In the profound river of Chinese civilization, Mencius, a Confucian master, with his profound thoughts and unique insights, left a rich cultural heritage for future generations. However, when the lens of history turns to his life in his later years, it is not difficult for us to find that this wise man also has many light-hearted and humorous stories full of life interest.
Mencius spent his later years in his hometown of Zou. At that time, he had relieved himself of the heavy responsibility of lobbying everywhere, and devoted more time and energy to writing books and teaching**. His residence is simple and tranquil, with a lush bamboo forest outside the window, and the breeze and the rustling of bamboo leaves, as if in dialogue with his wisdom.
Although Mencius had entered his twilight years, his spirit was still strong and his thinking was still agile. He often sits around with the ** people, discussing the way of heaven, earth and man, and the affairs of the family and the country. His words are sharp and profound, and he can always inadvertently make people suddenly open up.
One day, one of Mencius's ** brought a newborn chick. This little chicken is fluffy, and its yellow feathers sparkle in the sun, and it is very cute. Seeing this, Mencius couldn't help but be childlike, he took the chick and looked at it carefully, with a long-lost smile on his face.
Master, why do you love this chick so much? *asked curiously.
Mencius smiled slightly, put down the chicken, and said slowly: "Look at this chicken, although the newborn calf is not afraid of tigers, it also knows how to follow the hen to learn how to survive. In the same way, we are human beings, no matter how old we are, we should always maintain a heart of learning and constantly strive for progress. ”
* When they heard Mencius's words, they all nodded yes, and their admiration for this wise man arose spontaneously.
In addition to exchanging knowledge with **, Mencius also liked to go for a walk in the fields in his spare time. He admires the beauty of the countryside, breathes in the fresh air, and feels the gifts of nature. Once, while he was strolling along the field path, he suddenly heard a cheerful singing. He followed the song and saw a farmer working in the field, humming a little song as he worked.
Mencius asked curiously, "Old man, why are you so happy?" ”
The farmer raised his head and saw that it was Mencius, so he quickly put down the farm tools in his hand and replied respectfully, "Master, you don't know anything. Although I haven't read much in my life, I know one thing: contentment. Although I am a farmer, I have a healthy body, industrious hands, and a fertile land. Isn't it a blessing that I can support myself and my family with my own hands? ”
When Mencius listened to the farmer's words, he couldn't help but feel emotional. He realized that true happiness does not lie in how much wealth and status he has, but in his ability to cherish the present moment and be content. He decided to record this story and pass it on to future generations, so that they could also understand the true meaning of life.
As he grew older, Mencius's body gradually aged, but his spirit remained vigorous. He still insists on reading, writing, and teaching every day, contributing his own strength to the inheritance of Confucian culture. His ** people also respect and love him very much, and regard him as a role model and soul mentor in their hearts.
In Mencius's later life, an interesting incident also happened. One day, one of his ** accidentally combed his hair through a few strands while combing his hair. ** Feeling very sorry and worried that Mencius would blame him. However, Mencius smiled indifferently and said, "When a man is about to die, his words are also good." What are these broken hairs? It is important that we cherish each other's fate and pursue truth and wisdom together. ”
This sentence deeply touched the **, and they all expressed that they would study and practice harder to live up to Mencius's expectations.
Although Mencius's later life was plain and quiet, he tasted the true meaning of life and the wisdom of life in this blandness. With his words, deeds and actions, he set an example for future generations, making people understand that no matter how old they are or what circumstances they are in, they should maintain a humble, studious, contented heart, and constantly pursue progress and truth.
Today, when we look back on Mencius's later life, we cannot help but be impressed by the open-mindedness and calmness of this wise man. He used his life to interpret the essence and charm of Confucian culture, and became an eternal model and soul mentor in the hearts of future generations. His story and spirit will forever inspire us in our quest for truth and wisdom.