An old English proverb goes, "Rolling
rocks don't grow moss." This is analogous to someone who is
discontent in the same position, who there- fore has a hard time
attaining any success. Similarly, moss cannot collect and grow
on the surface of a rolling rock. This aphorism is not teaching
people to stagnate, be entrenched in old routines and refuse to
evolve. Rather, this saying instructs us to take one honest step
at a time and cover the basics, whether studying or working; we
must not be overly ambitious and be greedy for efficiency or
quantity .
How does one take one honest step at a
time? One begins anything cautiously and ends respectfully,
working with the utmost earnestness. If you always go after the
novel, your mind will already be on a different topic before you
master the first subject. How could your arms and legs be able
catch up? When your arms and legs lag behind your mind, your
eyes are aiming too high and your hands are reaching too low.
While you rush headlong without coordination, you further miss
your target. You become akin to a parrot that constantly
imitates others without a language of its own. How does one
cover the basics? One clears away externalities and goes
directly to the source. If you only collect extraneous ends,
then before you take one step, minutia has already sidetracked
and trapped you. How can you possibly expand your horizons?
When you can't expand your horizons, you
end up creating a cocoon that constricts. Finally, you end up
seeking dharma outside of the mind and receiving no true
benefits. Discourses on the Roots of Vegetablessaid it
well, "A well-written article contains nothing; it's just right.
A well-developed character has nothing odd; it's fundamentally
natural." To be just right is to be moderate. To be good denotes
staying with the mean. Since we were pure to begin with, purity
denotes returning to what is natural and true. If you're good
and true, then you rediscover the beauty that is already within
you! How can anything we do then be considered inappropriate? We
must cover the basics and be honest, whether in our studies or
at work. Don't let the colorful flowers and foliage confuse you.
Furthermore, don't let those choppy reports and poorly-written
essays lock you down!
A Chinese calligrapher who deemed himself
the best had heard that elsewhere there was another calligrapher
with the title, "Number One in the Universe." The first Chinese
calligrapher couldn't resist stealing a look. When he got to the
main thoroughfare in town, he saw someone on stage with writing
material. Staked on the side of the road was a flag headlined,
"Number One in the Universe" that fluttered about in the wind,
challenging and intimidating all passersby. The calligrapher saw
Mr. Universe swing his strokes right on the spot and the
observing calligrapher returned home without a peep. From then
on this man practiced in seclusion for three years. What kind of
outstanding stunt was he doing during these three years? None!
You wouldn't believe it if I told you! He didn't have any clever
tricks at all; he simply practiced drawing circles. During those
entire three years, he drew one circle after another until he
was able to pick up his calligraphy pen and draw circles that
were equal in size, width, and proportion. Then he went to visit
that still undefeated Mr. Universe. When the challenger reached
the table, he lifted up the pen and in one breath drew several
circles.
As it is said, "The expert simply
stretches out his hand and you know whether he has it or not.
"While observers were still at a loss, the reigning calligrapher
glared and remained speechless out of shock at first, and then
he embarrassingly packed up his stuff, rolled up the "Number One
in the Universe" banner and left without a word.
The moral of this story is that, first of
all, you can accomplish anything if you concentrate. Second, the
greatest trick is a trick that uses no tricks. The cleverest
technique is a technique that isn't considered a technique. So
how do you study so that you may concentrate? The ancients
mentioned the "three presences" and the "three tops." The three
presences are the presence of the eyes, the presence of the
mouth and the presence of the mind. Having your eyes present
means that you read each and every word earnestly; having your
mouth present means that you enunciate each line clearly; having
your mind present means that you are clear about every word and
each line. The three tops refer to being on top of dining
tables, on top of beds and on top of toilets. Not only do you
study with your eyes, mouth and mind present while at your desk,
but you do not let up on your studying during meals, bedtimes
and even in the bathroom. Toilets during ancient times were bare
and smelly. If you can sit there and still read, you really have
severed your false thoughts--your success is inevitable.
Contemporary bathrooms are bright, clean
and quite cozy, so it's cooler and easier for people today to
work in there. However, precisely because modern men have been
liberated from many physical restraints and are so
comfortable--some individuals really work in their restrooms
now! How? They'll sometimes sit in the lavatory for an hour or
two. What kind of work are they doing? They're reading
newspapers, magazines, romance novels or kung fu books. I
honestly don't know whether they save or waste time.
We must know that life is brutal and
short. To live an average and mediocre existence is one life; to
live a fulfilled and perfect existence is one life too. If we're
afraid to work hard and only pick what's most convenient,
perhaps to the point of complete indolence and vice, severe
difficulty will likely follow. More specifically, we reap what
we sow; we will end up circulating endlessly in the sea of
suffering.
During the Qing Dynasty in China, a
beggar named Wu Xun lived in Tangyi, Shandong Province. He lost
his father at the age of three and lost his mother at the age of
seven. He could only beg for a living because his family was so
poor. Wu Xun had personally experienced the pain of illiteracy,
so he aspired to establish a school to benefit the poor. He
endured hardships to save his money. He saved every penny he had
received from begging continuously for several decades. In his
old age, he indeed purchased land and established a school.
Furthermore, he went from one household to another beseeching
poor families to send their kids to school, then beseeching the
educated to teach. If teachers refused to teach, he would kneel
at length; if students refused to learn, he would cry nonstop,
pleading with them. Finally, he moved an entire village of
people to dedicate themselves to teaching and learning. At his
death he had established three schools.
Similar cases also exist in early
American history. Before education in the U.S. became prevalent
and when racial discrimination was rampant, an ambitious young
African American named Booker T. Washington worked in the mines
during the day and studied at night school during the evenings.
At his graduation, the school saw he was very hardworking and
had excellent grades, so they asked him to be an instructor.
However, he wasn't satisfied with his own livelihood and rising
status; he aspired to improve the quality of life for all
African Americans. Later he borrowed money to purchase straw
huts and land. Washington enrolled about thirty students and
founded an elementary school for African Americans. He
personally led the students in chopping wood, burning bricks,
and constructing classrooms. He also taught students to plant
grains and vegetables, and raise chickens, ducks, cows and sheep
to subsidize the school. Not only did the production gradually
pay for the school itself, but students also acquired knowledge
and production skills through these daily routines. Later, more
and more students enrolled, and more and more teachers
enthusiastically came to help. Eventually, this school became
the world's largest and most famous school for African Americans
.
Once Washington was invited to Iowa State
for a speech. That night, as he was talking to many famous
people in the hotel's reception room, a drummer with a large
copper drum saw Washington. Taking him for a bellman, the
musician called out, "Bring me a glass of ice water! Then bring
my luggage upstairs!" Washington answered, "Yes, sir!" When
Washington came down the stairs, all the honored guests were in
a panic, but he smiled, saying, "I accepted that man's tip of a
dime to avoid embarrassing him. Furthermore, this one dime will
help educate my impoverished students." He served as a role
model through his behavior, tirelessly working for the sake of
education throughout his life. At his death, newspapers
worldwide commemorated him with front-page coverage. Also, one
hundred thousand African Americans set up a bronze statue and a
stone tablet for him. On the tomb is the inscription, "He
eliminated ignorance among the public; through the paths of
education and industry he guided the public."
The Three Character Classics
states, "Unpolished jade cannot serve as a vessel; the
uneducated person cannot understand integrity. Students who do
not learn go against the grain. What will be- come of youngsters
who do not study? " Think about it: since we're fortunate enough
to live in the modem era of public education, abundant books and
school supplies and a more conducive environment than that in
the past, why don't we study hard while we're still young so
that we may help ourselves and help others? Let's not allow
previous generations take all the glory; furthermore, let's not
be ridiculed by future generations!
