Chapter 62

Wang Ju stepped forward and bowed, saying, "This young man, Wang Ju, the security guard, pays his respects to Mr. Zhang."

Zhang Zai laughed, understanding, and thought, this young man is imitating Mao Sui and Feng Juan.

Alright, let's see what you have in you.

"Confucius said, 'Repay virtue with virtue, and repay resentment with uprightness.' This young man has always been unsure whether 'repaying resentment with uprightness' means repaying resentment with virtue or repaying it in kind. However, being able to love and hate clearly shows that it is not about repaying resentment with virtue. Therefore, Mencius said, 'Compassion is benevolence, and the sense of shame and disgust is righteousness.' Thus, the ancient Confucian scholars said, 'The ability to resolve disputes among the people is righteousness. Managing finances and correcting words, and prohibiting the people from wrongdoing is righteousness. Righteousness is what limits and restrains people from doing evil and wrongdoing. Punishing those with great crimes is called 'simplification.' Forgiving those with minor crimes is called 'concealment.' Simplification is the method of righteousness, and concealment is the method of benevolence. When a doctor is strong and the ruler kills him, it is called righteousness. Removing the harm of heaven and earth is called righteousness. This young man is not clear, please, Mr. Zhang, enlighten me."

Anyone with a basic understanding of Confucianism was stunned.

This 'righteousness' is not righteousness but punishment. Confucius's benevolence is not benevolence but a kind of tit-for-tat.

An Zhuzhe laughed heartily.

Zhang Zai coldly snorted, "Therefore, what the Spring and Autumn Annals governs is the relationship between people and oneself. The methods to govern people and oneself are benevolence and righteousness. Using benevolence to make people feel at ease, and using righteousness to correct oneself. Benevolence and righteousness encompass everything. Picking a leaf to know the season, but it is not the season. Touching a pillar to know the elephant, but it is not the elephant. Confucianism is not the indiscriminate love of the Mohists, which Mencius has already criticized. But righteousness is not the legalist's method of punishment. Righteousness is based on benevolence, and benevolence is regulated by righteousness. Therefore, 'repaying resentment with uprightness' means handling grievances with a fair heart and the way of benevolence, not tit-for-tat."

"This young man is enlightened."

Then Wang Ju rolled up his sleeves and took the fourth step forward, bowing again, "This young man, Wang Ju, the security guard, pays his respects to Mr. Zhang."

"Being able to see the season from a leaf does not mean you can determine the season from a leaf. Therefore, the Diamond Sutra says, 'All sages and virtuous ones achieve their goals through non-action, but there are differences.' This means that all sages and virtuous ones, all religious leaders, have achieved enlightenment, but the methods of transmission differ due to time and place."

The scholars at the table were stunned again. How did this young man bring up the Diamond Sutra?

Is he here to challenge us?

But it didn't seem so. After Zhang Zai's guidance, he did not argue further but bowed and then raised another sharp question.

The first bow and the three words were not mentioned, but the two questions Wang Ju raised afterward, though Zhang Zai answered, were not deeply discussed. Otherwise, these two questions alone could have sparked a major debate in Confucianism... or a storm in Confucianism.

"Therefore, does this young man believe that the humility in Confucianism is about learning from others' strengths to make up for one's own weaknesses, so Confucius sought advice from Laozi? Therefore, our dynasty uses the Kaiyuan Ritual of the Tang Dynasty, not the method of restraint."

"The I Ching says, 'There is a mountain in the earth, which is humility.' You mentioned Laozi, who also said, 'The highest goodness is like water.' The overly rigid easily break, while the flexible do not fail. Even if the mountain is as tall as a mountain, it must be hidden in the earth to achieve great success. Therefore, among the sixty-four hexagrams, only the hexagram of humility has all six lines as auspicious."

However, at this point, he was clearly hesitant.

Humility is a good thing. If everyone were humble, there would be no disputes. But is it really a good thing to be so humble that even a mountain must hide in the earth?

Clearly, this young man did not fully agree. Without even saying he was enlightened, he took another step forward and bowed again, "This young man, Wang Ju, the security guard, pays his respects to Mr. Zhang."

In fact, Wang Ju was amused inside. Zhang Zai was a gentle elder but not a restrained one.

"Once you catch the fish, you forget the fishing net. Once the wine is gone, the dregs are gone. If you have not caught the fish or the wine, and you say the net and the dregs are the fish and the wine, you will never get the fish or the wine. The teachings of the sages are complete, but from what they have heard, they are also like the net and the dregs. I have often wondered why the scholars of the world seek the fish in the net and think the dregs are the wine. This young man thinks that the dregs being the wine is still close, as the wine is in the dregs. Seeking the fish in the net, however, is far from the fish. The teachings are the means, and the Way is the essence!"

Boom!

Several people stood up at once.

Buddhist Chan also has similar ideas. If you have the Buddha in your heart, you don't need to worry about the form, even burning the Buddha statue for warmth is acceptable.

Wang Ju's words meant the same thing. The teachings are like fishing nets and the dregs of wine. The dregs may contain wine, but the fishing net definitely does not contain fish. This is not important. Whether the teachings contain the Way or not, you should not pursue the teachings and forget the Way. Once you get the Way, you can discard the teachings.

Zhang Zai finally shook his head.

"You have a point, but the teachings are not the fishing net. At least they are the dregs. Without the dregs, how can there be wine? You mentioned the opposing relationship earlier, which is also an opposing relationship. The teachings are the cause, and the Way is the effect. Even the sages learned from the ancient teachings and then realized the Way. Chan is good, but it is somewhat radical and not the path of Confucianism. Therefore, the Two Chengs of Luoyang said, 'The classics are to carry the Way, and the vessels are to be used. Learning the classics without understanding the Way, and making vessels without using them, what good is it? The classics are the vessels that carry the Way, and their use must be understood. But remember, the vessels that carry the Way are the teachings!'

"Enlightened," this time Wang Ju agreed. Being a monk means following the monk's rules. Playing around like Chan can be fun, but if it goes too far, are you still a monk? Besides, he had never thought of creating a new school outside of Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, Mohism, and military strategy.

But these words made Zhang Zai think.

Although Wang Ju's words were radical, they had some truth. Throughout history, people have studied ancient texts but forgotten the most important thing: what is the purpose of studying ancient texts? Isn't it for the Way, as this young man said? In fact, discarding the radical part, his ideas resonated with Zhang Zai!

Taking the sixth step forward.

This was the last step!

But the scholars continued to stand.

"This young man, Wang Ju, the security guard, pays his respects to Mr. Zhang."

"Desires are what people desire, and they are also part of the principles of heaven. However, because they flow, they are considered private desires. In fact, the essence is the principles of heaven. The teachings of the sages regulate people's desires, not to eliminate desires to achieve the principles of heaven, nor to seek the principles of heaven in desires. The Book of Documents says, 'People have desires, and without a master, they will be in chaos.' The master is only to regulate desires and manage chaos, not to make people completely without desires. The Buddhists leave the form and abandon knowledge, closing their mouths and emptying their bellies, and even this is not possible, as their teachings show."

"Do you want to criticize Cheng Zhengshu?"

The idea of preserving the principles of heaven and eliminating desires was popularized by Zhu Xi.

But the Two Chengs also had similar ideas. They believed that qi forms people, and the principles of heaven become human nature. Because the nature of qi hinders the normal functioning of the principles of heaven, evil appears, which is human desire. The principles of heaven and human desires are opposites, with the principles of heaven being purely good. Indulging in desires will inevitably cover up the principles of heaven. To preserve the principles of heaven, one must eliminate desires.

"I dare not, Mr. Zhang. This young man believes that benevolence and righteousness are slightly opposed, as are yin and yang. Without righteousness, there is no benevolence, and without yin, there is no yang. The principles of heaven and human desires are also opposites and unities. Removing one means the other does not exist. Human desires, like righteousness, are not necessarily evil. With a little guidance, they can be a source of motivation. If the court did not promote so many measures, could our dynasty's literary style be so prosperous? As Mr. Zhang said, the classics carry the Way, and the Way is the essence, but without the classics, who could obtain the Way? Even Confucius said, 'Food should not be too refined, and meat should not be too finely cut. If the food is spoiled, fish and meat should not be eaten.' People have the natural emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. Completely eliminating desires is something even sages cannot do, so who can expect it? Therefore, this young man believes that regulation and guidance are the best, and elimination is the worst."

In fact, Zhang Zai's ideas were also somewhat vague. He was influenced by the Two Chengs but did not fully agree.

Especially about qi and the principles of heaven.

Wang Ju seemed to be seeking advice, but he was actually discussing the ideas of balance and mutual generation, which are later philosophical theories.

This also cleared up many of Zhang Zai's confusions.

Wang Ju looked at Zhang Zai intently.

If this still doesn't work, he would have to go back.

Zhang Zai thought for a long time and finally raised his eyes, saying, "Come here."

He then whispered something to a clerk beside him.

Wang Ju walked to Zhang Zai.

The clerk brought a ruler from the back hall.

"Wang Ju, extend your hand."

Wang Ju extended his hand.

"Ren (benevolence)," Zhang Zai shouted, striking Wang Ju's palm with the ruler.

"Yi (righteousness)," another strike.

"Li (ritual)," another strike.

"Zhi (wisdom),"

"Xin (trustworthiness),"

"Wen (warmth),"

"Li (goodness),"

"Gong (respectfulness),"

"Jian (frugality),"

"Rang (modesty),"

"Zhong (loyalty),"

"Xiao (filial piety),"

"Yong (courage),"

"Qian (humility),"

"Lian (integrity),"

"This person is really bad," Erniu said resentfully in a low voice.

Zhang Zai glanced at her, said nothing, and continued to recite a word and strike.

But Erniu didn't know that the person being struck was actually very happy. In his heart, Wang Ju said, "Finally, it's done." The person striking was also in pain, thinking, "This kid is more troublesome than Zhou Chu, but I am not Lu Yun."

However, Zhang Zai was reluctant to let him go.

Based on the few words Wang Ju said today, he could go anywhere in the world. If he didn't take him, someone else would. It would be better to take him under his wing and teach him slowly.

After the strikes, Zhang Zai said, "Bring the basket of gifts."

"Sure," Wang Ju said happily, though in his heart, he thought, "Mr. Zhang, you really hit me, my hand hurts."

What could he do? A teacher is like a second father, and a few strikes are just official punishment. He used his other hand to bring the gift basket. Zhang Zai glanced at it, and seeing the cured meat, he was satisfied. However, he was surprised to see a few vegetables in the basket. Dried longan, lotus seeds, and dates were normal gifts, but who would use vegetables as gifts? Is this a custom in the Security Army?

It doesn't matter. He then said, "Serve tea."

"Yes," Wang Ju quickly poured a cup of tea, held it with both hands, and presented it to Zhang Zai, saying, "Disciple offers tea to Master."

Erniu and San Niu were almost jumping with joy. It was finally done!

Zhang Zai took the tea, took a sip, and unfastened a jade pendant from his waist. "This is my gift to you. Remember my words: A gentleman is warm and gentle, like jade!"

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