Chapter 26 is nothing but some mundane truths
Then how can it be seen?
Chen Changsheng closed the book and said to Chang Shan, "Some people are born with the ability to see, while others spend their entire lives trying every possible way but still can't see the words in this book. If you were to choose, would you spend your entire life for the words of this scholar?"
Chang Shan thought for a moment and said, "Then it depends on what's in the book."
What if there is Bai Yujing? Chen Changsheng asked with a smile.
Chang Shan paused for a moment and asked, "Sir, are you talking about the immortal path?"
It can also be understood in this way.
Chang Shan didn't think deeply about it. He just regarded it as a metaphor made by the master. After careful consideration, he said, "Then Chang Shan would rather not watch."
Why? Chen Changsheng asked.
Time flies and never returns. If one were to bet their entire life on an unknown outcome, it was clearly not worth it.
"Even if there's a chance to become an immortal, you still think it's not worth it?" "
"Not worth it."
Chang Shan said, "It would be better to live a carefree life."
Chen Changsheng laughed after hearing this.
Chang Shan asked in puzzlement, "Why are you laughing, Sir?"
Chen Changsheng said, "You are much smarter than your master."
Chang Shan, however, was straightforward and said, "Actually, sometimes I think Master is not very smart. There are some principles that he can't explain clearly."
Chen Changsheng said, "Your master is very stubborn, just like when he chose to stay on the mountain."
Chang Shan blinked and said, "But if..." If I were the master, perhaps I would choose the same way. Would the Great Master also think I'm stupid?
Explain the reason.
Chang Shan said, "Chang Shan believes that some things must be done by someone. One should not think about why it's me, but rather why it can't be me. The right path should be like this."
Chen Changsheng's hand holding the book paused for a moment. He was somewhat surprised when Chang Shan said these words.
Seeing that Chen Changsheng remained silent for a long time, Chang Shan called out.
"Sir?"
"Ang."
Chen Changsheng came to his senses and then asked, "Did your master teach you to read and write before?"
Chang Shan said, "I have taught it, but it's only the teachings of the Tao."
Besides this, how many books have you read?
Chang Shan shook his head and said, "I haven't read any books. There are no other books in the temple except for the Taoist scriptures."
Chen Changsheng couldn't help but sigh. In today's world, books are all in the hands of noble families, and it's indeed very difficult for people at the bottom of society to find them.
To put it bluntly, it's those at the top who stifle the upward path for those at the bottom by restricting books.
This is sad.
Chen Changsheng took a deep breath and continued to ask, "After reading the Taoist scriptures, you should also recognize the characters. How can you write them?"
Chang Shan said, "I remember some simple ones."
In fact, it's impossible. One can recognize characters but can't write them. It just seems absurd. It's like a person who doesn't write for years sometimes forgets how to write a certain character, let alone someone who has rarely written from the very beginning.
"Call all your junior brothers and sisters over here. In the next two days, Chen Mou will teach you something."
Chang Shan asked, "Sir, are you going to teach us how to write?"
Chen Changsheng shook his head and said, "No, it's just some mundane principles."
Changshan quickly called the other three over.
Chen Changsheng stood on the steps of the pavilion and glanced around the four disciples in front of him.
"Your enlightenment originated from the Tao Sutra. Although the Tao Sutra contains great truths, what it expounds is the way of heaven rather than humanity. As human beings, we should understand the doctrines and principles of humanity. It is truly a pity to grow wildly." "
"Today I'll teach you the principles. If you understand, listen. If not, write them down and think about them later." "
Chen Changsheng thought for a moment and then asked, "Is there anything you don't want to listen to?" If you don't want to listen, you can do something else. Chen Mou won't make things difficult for you either.
The four apprentices below all shook their heads.
Chen Changsheng nodded and said, "Let's speak in advance. During this teaching session, we mustn't whisper to each other or interrupt me."
When the backyard fell silent.
Chen Changsheng then began to speak, "The truth begins in the book and ends outside it. The truth in the book is called great righteousness, but great righteousness does not lie with the people. One must know that the world is treacherous and human hearts are complex. What I have said today is all based on my values and outlooks on life. Please do not spread it outside."
When one is in the midst of events, one should know good and evil. Both good and evil originate from the heart but are hard to judge. The former is called the right path being good. However, right and wrong, good and evil are all hard to judge. Under the influence of verbal criticism and written criticism, true and good can also become evil, and great evil can also be distorted. In the overall situation, one must not go with the flow but clearly distinguish right from wrong.
Changshan looked at this great master. He felt that what the master said was particularly piercing, but it was also a genuine truth.
But if one does not distinguish between good and evil, one's heart should be in doubt. Then one should seek the root cause and clearly distinguish right from wrong. However, the wise do not distinguish between good and evil, focus on their own well-being, and extend this to others. This is the strategy to preserve one's life. But if one is in such a position, one needs to distinguish between good and evil and also think twice before acting.
Changshan was completely absorbed in listening, while the other three senior students were a bit confused.
One reason is that the three of them didn't think too much about their studies. Chang Shan himself had many thoughts. When he was reading the Taoist scriptures back then, he would sometimes ponder over the principles in the books. Although it sounds a bit difficult now, he can understand the fundamental principles within.
Chen Changsheng continued speaking like this.
Shang Lu had something in his heart that puzzled him, and he always felt that there was something wrong with what the master said.
This runs counter to the great righteousness he saw in the Tao Sutra.
Almost everything the great Master said was about the dark side of this world, those things that were repulsive yet truly existent.
In Shang Lu's philosophy, his good and evil deeds stem from his fists, while in Xuan Shen's philosophy, his good and evil deeds come from the word "righteousness".
However, the reasoning behind the young junior sister, Zisu, originated from the three senior brothers. Whatever the senior brothers said was exactly what they did.
Chen Changsheng only told everything he knew.
He didn't hope that the few people in front of him could understand either. He just hoped that one day when they encountered something, they could think of what he had said.
The sun gradually moved westward, and the intense midday sun slowly dissipated. The wind blowing from the forest also became much cooler.
The chirping of insects in the mountain stream accompanied the teaching voice of the master in the pavilion. At this moment, the Taoist temple was especially peaceful.
At dusk.
Xuanhuang carried a small bag of soybeans and a peach back to the mountain.
As soon as I entered the Taoist temple, I heard the sound coming from the backyard.
After entering the door, he first put down the soybeans and peaches, and then walked slowly towards the backyard.
Xuanhuang saw that the master was preaching and didn't want to disturb him. So he stopped here and listened along with the four disciples.
Some people govern the world with the knowledge in books, but they don't know that the world is full of suffering. It's easy to talk about military strategy on paper, but it's extremely difficult to put it into practice. In dealing with people and matters, one needs to know how to put it into practice and speak it out. There is no distinction of high or low among people. It's not the case that the more one understands the principles, the more superior one feels.
For instance, if one day there is a drought in a certain place and there is no harvest at all, if you are an official of the imperial court and need to provide relief to the affected people, the court will distribute food, but due to the large number of affected people, the food is obviously insufficient. There is one thing that can be used as a substitute. Bran and chaff are food for livestock, but one jin of grain can be replaced by three jin of bran and chaff. If you use bran and chaff, you will be despised by people, but the affected people can still fill their stomachs by eating them. If it were you, how would you choose? Should we choose grains or bran?
If one is in such a position, one should think of one's responsibility and not care about what others say. Bran and chaff can save many more people. Human life is of Paramount importance, so it is chosen as bran and chaff.
(End of this chapter)