Trembling, like approaching the abyss, like walking on thin ice.

[Poetry" cloud: "trembling, like approaching the abyss, like walking on thin ice." 】

The Qunshu Zhizhi, Volume IX, The Book of Filial Piety.

This poem is from the Book of Poetry, Xiao Ya, Xiao Min. Lu Weiqi of the Ming Dynasty explained it this way: "This poem is the method of passing on filial piety, which is the focus of Zeng Zi's life." The Analects of Tabor VIII says: ZengZi had a disease, and summoned his disciples to say, "Enlighten your feet!" Hands on! "Poetry" cloud 'trembling, like approaching the abyss, like walking on thin ice', and now and then, I know that I am free of husband! Boy".

When ZengZi was still alive on his deathbed, he taught his disciples and saw that this was the mental method passed down from generation to generation by Confucius. Zeng Zi practiced filial piety all his life, and when he was dying, he called his disciple over, opened his quilt, looked at his hands and feet, and his body, all of which were intact, and then said with confidence: "From now on, I can avoid the worry of not fulfilling filial piety." When he was dying, he saw that his body was well preserved, and only then did he say, "And now and after that, I know that I will not be spared."

There is also an allusion called "Zengzi Yi zhen", which is recorded in the Book of Rites and The Tan Bow. Once, in order to express his respect for Zengzi, Ji Sunzi, the doctor of the State of Lu, specially sent a bamboo mat specially used by the doctor to Zengzi. Later, Zengzi fell seriously ill and was bedridden. His student Zi Chun came to visit him, and Zi Chun's attendant pointed to Zeng Zi's sleeping mat and asked curiously, "Is this the mat used by the doctor?" How lustrous and gorgeous! After Zi Chun listened, he quickly signaled the waiter not to say anything more, afraid that the teacher would hear it.

As a result, Zengzi was very surprised when he heard this, and said, "This was given to me by Ji Sun Tzu, and I can't sit up now, and I can't afford to replace this mat." So he asked his son to change the mat used by the doctor, but his son said, "You are so sick and your body is inconvenient to move, so wait until dawn to change it." ”

Zeng Zi said to his son, "You love me better than this waiter." He said, "The lover of a gentleman is also virtuous, and the lover of a delicate man is also appeased." This means that the gentleman loves and cares for people according to moral standards, while the villain loves people only for the comfort of the present, so he tolerates them without principle. "What else do I want this mat to do, it's enough for me to keep the courtesy and end up." Listening to him, his son had to lift his father up and change to the bed. But before he could lie down, Zengzi died.

These two allusions tell everyone: Zengzi practiced filial piety all his life, did not dare to disobey etiquette, and trembled. You can be cautious until your death.

This sentence in the Book of Poetry, Xiao Ya, says that we should be cautious and cautious, just like standing by the abyss, lest we fall; and like stepping on thin ice, lest we collapse. "War" is the look of fear, "fear" is to describe the appearance of caution, "like approaching the abyss" is like standing in front of the abyss cliff lest you fall, "like walking on thin ice" is like stepping on a very thin layer of ice, lest you fall into it.

Why do we need an attitude of "trembling, like approaching the abyss, like walking on thin ice"? Because we have to fight our own desires and habits. People are greedy, angry, delusional, slow, and suspicious, and like money, sex, fame, food, and sleep. Moreover, the more high-ranking people are, the more they have to accept the test of various temptations, and the more they must withstand the attack of "sugar-coated shells". The higher people go, the higher the officials do, the more famous people are, the greater their reputation, the less it is an easy task, and they have to pass five levels and slash six generals.

What is "Five Levels and Six Generals"? That is, one's own wealth, sex, fame, food, sleep, and one's own greed, anger, delusion, slowness, and doubt. It is necessary to overcome all these one by one in order to reach a high position and carry a high reputation, otherwise it will be eliminated. This elimination is a natural elimination, not someone else has eliminated you, it is yourself who cannot withstand the test and has eliminated yourself.

Competition is never about fighting with others, but about fighting against one's own bad faults and bad habits. For example, some people are lazy, some people are greedy, some people are lustful, and some people like to drink alcohol, even take drugs, etc., because it is very difficult to overcome their habits. The great heroes mentioned in traditional Chinese culture are not those who defeat thousands of troops and horses, but those who can overcome their own troubles and habits.

A person who can overcome his own disturbing habits is invincible. However, the more you are in a high position, the more temptations you face, the more difficulties you have to overcome, and the more difficult it is to endure tests and examinations. If these exams can be passed, only then can we successfully graduate and stand the test. Especially as a prince, it is easy to be arrogant.

It is recorded in the "Sayings of Confucius" that when Confucius went to visit the Zongmiao Temple of Lu Huangong, he saw that there was a vessel in the Zongmiao Temple, which was a vessel that was easily tilted and overflowed. After Confucius saw this, he asked the people guarding the temple, "What kind of instrument is this?" The person guarding the temple replied, "This may be an artifact called a sitting." ”

Confucius said, "I have heard of this kind of apparatus. It tilts when it is empty inside, straightens when it is filled with moderate water, and overturns when it is filled with water. So the wise monarch used this to warn himself, and placed himself next to his seat, calling for a seat. Confucius turned back to the students and said, "Come, let's try to fill it with water and look at it." "They pour water into the container, and when they reach the halfway point, the container stands upright. Fill it with water and the container will topple.

Confucius said with great sighs: "Of all things, which one is full and not covered?" At this time, his disciple came forward and asked, "Is there any way to hold it full and not overturn?" Confucius replied, "Wisdom and wisdom, keep it foolishly; merit is given to the world, keep it to let it go; courage to revitalize the world, keep it to be timid; be rich in the world, and keep it humble." This so-called loss and loss of the way also. ”

Confucius told the people of the world that wisdom, ability, and wisdom must be maintained with a stupid attitude; to cover the world, it must be maintained with an attitude of concession; courage to shock the world must be maintained with a timid attitude; and to possess land wealth from all over the world must be maintained with a humble attitude. This is the so-called method of retreating and then retreating, low and low.

The higher the knighthood and official position, the greater the responsibility and the heavier the burden. If you are not humble and respectful, courteous corporal, and arrogant and rude, you will lose people's hearts, have no help, and it will be difficult to succeed in what you do. The larger the official, the more it is necessary to be frugal, and there can be no extravagance and waste, otherwise once the desire is opened and there is no bottom line, it is inevitable to abuse power for personal gain, violate the law and discipline, loot the people's wealth, and attract people's resentment.

The emperors and ministers of ancient times were able to learn these teachings, to be particularly careful in dealing with people and things, to be humble and courteous, to tremble and tremble, as if they were on the verge of the abyss, and to walk on thin ice, so that they could remain rich and noble for a long time.