Self-struggle starting from Douluo

The old man never told Qinghuan about what was happening outside, and he didn't even tell him his name.

Qinghuan once asked about the current dynasty, and the old man told him that Qinghuan now had only one mission, which was to study.

Other things will only disturb his mind. Only when his heart is completely corrected and can be maintained, can he be considered to have learned something.

So Qinghuan stopped asking questions and put all her attention into studying.

His clothes became more and more gorgeous and more and more complicated to wear, but Qinghuan became more and more adapted to them.

And the gorgeous clothes suit him more and more.

Confucian self-cultivation is not only about cultivating the body, but also cultivating the mind!

……

Qinghuan studied the Book of Rites until she was twelve years old.

Of course, this does not mean that he has only learned this over the years. He has also learned other knowledge over the years. It’s just that Qinghuan has always followed the rigid requirements in "Book of Rites".

Whether walking, talking, eating, sleeping, dressing or bathing, all are strictly in accordance with the requirements of "Book of Rites".

Including the annual solar term sacrifices, the old man left it all to Qinghuan to preside over.

It was not until the age of twelve that the old man took Qinghuan fishing again.

Qinghuan was dressed in gorgeous clothes, with his hands behind his back, standing straight behind the old teacher, holding the "Book of Songs" in one hand and reciting it, just like he did in the past.

The old man smiled and said, "Do you remember when I was here and asked you what "ritual" was, what was your answer?"

Qing Huan was serious and said, "Teacher, the student answered: courtesy means to humble oneself and respect others!"

The old master smiled and said, "Then I will ask you again today, what is etiquette?"

Qing Huan thought about it and said, "Water has no fixed shape, it is framed by etiquette, and etiquette is the ditch! Human nature is to seek profit, it is controlled by law, and etiquette is the law of the country! Customs vary from place to place, etiquette is appropriate, etiquette is to change customs!

Don't be greedy when facing wealth, don't avoid difficulties, courtesy is the most precious virtue! Don't be arrogant, don't follow desires, don't be too ambitious, don't be too happy, courtesy is moderation!
To determine the closeness, resolve suspicion, distinguish differences, and distinguish right from wrong, etiquette is the measure of right and wrong! The relationship between the ruler and his subjects, father and son, and brothers cannot be determined without etiquette. Etiquette is the authority of respect and inferiority!
Parrots can speak, but they are still birds; orangutans can speak, but they are still animals; etiquette is the difference between humans and animals! Come without going, go without coming; etiquette is the norm and stability!

Rich people are arrogant and licentious, poor people are short-sighted, etiquette is what determines people's fate! Warm in winter and cool in summer, calm at night and reflect in the morning, etiquette is what ugly people do not fight for! "

After hearing this, the old man slapped his thigh and laughed, saying, "Good! Good! Good! From today on, you can take off your fancy clothes!"

"is teacher!"

Qinghuan's mouth curled up, and he tried hard to force a smile. The Book of Rites required one to always show a serious and thoughtful expression, so Qinghuan seldom smiled in recent years. Now when he wanted to smile, his face became a little stiff.

After laughing, Qinghuan raised her hands, stretched her body, and this was something that the Book of Rites would never allow.

Qinghuan put the "Book of Songs" in his hand into his belt, squatted down by the river, and washed his face with the water.

Smile again and it will be more natural.

When the old man said that Qinghuan could take off her fancy clothes, he actually meant that Qinghuan could regain her true nature.

The Book of Rites "cultivates oneself" by restraining the body and mind, which severely suppresses a person's nature and regulates one's every move.

Now that Qinghuan has achieved success in self-cultivation, his nature no longer needs to be suppressed.

Take off your fancy clothes and regain your true nature!
Of course, some things have become habits, so there is no need to change them. For example, Qing Huan's back is always straight, and her neck is always straight...

After shaking off the water on his hands, Qinghuan turned his head and grinned at the old man with a big smile.

The old master laughed with satisfaction and said, "It was not until I was forty that I reached your current state. It is a great relief to have a disciple like you!"

To cultivate "rectification of mind and sincerity of intention" into the heart, an average Confucian has to wait until he is seventy years old to reach this state.

The old man reached this state at the age of forty, doing whatever he wanted without breaking the rules... Qinghuan is twelve years old!

Qing Huan sat down on the grass by the river, leaning back to support himself. He was very crooked, but his eyes were unusually clear and "positive", giving people a positive and steady feeling. He said, "It is a great blessing in life for a student to meet a teacher!"

The old man smiled and said, "Although you are gifted, you are still young after all. You still need to keep it in mind all the time!"

Qinghuan nodded and said, "Don't worry, teacher. I understand." His "sincerity and integrity" no longer needed those rigid requirements to restrain his body and mind, nor did he need to be superficial. But that didn't mean Qinghuan could relax.

Self-cultivation is your own business. It is useless to force others. "Uprightness and sincerity" can deceive others but not yourself.

At this level, it all depends on personal awareness. Those who are willing to cultivate themselves will naturally not deceive themselves. They will only be more strict with themselves mentally and will not allow themselves to slack off in the slightest!
If one is unwilling to cultivate himself, no one can do anything to him, because "being upright and sincere" all lies in one's own heart.

If we insist on continuing to use the rigid form of "Book of Rites" to make demands, we will only cultivate a rigid nerd.

The Confucian "self-cultivation" will become futile if one slackens off even a little.

Therefore, many people ridicule the cumbersomeness of Confucian etiquette, but they do not know that this cumbersome and boring etiquette is never required of others, but is used to "discipline oneself and cultivate oneself"!

Because it is tedious and you have to think about it all the time and keep it in mind, you won’t have time to think about anything else!

……

The old man returned with nothing, feeling very satisfied.

Qinghuan put his hands behind his back and took leisurely steps, turning his head to look around as he walked.

This scene stunned the oncoming housekeeper Hu and Hongmei, one of the four maids.

"Housekeeper Hu, Sister Hongmei!" Qing Huan greeted with a smile, "Oh, Sister Hongmei has become more beautiful again!"

Butler Hu leaned back subconsciously, and Hongmei opened her mouth with a look of surprise.

Qinghuan, who had always been serious, solemn and stern, suddenly became so erratic that they were not used to it and they were unable to react for a moment.

And looking at the old man's expression, he seemed extremely pleased, without any intention of scolding at all.

Qing Huan joked, "Oh, Sister Hong Mei has vegetable leaves stuck on her teeth."

Hongmei quickly raised her hand to cover her mouth, and stepped back in panic with a red face.

The old man pointed at Qing Huan, laughed, and said to Butler Hu: "From now on, the management of the farm will be handed over to Qing Huan."

Butler Hu finally came to his senses and said quickly, "Yes, Master. From now on, I will have to trouble Master Qinghuan."

Qing Huan did not refuse and said with a smile: "I need more advice from Butler Hu."

Butler Hu has been with the old master for so many years, and now he finally understands. His eyes are filled with shock and joy, and he said respectfully: "Young Master Qinghuan has learned a lot, and Old Hu is not qualified, but he has accumulated some experience, as long as Young Master Qinghuan doesn't despise it."

Qing Huan leaned over and whispered, "Does it also include the experience of visiting brothels in town every month?"

Butler Hu's face suddenly turned red, and when he was about to explain, Qinghuan had already run into the house.

The old man looked at him with inquiring eyes.

Butler Hu pursed his lips and finally said with a wry smile: "So Master Qing Huan has such a mischievous temper. Master, things will get more exciting in the future."

"Does he dare to cause trouble to me?"

The old man snorted and laughed, saying, "Next time you go, remember to call me!"

Butler Hu: “…”

……

After achieving success in “self-cultivation”, you can then “manage your family”!

The Confucian "family" is not the current household. Mencius said: In a country with ten thousand chariots, the one who kills the king must be from a family with a thousand chariots; in a country with a thousand chariots, the one who kills the king must be from a family with a hundred chariots.

Therefore, the Confucian "managing the family" has never been just about taking care of one's wife, children, parents and brothers, but about managing a certain force!
If one can manage a family of a hundred chariots, how can he not govern a country of a thousand chariots?
If one can manage a family of a thousand chariots, how can he not govern a country of ten thousand heirs?
Therefore, before "governing the country and pacifying the world", Confucianism had already accumulated experience in "managing the family"!

The old man gave Zhuangzi to Qinghuan to manage so that he could "manage the family."

At the same time, dealing with various worldly affairs is also a test of Qing Huan's "self-cultivation" - if a little miscellaneous matter disturbs your mind, you might as well start learning "Book of Rites" from the beginning! (End of this chapter)