plain book

Chapter 5 Interpretation of Plain Books (3)
【Interpretation】Have strong execution ability, can play a leading role in the group; be resourceful, can keep a clear mind in the chaotic world, and have the ability to make decisions in order to solve doubts and difficult things; keep Promises, one promise, one promise, one promise, one promise, one promise, one promise, one promise, one promise, one promise, one promise, one promise, one promise, one promise, one promise, one promise, one thousand gold, never go back on one's word even if suffered a loss; honest and fair, not seeking personal gain, able to share happiness and hardships with subordinates.A person with these qualities is a hero among men.

A close reading of successful people in ancient and modern China and abroad, they all have internal reasons for success, among which execution, judgment, self-control, and self-examination are the four most basic reasons.For example, self-control ability, which is the ability that almost every successful person possesses.It enables us to stick to our beliefs, gives us unremitting perseverance, is not affected by things around us, no matter success or failure, no matter humiliation or glory, never lose ourselves.

The famous American psychologist Walter Michel once did an interesting experiment on a group of young children.He gave each kid a piece of gummy and told them: I have business to leave for a while.He hoped that none of the children would eat that piece of fudge, and he promised: "If you can keep this piece of fudge until I come back from my work, I will reward you with two more fudge." Lonely children I waited and waited for that tempting piece of fudge, and finally someone couldn't stand it anymore and ate that piece of fudge.Then, someone else did the same thing... 20 minutes later, Michelle came back. He fulfilled his promise and rewarded the children who did not eat the candy with two candies each.

The experiment is far from over.Michelle continued to follow up on the group of children who were subjected to the experiment.Years later, he discovered that most of the children who couldn't wait did nothing, and those who made brilliant achievements in the future were all those children who were willing to wait.

Therefore, success requires reasons, and I hope that each of us will give ourselves more reasons.

[Original Code] Keep one's duty and not give up.Deal with justice but not return.

The note said: "Confucius took the position of the commissioned official to take the field. Those who are forced to obey the righteousness will not return."

Wang said: "Each official position has its own reasons for being in charge. To keep their duties, don't choose what is easy or difficult to do. You must do it with all your heart. Don't take care of things that you shouldn't do. Use your own wisdom to force If you act while watching, you will commit a matter of division and management; if you don't miss your title, your position will not be lost.

Seeking safety in trouble, there is no name for being a virtuous person; living in danger is inconvenient, and death is the way to be loyal.To serve the king, one must seek administration with all one's heart; in times of adversity, try one's best to perish; one would rather die while adhering to benevolence and righteousness, and have a clear reputation for loyalty and righteousness; to avoid benevolence and righteousness and seek to live, even though one lives one's life, is not considered beautiful.Therefore, it is said: There is glory in death, but there is no disgrace in life.

Serve loyally in the face of adversity, have no ambition in the face of danger, and show honor and fame.When you are happy, you can benefit from it together; when things are urgent and the country is in danger, but you don't help, this is a person who is ungrateful and ungrateful.For example, when Li Mi and the Tang soldiers were defeated in battle, they were wounded and fell off their horses and fell down the stream. All the soldiers were scattered, but Wang Bodang was alone by his side.Bodang said: "If a loyal minister does not serve the two masters, I would rather die than surrender."Fearing that the arrow would hurt his master, he fell on top of Li Mi. Later, he was shot randomly by Tang soldiers, and the emperor and ministers piled up their corpses and died in the stream.Loyal ministers and righteous men have the same adversity; when they are in danger, they will not be spared.The name of Wang Bodang's loyalty has been passed down from the Tang Dynasty to the present. "

【Interpretation】No matter how big or small your job is, no matter what position you are in, you must be loyal to your job, love your job and work hard; no matter what situation you encounter, if you believe that it is the right thing, you must stick to it, and never give up and never look back.

Everyone knows that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, but few people actually do it.Each of us has a place in society and something we should do.However, if we seriously review it, have we achieved "keeping our duties and not giving up"?It should be said that many people did not do it.We despise our humble "duty", only to miss greatness.Because it is a great cause to concentrate on a small thing to the extreme.

Everyone knows the story of "Puoding Jieniu". Speaking of it, "Puoding" is nothing more than a butcher, but he has achieved the ultimate in the trivial matter of "undressing the cattle", and finally has a place in the annals of panic.Zhang Ruimin, president of Haier Group, once said: It is not easy to do every simple thing well; it is extraordinary to do every ordinary thing well.

The key to "doing small things to the extreme" is persistence. As long as you believe that this is what you should do, you must do it with confidence. Xu Sanduo in "Soldiers Assault", he thought that what he did was "meaningful things", and he never gave up with this belief, and he succeeded in the end, which is called "doing justice without returning".

If you yearn for greatness and pursue greatness with all your heart, greatness will be affirmed without a trace; if you are willing to be indifferent and insist on doing every little thing well, greatness may come unexpectedly.

【Original】Seeing suspicions but not avoiding them.

The note said: "The Duke of Zhou did not dislike Juju, but the Duke of Zhao did. Confucius did not dislike seeing Nanzi, but Zilu did. The suspicion cannot be avoided, but it is very clear."

【Interpretation】Even if you are misunderstood and suspected, and you are in a place of right and wrong, you are still involved in trouble, do what you should do, and don't shirk your responsibility because you are afraid of trouble.

Zhou Gongdan was a politician, military strategist, thinker, and educator in the Western Zhou Dynasty, and was revered as "Yuan Sheng".After the death of King Wu, his son, King Cheng, was young, and he was the regent of the country.At this time, some people spread rumors that Duke Zhou was ambitious and suspected of seeking power and usurping power.What should Zhou Gong do at this time?If you protect yourself wisely, the country will be in chaos.So he put down the rebellion resolutely, offered rewards, built the eastern capital, made rituals and music, and returned to power and became king.With a calm heart, he did what he should do.

Misunderstandings and grievances at work are inevitable. Those who achieve great things must have the mind to take on everything.Lao Tzu said: "The filth of the country is the master of the country; if the country is unlucky, it is the king of the world." Only by taking responsibility for the bad things in the world can you be the king of the world.No matter how much suffering you bear, you will have the opportunity to usher in how much glory.

[Original Code] Seeing the profit and not looking for it, this person is also outstanding.

The note said: "A handsome man is superior to others; a heroic man is higher than others; a distinguished man is superior to others. Those who are virtuous, trustworthy, righteous, talented, and wise are handsome. They have deeds and wisdom. , Faithful, and honest, it is a matter of pride. As for excellence, its talent is enough to be called. However, excellence is better than boldness, and boldness is better than handsome.”

Wang said: "If you are famous for yourself, if you do it unfairly, you will suffer disaster; if you benefit your family, if you get it unjustly, you will hurt yourself. Although things are self-interested, if they don't follow the principles, don't force them. Although you are honorable, you must not be greedy if you violate the laws and regulations. A virtuous and good gentleman should act righteously according to the law and use his righteousness for wealth. Hou and Di Liang are outstanding men of fairness. Marquis Wu is three-pointed and safe, and the enemy is strong and the monarch is mediocre. There is nothing more suspicious than this. Duke Liang is suspected of being in danger when Zhou and Tang rebelled. It is difficult for the Marquis of Wu, but it is even more difficult for the Duke of Liang. He is called an outstanding person, and he is also an outstanding real person."

【Interpretation】In the face of interests, we must strengthen our integrity and not be a villain who forgets righteousness for profit.Huangshi generally believes that a person who possesses the four qualities of "keeping one's duty and not abandoning one's duty; one who is righteous and not returning one's return; one who sees suspicions and one's refusal to avoid it; one who sees benefits but not one to gain them." These four qualities are the outstanding ones.

Jun, Hao, and Jie are the three standards for evaluating talents in ancient China. Although different people have different specific standards, they are generally similar. "Huainanzi" says: Those with more than ten thousand people are called "Ying", those with more than one thousand people are called "Jun", those with more than one hundred people are called "Hao", and those with more than ten people are called "Jie".

No matter how to define talents, the five elements of heaven, virtue, benevolence, justice, and etiquette are always the core of talents. The division of Jun, Hao, and Jie in "Su Shu" is also based on the above five virtues.Because if you want to do things, you must first be a person, and the five virtues are the right way to be a person, so this chapter is named ("The Righteous Way Boy").

Request for help

The note said: "Aspirations cannot be sought in vain."

Wang said: "The seeker is to visit and seek; Zhiyin is the heart and mind of a person. In this chapter, it is said that a wise man must seek his ambition, receive a job according to his ability, and establish discipline, laws, and principles."

[Interpretation] According to legend, a philosopher came to a construction site and asked three craftsmen who were laying bricks: "What are you doing?" The first one said without looking back: "I am laying bricks." The two workers looked up and said: "I am building a wall." The third worker said full of hope: "I am building a church." After listening to the answer, the philosopher immediately judged the future of the three people: The first person only has bricks in his heart, and it would be good if he can build bricks in his life; the second person has walls in his eyes, he has walls in his heart, and he can work hard and be a foreman; only the third person will succeed. Da Qi, because he has lofty goals - he has a temple in his heart.

Human ambition is like faith, it is the goal that guides people's growth and progress, with it, there will be a direction of progress; with it, there will be a driving force for progress.

[Original Code] Absolute addiction to abstinence, so get rid of tiredness.

The note said: "Human nature is pure, and there is no need to be tired; it is drawn by lust, and it is self-denying and chasing things."

Wang said: "Keep away from sensuality, there is no harm to yourself; indulge in arrogance and extravagance, you will hurt your body. What you like about vainness, you can cut it off; greed and lust, you can stop it, if you keep getting rid of lust, you may block yourself. Smart If a person is polluted by false fame and lust, he will not be able to straighten his heart and cleanse himself; if he gets rid of what he likes, his heart will be pure and his ambition will be broad; he will be free from lust and lust, and will not be burdened by pollution.”

【Interpretation】People can't do it without aspirations. If you want to aspire, you must first start with abstinence from addiction. Why do you do this?It is to clear the unnecessary burden of life.

The Buddha once said that life is miserable, and the reason is that people have three major desires: greed, anger, and ignorance.These three desires are like three mountains pressing down on our hearts, making us confused and struggling to walk.

The famous Russian writer Tolstoy wrote such a short story:
There was a farmer who went out early and returned late every day to plow a small piece of barren land. He was exhausted and had little success. An angel pitied the farmer's situation and said to the farmer that as long as he could keep running around, he would run All the places they pass belong to them.

So the farmer ran forward excitedly.Tired from running, I wanted to stop and rest for a while, but when I thought that my wife and children needed more land to live on, I ran forward desperately... Someone told him that it was time for you to run back, Otherwise, you are finished.The farmer didn't listen at all, he just wanted more land, more money, and more enjoyment.However, due to heart failure, he fell to the ground and died.Life is gone, land is gone, everything is gone, desire has cost him everything.

We are determined to go further and higher.Just imagine, a person who is going to travel far, if he travels with three mountains on his back, how far can he go in the end?Zhuangzi once said: "Those who have deep desires have shallow secrets." The stronger your desires, the less likely the chance of insight into the secrets is, and the smaller the chance of success.

But people's desire is innate, and it is impossible to completely cut it off. Confucius also said that "food and sex are also sexual." Without desire, people lack the necessary motivation.The "absolute addiction and abstinence" mentioned here is to hope that those with aspirations can control their desires and not let them overflow.

【Original Code】Suppressing non-harming evil, so avoiding mistakes.

The note said: "I, I still pray that I will go away. It is not to nothing, but to suppress evil to nothing, and the damage can be eliminated."

Wang said: "If you want to be quiet, you should refrain from wrongdoing. If you have no faults in your body, you must cut off the evil. If you don't do what's right, you don't do good. If you don't do what's wrong, don't do evil. Naturally, there is no fault."

【Interpretation】I can restrain my incorrect behavior and thoughts every day, and reduce some of my bad habits every day, so that I can reduce my faults and make myself perfect.禳 means to remove or eliminate.When a mistake is approaching you quietly, it seems that you gently push it away with your hand, and let it go away automatically.

In the Spring and Autumn Period, Duke Ling of Jin was immoral and killed innocent people indiscriminately, and his minister Ji admonished him.Linggong immediately said: "I know I have done it! I will correct it!" At this time, Shi Ji said a famous saying that has been passed down through the ages: "Who has no faults? There is nothing good in making mistakes." It means that anyone in this world will It is not terrible to make mistakes, as long as you know your mistakes and correct yourself, you will still be a good person.

According to legend, there is such a sentence engraved on the gate of the ancient city of Rome: Know yourself!The biggest enemy of a person in this life is actually himself, specifically his own "non and evil". Only those who can defeat themselves can be called the most powerful people in the world, so Lao Tzu said that "the one who conquers himself is stronger".

Zeng Guofan, a famous official in the Qing Dynasty, had a good habit of reviewing his shortcomings and mistakes in his diary every day, recording what wrong words he said, what wrong things he did, and what evil thoughts he had, and made corrections. measures and methods.It is his attitude of "examining myself three times a day" that made him reach the pinnacle in both personality and career.

We might as well learn from Zeng Guofan, sit down quietly for 10 minutes every day, review the thoughts and behaviors of the day, what is right and what is wrong, and give ourselves an evaluation.If you can persist for a few years, your mental outlook and psychological quality will definitely improve greatly, and you may even feel that you don’t know yourself.

"Book of Changes" says: "If you see good things, you will move, and if you have mistakes, you will correct them."

"Shangshu" says: "Reform without hesitation."

"The Analects of Confucius" says: "If you don't correct what you have done, it is too much.", "Knowing shame is close to courage."

"Yi Lun Ninth": "It is unwise to fail to know what has happened; it is not courageous to know but not to change."

[Original Code] Depreciate the color of wine, so it is not dirty.

The note said: "Looking loses the essence, and if the essence is exhausted, it will harm the spirit; wine destroys the spirit, and if the spirit is injured, it will harm the spirit."

Wang said: "Alcohol can mess up the sex, and sex can ruin the body. Sexual disorder, thinking unclear; mental damage, acting unclear. If you can save alcohol and abstain from sex, your mind will be refreshed and clear, and then you will not be blind or deaf."

[Interpretation] Liquor is indiscriminate and sexually attractive. The ancients have clearly taught that those who have great ambitions should not play with things and lose their ambitions, indulge in wine and sex, and do not let their behavior be stained.

According to legend, China's wine-making technology appeared in the Xia Dynasty. According to the "Warring States Policy" record: When Dayu was in power, a man named Yidi produced fine wine and dedicated it to King Yu.King Yu took a sip and felt really comfortable.But he also realized the disadvantages of such a good drink. He said: In the future, there will definitely be people who will die because of alcohol.So a ban on alcohol was ordered.This story must have been fabricated by later generations, because wine at that time was beneficial to people as a kind of medicine.

Of course, there are two sides to everything, and there are indeed some people in later generations who were mistaken or even killed because of excessive drinking, but this is not the fault of alcohol, but the fault of people.Huang Shigong put forward "deprecating wine and lack of color" to remind aspirants to focus on your goals instead of playing with things.

[Original] Avoid suspicion, so it is correct.

The note said: "There is no suspicion in the traces, no doubt in the heart, and the matter is not wrong."

Wang said: "If you know what people suspect, you will hear them far away without danger. If you know people's suspicions, you will avoid them without harm. Han Xin died not far away from his ancestors. If you suspect but do not avoid, and doubts do not go far, you will inevitably invite disaster. You must avoid suspicion." reason."

【Interpretation】Those who have aspirations should "don't let go when they see suspicion" on issues of principle, and have the courage to take on their own responsibilities.But in matters other than principles, be open-minded.Not being afraid of "suspicion" does not mean encouraging the creation of "suspicion", on the contrary, we must do everything possible to avoid "suspicion".Many conflicts between people in life are caused by non-principle issues. An incorrect expression, an inadvertent neglect, or even a misunderstood wink may bring unnecessary trouble to one's career .

Anthony Robin, a famous American success scientist, made a ten-year follow-up study on a target group of more than 2000 people, and came to an astonishing conclusion: a person's achievement is often related to the support he has. The number of helpers and helpers is proportional.According to this conclusion, Anthony pointed out that the most important factor affecting success in life is not a person's talent, family background, etc., but a person's social relationship or good popularity.

(End of this chapter)