Confucianism talks about etiquette, especially the Confucianism of this period, the etiquette is more cumbersome, and it takes time to prepare, at least it will take several days.

On the third day, the investigation about Gao Jing appeared in front of various forces.

Among them, Confucianism is no exception.

Together with Yan Lu, Fu Nian listened to the report of the following disciples: "...The Six Kingdoms joined forces to attack Qin, Qin Prime Minister Lu Buwei led his troops to defeat the Allied Forces of the Five Nations in Mincheng, and some people in Mincheng abandoned the city. In that group of people.

Because of the death of his relatives, the little master left the people and left alone. Later, he found traces of the little master in various towns... Although the route deviated, he kept coming towards Qi. "

Yan Lu asked curiously beside him: "An orphan, who would notice his tracks?"

The disciple smiled wryly, and said with admiration: "Because the little master is very special, every time he goes, he sets up a stall to sell medicinal herbs, but he doesn't take money, he only exchanges for knowledge...

Each medicinal material needs to teach him ten characters, or a sentence of knowledge... so many people laughed at him, and were even often beaten and expelled.

Along the way, many people have a deep impression of Xiao Shigong, so they will know it when they ask. "

Fu Nian and Yan Lu looked at each other, and both could see the amazement and admiration in each other's eyes.

"Know it silently, never get tired of learning! No wonder the little uncle behaves like this...".

Chapter 5 Strange Book

The world only knows that Confucian etiquette is cumbersome. There are 49 chapters in the "Book of Rites", and "University" is only one of them.

But the purpose of the cumbersome etiquette, in the final analysis, is mainly for "regularity".

If you can be meticulous in the cumbersome etiquette and practice it, then you will naturally have a "right heart".

The reason why I feel cumbersome is because my heart is "impatient" and my heart is not right.

When performing etiquette, I always think "what's the use of this thing?" "Why isn't it over yet?" "When will this be done?"...

So many distracting thoughts came to my mind, how could the mind be able to stay upright if there were too many distracting thoughts?

……

In a bamboo forest in the other courtyard of Xiaoshengxianzhuang, there is a bamboo house built next to the water, with bright waves and beautiful scenery.

Gao Jing, who was brought here by Master Xun, lived here all the time except for attending a teacher apprenticeship ceremony, and will always live here in the future.

At this time, he changed into a Confucian uniform, and he looked delicate, and he had nothing to do with "common people" at all.

In addition to Master Xun, Han Fei and Li Si were also present, and the four of them happened to sit around a desk.

Master Xun closed his eyes and pondered.

Li Si was holding a roll of bamboo slips and looking at it, giving off a sense of seriousness.

Gao Jing couldn't bear to sit on his knees, so he sat cross-legged and held the bamboo slips in his hands. He looked at Li Si, and finally chose Han Fei. He leaned over and asked in a low voice, "Han Fei, what is this word?"

Han Fei looked up and said with a smile, "This is the Qin language, and it's the word "jiao"."

No wonder they don't know each other.

Gao Jing nodded thoughtfully, and asked again: "What's the explanation?"

There are more than 500 commonly used characters in later generations, but only [-] to [-] commonly used characters in this era, so each character has its special meaning.

If you don't understand the meaning of each word, then reading bamboo slips is like reading heavenly scriptures...

"Teaching, follow the example, follow the filial piety, it is those who insist on teaching others, use it as a warning at the top, follow it at the bottom and follow what they teach."

Han Fei explained, dipped his fingers in the tea, wrote on the case, and said, "This is the "teaching" of Chu State, this is Wei State...Korean, Yan State..."

Gao Jing watched carefully, not asking to write it down on the spot, it would be recorded in the book anyway.

After finishing writing the seven different "teaching" characters, Han Fei looked at Gao Jing with a funny face and said, "Little uncle, haven't you already learned the characters of Qi and Zhao?"

Gao Jing shook his head, and said, "I swallowed the jujube whole, and didn't get the taste. It was just acquaintance, but I didn't learn the real meaning, otherwise I wouldn't come here to study."

Han Fei thought about it for a while, and admired him: "Han Fei admires my uncle's style of studying!"

"Your little uncle has a rigorous style of study, you two should study hard."

Master Xun, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, finally opened his eyes and spoke.

Han Fei and Li Si both saluted and said solemnly: "Yes, teacher!"

Only then did Master Xun nod his head, looked at Gao Jing, and said, "Junior Brother, I have gained a lot from thinking about what you said these days, but I am still confused about what "unity of knowledge and action" means."

Gao Jing thought for a while, and said: "There is a saying in "University", such as bad smell, like lust, this is called self-modesty. If you hate smell and love beauty, you must first have "knowledge". Smell, what is beauty, then there is the "action" of dislike and liking, and "action" only when there is "knowledge", bad smell, love of sex, it is the unity of knowledge and action!"

After thinking about it for a while, Master Xun suddenly realized: "So it is so! So it is so!"

Han Fei smiled and said, "Teacher, you are the one who is asking the little uncle for advice these days, but I will teach what the little uncle wants to learn... Who is teaching whom?"