The backyard of the bookstore.
The gentlemen grew tired of talking and stopped to drink tea. The scholars who were listening finally got their chance and rushed to ask questions, hoping to clear up their doubts.
Zeng Diyi, always the first to speak, stepped forward and saluted Xun Yan, then asked, "I have just listened to you gentlemen discussing the way to save the world and the way to write. I have benefited a lot, but I still have a question that I would like to ask for your guidance."
Xun Yan raised his hand, "Excuse me."
Zeng asked, "Sir, what exactly is Tao?"
Xun Yan pondered for a moment and replied, "What you are saying is the truth."
He? Zeng Zhui's doubts grew even more intense, and he humbly asked, "I am a dull student, so please explain in detail, sir."
Xun Yan sat cross-legged on the Liangyi couch, his hands clasped at his dantian, clearing his mind as he serenely explained, "The Confucian Way is about 'rule by ritual,' 'rule by virtue,' and 'rule by man,' meaning the principles for how people should get along with each other. The Taoist Way is about nothingness, formlessness and formlessness, following the laws of nature, emphasizing inaction and refraining from reckless action, and adhering to the laws of nature. The Buddhist Way is about self-cultivation, about 'sweeping away dust,' about enlightenment, about transcending the self, and purifying the soul."
He paused briefly, giving Zeng Zhui time to think, then continued, "These three paths are all the paths of humanity, originating from the same source. There's no distinction between high and low. It's just that the people who ask for the paths are different, and what they seek and need is different, so the results they get are different."
Zeng Zhui asked: "The Way of Man?"
Xun Yan smiled faintly and looked at Zeng Zhui. "The Way of Man is to use one's will to explore and seek the ways in which people get along with each other, with the universe, and with oneself. It is man's understanding and discernment of the world. The way I just asked the Way is no different from the way the sage once asked the Way. Both are for understanding and discernment. Because the process of asking the Way and seeking the Way is also the Way, hence my words."
Zeng Zhui suddenly realized, "That is to say, the great principles of the world are all about humanity. They are the ways for people to explore and inquire about how to get along with each other, with the universe, and with themselves."
"Yes, and no." Hu Xu pondered for a moment, then continued, "There is no Dao in the world. Dao is born from people. The world is just the world, and it cannot be changed by human will. Therefore, Dao is people, and people are Dao."
Zeng Zhui seemed to understand something, but he always felt that there was a fog in front of his eyes.
Xun Yan and Yuan Zuzhi looked at each other, nodded with a smile, and then listened to the two continue talking.
Hu Xu bowed to the crowd and then continued to Zeng Zhui, "The so-called Tao is what people see, know, understand, and obtain. It does not exist naturally. There is no Tao in nature, and there is no Tao in the world. Tao only exists in the human heart."
Yuan Zuzhi frowned slightly and was about to speak when a voice came from the corner gate and took over the conversation.
"It's not that nature has no Dao, nor that the world has no Dao. It's that people are obscured by what they see, know, understand, and obtain, and only know their own Dao. If nature has no Dao, and the world has no Dao, how can people glimpse the Dao and obtain it?"
Everyone turned around and was shocked.
Several gentlemen were also a little surprised.
Zeng Zhui said in surprise: "Brother Lou! You're here."
Hu Xu also showed a look of joy, and then asked, "Does Zhaoyue have any further explanation for what he just said?"
Lou Yunchun stepped forward and bowed to the gentlemen. Then he said to Hu Xu, "Heaven and earth gave birth to all things, and man is one of them. Since man has the Tao, how can all things be without the Tao? Since all things have the Tao, heaven and earth also have the Tao. It's just that the Tao is not the Tao, and the Tao is not called the Tao."
"The Tao is not the Tao, the Tao cannot be named the Tao." People have their own way, all things have their own way, and heaven and earth have their own way. It's just that this Tao is not that Tao, and this name is not that name.
Zeng Zhui and Hu Xu were convinced.
Hu Xu sighed, feeling inferior, and said, "Thank you for your advice."
Yuan Zuzhi pondered the conversation between the three people and felt that each of them had his own reasons and there was no right or wrong. It was just that Lou Yunchun's understanding was more complete and slightly better.
Our own students are also good. The only drawback is that they have not had enough experience and have not seen enough. Once they grow up a few more years, they will become successful.
As for Zeng Zhui, he had even more questions due to his straightforward nature and his dislike for complex and deep thinking. However, the fact that he could ask such a question and then understand it with a little guidance showed that he was a man of insight, though he still needed to continue to hone his understanding.
Yuan Zuzhi turned his gaze back to Lou Yunchun, thinking sourly in his heart, how could Lou Jing, such an unreliable father, raise such a son?
Fortunately, he didn’t come, otherwise his tail would be up to the sky.
Lou Yunchun saw that Hu Xu was also jealous. Thinking of the box of paintings in the study, he bowed in return and said dryly, "You're welcome." He added, "Zhuchun has his own unique talents."
Hu Xu was puzzled. His point of view just now was clearly biased and inferior, so why did he still claim to be brilliant? Was he being sarcastic? It didn't seem like it, and it didn't seem like a courtesy either. It seemed more like he was dissatisfied.
But before he could ask, Zeng Zhui had already dragged Lou Yunchun over.
Xun Yan had discussed literature and philosophy with Lou Yunchun countless times along the way. He was not surprised to hear Lou Yunchun's views, but he was a little surprised why he appeared here.
Then he asked, "Why is Lord Lou here too?"
Ji Shan smiled and said, "If he doesn't call me, he calls me back."
"Oh?" Xun Yan asked curiously, "Master Lou also runs a bookstore?"
Yuan Zuzhi pulled him over and muttered something to him. Then he suddenly understood, "So that's how it is."
After exchanging pleasantries with Zeng Zhui, Lou Yunchun stepped forward and asked, "I wonder if Mr. Xun is finding life in Beijing comfortable?"
"Thanks to my junior brother, I feel like I'm at home." Xun Yan bowed to Yuan Zuzhi.
Yuan Zuzhi quickly supported him, "Hey, it's my duty, it's my duty."
Ji Shan said to Xun Yan, "Mr. Xun, you've been staying at Lord Yuan's house for so long, I'm sure you're getting bored. Why don't you go to my garden outside the city? The autumn scenery is just right, perfect for a stroll. Besides, Lord Yuan has been busy with official duties lately, and I'm afraid he'll neglect you. Now that I'm retired, I have some free time, so I can accompany you on a tour and show you the sights of the capital."
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