Thorough Comprehension of Life (5)

1 Tian Kaizhi was invited to guest in the house of Duke Xian of Zhou. The duke knew that Mr. Zhu Xian, Tian Kaizhi’s teacher, was well known for preservation of health. He was eager to know this secret.

2 That day, Tian Kaizhi and Duke Xian drank tea in the garden. Taking the opportunity, Duke Xian tried to find out something about Mr. Zhu Xian’s secret. “I heard that your teacher, Mr. Zhu Xian, is good at preservation of health. You have followed him for years and you must know something about it.”

3 Tian Kaizhi was imprudent in mentioning such profound thing. He answered, “I am just a pretty factotum to do chore, know very little about his knowledge. Sorry! I am not eligible to explain it to you.”

4 Smiling, the duke said, “You are too modest. Everyone knows that you are one of his best students. I really want to know the secret of preservation of health. Please tell me.”

5 The host’s great sincerity moved Tian Kaizhi. He said, “My teacher told me that he who is good at preservation of health is like a herder who takes care of sheep. To avoid sheep missing, he urges lagging sheep with whip to keep sheep gather together. It is convenient to take care of the gathering sheep, without attending to this sheep and losing the other.”

6 Confused, the duke wondered what relationship between this and preservation of health. Hence, he asked again, “What do you mean?”

7 Tian Kaizhi explained further, “In the State of Lu, a buddy called Shan Bao, took very considerate care of his body. He was afraid that the dirty air, food and water in the city would spoil his health. Therefore, he lived alone in a mountain. He ate only the fruit on the mountain, and breathed fresh air in the wild field, and drank the spring water on the mountain. In this careful way he took care of his body well. Though he was more than seventy, he was still robust and strong, with rosy skin and soft body as a baby. Unfortunately, he was eaten by a tiger someday, since there were plenty of beasts on the mountain.

8 There was a man called Zhang Yi, who acted on the contrary. He weaved excellent relations with other people. He had friends among the people of different rank of society. He was regarded smooth and slick, whereas had too much sociality. Therefore, he died in his forties from over fatigue.

9 Shan Bao was eaten by tiger for preservation of his inner body; Zhang Yi was fatigued to death for preservation of his outward life. The two lagged themselves in a certain aspect and didn’t make up for it in time. Therefore, they had to eat their own bitter fruit.

10 Confucius ever said 'Don’t go too far in concealing yourself. Don’t go too far in vaunting yourself. Stand still in the middle way like a withered tree'. He told us that we should receive and give up something to the doctrine of the mean. When receiving something, we should accept it but don’t possess it. We should not splurge it in a great deal. Reception and giving up should be balanced. If it can be done, the preservation of health will come to be a success.

11 Travelers are afraid of wild field, mountain side and the badly policed place. Average one out of ten travelers is killed or robbed by bandits on the road. For this reason, people exhort each other not to travel alone. A traveler should take part in a group of travelers instead of traveling alone, by which he will be safe.

12 In preservation of health we should beware of over sex and engorgement. He who indulges himself into sex every night, without restriction of diet, and is unwilling to do exercise will no doubt spoil his health.”