Then the question comes, how to write a good composition about the college entrance examination of "a gentleman strives for self-improvement"? We threw the question to Mr. Fu:
"Tian Xing Jian, a gentleman constantly strives for self-improvement" is taken from Xiang Zhuan of Zhouyi, which is the work of Confucius and his descendants. Among them, "self-improvement" is an encouragement to gentlemen, but it has always been interpreted as "striving for progress and never slacking off". What is "Tian Xingjian"? What is real self-improvement?
The original intention of self-improvement is for Xiu De.
"Tian Xingjian, the gentleman is constantly striving for self-improvement." This sentence is really shocking, but we still have to figure out what "Tian Xingjian" is.
We see that the ancients said that the sky is mostly used in two meanings, the first is celestial bodies, and the second is weather. Speaking of celestial bodies is the sun, moon and stars; It is said that the weather is the development of spring, summer, autumn and winter.
Why did the ancients say "Tian Xingjian"? He sees the sun, the moon and the stars appear every day. The ancients speculated that its orbit must be round, so it was called "Tianyuan". What should a gentleman do after watching Tian Xingjian? We should strive to improve ourselves. But what is "self-improvement"? We can have three explanations:
First, exercise every day, exercise every day, and strive for self-improvement physically.
Tsinghua University has a slogan "Work for the health of the motherland for 50 years". Is that what you mean? But have you ever thought that when you are sick and old, you can't run any more, so you can't strive for self-improvement? So it doesn't mean physical exercise.
Second, study every day, make progress every day, and strive for self-improvement at school.
This looks good. However, human reason and memory have their limitations. At an age, you may gradually forget many things. At this time, you don't tell people that you have to study and go to school every day. Is it self-improvement? Obviously, this explanation is not suitable for everyone. So we should go back to the original meaning of "self-improvement" in Zhouyi, which is the third aspect.
Third, every day in Xiu De, do good deeds every day and realize self-improvement in virtue.
Why? Because you do good things every day, no matter how old you are, you can do it.
Mencius has such a piece of information, which is very valuable. Mencius said that Ceng Dian, Zeng Shen's father, was too old to see clearly. He used to support his father, and every meal had wine and meat. After Ceng Dian finished eating, he asked, "Is there any left?" Zeng Shen must have replied, "There is still some left", and then asked his father, "Who is the rest for?" Ceng Dian said that the food and wine left over today will be given to the poor, and those who have difficulties will get it tomorrow.
Ceng Dian is too old to exercise. His eyes can't see clearly, so he can't study. But he can do good every day, and he can still "strive for self-improvement". The old man lives happily.
No matter how old you live, human nature remains the same and human nature is good. You must continue to do good deeds to make your humanity feel stable and belong. So this is the correct explanation of "self-improvement".
But is it enough for a gentleman to stand on his own feet? Not enough.
In our daily life, we are also inspired by the Book of Changes: get along with others, be tolerant and be "virtuous"; In adversity, you will think of "is it too late" and "think for yourself"; When you get along with others, you will think of "openness" and "teaching by friends"; If there is no road ahead, I hope to "take back the pole"; Seeing social chaos requires "innovation"; When you encounter uneven distribution, you will know that it is "harmful and useless."
The Book of Changes aims to tell the world that although life experiences have certain steps and endings, emotions are all influenced by people's "morality, wisdom and ability".
Confucius said, "Add me a few years old, and I will learn the Book of Changes at the age of 50, so it won't matter." Virtue is the best guarantee of happiness from suffering and the only way to become a gentleman.