Old Man's Saying: Tranquility through Simplicity and Composure

To guard against complacency, one must test it in fields of luxury and splendor; to maintain composure, one must test it in diverse environments.

Whether one has a lofty aspiration, must be tested through wealth and fame; whether one can maintain composure, must be tested through various environments.

Renunciation of fame and fortune, tranquility in quietness, must be established by virtue, not just in poverty, but also in prosperity. Facing the world's five colors and ten sounds, the temptations of wealth and fame, one must maintain a sense of composure, a steadfast intention, which is true renunciation.

As Mencius said: 'Wealth and honor cannot corrupt, poverty and hardship cannot move, might cannot be defeated, this is the measure of a man.'

Tao Yuanming was a renowned poet and writer of the late Eastern Jin Dynasty. His ancestor, Tao Kan, was a famous general and founding hero of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, his grandfather Tao Mao and father Tao Yi had both served as governors.

By the late Eastern Jin Dynasty, government corruption was rampant, and the officialdom was dark. Tao Yuanming was born with a nature of renunciation, and despite his poverty and inability to make ends meet, he continued to study and write poetry.

In 405, at the age of over forty, Tao Yuanming took office as the magistrate of Pengze County. During his eighty-one-day term, he encountered a supervisory officer from Xunyang County to inspect the administration.

The supervisory officer Liu Yun from Xunyang County was known throughout the region for his ruthlessness and greed, demanding bribes twice a year, and always returned laden with wealth, or else he would accuse and punish.

When the supervisory officer arrived in Pengze, Tao Yuanming's county official said: 'We should dress formally, prepare gifts, and respectfully greet the supervisory officer!'

Tao Yuanming sighed: 'I will not bow to the county magistrate for five bushels of rice to curry favor with these petty officials!' After saying this, he removed his hat and left, resigning his position and returning to his hometown. Subsequently, Tao Yuanming spent his time reading and writing poetry, and cultivating his land.

Tao Yuanming's life was full of his yearning and pursuit of the true meaning of life.

Tao Yuanming's poems, such as 'Drinking' and 'Miscellaneous Poems,' are simple and rustic, clear and natural, or expressing his concerns about historical events, or full of a life's interest of 'being rooted in the mountains and enjoying the quiet life.'

Tao Yuanming's prose, such as 'Peach Blossom Spring' and 'The Wanderer,' expressed a return to simplicity and a lofty spirit, also expressing his yearning for a beautiful future.

After his death, people praised him as 'A single sentence is natural, and the truth is revealed after the luxurious things have faded.' However, Tao Yuanming's refusal to 'bow to five bushels of rice' earned him deep respect.

Renunciation of fame and fortune, tranquility in quietness, for many years, this has become a classic instruction for people to cultivate themselves, manage their families, and hold a firm position.

Renunciation of fame and fortune, tranquility in quietness, one can achieve great things, and climb to the peak of life. In today's era of rampant materialism and human nature degenerating, one must guard against this, and truly be detached from fame and fortune.

As teachers, we should abandon the burden of titles, the constraints of gains and losses, and return to the true state of humanity, thereby enriching and purifying our minds.

When people talk about idle talk, to regulate the mood, to relax the mood, it's normal, if you suppress it, you might get sick, visible depth is depth, it's called a void, that's what's scary. Having a healthy body, maintaining a learning mentality, enjoying work and life happily, this is a difficult thing to achieve.

Therefore, choose renunciation. Don't attach importance to titles like 'outstanding teacher,' 'advanced worker,' 'excellent teacher,' etc. Let go of all gains and losses, and return to a natural state, thereby achieving a fulfilled and rich mind.

When questioning oneself, perhaps, we can only do what we do in this society. What should be pursued, should be pursued; what should be abandoned, should be abandoned! When you become a little detached, perhaps you have become renounced to fame and fortune.

Whatever you like to do, do it, and if you don't like it, don't regret it. It's good to be a good person. Don't be angry, don't be angry. There are too many principles to follow, it's better to follow your own understanding.

Renunciation is a pure feeling. It is far from fame and fortune, from disputes, and from desires. This is a clear mind. Fame and fortune are fleeting illusions, they are outside of oneself, and they do not bring with them when one dies, they do not bring with them when one dies, one lives by fame and fortune, and this is a reversed order.

Work in the spare time, chat, relax, it's normal, if you suppress it, you might get sick, visible depth is depth, it's called a void, that's what's scary. Having a healthy body, maintaining a learning mentality, enjoying work and life happily, this is a difficult thing to achieve.