Classical culture has been passed down and seems to have become very one-sided among students. It seems that the students only learn some Confucian and Mencian texts, some poems and classical prose, but they do not fully understand classical culture, and they have not even touched the surface of classical culture. Take the Tao Te Ching, for example, which is not only a Taoist classic, but also a famous classical philosophical work, which has played an important role until now, but is not well known by students. Even if the students grow up**, they will not read the Tao Te Ching. So, is the "Tao Te Ching", which has gathered thousands of years of civilization, broken?
Of course not. The Tao Te Ching is studied by experts, and there is no need for ordinary students to read the Tao Te Ching. Perhaps, the Tao Te Ching has some Taoist thoughts, and it is recognized as the culmination of Taoist thoughts, which is a bit religious in nature and is not suitable for school propaganda. However, this understanding itself is biased. When the Tao Te Ching appeared, there was no spread of Taoist thought, but it was only after the spread of Taoist thought that the Tao Te Ching was characterized as a Taoist classic. In fact, the Tao Te Ching is a philosophical work, and it is a great philosophical work. Many people have not studied thoroughly throughout their lives, and even think that the Tao Te Ching is an incomprehensible book of heaven. Lao Tzu said: "The avenue is invisible", advocating "to be quiet and quiet, to keep quiet." "Pay attention to quiet and inaction, and even ask for inaction. This kind of thinking is contrary to the idea of Confucianism, which emphasizes the active use of the world, while Taoism emphasizes detachment from the world; Confucianism pays attention to influencing people with benevolence and righteousness, while Taoism emphasizes that there is no need to establish benevolence and righteousness morality, and "nothing is done".
Confucianism was borrowed by the ruling class, transformed, and turned into a religion that rules people's minds. However, Taoist thought can never enter the circle of the ruling class, and can only become the ideology that Taoist priests believe. The Taoist priests who hide outside the world and practice like to think quietly and inactively, at least they don't have to get involved in personnel disputes, and they can't learn from fame and wealth like Confucian scholars, but they have to cultivate their body and mind. If you exercise well and have a better mentality, you will live longer. However, this kind of quiet and inactive thinking is not suitable for students to study, nor is it suitable for students to study. After all, in the mainstream ideology, the idea of quiet and inaction is considered a relatively negative thought, and it is considered to be of little merit. If people are pure and inactive, how can the social economy develop? Students need to work hard, actively use the world, and get a good life through hard work.
In fact, people's understanding is still somewhat superficial. The Tao Te Ching is not dross, nor is it an idea of propagating inaction, but a philosophical idea. Even this kind of thinking is broad and profound, beyond the flies and dogs of life, beyond the fame and fortune in front of us, beyond poetry and distance, and can make people see infinitely distant places. This kind of thinking is only a philosophical thought, and it does not carry a strong religious thought, and there are not many strange and chaotic things. It's just that the idea of quiet and inaction is not accepted by the mainstream ideology, nor by the ruling class. However, it can still be enlightening for the human mind. Someone concluded: "Respect Confucius and Mencius in behavior, and follow Lao Zhuang in thought." "What is said is that we should be as rigorous as Confucius and Mencius in our behavior, be more open in our thinking, be open like Lao Zhuang, and not limit ourselves too much. In this way, people can think freely, act rigorously, and do not make big mistakes.
After all, the world is the world, and students must adapt to the requirements of the world, and they cannot all learn from Lao Zhuang, they cannot learn to do nothing, and they cannot do everything without thinking about making progress all day long, but they must work hard and dedicate themselves to making progress. According to the division of the ancient Zhuzi school, today's students should belong to Confucianism, learn Confucian utilitarian thought, pass the examination, and seek fame and wealth, rather than being quiet and inactive as written in the Tao Te Ching. Educational ideas and attitudes are inconsistent, so many students cannot get in touch with the Tao Te Ching, and even many students think that the Tao Te Ching is about morality, not about spreading philosophical ideas. Not only students, but also many middle-aged and elderly people have prejudices against the Tao Te Ching, and it seems that they can evaluate the Tao Te Ching without reading the Tao Te Ching. Experts who study the Tao Te Ching do not dare to speak lightly, while those who have not read the Tao Te Ching can point fingers and even quote scriptures to explain. Isn't it funny?
Students know very little about the Tao Te Ching and think that books that are not included in the exam are not necessary to read. Students are trained to be utilitarian animals, as long as the test is tested, they have to study and practice repeatedly, as long as the test is not tested, they will not study, and they will not even look at it. The Tao Te Ching is not about morality, but if it is about morality, it will become a Confucian classic. Even so, the Tao Jing and the Tao Jing were also transformed in the process of development. The now popular version of the Tao Te Ching is very different from the silk book Lao Tzu unearthed from the Mawangdui Han Tomb. "Tao Te Ching", also known as "Lao Tzu", is regarded as a classic by many people, but it cannot be studied by students. Even in the ancient imperial examinations, the Tao Te Ching would not be listed as an examination subject, and Confucian scholars would not be allowed to read it. Perhaps, the Tao Te Ching is really not suitable for Confucian students to study, nor is it suitable for current students to study.
The students' minds should not be too free and too open-minded, so as not to see through the red dust early and be born to cultivate. Whether it is Confucianism or Legalism, they are all propagating the idea of governing the world, and they are all relatively positive, only the idea of "Tao Te Ching" is relatively negative, and even encourages people to maintain the idea of quiet and inaction, and cannot actively use the world. Perhaps, the ideas in the Tao Te Ching can only exist in people's consciousness, but they cannot do it. Especially for the ruling class, it is much safer to propagate Confucianism than Taoism, and it is more able to make people work hard, otherwise how can the ruling class squeeze some money out of people? The ruling class does not directly participate in productive labor, but wants to let the old white surname participate in productive labor, and then sit back and enjoy the results. If the ideas in the Tao Te Ching are promoted, it will be detrimental to production, return to the era of small countries and widows, and even cause social regression.
The ruling class was not allowed to propagate the ideas of the Tao Te Ching, nor was it allowed for Confucian scholars to study them. By now, it seems that the Tao Te Ching has faded out of people's field of vision, and it is no longer valued by people. If the students don't learn, there's nothing to say. If you don't learn, whoever wants to learn can learn, and no one is restricted, isn't it okay? If someone wants to be born and cultivate, and no one interferes, wouldn't it be a great freedom. However, for people in the world, it is good to read the Tao Te Ching, at least the mind is more open-minded, and the world and life are more open-minded, and wisdom is born.