What is life?

The heart is like a pool of quiet water. When desire appears, traces of water will appear. From then on, hundreds of feelings and thousands of thoughts will arise. The streets with people coming and going, the endless flow of vehicles, the constant noise, the busyness, the intricate and intricate connections! Just like a spider web!

You are now confused, living a life without desires and pursuits. You don’t know where you are going when you come, and you don’t know what you want when you go.

You are awake at this time.

If possible, I hope you can live without desires. If you feel miserable and unbearable, it means you have desires. The answer is in your heart. There is no need to come here to ask.

I recommend you a book "The Wisdom of Laozi" by Lin Yutang.

If you can understand it, "Tao Te Ching" is even better!

One day in 523 BC, Confucius said to his disciple Nangong Jingshu: "Lao Dan, the keeper of the Tibetan Chamber in Zhou Dynasty, is knowledgeable about the past and the present, knows the origin of rituals and music, and understands the essentials of morality. Now I want to go to Zhou to ask for advice. "Would you like to go with me?" Nangong Jingshu happily agreed and immediately reported to Mr. 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 coming 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 also introduced Confucius to watch rituals of worshiping gods, examine missionary places, and observe the etiquette of temple fairs, which made Confucius sigh with admiration 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, don't put yourself above others; as a minister of others, don't put yourself above others. I hope you will remember this." Confucius paused and said, "I must keep this in mind!" When I walked to the bank of the Yellow River, I saw the surging water and the rolling waves. Its momentum is like ten thousand horses galloping, and its sound is 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 passing by. I don't know where the river is going, and I don't know where to return in life?" After hearing about Confucius, 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 worries will increase. "Confucius explained: "I am worried that the road will not work, the benevolence and righteousness will not be implemented, the war will continue, and the country will not be governed, so some people's life is short and they cannot make contributions. The world cannot do anything for the sake of the people."

Laozi said: "The heaven and the earth can move on their own without anyone pushing them; the sun and the moon can shine by themselves without being burned; the stars can sequence themselves without being arranged; the animals can grow by themselves without being man-made. This is what nature does, why should we bother people? The reason why people are born, why they are prosperous, and why they are humiliated are all based on natural principles and natural ways. , the country is self-governing, and people are self-righteous, why should they focus on rituals and music and promote benevolence and righteousness? It goes against human nature to focus on rituals and music, just like beating drums to seek escape. Then people will escape even further!"

After a moment's pause, Laozi pointed to the vast Yellow River and said to Confucius, "Why don't you learn the great virtue of water?" Confucius said, "What's wrong with water?" Virtue? "Laozi said: "The best is like water: water is good for all things and does not fight for it. It is the virtue of being humble. Therefore, the river and the sea can be the king of a hundred valleys. If they are good, they can be the king of a hundred valleys. .No one in the world is softer than water, and no one can defeat the strong. 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 infinite. The teachings are the benefits of doing nothing." Confucius heard this and suddenly realized: "Sir's words made me understand: when everyone is at the top, the water is alone at the bottom; when everyone is here, it is easy, but when the water is alone, it is dangerous; Water alone is filthy. Who can argue with it? "Is this the best thing to do?" Lao Tzu nodded and said, "You must remember: If you don't fight with the world, no one in the world can do it." To contend with it, this is to imitate the virtue of water. Water is like the Tao: the Tao is omnipresent, and water is unfavorable. Avoiding heights and heading downwards does not lead to any reversal. It is a good place to be on earth. The empty place is pure and quiet, and the depth is unfathomable. Also; damage without exhaustion, giving without expecting repayment, kindness is benevolence; circles must be rotated, squares must be broken, blockages must be stopped, and decisions must flow, this is good and trustworthy; wash away the filth of the crowd, level up the high and low, and be good at managing things; with If you carry it out, you will be clear; 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 it; do not give up day and night, make progress and wait for the time; therefore, the sage will act at any time, the sage will change according to the situation, and the wise person will do nothing. Governance, those who are successful are born according to nature. After you leave, you should get rid of your arrogance in words and appearance, otherwise, the voice will be heard before the person arrives, and the wind will move before the body arrives, and you will be as flamboyant as a tiger. Who dares to use you when you are walking on the street?" Confucius said: "The words of the teacher come from the heart and enter the heart of the disciple. The disciple has benefited a lot and will never forget it in his life. I will never neglect it to express my gratitude to the teacher. "After that, he said goodbye to Lao Tzu, got into the car with Nangong Jingshu, and reluctantly drove to the State of Lu.

After returning to the State of Lu, the disciples asked: "Sir, how can I meet you 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 same time. Lao Dan is my true teacher! '"

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It is said that Lao Dan was appointed as the guardian of the Tibetan Chamber of Commerce in Zhou Dynasty. He returned home several times to visit relatives and wanted to persuade his mother to go to Zhou Dynasty with him. His mother had lived in Chen Guoxiang for a long time and was familiar with the people there. Moving away. Time flies, and more than thirty years have passed in the blink of an eye. One day, Lao Dan suddenly received news that his mother was critically ill, so he reported to the emperor and returned home to check on his mother. Facing a pile of loess on the vast land, thinking about his mother's spirit, recalling his mother's kind appearance and nurturing grace, the old man was so grief-stricken that he sat on the ground without eating or sleeping, meditating, and suddenly realized that he was stupid; it made sense. After searching, I suddenly realized that I was relieved, my sorrow was relieved, and I suddenly felt hungry and tired. So I had a good meal and fell asleep.

The generals and maids felt strange, and when they woke up, they asked why. Lao Dan replied: "People are born with emotions 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, there will be understanding and understanding and no chaos in management. 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 coordinated. 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 by 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?” ”

“Human life comes from nothing to something; from nothing to something, it must come from something and back 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 off and not controlled, 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.

One day, Lao Dan was riding an ox to the outskirts of Liang (now Kaifeng, Henan). He was closing his eyes to rest when he suddenly heard someone shouting "Mr." Dan heard the sound, opened his eyes and found that it was his disciple Yang Ziju.

Yang Ziju, a native of Wei, entered the Imperial Academy of Zhou Dynasty. He heard that Lao Tzu was profound and he secretly worshiped him as his teacher. He did not expect to meet him in Liang. When I met, Yang Ziju hurriedly got off his tall horse, lifted up his brocade green robe, and knelt down in front of the green bull that Lao Dan was riding. Lao Dan got down, helped Yang Ziju up, and walked with him.

< p>Lao Dan asked: "What have you been busy with recently?" "

Yang Ziju saluted and said: "I came here to visit my ancestral home, purchase real estate, decorate the beams, recruit servants, and regulate the family.

Lao Dan said: "It is enough to have a place to sleep and a place to eat. Why do you need to be so showy?" ”

Yang Ziju said: “Sir, to cultivate your body, you need silence when sitting, relaxation when walking, clear drinking, and peace when sleeping. How can you do this unless you have a deep house and a single family? If you build a deep house and have a single family, without hiring servants or using tools, how can you support it? If you recruit servants, purchase tools, and fail to establish household rules, how can you manage it? ”

Lao Dan smiled and said: “The great road is natural, so there is no need to force yourself to be calm.” Walk without seeking and feel relaxed; drink without extravagance and feel pure; lie down without desire and feel at peace. Why do you need to live in a deep house to cultivate yourself? Eat when you are hungry, rest when you are tired, work at sunrise, and sleep at sunset. Why do people need to work 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 camp, your mind will be confused and your body will be damaged. "

Yangzi lived in a humble confidant and said with shame: "I am a vulgar disciple. Thank you sir for your advice." ”

Lao Dan asked. “Where can I live?” "

Yang Ziju said: "Pei (now Peixian County, Jiangsu Province). ”

Lao Dan said: “We are just walking together. "Yang Ziju was very happy. He happily went eastward with his 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 behind. Lao Dan looked kind and smiling. He was chatting and laughing with his fellow passengers; Yang Ziju held his head high, and the guests offered him a seat, and the captain offered him tea and a towel when he saw that it was difficult to cross the river, so the two rode on and continued on their way, sighing: "Just now. Judging from your demeanor, you hold your head high, look down upon others, think only of yourself, are arrogant and arrogant, and cannot be taught. Yang Ziju looked ashamed and said sincerely: "Disciples have become accustomed to it, so they must change it!" "Lao Dan said, "A gentleman's interactions with people are like ice released in water, and he is like a child servant humbled when he interacts with others. He is pure and flawless, but seems to contain dirt and hides dirt. He is rich in virtue, but seems to be vulgar and ordinary." Yangzi Ju listened. , once he changed from his original arrogance, his appearance was neither reserved nor respectful, his words were neither arrogant nor flattering, I praised him and said: "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 against nature, to value others and despise oneself is against nature, to look at all things equally, to see things and myself as one, to follow the trend, to stop by taking advantage of it, and to speak and act unnaturally is in line with the Tao! ”

It is said that Lao Dan lived in seclusion in the land of the Song Dynasty, farming his own food and weaving his own clothes. Who knew his name? The purpose is to live in the world, so his disciples are all over the world.

There is a disciple named Geng Sangchu who has learned the teachings of Laozi. He has lived in Weilei Mountain in the north for three years. The people in Weilei are very popular. Change: Men plow and have grain to eat, women weave and have clothes to wear, each doing their best, children and old people are not bullied, the people are harmonious, and everyone wants to recommend Geng Sangchu as the king. Geng Sangchu heard this and felt in his heart. Displeased, he 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. The strength is so great that if it jumps on the beach, the ants can eat it. Therefore, birds never tire of the height of the sky, beasts never tire of dense forests, fish never tire of the depth of the sea, and rabbits never tire of the number of holes. The sky is high, so birds can fly; the forest is dense, animals can hide; the sea is deep, fish can hide; there are many holes, so rabbits can escape. They are all doing it to protect their bodies and their lives. A person who protects his body and lives throughout his life should keep his shape and hide his shadow, so he will not be tired of being humble and mediocre."

One of the disciples of Geng Sang Chu was named Nan Rong, who was over thirty years old. Today I heard about Geng Sang Chu's health regimen. A high-level discussion, looking for ways 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. Sang Chu's talents are limited and are not enough to transform you. Why don't you go south to Song Guopei to seek advice from Mr. Lao Dan? Hearing this, Nan Rong bid farewell to Geng Sangchu, braved the wind and snow, and walked for seven days and seven nights to Lao Dan's residence.

Nan Rong paid a visit to Lao Dan and said, "Disciple Nan Rong, his qualifications are dull and difficult to change." , specially traveled for seven days and seven nights to seek advice from the saint. "Lao Dan said: "What do you want? "The way to maintain good 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 their hearts. The dirt in the heart is one of material desire and the other of knowledge seeking. 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. No external objects can 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, then 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 sutras of health preservation."

Lao Dan said: "The sutras of health preservation must be found in nature. When it moves, it doesn’t know where it is going, when it stops, it doesn’t know what it is doing. It curls up 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 health preservation. "The scripture." 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 harm him. Therefore, neither misfortunes nor blessings will come, and neither misfortune nor happiness will come."

It is said that Confucius and Lao Dan parted ways in the blink of an eye. At the age of fifty-one, he still had not learned the great way. Hearing that Lao Dan returned to Song Guopei to live in seclusion, he specially brought his disciples to visit Lao Tzu.

When I saw Confucius coming to visit, I asked him in the main room: We have been separated for more than ten years, and I heard that you have become a great sage in the north. Any advice for this visit? Confucius said: "My disciple is not talented. Although he is thoughtful and diligent, he has been wandering in vain for more than ten years and has not entered the gate of the great road." So I came here to ask for advice. Laozi said: "If you want to see the great road, you must first wander to the beginning of things." Within heaven and earth, outside the universe. The figures in heaven and earth, the sun, moon, mountains and rivers all have different shapes and properties. The same thing is that they all arise and die in accordance with nature, and they all move and stop in accordance with nature. To know that they are different is to see their appearance; to know that they are all the same is to know their origin. If you put aside the differences and observe the similarities, you can wander back to the beginning of things. In the beginning, things were mixed into one, formless, sexless, and no different. Confucius asked: "What joy can there be in observing the same thing?" Lao Tzu said: "Looking at the similarities, all things are in harmony." I am equal to all things, and equal to right and wrong. Therefore, life and death can be regarded as day and night, misfortunes and blessings are the same, good and bad are equal, there is no high or low, no honor or disgrace, the heart is like an ancient well, I go my own way and enjoy myself, where can I not be happy? "

When Confucius heard this, he saw that his body seemed useless, and his honor and reputation were like dung. Think about what form you had before your next life? What kind of honor you have? What skin you will have after your death. ? What is noble or inferior? Then the desire to seek benevolence and righteousness and propriety disappears, and I feel relieved, carefree and at ease.

Lao Tzu went on to say: "The Tao is as deep as the sea, as tall as a mountain, it spreads all over the universe and is everywhere, it flows endlessly and everything comes to you, you can't get it if you seek it, and you can't reach it if you talk about it!" The Tao is the one who gives birth to the heaven and the earth without decay, and supports all things without scarcity; the sky is high with it, the earth is thick with it, the sun and the moon are with it and move around, the four seasons are in sequence with it, and all things are shaped by it. "When Confucius heard it, he felt as if he were in the clouds, as if he were diving under the sea, as if he were in the mountains and forests, as if he were in the clear water. Heaven and self are integrated into one body. I am all things, and all things are myself. His heart was relaxed and happy, and he couldn't help but exclaimed: "It's so vast. ! It’s so wide! Boundless! In my fifty-one years of life, I have only known benevolence, righteousness, and etiquette. Who knew the world was so vast and empty? Have a good time, let’s talk again! Talk again! " Seeing that Confucius had entered the gate of the great road, Laozi talked eloquently: "A sage lives in the world, does not betray when things happen, does not guard when things change, goes with the flow, and does things naturally. Those who are harmonious and adaptable are virtuous people; those who adapt to the situation are those who have attained the Tao. "When Confucius heard this, he thought that if the clouds were floating, they would move with the wind; if the water flowed, they would move with the force. He said happily: "How leisurely! Take your time! Take a boat and drift on the sea, take a car and travel on the land. If you advance, you will advance together, if you stop, you will stop together. Why should you use your own strength to replace the boat and the chariot? The nature of a gentleman is not different; he is good and false in nature! Wonderful! Wonderful! Talk again! Let’s talk about it again? Laozi said again: “From the perspective of the origin of the universe, everything is formed by the transformation of gas, and it is destroyed by gas transformation. The birth of a person is the gathering of Qi; the death of a person is the dispersion of Qi. Human beings are born in The world is like a white foal passing through the gap, and it is over suddenly. The life of all things is flourishing, and it has nothing to do with it. It changes into existence; the death of things changes from existence to nothingness. If there is Qi, it can be seen; if Qi is dispersed, it cannot be seen. Nothing is Qi, and everything is Qi. Therefore, life and death are one and the same. There is no immortality in the living, but is it not surprising that people are happy when they see life and sad when they see death? Human death is like breaking away from the shackles of the body, breaking away from the shackles of temperament, and leaving the temporary world. Returning to the original state. When a person is far away from his original state, he is like a wanderer who has gone far away. When he dies, he returns to his original state, like a wanderer who returns to his hometown. Therefore, life is not considered joyful, and death is not considered sad. Those who have attained the Tao regard life and death as one thing, and life is happiness. , death is rest; regard right and wrong as the same, right and wrong, wrong and wrong; regard noble and humble as one, base is not base, noble is not noble; honor and disgrace are equal, honor is not honor, and disgrace is not disgrace. Why? Standing on the Dao, observing the fundamentals of things, life and death, right and wrong, honor and disgrace are all human-made values, and they are all the same and indistinguishable. Without lingering in the heart, the sun and the moon alternate, the heaven and the earth shake, the wind roars and the tsunami, the thunder and lightning strike, but calmly endure it."

When Confucius heard this, he felt that he had become a magpie, flying on the branches; he felt that he was a magpie. Fish, swimming in the rivers and lakes: feeling like a bee, collecting nectar from flowers; feeling like a human being, seeking enlightenment from an old man. He couldn't help but feel relaxed and enlightened, and said: "I stood up at thirty, and I was not confused at forty. Now I am fifty-fifty and I know what nature is. If I was made to be a magpie, it would change according to the nature of a magpie. If I was made to be a fish, it would change according to the nature of a fish. Transformation, when you make me a bee, you change according to the nature of a bee, when you make me a human, you change according to the nature of a bee. Magpies, fishes, bees, and people are different, but they change according to the nature of nature. Change according to the nature, that is, follow the way; Standing in the midst of differences and wandering in the realm of great unity, you are in harmony with the great road. I seek the Tao every day, but I don’t know what is happening in my body.” After saying this, he stood up and said goodbye.