Declination to Throne (9)

1 Since Zengzi had left Confucius, not like Zigong and Zilu who went to other place for development, Zengzi alone lived in the countryside of the State of Wei to continue his hard practicing life,.

2 His life was austere which, however, made his mind sound, tranquil and peaceful.

3 He was said to wear a thick flax robe that was very rough, without lining. He looked like being wrapped by a sack.

4 Due to innutrition, his face with edema and was hungering. He himself did all the housework, such as plowing, weeding, revamping house. His hands and foot therefore, grew callus.

5 His income was petty. Usually, he cooked every three days. In the other days, he quenched hunger with solid food.

6 He did not have new clothes in the past ten years, and always wore the shabby robe everywhere.

7 The belt of his cap was broken but he managed to wear, never considering changing it to a new hat. The sleeves were too short, when arm moved somewhat, elbows were exposed. The heels of his shoe were loose. When lifting the vamp, it left the heels.

8 Though Zengzi was in such rags, a look down and out, he usually chanted the poem in walking with high pitch as if the voice could pierce through a stone or a piece of gold.

9 Zengzi persisted in his simplicity, purity, soundness, tranquility and peace of life. He declined any invitation, even it was from the king’s or duke.

Tao Yuanming’s poem goes like this:

Hearing knock in the morning,

I dressed half for door opening.

Ask who knocked my door,

The farmer with kindness stood out.

He far brought me a bottle of wine,

Doubted me different from the worldly.

I was in rags and under shabby roof,

It was not a place I stood.

Worldly people all advocate same ideas,

You should do the same as they do there.

I was touched deeply by his words,

My nature different from the worldly.

It was easy to return to office,

But my nature betrayed it.

Let's drink together now,

My carriage never returned to the house.

10 Let’s compare Zengzi’s persistence with most young men’s pursuit, such as Zigong and Zilu. To make a dream becoming true, they are desperate to read and toil in work. They neglect the miserable flash body. They take pride in “sparing no effort in pursuit until death”, which is regarded glorified.

11 The other kind of people who are indolent. They refuse to undertake a little hard work, but like eating their heads off. At last, they attain nothing.

12 Men of perfect practice bend themselves to improve the level of spirit. They don’t work but practice Zen, sit in meditation, ruminate and practice Yoga, never being idle. They break up with the outside disturbances, drive off consciousness and raise the great wisdom of nature. At last, they accomplish their practice.