Adam Smith, in The Theory of Moral Sentiments and The Wealth of Nations, reduces people's behavior to seemingly complete contradictions of "sympathy" and "selfishness," respectively. For hundreds of years, many bricklayers have been unable to understand the contradictory questions of compassion and selfishness in the human behavior presented in Adam Smith's two books. In fact, if we interpret the wisdom of the "I Ching" at the source of China's Huanglao culture, we will understand that Adam Smith has long been well versed in the ultimate way of cosmic wisdom, the author has long realized the Tao, and "the heart of heaven and earth is one", and the people who are confused in the world are all unable to have wisdom because of their own upside-down delusions.
Interpreting Adam Smith's thought with the wisdom of the I Ching is not only not contradictory, but on the contrary, it is adam Smith's realization of the highest pole of cosmic wisdom , one yin and one yang. Deep sympathy in the depths of human nature is the "anode" with altruism as the starting point; the deep selfishness in the depths of human nature is the "cathode" with self-interest as the starting point. One yin and one yang, only these two poles achieve a balance, which is the "middle way" of the Buddha, that is, the ultimate way into the realm of freedom in the wisdom of the universe, the way to nirvana...
Through the two books "On Moral Sentiments" and "The Wealth of Nations", Adam Smith showed the world the seemingly completely contradictory "Heart of the Middle Way" in the depths of human nature. "The Theory of Moral Sentiments" shows the "anode" in the depths of human nature; "The Wealth of Nations" shows the cathode in the depths of human nature. The balance of one yin and one yang, this is the road, there is no moral ethics of right and wrong. Only the balance of one yin and one yang is the realm of free wisdom in the Middle Way, which is the highest pursuit of human beings...
The "Middle Way Heart" in the depths of human nature is the most exquisite wisdom in the universe. It has long since transcended all the ethics and morals and right and wrong that human beings can understand. Become the highest pole of cosmic wisdom.
The confusion of right and wrong in all ethics and morality in the human world stems entirely from the imprisonment of the "little self" in the depths of the world and the inability to be wise, and once enlightened, suddenly enlightened...
If you read Adam Smith's Treatise on Moral Sentiments and The Wealth of Nations, and do not enter the dimension of wisdom in the I Ching, without enlightening the Buddha's "Middle Path Mind", you will fall into the struggle between these chickens and dogs.
This is why many bricklayers in ancient and modern China and abroad have gone forward and followed the obsession of "small self" and misled the public because they could not do anything and sought their own troubles.
After reading Adam Smith's ultimate wisdom of the universe, you are the god of freedom