We often criticize school education now, saying that students have too few opportunities to experience, try and make mistakes, and even observe. But don't forget that our ancestors mainly learned and acquired knowledge in this direct way.
Without direct experience, we can't perceive the world, everything is zero. So the first three methods are the basis of learning. For example, infants and illiterate people learn and accumulate experience through experience, trial and error and observation.
However, babies have to grow up, and illiteracy is just a marginal person in society. It is too difficult, too limited and impossible to gain a foothold in this ever-changing world only through direct learning. Look at the information around us and you will know.
Furthermore, when we compare people with animals, we will also find that what can distinguish people from animals is reading beyond time and space. It is reading that allows us to learn from the ancients, talk to people far away, and talk to people with rich spirit. It is because of the invention of writing that mankind has made great progress, leaving all animals, including primates, behind and dust behind.
In this way, people and scholars who have mastered knowledge have mastered the right to speak. They left behind what they thought should be passed on to influence the thinking and behavior of future generations. Although Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was a lean man, he was also a militaristic emperor, and his image was shaped by Sima Qian.
Confucius left The Analects, and his successors Dong Zhongshu and Wang Yangming made new progress in the thought of The Analects, which deeply influenced the mental outlook of China intellectuals. Zhang Zai-fu's thought of "making a heart for heaven and earth, making a life for the people, connecting the past with the future, and bringing peace to the world", Fan Zhongyan's thought of "worrying about the world first, and enjoying the world later", and Zeng Guofan's self-reflection and cautious independence all reflect the brilliance of ancient sage thought.
Of course, writing not only inherits ideas, but also spreads technology. These ideas and technologies have great influence on people today.
However, even if these ideas are enlightened and the technology is advanced, if people stay away from them, do not study or read, then it is still book knowledge.
Therefore, if you want to quickly narrow the distance between yourself and the sages, break free from barriers and gain spiritual freedom, you can only rely on reading.
People who study will experience life and emotions that they can't experience; Through the trial and error of others, I will not make mistakes again; I will make up for my observation by observing the characters in the book.
For some people, reading is difficult and painful because they haven't tasted the benefits of reading. Reading, like other behavioral habits, needs to be cultivated slowly and for a long time. At first, you will read slowly and have no taste, but as long as you don't give up, stick to your teeth and get through that difficult time, its compound interest effect will gradually appear and you will stop.
May each of us fall in love with reading, make our faces less disgusting, make our words less vulgar, make our manners less bad, and make our thoughts less poor. Through reading, we can broaden the height, breadth and depth of life, so as to live a noble and rich spiritual life, be a free person and have great wisdom.