Comment on one of the following five figures: Confucius, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, and Mozi.

In the summer and June of 577 BC, the king of the Song Dynasty, Duke Deng, passed away, and his right teacher Hua Yuan took charge of the state affairs. The stone tablet of the birthplace of Laozi in Taiqing Palace, Luyi

The Huan clan, headed by Zuo Shiyushi, had long been interested in political affairs, but they had no choice but to take advantage of the Duke's reign. Now that I see Mr. *** passing away, I want to take the opportunity to cause trouble. Because his plans were not kept secret and the news leaked out, he was expelled from the Song Dynasty by the Dai clan headed by Hua Yuan. After that, he appointed Xiang Rong as Zuoshi, Lao Zu as Sima, and Yue Yi as Sikou; he established a new king, who was Song Pinggong. Yushi led more than 200 members of the Huan clan to flee to Chu State, where they stayed for three years. In the summer and June of 573 BC, the Chu State launched an army to attack the Song Dynasty and captured Pengcheng (now Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province) of the Song State. They sealed Yushi and Yufu to defend the city, and left three hundred chariots to assist in the defense. Song Pinggong summoned the courtiers to discuss the matter and asked: "The enemy is strong and we are weak. The Chu soldiers invaded and occupied Pengcheng. They are my confidants! If you sit back and ignore it, there will be endless troubles! Who is willing to pull out this fortress for me?" As soon as he finished speaking, the class walked out. One person said: "Foolish minister, I would like to go!" King Ping took a look and saw that this man was two feet tall, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, broad cheeks and shoulders, powerful and strong. He turned out to be Sima Laozuo. Hua Yuan expressed concern and said to Ping Gong: "Yu Shi is cunning and Yu Mansion is cruel. Pengcheng is occupied by three hundred Chu chariots and three thousand guards. They are very powerful. Although Sima is highly skilled, bold, strong and brave, he may not be able to defeat him. "Win." Lao Zuo said logically: "Yu Shi is like a worm that eats books; Yu Mansion is like a dog that ties up chickens. What's the point? Lao Zuo is willing to surround Pengcheng with his family. If the city doesn't conquer him, he won't return!" King Ping promised. He sent Lao Zuo as the general and led 20,000 troops to recapture Pengcheng. It is said that the Song Dynasty surrounded Pengcheng and attacked day and night. Lao Zuo was brave and mighty and took the lead, which greatly boosted the morale of the Song army. In less than half a month, the Pengcheng defenders were in danger. One day, Yushi and Yufu were supervising the battle on the city. They saw Song soldiers as numerous as ants, all of them bravely climbing ladders to the city, everyone vying for the first place. They also saw a general with a silver helmet and silver armor, a golden sword and a white horse, galloping on the battlefield. Go up and dispatch your troops and generals. A Chu general asked: "Who is this Song general?" Yushi replied: "It is the new Sima and the siege general Lao Zuo." The Chu generals discussed one after another: "The general who attacked the city was not behind the army to observe the enemy's formation, but he How can you not boost morale by galloping left and right in front of the army! From this point of view, Pengcheng is too dangerous!" But Yu Shi was a scheming man, and he said to his subordinates: "Everything will succeed but it will fail. Success, there are many examples in history, how do you know that our army will be defeated? Lao Zuo is brave and takes the lead, which is the root of his success; he is stubborn and arrogant, which is the root of his failure. "The Chu general asked: "The Zuo division seems to have a plan in mind. What good plan does it have?" Yu Shi replied: "The two armies are facing each other, the commander is in the front or the rear. Now the Song soldiers are attacking the city, and the commander is in the front. It's a taboo for military officers to gallop in the face of arrows! I have a little plan. If I follow the plan, it's hard to say whether the Song army will succeed or not." It turns out that Yu Shi asked his subordinates to shoot Lao Zu with hidden arrows. Zuo Zheng was supervising the battle in front of the army. Suddenly an arrow flew from the sky and hit his chest five inches. Unfortunately, he fell from his horse and died. The Song army was leaderless, defeated, and fled in all directions. Lao Zuo's family members are in the Song camp's military tent. There are maids, dozens of generals, and dozens of guards. Suddenly they heard that Lao Zuo had been killed in battle, and saw the defeated army coming like a tide. All the generals hurriedly drove to protect the old lady and fled. Fight and flee, in the evening, although the pursuers had disappeared in Xuanyuan Hall of Mingdao Palace in Luyi (where Li Peng's plaque "Hometown of Laozi" was hung), there were only two maids and one maid left beside the old lady. The driver did not dare to stop. He walked forward in the dark under the stars and the moon, running in the southwest direction at dawn the next day. When he asked the villagers about the way to Songdu, they all shook their heads. I don't know. The general only knew that he should go west, but he didn't know that the four of them had already gone south. After traveling for seven days, they still didn't see the Song capital, but they came to Chen Guoxiang (today's east of Luyi, Henan). Suddenly I felt pain in my abdomen. It turned out that the old lady was seven months pregnant. In order to fulfill the promise before the king, the old man went out with his family with the determination to win. At this time, the army was defeated, and the old lady felt the sorrow of losing her husband and fled to another country. Anxious, physically exhausted, and even experiencing fetal movement and unbearable pain, the maid was panicked. She stopped the car on the roadside and ran to the village to find an old woman. Within a few moments, she heard a sound from inside the caravan. "Wow" cried, and a premature baby boy was born. This was Lao Tzu, the son of Lao Zuo. When I was born, I was weak and had a big head, wide eyebrows and wide ears. My eyes were as clear as beads in the abyss, and my nose was like a double bridge. Because of this, His ears grew bigger, so he was named "Dan"; because he was born in the Gengyin year of the Tiger (571 BC), his neighbors also called him Xiaoli'er, which means "little tiger".

Because people in the Jianghuai area call "cat" "li'er", which sounds the same as "li'er". Over time, Lao Dan's nickname "Li Er" became his famous name "Li Er" and was passed down from generation to generation. The old woman who delivered the baby saw that the mother and child were pitiful, so she let the family of five live in her home. My father-in-law makes a living by opening a pharmacy. His surname is Chen, and he is called Father Chen, so everyone calls the old woman Mother Chen. Mother Chen had no children, but was kind and enthusiastic, so she gave up three rooms in the west wing to let the old lady and her family live. The old lady was extremely grateful when she met this kind-hearted person in a time of crisis. Although she was displaced during the war, she came from a wealthy family and could still survive by carrying some valuables with her. In addition, the family general often helps Mr. Chen make a living, and the two maids take care of the housework. The five members of the family, old and young, live a comfortable life. From then on, the wife and children of General Lao Zuo of Song State lived in Chen State.

The smart boy

Lao Dan was smart since he was a child, quiet and studious, and often pestered his family members to hear about the rise and fall of the country, the success or failure of wars, sacrifices, divination, and stargazing. The old lady hoped that her son would be successful, so she asked Mr. Shang Rong, an old man from Shang Dynasty who was proficient in the rituals and music of the Yin and Shang Dynasties, to teach her. His business knowledge is astronomical and geographical, and he is well versed in ancient and modern etiquette. He is deeply respected by Lao Dan's family. One day, Professor Shang Rong said: "Human beings are the most precious among heaven and earth, and the king among all people is the most important." Lao Dan asked: "What is heaven?" The teacher said: "Heaven is the pure and pure one above." Lao Dan asked again: "What is Qing Qing?" The teacher said, "Qing Qing is space." "What is above space?" The teacher said, "Above space, Qing is Qing. "What's above it?" "What's above the Qing Dynasty is the Qing Dynasty." Lao Dan asked again. "What is the end of the Qing Dynasty?" The gentleman said: "The sages have not passed it on, the ancient books have not recorded it, and the foolish teacher dare not speak nonsense." At night, Lao Dan asked his mother about his doubts, but the mother could not answer; when he asked the generals, the generals could not Word. So I looked up at the sun, moon and stars, lowered my head and thought about what was in the sky, and couldn't sleep all night. Another day, Mr. Shang taught: "In the Liuhe, there are people in heaven and earth. The sky has its way, the earth has its geography, people have their relationships, things have their nature and the way of heaven, so the sun, moon and stars can do it; there is geography, so Mountains, rivers, and seas can be made; there are human relations, so they can be divided into elders and inferiors; they have physical properties, so they can be distinguished from short and strong." Lao Dan asked: "How can mountains, rivers, and seas be separated?" Are they made by man? Who distinguishes the old and the young? Who distinguishes the long and the short? "How can God do anything?" The teacher said, "God has the ability to change. He is the work of creation, so he can do things." Lao Dan asked, "Where does God's power come from? When will God's power be prepared?" Mr. He said: "It has not been passed down by previous teachers, and it has not been recorded in ancient books. A foolish teacher dare not speak falsely." At night, Lao Dan asked his mother about his doubts, but her mother could not answer. When you ask your generals, they will be speechless. So he looked at things and thought about them, touched them and sorted them out, and for three days he didn't know the taste of food. Another day, Mr. Shang taught: "The king is the one who regulates the world on behalf of heaven; the people are the ones governed by the king. If the king does not follow the will of God, he will be defeated, and if the people do not obey the king and pastoral care, they will be guilty. This is the way to govern the country." "Lao Dan asked: "The people's livelihood is not for the emperor. It is understandable if they do not obey the emperor and pastoral ministers. The emperor's life is the will of heaven. What is the reason for the emperor to disobey the will of heaven?" The teacher said: "God sent you to regulate the world on behalf of heaven. When you are born, you will be outside; when you are outside, you will not receive your orders. When you are born, God's will will not be followed." Lao Dan asked: "God has the ability to change things, so why doesn't he create a king who obeys orders? "The master said: "It has not been passed down by the sages and it has not been recorded in ancient books, so a foolish teacher dare not speak falsely." At night, Lao Dan asked his mother about his doubts, but his mother could not answer; when he asked the generals, the generals could not speak. So I asked the people of Xiangyi for advice. I walked all over the land of Xiangyi. I didn't know how wet it was when it rained, and didn't notice the wind blowing. One day, Mr. Shang Lao taught: "In the affairs of the world, harmony is the most important thing. If there is discord, there will be war, and war will kill each other. If you fight each other, you will hurt both sides. If you hurt both sides, it will be harmful but useless. Therefore, doing things to benefit others will benefit yourself, and doing harm to others will bring harm to you. It will harm yourself." Lao Dan asked, "If the world is at peace, it will cause great harm to the people. Why don't you take care of it?" The teacher said, "If the people fight, they will lose a small peace. If you lose a small peace, you will get a small disaster. But you can do it." Governance. If a country fights, it will lead to great harm; if it loses great peace, it will lead to great disasters. If the king fails to do so, how can he govern himself? It has not been passed down, and it has not been recorded in ancient books, so a foolish teacher dare not speak falsely. "At night, Lao Dan asked his mother about his doubts, but his mother could not answer; when he asked the generals, the generals could not speak. So, I visited the people of Xiangyi and read the books of Xiangyi. I didn't know the heat when it was hot, and I didn't know the cold when it was cold.

Study in Zhou Dynasty

Mr. Shang taught for three years. He came to say goodbye to the old lady and said: "I have little knowledge, but I am very smart. How can I teach you after three years?" I'm here to bid farewell now. It's not because I teach without end, nor because Dan'er doesn't study diligently. In fact, I have learned a lot.

Dan'er's desire is endless, but if everything is exhausted, the supply is endless. Isn't it also difficult? Dan'er is a boy with great ambitions; Xiangyi is a remote and isolated place. If you want to carve out raw materials and turn them into jade, you need to go to the Zhou capital for further study. The capital of Zhou is a sea of ??classics and a cloud of wise men. It is also the holy place in the world. Without entering it, it is difficult to achieve great things. "When the old lady heard this, she felt troubled: First, Dan'er was only thirteen years old, and it was difficult to return to the capital of Song Dynasty. Why not go to the capital of Zhou for nine days? Second, the old family only had this root left, so how could you rest assured that he would be alone? That's right? He hesitated and didn’t know how to answer. Unexpectedly, the teacher had already guessed the difficulty and hurriedly said: "To tell you the truth, my senior brother is a doctor of Zhou Taixue. He is knowledgeable and broad-minded. He loves talents and respects the virtuous. He makes a living by cultivating people and enjoys helping virtuous people. , it is the duty to recommend talents. The number of domestic prodigies are all selected by the public. Don't provide food and clothing, treat them as your own children. The doctor heard what the old man said and knew that Dan'er was eager to learn, good at thinking, and extremely intelligent. He had long wished to meet her. Recently, several servants passed by this place and wrote to me, intending to take Dan'er to Zhou. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, please cherish it! "After hearing this, the old lady couldn't help but feel a mixture of sadness and joy. Mr. Xi's recommendation made it possible for Dan'er to enter the Zhou Dynasty and have a way to climb the Dragon Gate. She was sad that mother and son were separated. When can we see each other? Thinking about this, it seems that Dan'er is thousands of miles away, and she can't help but feel sad. Suppressed and bursting into tears, the old man threw himself into his mother's arms and cried, "Don't be sad, mother. Dan'er will never live up to the teacher's high expectations. When I succeed in my career, I will definitely come to pick up my mother as soon as possible!" "After that, the mother and son hugged each other and cried. After crying for a long time, the mother and son turned to joy and thanked Mr. Shang for the recommendation. Three days later, the whole family and Mr. Shang sent Lao Dan to five miles away. Lao Dan knelt down and worshiped one by one. , got on the horse and went westward with the doctor's servant. The old lady watched Dan'er's figure go away, and then she got into the car and returned gloomily. "Lao Dan entered the Zhou Dynasty, paid a visit to the doctor, and studied astronomy, geography, and human relations. He studied "Poetry", "Book", "Yi", "Calendar", "Li" and "Music", and studied all cultural relics, laws and history books. He made great progress in three years. The doctor also recommended him to be an official in the Tibetan Secretariat. The collection room is the place where Zhou Dynasty classics are collected. It collects all the texts and books from all over the world. When Lao Dan was in it, he was like a dragon swimming into the sea, and the sea was vast with the dragon leaping; like an eagle spreading its wings into the blue sky, the sky was high enough for birds to fly. Lao Dan was hungry and thirsty, he read extensively, gradually reached a better state, understood the source of rituals and music, and understood the purpose of morality. Three years later, he moved to the post of guardian of the Tibetan History Department, and his reputation spread far and wide throughout the country.

Confucius asked about rituals

Lao Dan lived in Zhouzhou for a long time, and his knowledge and reputation became more and more profound. In the Spring and Autumn Period, people who were knowledgeable were called "Zi" to show respect. Therefore, people called Lao Dan "Laozi". One day in 523 BC, Confucius said to his disciple Nangong Jingshu: "Shi Laodan, the keeper of the Tibetan Chamber in Zhou Dynasty, is knowledgeable about the past and the present. He knows the origin of ritual and music and the essentials of morality. Now I want to go to Zhou to ask for advice. Are you willing to go with me?" "Uncle Nangong Jing readily agreed and immediately reported to Lord Lu. Lu Jun is sure to do it. A chariot, two horses, a boy and a chariot were sent, and Nangong Jingshu accompanied Confucius there. Lao Tzu was very happy to see Confucius come all the way. After teaching, he invited Confucius to visit the doctor Chang Hong. Chang Hong was good at music and taught Confucius music temperament and music theory. He introduced Confucius to watch rituals to worship gods, examine missionary places, and observe the etiquette of temple fairs. Confucius was amazed and benefited a lot. Stay for a few days. Confucius bid farewell to Lao Tzu. Lao Dan sent him outside the building and said: "I heard that the rich and noble give money to others, and the kind and righteous people give words to others. I am not rich or noble, and I have no money to send you. I would like to give you a few words. In today's world, the reason why those who are smart and insightful are in trouble and almost die is because they like to ridicule the wrongs of others; the reason why those who are good at eloquence and understanding often bring trouble to themselves is because they like to promote the evil of others. Son, do not put yourself above others; as a minister of others, do not put yourself above others. I hope you will remember this." Confucius paused and said, "I must keep this in mind!" The Wenli Square built in Luyi to commemorate Confucius's greetings /p>

Walking to the bank of the Yellow River, I saw the surging water and rolling turbid waves. Its momentum was like ten thousand horses galloping, and its sound was like the roar of tigers and thunder. Confucius stood on the bank and sighed unconsciously: "The deceased is like a man who never leaves day and night! The water of the Yellow River is endless, and people's years are endless. The river water does not know where to go, and the life does not know where to return?" After hearing about Confucius, he said: Qiu's words, Laozi said: "Life is between heaven and earth, and it is one with heaven and earth. Heaven and earth are natural things; human life is also natural things; people have the changes of youth, youth, strength and oldness, just like heaven and earth have spring, What's so sad about the alternation of summer, autumn and winter? If you are born in nature and die in nature, your nature will not be chaotic; if you don't let nature take its course, your nature will be fettered by virtue and fame. Anxiety arises; if the desire for profit remains in the heart, the anxieties will increase.

Confucius explained: "I am worried that the great road will not work, benevolence and righteousness will not be implemented, wars will continue, and the country will not be governed. Therefore, there are people who have a short life and cannot make contributions to the world or do anything for the people." Laozi said: "There is no world in heaven and earth." Humans push and move on their own, the sun and the moon shine on their own without being burned, the stars follow their own order without being arranged, animals and beasts emerge on their own without being made by man, this is what nature does, so why bother with human beings? The reason why people are born, why they are insignificant, why they are honored, and why they are disgraced are all based on natural principles and ways. If we follow the principles of nature and act in accordance with the ways of nature, the country will be autonomous and people will be self-righteous. Why should we focus on rituals and music and promote benevolence and righteousness? To dwell on rituals and music and advocate benevolence and righteousness goes against human nature! It's like beating a drum to find someone who is escaping. The louder the drum is, the farther the person will run away! After a pause, Laozi pointed to the mighty Yellow River and said to Confucius: "Why don't you learn the great virtue of water?" Confucius said: "What virtue does water have?" Laozi said: "The best thing is like water: water is good for all things and does not fight for it. It is what everyone hates. This is the virtue of humility. Therefore, the river and the sea can be the king of a hundred grains. If they are good, they can be the king of a hundred grains." There is no one in the world who is soft and weak compared to water, and no one who attacks the strong can win. This is the virtue of softness; therefore, the soft overcomes the hard, and the weak overcomes the strong. Because it has no existence, it can enter the non-existence. From this, we can see the benefits of teaching without saying anything and doing nothing. "When Confucius heard this, he suddenly realized: "Sir's words made me understand: when everyone is above, the water alone is down; when everyone is together, it is easy, but when the water is alone, it is dangerous; when there are everyone, the water is clean, but when the water is alone, it is dirty. Wherever people are doing evil, who can argue with me? This is why it is the best. "I nodded and said, "You can teach me! You must remember: If you don't compete with the world, no one in the world can compete with you. This is to imitate Shui De. Water is similar to Tao: Tao is everywhere, water is unfavorable to all, avoid heights and go downwards without going against the grain, and are good at the ground; empty space is pure and quiet, unfathomable. Goodness is the abyss; loss is not exhausted, giving without expecting repayment, goodness is benevolence; circles must turn, squares must break, plugs must stop, decisions must flow, good and trustworthy; wash away the filth of the crowd, level the high and low, and be good at managing things. Also; if you use it to carry it, you will be floating; if you use it to learn, you will be clear; if you use it to attack, you will be strong and invincible. Make good use of your energy; don't give up day and night, make progress in Yingke, and treat the time well. Therefore, the sage acts at any time, the wise man changes in response to the situation; the wise man governs by doing nothing, and the wise man lives according to nature. After you leave, you should get rid of your arrogance in your words and your appearance. Otherwise, if the voice has been heard before the person arrives, the wind has moved before the body has arrived, and you are flamboyant, like a tiger walking on the street, who would dare to use you? Confucius said: "The teacher's words came from the bottom of his heart and entered the heart of the disciple. The disciple benefited a lot and will never forget it." Disciples will obey and obey without hesitation to thank the teacher for his kindness. "After that, he said goodbye to Lao Tzu, got into the car with Uncle Nangong Jing, and reluctantly drove to the State of Lu. After returning to the State of Lu, the disciples asked: "Sir, do you want to see me when you visit me? Confucius said: "See it!" "The disciple asked. "How is I doing? Confucius said: "Birds, I know they can fly; fish, I know they can swim; beasts, I know they can walk." Those who walk can use a net to tie it, those who swim can use hooks to catch it, those who fly can use arrows to catch it. As for the dragon, I don't know what it is? The dragon rides on the wind and clouds and ascends to the nine heavens! When I see Lao Tzu, does he look like a dragon? Knowledge is deep and unpredictable, ambitions are high and difficult to understand; like a snake that bends and stretches at any time, like a dragon that changes at the right time. Lao Dan is my true teacher! '"

On Life and Death

It is said that Lao Dan was appointed as the guardian of the Zhou Dynasty and returned home several times to visit his relatives. He wanted to persuade his mother to go to the Zhou Dynasty with him; his mother lived in Chen Guoxiang for a long time, and she was The land is ripe and I don't want to move far away. Time flies, and more than thirty years have passed in the blink of an eye. One day in the Taiqing Palace of the Qing Dynasty, Lao Dan suddenly received news from his family that his mother was critically ill. So he reported to the emperor and returned home to inspect her. When he returned home, his mother had passed away. Facing the vast pile of loess, he thought about his mother's spirit and recalled his mother's kind appearance and nurturing grace. He was heartbroken. After eating and sleeping, he sat on the floor, meditating, and suddenly realized that he was stupid. He suddenly realized that he was relieved, and his sorrow was relieved. After a good meal, he fell asleep and fell asleep. When he woke up, he asked him why. "People are born with feelings and wisdom. If there is affection, the relationship between people will be harmonious and they will be warm to each other; if there is wisdom, it will be clear and clear and the affairs will not be chaotic. Emotion is attached to wisdom; wisdom is the master of emotion. If emotions are used to guide wisdom, people will be dull and things will be messed up; if wisdom is used to guide emotions, people will be smart and things will be in harmony. When my mother was born, her kindness was as heavy as a mountain. Now that my mother has said goodbye to Dan, my love for her is hard to break. Love is hard to break, it's human nature. If it is difficult to judge and not unified with wisdom, it will be chaotic, so it is sad and unwilling to live. Today, Dan is sitting upright and meditating, suddenly wisdom comes, and he uses wisdom to control his emotions, so his emotions can be controlled and things can be adjusted. When emotions are controlled and things are managed, the belly is hungry and desires food, and the body is tired and sleepy.

The general asked, "How can wisdom govern emotions?" "Every human life comes from nothing to something; from nothing to something, it must come back from something to nothing." When there is no mother and son, there is no love between mother and son; when there is mother and son, there is love between mother and son; when the mother leaves and the mother remains, the mother has no love but the son has only love; when the mother and son are gone, Then there is no such thing as love. Isn't it the same when the favor is gone and when the favor is gone? Isn't it foolish to indulge in love and feel miserable without wanting to live without distinction? Therefore, the love between flesh and blood is difficult to break, and everyone is like this, which is in line with love; if it is difficult to break without restraint, it goes against the principles of nature. It is foolish to go against the laws of nature! Dan thinks about this, so his appetite is lost and he can't sleep. "When everyone heard this, their hearts suddenly became enlightened.

Han Gu wrote the book

In the second year of King Jing of Zhou Dynasty (518 BC), Lao Dan returned to Zhou Dynasty after the mourning period. Zhou Jing In the fourth year of King Zhou's reign (516 BC), there was civil strife in the Zhou royal family, and Wang Zichao led his troops to capture Liu Gong's city. King Zhou Jing was forced to do so. At that time, Jin State was strong and sent troops to rescue King Zhou Jing. The Zhou royal family fled to Chu State. Lao Dan was implicated in his dereliction of duty and resigned from his old position. He then left the palace and went into seclusion. He wanted to leave Hanguguan and travel westward to Luoyi of the Zhou Dynasty, but he saw the surrounding areas. It was desolate. The walls were broken, the well fences were broken, the roads were broken, the fields were deserted, and the grass was rustling. There were no farming horses in the fields, but the horses galloped endlessly on the road, and some horses were chasing after them with difficulty. Seeing this scene, Lao Dan's heart was as sharp as a knife, and he thought to himself: "A soldier is an ominous weapon, not a gentleman's weapon. Use it as a last resort, only in moderation, and calmness is the best. There is no need to be self-beautiful to win. Those who are self-beautiful are happy to kill people. Those who kill people in Fule cannot succeed in the world! Those who use Dao to assist their masters do not use soldiers to strengthen the world. Wherever there is an army, thorns will grow; after a large army there will be bad years. If there is a way in the world, the horses will use dung; if there is no way in the world, then armies and horses will be born in the suburbs. If soldiers and horses are born in the suburbs, the country will be in chaos and the family will be ruined. " It is said that Guan Yin, the official guarding the Hangu Pass, was fond of observing astronomy and reading ancient books when he was young. He was deeply cultivated. One night, while gazing at the starry sky from the independent tower, he suddenly saw a gathering of purple clouds in the east, which was thirty thousand miles long and shaped like a Like a flying dragon, rolling from east to west, he said to himself: "The purple air comes from the east for thirty thousand miles, and the sage passed by this place on his westward journey. The green ox slowly carried the old man, hiding his form and hiding his vitality. "Guan Yin had heard of Lao Dan's name early and wondered if it was Lao Tzu who was coming? So he sent people to clean the road for forty miles and burn incense along the way to welcome the saint. In the afternoon of July 12, the sun set in the west and the light shone in the east. Guan Yin was about to go down. Guan Yin looked around and suddenly saw an old man among the few people walking down the pass, riding a green bull backwards. The old man's white hair was like snow, his eyebrows were hanging down, his ears were hanging down from his shoulders, his beard was hanging down to his knees. And sighed: "I am lucky in life. Get to see the saint! "Three steps and two steps at a time, he ran forward, knelt down in front of the green ox and worshiped: "Guan Yin kowtows to meet the saint." I saw that the person who knelt down had a square face, thick lips, thick eyebrows, and a straight nose. He was dignified but not cold, gentle and kind. He was not flattering. He had known that he was not an ordinary person, so he deliberately tried to test: "Master Guan Ling bows to a poor and lowly old man. This is a very polite thing!" I don't dare to take the responsibility. I wonder if I have any advice? Guan Yin said: "My father-in-law is a saint!" Be sure to stay in a dormitory to guide the path of practice. Lao Tzu said: "What is so sacred about me that I am so loved by you?" Ashamed, ashamed, ashamed to kill me? Guan Yin said: "Guan Yin is not talented. He is good at observing astronomy and knows a little about the changes." Seeing the purple air coming from the east, I knew that a saint was traveling west. I saw the purple air rolling like a dragon, and it was 30,000 miles long. He knows that the one who comes is the most holy and supreme, and is not an ordinary saint. When he sees the white clouds surrounding the head of the purple air, he knows that the saint has white hair and looks like an old man. When he sees the green ox star in front of the purple air, he knows that the saint is coming on a green bull. After hearing this, I burst out laughing: "Thank you, thank you!" I have heard of your name a long time ago and came here to pay you a visit. Guan Yin was overjoyed when he heard the words and kowtowed repeatedly. After that, Guan Yin led Lao Tzu to his official residence, asked him to sit on the seat, burned incense and performed the disciple's ceremony, and begged: "Sir, you are a great sage today!" A sage will not steal his own wisdom as his own, but will take the wisdom of the world as his own responsibility. Now you will live in seclusion and be unkind, and those who ask for advice will be hard to find! Why not write down your holy wisdom in a book? Although Guan Yin is humble, I hope that Mr. Dai will pass it on to future generations, be famous through the ages, and benefit all generations. " Lao Dan promised to trace the origins of the rise and fall of the dynasty, the safety and misfortune of the people, and write two chapters, a total of five thousand words. The first chapter begins with "The Tao can be Tao, but it is not Tao; the name can Name, very famous", so people call it "The Classic of Virtue". The second chapter begins with "The superior virtue is not virtuous, so it is virtuous; the inferior virtue is not virtuous, so it is not virtuous", so it is called "The Classic of Virtue", together It is called the "Tao Te Ching". The "Tao Jing" talks about the fundamentals of the universe, contains the mechanism of the changes of heaven and earth, and contains the wonders of the changes of yin and yang. The next chapter, "The Book of De", talks about the way to deal with the world, including the art of advancing and retreating in personnel, and contains the long-term perspective. road.

When Guan Yin got it, he felt as if he had found a treasure. He recited it silently all day long, feeling hungry and thirsty.

Dianhua Yangziju

One day, Lao Dan rode an ox to the outskirts of Liang (now Kaifeng, Henan). He was closing his eyes to rest when he suddenly heard someone shouting "Mr." . When Lao Dan heard the sound, he opened his eyes and found that it was his disciple Yang Ziju. Yang Ziju, a native of Wei State, entered the Imperial Academy of Zhou Dynasty. He heard that Lao Tzu was profound and learned from him, so he privately worshiped Lao Tzu as his teacher. Unexpectedly, he met Laozi in Lianghui. Yang Ziju hurriedly got off his horse, lifted up his brocade and green robe, and knelt down in front of the green bull that Lao Dan was riding. Lao Dan came down, helped Yang Ziju up, and walked with him. Lao Dan asked: "What have you been busy with recently?" Yang Ziju saluted and said, "I came here to visit my ancestors' residence, purchase real estate, decorate the beams, recruit servants, and organize the family rules." Lao Dan said: "There is a place to sleep. The place where you eat and drink is enough, why do you need to be so ostentatious?" Yang Ziju said: "Sir, to cultivate your body, you need silence when you sit, relaxation when you walk, pure food when you drink, and peace when you sleep. How can you do this unless you have a deep house and a single family? How can you maintain a house in a deep house without hiring servants or providing tools? How can you manage it if you hire servants and provide tools and do not establish household rules?" Old Dan laughed and said, "The way is natural, so why bother to be calm? Seek and relax, drink without luxury and be at peace with yourself. Why do you need to live in a deep house to cultivate yourself? Eat when you are hungry, rest when the body is tired, work at sunrise, and sleep at home. If you follow nature and do nothing, your mind will be at peace and your body will be healthy; if you go against nature and do nothing, your mind will be confused and your body will be damaged." Yangzi, who knew his own self, felt ashamed and said, "I am a vulgar person. Thank you for your advice." Lao Dan asked. "Where can I live?" Yang Ziju said, "Pei (now Pei County, Jiangsu Province)." Lao Dan said, "We are just going together." Yang Ziju was very happy. Xin Ran walked eastward with the teacher. When they reached Nanshui, the two of them took a boat to cross. Lao Dan led the ox and climbed up first, while Yang Ziju led the horse and climbed up later. Lao Dan has a kind smile. He chatted and laughed happily with his fellow passengers; Yangziju held his head high and held his chest high. When the guests saw him, he gave him a seat, and the captain offered him tea and a towel. It was difficult to cross the water, so the two of them rode on their animals and continued moving forward. Lao Dan sighed: "I just saw your demeanor, with your head held high, arrogant and arrogant, arrogant and arrogant. You cannot be taught." Yang Ziju looked ashamed and said sincerely: "It will become a natural habit for the disciples." Change it!" Lao Dan said, "When a gentleman interacts with others, he is like ice released in water, and when he interacts with others, he is like a humble servant; he is pure and flawless, but seems to contain dirt, and he is rich in virtue, but seems to be vulgar and ordinary." After hearing this, Yang Ziju changed his original arrogance. His appearance was neither reserved nor respectful, and his words were neither arrogant nor flattering. Lao Tzu praised: "Young man, you have made a little progress! Human beings are born from the bodies of parents and stand between heaven and earth. They are natural things. To value oneself and despise things is contrary to nature. To value others and despise oneself is against nature. When all things are equal, Things and I are one, follow the trend, take advantage of it, and stop. If your words and actions are unnatural, then they are in line with the Tao!"

On Health Preservation Sutra

It is said that Lao Dan lived in seclusion in Pei land in the Song Dynasty and farmed his own land. To eat, weave and clothe ourselves. Not knowing his name, he had no feet to go on his own. People who admired his name came one after another, asking for advice on how to practice Taoism, the purpose of academic studies, and the key to life. As a result, his disciples spread all over the world. There was a disciple named Geng Sangchu who had learned the teachings of Lao Tzu and lived on Mount Weilei in the north. After living there for three years, the folk customs in the land of Alibaba changed drastically: the men tilled the fields and had millet to eat, the women weaved and had clothes to wear, each doing their best, children and elders were not bullied, the people were harmonious, and the world was at peace. Everyone wanted to elect Geng Sangchu as their monarch. When Gengsangchu heard about it, he was unhappy and wanted to move. The disciple was puzzled and Geng Sangchu said: "A giant beast can swallow a car with its mouth, and its power can be said to be very powerful. However, if it walks alone outside the mountains and forests, it will inevitably be caught in a snare. A giant fish can swallow a boat with its mouth, and its power can be said to be very powerful. However, If they jump on the beach, the ants can eat them. Therefore, birds are not tired of the sky being high, animals are not tired of the dense forests, fish are not tired of the depth of the sea, and rabbits are not tired of the many holes. The birds are not tired of the sky being high, and the animals are not tired of hiding in the woods. If the sea is deep, fish can hide; if there are many holes, rabbits can escape. People who want to protect their bodies and survive should hide their shadows, so they don’t hate being humble and mediocre." Geng Sangchu One of the disciples, named Nan Rong, was over thirty years old. Today he heard Geng Sangchu's lectures on health preservation and wanted to know how to maintain health. Geng Sangchu said: "The ancients said: Bumblebees cannot hatch caterpillars, and chickens cannot hatch swans. Each one has its own capabilities, and each has its own incompetence. Sangchu's talents are limited and are not enough to transform you. Why don't you go south to Pei in the Song Dynasty for advice? Mr. Lao Dan?" After Nan Rong heard this, he said goodbye to Geng Sangchu and walked through the wind and snow for seven days and nights to Lao Dan's residence. Nan Rong paid homage to Lao Dan and said, "My disciple Nan Rong, whose qualifications are dull and difficult to change, has traveled seven days and seven nights to seek advice from the saint." Lao Dan said, "What do you want?" "How to maintain health." Lao Dan said. : "The way to maintain health is to be calm and pure. Those who are calm and pure can wash away the dirt in the heart. One of the dirt in the heart is material desire and the other is the pursuit of knowledge.

If you let go of desires and seek, your heart will be calm; if your heart is calm, your movements will be natural. When movement and stillness are natural, there is nothing to worry about in the mind, so he will lie down when he should lie down, get up when he should rise, go when he should go, and stop when he should stop, and external objects should not disturb his mind. Therefore, the way to learn the Tao is to eliminate both the internal and external aspects; those who have gained the Tao must forget both the internal and external aspects. The inner one is the heart; the outer one is the things. If you eliminate both the inside and the outside, you will get rid of desires internally, and you will get rid of the temptations of things externally; if you forget both the inside and outside, you will forget your desires internally, and you will forget the temptations of things externally. From elimination to forgetfulness, the inside and outside become one, and everything returns to nature, thus reaching the great road! Now, you have never forgotten to learn the Tao in your heart, which is also a desire. If you get rid of the desire to seek the Tao, your mind will be at peace; if your mind is pure, the Tao can be cultivated? Jump first? After hearing this, the intention to painstakingly seek the Tao will disappear. Feeling relieved, my body and mind have become refreshing, relaxed, calm and indifferent. So he thanked Lao Dan and said: "Sir, one word is better than my ten years of cultivation. Now I don't ask for advice on the Tao, but I hope to receive the sutra of health preservation." Lao Dan said: "The sutra of health preservation must be in nature. I don't know where I am going when I move, and I don't know where I stop when I stop. It curls with things and flows with the waves. When it moves, it has the same virtue as Yang, and when it is still, it has the same virtue as Yin. Its movement is like water, its stillness is like a mirror, and its response is like sound. This is the Sutra of Nan Rong. asked. "Is this the state of perfection?" Lao Dan said: "No. This is the beginning of merging one's heart with nature and entering into nature. If you enter the state of perfection, you will live on the ground with the beasts and not feel humble. Immortals are happy with heaven but don't think they are noble; they don't act innovatively, they don't think about strategies, they don't work hard, they don't know what they want, and they don't know what they want when they go." Nan Rong asked: "Is this the end? "Lao Dan said. "Weiye. The body standing between heaven and earth is like a dead branch; the heart is within the body, like a scorched leaf. In this way, the red sun is scorching but you don't feel the heat, the ice and snow are covered but you don't know the cold, the sword and halberd can't hurt, the tiger can't hurt The leopard cannot do harm. Therefore, neither misfortunes nor blessings will come, and neither misfortunes nor blessings will come."