12 Mindfulness Lessons Listened to at Tsinghua University

Chapter 16
1. Do not fight to win the world

Anyone who has studied business management knows "Blue Ocean Strategy".This term was first proposed by European and American experts, but it was not foreigners who first proposed its core concept, but Lao Tzu, a Chinese Taoist sage more than 500 years ago.The core idea of ​​this theory has been written in Lao Tzu's "Tao Te Ching"-the husband is the only one who does not fight, so the world cannot compete with it-this is what it means.

——Cui Guowen (Deputy Dean of School of Continuing Education, Tsinghua University, well-known scholar)
What is "non-dispute"?
At a dinner party, my friend Lao Luo explained this wonderfully: Indisputableness is a Taoist theory. To understand it, you must first understand the core of Taoist theory-inaction.Wuwei does not refer to inaction in the usual sense, but rather the meaning of inaction.Why do you have to?Because only by doing nothing can people concentrate their energy and make a difference.In the same way, only when people don't fight for some things can they fight for some things and fight for some things well.In this sense, fighting means not fighting, and not fighting means fighting.

For example: When a person stands on the ground and lifts his left foot, he will find that he can no longer lift his right foot.The reason is that he raised his left foot, and he has already "done something" and "competed for something".And when he is in the state of "inaction" and "incompetence", that is, when he is standing on the ground with two feet, he can lift one foot at any time, and can also jump with both feet when necessary.

My friend's explanation may not be standard, but at least it gives a rough idea.

There is a saying: "Only when a person is used to saying no can he have real freedom." Lao Tzu is a free man who likes to say no.The core of Lao Tzu's saying no is "non-dispute". There are 81 chapters in the "Tao Te Ching", a total of seven chapters and eight places talk about "non-dispute", which shows its importance.

"Husbands do not compete, so nothing in the world can compete with them." Lao Tzu's point of view may seem mysterious, even incomprehensible, but in fact it is very simple. Let's give a small example in life: My friend Xiao Zhang and I both like to play chess. From time to time, kill two games online to change your mind.Of course there are times when work is delayed.One day, I was not in the mood for work, so I asked Xiao Zhang online, and threatened to "kill the shit out of him".Who knows that Xiao Zhang doesn't give face: "I don't play. Firstly, I can't play with you, and secondly, I have to catch up with the manuscript." Regardless of whether Xiao Zhang can play me well, if he doesn't play with me, how can I play with him?How to fight with him?Of course I can find someone else to play with, there are plenty of idlers on the Internet, but no matter who I play with, whether I can win or not, I can't compete with Xiao Zhang.Because he is fighting for business, and I am fighting for leisure.

Life is like chess, there are too few people who can play well.Society has always been a society of fame and fortune, but today's society is even crazier.As big as seats, houses, tickets, women, and as small as a seat on the bus, there are people scrambling for each other everywhere, jumping up and down, trying to make connections, tricks, and tricks.Two days ago, it was reported on the Internet that a certain girl was fighting for a seat with a certain lady on a certain subway, and the girl scratched the other person's face in a rage.Can imagine what will be waiting for this girl?We can also predict that those who compete for seats will have a limited life height.As for those who have to wait in line and refuse to give up their seats when they see the old, weak, sick, disabled or pregnant, their life has no height at all.

A writer once said it well: When you have a lady, you lose a hot girl.In the same way, a person whose mind is full of small propositions does not have more time and energy to think about those big concepts that are really worth thinking about.

Last year, a publishing unit asked me to find two colleagues to translate an ancient book, and I immediately introduced them.They were friends who knew each other before, but they ended up having a bit of a fight.Not for anything else, only for the signature of the works.This is not ridiculous—in China, those books co-authored by multiple people are often sorted according to the number of strokes of the author's surname. Ranking, even if someone is unhappy, he can only blame his own surname with too many strokes - the ridiculous thing is that until today, the book of the two of them has not been published. When they asked the publishing unit, the answer was: the quality is not very good, only Can give up!This is good, don't even think about it.

According to rumors, when an American lady finished reading Mr. Qian Zhongshu's "Fortress Besieged", she couldn't hold back her excitement and wrote to Mr. Qian to express her desire to visit him. Mr. Qian immediately wrote back and declined: "If you eat an egg, I think it's good, why do I need to know the hen that lays eggs?Only people like Qian Zhongshu can become a real master.Those who give speeches today, cut the ribbon tomorrow, and interview the day after tomorrow and sign autographs for everyone are often hyped by big capitalists.

It is a Chinese tradition to fight, especially with one's own people.For example, when you tell your neighbor that the richest man in the world is no longer Bill Gates, but a certain upstart from the other side of the ocean, the other party’s reaction will definitely not take it seriously: whoever you love is none of our business!But if you tell him that something good has happened to you, or you have become famous, he will probably say congratulations, congratulations, I already knew that you are not an ordinary person, but in fact, A few high-quality people will be frustrated by your luck and lament in their hearts, "Why do such good things never happen to me?" Most of my compatriots are probably envious and jealous in their hearts.

These people don’t understand that only by looking at other people’s success positively, learning from other people’s experience, and having the world in mind, can they transcend the small circles, small groups, small regions, and small interests in front of them. can become a successful person.

Modern people often say, be a man before you do it.Therefore, those books that persuade people to be kind and to be a good person have to use the sign of doing things in order to be popular.

However, competition is the nature of living beings, and now is an era of unprecedented competition. It is unrealistic for people to completely stop fighting.The earth’s resources are increasingly scarce, and if you don’t fight for them, they will all be controlled by imperialism; there are so many cities bidding for the Olympics, and if you don’t fight, you will never lose your share;So what should be fought is still to be fought.Since we want to fight, let’s fight for the big ones, and don’t fight for those petty gains, because not only is it not worth fighting for, it shouldn’t be fought for, and it will also affect our fight for the world.

2.Behind the interests is a sharp edge

Recently, someone on the Internet emphasized: "Interest is indeed a good thing."I didn't think about it, I thought yes, it's all good, can it be bad?But when I think about it carefully, I find that profit is sometimes the root of all evil.For example, thieves and robbers will patronize those who have more interests, at least they are the first choice.From this point of view alone, profit becomes a bad thing, harming others and oneself, harming the thief and harming the owner.

——Li Sanming (artist, critic, MBA student of Tsinghua University)
"Yanzi Chunqiu" records a story of "two peaches kill three scholars":

At the end of the Spring and Autumn Period, there were three powerful generals in the State of Qi, named Tian Kaijiang, Gongsun Jie, and Guye Zi, known as the "Three Heroes of the State of Qi".The three heroes are exceptionally brave and won the favor of Qi Jinggong, but like all the people who can't be human, they are domineering, arrogant and arrogant.Yan Ying, the prime minister at the time, worried that the three heroes would endanger the country, and repeatedly advised Qi Jinggong to get rid of them, but Qi Jinggong cherished the warriors and refused to express his opinion.Yan Ying had no choice but to find another way.

Coincidentally, within a few days, Lu Zhaogong, the leader of the neighboring country, visited Qi State, and Qi Jinggong hosted a banquet in honor of him.The monarchs of the two countries were seated at the front of the hall, and Yan Zi and his uncle Sun Wa, a senior official from the Lu State, accompanied him to perform the ceremony.Yan Zi had a plan in mind and decided to take the opportunity to get rid of them.

So Yanzi suggested: "Your Majesty, the golden peaches in the garden are already ripe. How about picking a few for the two monarchs to taste?" Qi Jinggong was overjoyed and immediately asked people to pick them.Yan Ying hurriedly said: "Golden peaches are hard to come by, I'd better go to them myself." After a while, Yan Ying picked back 6 peaches, all of which were huge and fresh, with a strong fragrance.Qi Jinggong asked: "Why did you only pick six?" Yan Ying said: "There are still a few that I don't know well, so I only picked so many." After speaking, he respectfully dedicated one to each of the two monarchs.They ate and praised the deliciousness of the peaches, and gave each of Yanzi and Shusunwa one.In this way, there are only two peaches left.How to deal with it?Yan Ying suggested again: "Your Majesty, please send an order to all the ministers, whoever has the most credit will eat the peaches, how about it?" Qi Jinggong agreed, and just after the order was finished, Gongsun Jie, one of the three heroes, came out and patted his chest and said: "Back then, I would eat peaches at will." The monarch was hunting, and suddenly a fierce tiger jumped out of the forest. I rushed up to kill the tiger and rescue him. I made a great contribution, so I should eat a golden peach, right?" One." Gongsun took the peach and stood aside, very proud.

Immediately afterwards, Gu Yezi, one of the three heroes, also stood up and said, "What's so special about killing a tiger? When I sent the king across the Yellow River, and when he reached the center of the river, a giant turtle made waves and bit the king's horse leg. I was dragged into the rapids, and I risked my life to jump into the river to kill the turtle and rescue him. With such credit, should I eat a peach?" Jing Gong said: "If it weren't for the general, my life would have been lost long ago. This is Ge Shiqi You should eat peaches." Gu Yezi was very happy when he got a peach.

Seeing that the last golden peach on the plate disappeared, Tian Kaijiang, the only one who didn't eat the peach, was unhappy. He said: "I was ordered to crusade against Xu State, risking my life and beheading its famous generals, and taking countless prisoners. The king of Xu State bowed his head and proclaimed himself a minister, and the neighboring states of Tangu and Ju also joined him. With such great achievements, shouldn’t he be worthy of eating a peach?” Yan Ying hurriedly said; “General Tian’s contribution is of course higher than that of Gongsun Jie and Gu Yezi. However, the peaches are gone, so I have to wait for the peaches on the tree to be ripe before giving them.” Tian Kaijiang couldn’t hold back his breath, and he put his hand on the handle of his sword, filled with anger: “What’s so great about beating tigers and turtles! Conquering the Northern War, going through life and death, but not being able to eat peaches, suffering such great shame and humiliation, what face do I have to live in the world?!" After saying that, he drew his sword and fell on the court.Gongsun was shocked, and also drew his sword, saying: "I ate peaches because of my small skills, and General Tian couldn't eat peaches because of my great skills. What face do I have to live in this world?" After saying that, he committed suicide.Gu Yezi couldn't hold back anymore, and shouted: "The three of us swore to live and die together in Jinlan. Now that the two of them are dead, how can I live alone?" After speaking, he drew his sword and killed himself...

Two small peaches decapitated the three fierce generals in an instant, which is shocking even after more than 2000 years.This story was originally intended to praise Yan Zi's strategy and wit, but in the eyes of today's people, it more reflects the desolation and cruelty behind the interests.

When it comes to interests, people often hold the pipa and half cover their faces, as if whoever shouts "I want interests" will immediately lower their personality to the third class, but in fact, throughout the ages, who can completely insulate from interests?Who is not running for profit?
When Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty went to the south of the Yangtze River, an old monk pointed to the passing boats in the river and said: There are only two boats in the river, one is called Ming, and the other is called Li.In fact, fame is also a kind of benefit. If fame can't bring benefits to people, how many people will rack their brains and toss and turn for fame?
People are consumers first and creators second.If a person wants to survive, he must first pursue interests.There is nothing wrong with pursuing interests, but there are often sharp knives behind interests.Modern people often say, "Who is a man who is drifting in the rivers and lakes without being stabbed?" Why would he be stabbed?In other words, why do people who are originally very civilized use knives as soon as they come to the rivers and lakes?The answer is none other than interest.

Of course, not all interests are behind sharp knives, only those who do not know the way of interests will give it to the knife.Let's look at a classic case:
Sun Shuao was the prime minister of the state of Chu in the Spring and Autumn Period. He had been the second in command for decades, with great diligence and impressive achievements.The King of Chu offered to reward him many times, but he declined all of them.Later, Sun Shuao was old and sick. Knowing that he was going to die soon, he called his son to him and said, "The King of Chu has repeatedly offered me a piece of land, but I have not accepted it. After I die, the King of Chu will definitely give it to you." , you must remember not to accept the rich land! Between Chu and Yue there is a place called Sleeping Hill, where the land is barren, you can ask to be sealed there."

Soon, Sun Shu'ao let go and went west. The king of Chu really wanted to give his son a piece of rich land.Until the Han Dynasty, this land was still owned by Sun Shuao's descendants.

The reason why Sun Shuao asked his son not to want rich land is that he deeply knows that behind the interests are often close combat, the greater the interests, the more conspicuous, the more people chase after, the more people are jealous, and finally own Those who benefit will become the target of public criticism. If there is no extraordinary ability and virtue, interests will bring him endless disasters.

There are rivers and lakes where there are interests, but for a person who no longer cares about the affairs of the rivers and lakes, the blood of the rivers and lakes flows like a river, and it does not flow to his feet.Lao Tzu said: "If a husband doesn't fight, he has no preference" - just because he doesn't fight, he doesn't attract resentment.If you don't argue, you will have no troubles, no right and wrong.If you don't fight, you can keep your useful body, calmly discover your own wisdom, and spend all your time and energy wisely, and your future will have infinite possibilities.

3.All living beings on the snail's horn
Thirty years ago, an American president came to China. The purpose of his visit to China was to end decades of estrangement and centuries of mutual suspicion between the two countries.President Nixon showed the world that two very different governments can come together with mutual interest and mutual respect.When they left the airport that day, Premier Zhou Enlai said something like this to President Nixon. He said that your handshake with mine has crossed the vastest ocean in the world, and this ocean is 30 years of no communication.Since then, the United States and China have shook hands of friendship and business many times.

——George Walker Bush (former President of the United States, who gave a speech at Tsinghua University)
Let me make a quick brain teaser first - my latest invention, but reprinting does not need to indicate the source:
What is the smallest cow in the world?Answer: Snail.

I have always wondered why people named this insect that does not look like a cow a snail. I found some information, but there is no standard answer. The only thing that is certain is that as early as the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods, "snail" has It has become the official scientific name of this insect.

The great poet Bai Juyi once mentioned snails in a poem:
What's the fight on the snail's horn? Send it here in the light of the stone fire.

Follow the rich and follow the poor and rejoice, it is an idiot not to smile.

It means: people live in this world, it looks very beautiful, but in fact it seems to be cramped on the tentacles of a small snail, the space is narrow and cramped, even if you can fight for all the territory, fame and fortune, what is there to fight for? Woolen cloth?A moment in life is short, like the flash of fire from a flint strike, so what is there to care about?Life is impermanent, fate comes and goes, and all the tricks are exhausted, in the end it is a waste of effort, so people should be wise, put down the fight, laugh often, and don't waste time fighting for fame and fortune, so that you can enjoy a good life .

Why does the poet compare human life to being on the tentacles of a tiny snail?This comes from a fable in "Zhuangzi":

In the early days of the Warring States period, King Hui of Wei relied on the fact that the country was in its heyday, and wanted to attack Qi on the grounds that King Qi Wei had violated the covenant.In order to persuade the king of Wei to stop his troops, Hui Shi, the prime minister, hurriedly invited Dai Jinren, a wise man who lived in seclusion among the people, to persuade the king of Wei.Seeing King Wei, Dai Jin asked, "Do you know about snails, Your Majesty?"

King Wei said, "Of course I know."

Dai Jinren went on to say: "Let me tell you a story about the snail: there is such a snail with two tentacles, and on the left corner is a country called Touchshi; A country is called the Man clan. In order to compete for territory, the Chu clan and the Man clan would fight each other at every turn, with tens of thousands of corpses buried..."

Before the Daijin man finished speaking, the king of Wei smiled disapprovingly and said, "What you said is all nonsense." Is there infinity in all directions?" King Wei knew some common sense and philosophy, thought for a while and said, "There is no infinity." The people of Jin asked again: "After traveling through the endless universe, the human heart returns to the human world. Can it be said that the human world is so small that it seems like nothing?"

The king of Wei replied: "Yes." Dai Jin then asked: "Since the human world can be so small that it can be dispensable, and the state of Wei is only a small place in the world, and the capital of the country is also a very small place in the state of Wei. The king is a very small body in the capital, so, compared to the infinite universe, what is the difference between you and the king of Manshi on the right corner of the snail?" Wei Wang said: "There is really no What's the difference?" In the end, the king of Wei realized the insignificance of the world and the country, and felt the boredom of conquest and expansion—even if he could win, he would get nothing more than a corner of a snail, which is really meaningless.

This fable has a certain degree of foresight. It was mysterious to the ancients, but it is easy for modern people to understand: Astronauts look at our earth from outer space, but it is only the size of a ping-pong ball.A little further away, you can't see it at all, not as good as the tentacles of a snail.But we know that the earth is actually very big, and many tourists have a dream: to travel around the world.In fact, no one can travel all over the world, they can only go to some big cities and scenic spots at best.If you really want to let a person travel around the world, his final destination can only be exhausted.So, how big is our earth in the universe?In fact, even compared with Jupiter in the solar system, the earth is too small.Jupiter's radius is about ten times that of Earth.The radius of the sun is at least 100 times that of the earth, and its mass is 33 times that of the earth!And we know that the sun is just a very ordinary star in the universe, there are more than 1000 billion stars in the Milky Way alone, and some stars are even 1000 million times larger than the sun!By analogy, what about beyond the Milky Way?What about outside?In short, we can draw a conclusion that we human beings are too small.When you encounter troublesome things, especially those things that you can’t get what you want and you want to fight for it, think about the earth, Jupiter, the sun, and the universe, and everything will suddenly become clear.

(End of this chapter)