In the Analects of Confucius, there are many different people who have heard and asked Confucius; Among them, there is even a well-known non preacher. For example, there is a “morning gate”. “Morning gate” is certainly not the name of the morning gate; This name is similar to the “vegetable selling aunt” and “taxi master” we often say; Probably the gate guard Zilu met in the morning!
This “morning gate” reminds people of Li Shiqi in the historical records. Before meeting Liu Bang, Li Shiqi was still in his 60s working as a “Li Jianmen official” in Gaoyang, Chenliu county. Li Shiqi was a “door official” with a very low position. Therefore, the historical records said that Li Shiqi was “poor and destitute”. However, in spite of his poor family and poverty, Mr. Li was clear-cut and fresh. The “morning gate” is about the same. Both are humble in status; However, both of them are masters.
At the end of the Qin Dynasty, there was chaos and heroes everywhere. Li Shiqi was in the countryside of Gaoyang, quietly looking at the past soldiers. He looked one by one and shook his head one by one. Only Liu Bang, Li Shiqi saw at a glance that this man’s magnanimity and breadth of mind were really unusual; In the future, great things will be achieved. Similarly, more than 200 years ago, the “morning gate” was probably just like this, watching the world situation, who rose and fell, who was higher and who was lower, and how many things in ancient and modern times were being laughed at!
So, in the early morning of that day, Zilu had just stayed in Shimen for a night. The “morning gate” asked him where he came from. Zilu answered, from Kong; Hearing this, the “morning gate” calmly answered. Oh, is it the Kong family who “knows what is impossible to do”?!
Yes, it is true that people in rural areas have spoken so calmly. This few words, “know what you can’t do and do it”, but later generations have praised it for more than twothousand years. This is not only because the Analects of Confucius incorporated this sentence; It is because the world likes to use this word to summarize Confucius; It is also because the scholars of later generations often use this sentence to describe themselves and their feelings when they are in advance or retreat, and when they are in gain or loss.
However, whether it is to generalize Confucius or to express one’s own mind, when later scholars quote this sentence, I always feel that there are too many tragedies, too many helplessness, and even too many bigotry.
Confucius is not like this.
Confucius said that at forty he was not confused, and at fifty he knew his destiny; For the ups and downs of life, he has a very clear and calm view. Success or failure, in short, I understand. In fact, at this age, we are aware of our own limitations and the constraints of the times? Of course, he never forgets to practice Taoism today, and he resents the reconstruction of rites and music. However, to what extent can he really achieve, and how can he fail in his mind? It was because of the spectrum in his mind that he wanted to commit the crime knowingly! In his fifties and sixties, he was crystal clear, but he did not avoid the edge; He knew it was impossible, but he wanted to do it. So he looked ahead, though it was dark; He looked around, but it was hard to avoid a vast expanse; However, because of this, he had to try it. Because he knows his destiny.
Know destiny?
Confucius is usually modest. In dealing with the world, he was gentle, courteous and frugal; He is gentle to heaven. From the way, “a gentleman has three fears: fear of destiny, fear of adults, fear of the words of saints”; He also said, “don’t complain about heaven, don’t be particular about people”. Such a fearsome and gentle man is really a wise gentleman! Such a school of meekness is exactly what he said in the “tie Ci” that “the day after tomorrow, when we worship heaven”.
However, Confucius has another side. He is a tough man. At the Jiagu meeting, the state of Qi deliberately humiliated Lu Jun by advocating dwarfs; When Confucius saw it, he not only shouted loudly to stop, but also immediately asked to kill. As a result, “there is a division of addition”. At present, he advocated dwarfs and “brothers are different”. Confucius, who was not only rude but also murderous, was still surrounded by Kuang in the future. The disciples’ confidence was shaken and they were terrified. His old man said loudly, “what can Kuang do before the heaven is lost?” Of course, these words are self-confident, but in fact, they reflect Confucius’ self-confidence and boldness; It seems that even heaven has to give him three points. This kind of Confucius, however, is another saying in the “tie Ci” that “the heaven and the Buddha violate the nature”.
A person not only knows “the day after tomorrow, but also” the day after tomorrow “; To heaven, he is obedient and rebellious; This is called knowing destiny.
Confucius, who knew the destiny of heaven, roamed around heaven and man, gentle, gentle and fierce. Therefore, he is the most polite, but he often violates etiquette. He is loved by students and often questioned by students. There was nothing he could do. He is full of setbacks, but he is also the most successful. After traveling around many countries for more than ten years, the princes wanted to use him, but they were afraid of him. Nanzi liked him, but his disciples were dissatisfied with him. Confucius was once rich and noble, but he was also like a lost dog. In the yellow sand all over North China, though he was busy, he still talked and laughed along the way. He suffered many dangers and his life was in danger for several times, and he kept singing. Along the way, some people laughed at him, advised him, and loved him. However, it is probably the expert in the countryside, the “morning gate”, who knows him best.
“Do it when you know what you can’t do”, this is actually indifferent. No matter how Confucius knew he couldn’t do it, how could he knowingly violate it? In the depths of his heart, such a clear-minded person is not as miserable as the secular imagination, nor so heavy. With Confucius’ indispensability and his generosity, it is impossible to have the kind of stubbornness often committed by later Confucianism. Yes, the road ahead is really far away; Although the old man in his fifties and sixties had a lot of gloom and confusion in front of him, in his heart, he had the most basic warm and windy days, and the broadest, clear sky and peaceful earth. This is Confucius.