Lao Tzu: When a superior man hears the Tao, he practices it diligently; when a sergeant hears the Tao, he lives or dies; when a junior man hears the Tao, he laughs at it; not laughing is not enough to

Lao Tzu: When a superior man hears the Tao, he practices it diligently; when a sergeant hears the Tao, he lives or dies; when a junior man hears the Tao, he laughs at it; not laughing is not enough to practice the Tao.

"Shi" refers to the nobles, "Shangshi" refers to the clever little slave-owning nobles, "Sergeant" refers to the mediocre nobles, and "Corporate" refers to the shallow nobles. Upper, middle and lower are not in terms of political hierarchy, but in terms of their level of ideological understanding.

Tao: A philosophical term is a term used by the Chinese nation to understand nature for themselves. It means the orbit or trajectory of all things, and it can also be said to be the place where things change and move.

If you are alive or dead: you seem to have learned it, but you seem to have not learned it

"The corporal heard the Tao and laughed. If you don't laugh, it is not enough to practice the Tao": Ordinary people are embracing the Tao. They learn "Tao" with a mocking attitude. They are self-righteous and think that their level is already very high. They don't believe it at all.

It comes from Laozi's "Tao Te Ching" during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.

Original text: When a superior officer hears the Tao, he practices it diligently; when a sergeant hears the Tao, he or she lives or perishes; when a junior officer hears the Tao, he laughs. Not smiling is not enough for the Tao. Therefore, there is a saying: the way to enlightenment is like ignorance, the way to advance is like retreat, and the way to confusion is like treacherous. Superior virtue is like a valley; enlightenment is like a disgrace; wide virtue is like a lack; building virtue is like stealing; quality is like a sincerity. The magnificence has no corner; the great talent comes late; the great sound is loud; the elephant is invisible; the Tao is nameless. The husband is just the way, good at lending and successful.

Interpretation of the full text:

"When a superior man hears the Tao, he will practice it diligently." A superior and intelligent person will work hard to practice it after learning the "Tao". Continuously improve your knowledge and experience in practice. "When a sergeant hears the Tao, he or she will live or die." A moderately intelligent person, after learning the "Tao", seems to have learned it, but it seems that he has not learned it. I think I have grasped it, but I am unwilling to put it into practice. I just talk but don't do anything.

"When a corporal hears the Tao, he laughs. Not laughing is not enough to practice the Tao." Ordinary people learn the "Tao" with a mocking attitude. They are self-righteous and think that their level is already very high. Don't believe it. In fact, "Tao" is not something that anyone can grasp. If it is not ridiculed, it is not "Tao". ?

That’s why the ancient sages said something like this: The bright way seems like darkness; the way forward seems like retreat; the smooth way seems like ruggedness; the lofty virtues are like canyons, and the purest things contain dirt. ; Broad virtue seems to be insufficient; strong virtue seems to be lazy; simplicity and innocence seem to be turbid.

The most square thing has no edges and corners; the most capable container does not contain anything; the loudest sound sounds silent; the largest image has no shape. The Tao is secluded and has no name, nameless and silent.

Extended information:

"The sergeant hears the Tao and practices it diligently" tells us to apply what we have learned, think, practice, think again, and practice again. For example, Li Siguang’s two denials were “denying that there is no fourth glacier in China” and denying that China is poor in oil and has oil exploration. Mao Zedong combined reading with leadership.

"When a sergeant hears the Tao, he or she will survive or die" tells us to "seek a deep understanding." When I was studying, because I didn’t ask for a thorough understanding, the academic performance of my classmates was very different. After I started working, because I didn’t ask for a thorough explanation, many of my colleagues at the beginning of their career were unnaturally ranked in the third, sixth, and ninth grades when they retired. .

"When a corporal hears the Tao, he laughs. If he doesn't laugh, it is not enough to follow the Tao." We should not laugh superficially at some of the judgments around us or made by others. As time accumulates, we should think more deeply and think deeply about and interpret some seemingly funny things. As Hegel said, existence has its rationality. Generally speaking, those who have made brilliant achievements in science are those who persevere and persevere, and they will never follow the crowd.

Einstein’s theory of relativity can be described as “the Tao”, so it cannot be understood by ordinary people. Of course, it will be laughed at. “Not laughing is not enough to be Tao.” And what Einstein embodies is just as Laozi said "If you understand the way, you will be ignorant; if you advance, you will retreat."

Reference: Baidu Encyclopedia - Tao Te Ching · The sergeant hears the Tao and practices it diligently