A story about equality for all

1. "Everyone is equal before opportunity"

A long time ago, there was a villager named A Niu in a small village. He got up every morning and spent more than three hours praying. He believes that "the more gods you worship, the more you worship them, the more they will bless you." His home is decorated with various statues of gods, large and small.

One day, the village chief informed the villagers: "Due to continuous heavy rains, the water channels are blocked, so there is a high risk of flooding. Please pack your belongings and leave the village temporarily to avoid casualties." Most of the villagers followed the instructions, but only a small number of villagers still refused to leave. A Niu even said with a smile: "I don't have to be afraid, because I sincerely worship God every day, and God will definitely bless me. I decided not to leave the village."

Finally, the flood got out of control, and the village All exits were submerged by the flood. Villagers who could not leave in time climbed to the roof and waited for rescue. A Niu was no exception, climbing to the roof to avoid the water. At this moment, a family passed by on a homemade raft and suggested that A Niu follow them, but A Niu refused.

Soon, a big tree floated in front of him. He did not hold on to the big tree and used it as a raft to escape. After a few hours, a big wooden barrel floated out of nowhere. A Niu turned a blind eye and just talked about it. I muttered something, convinced that the water was about to recede, and planned how to express my gratitude to God. In the end, A Niu was drowned by the flood.

When his soul met the God he worshiped most, he angrily cursed: "God! What on earth did you do? I worship you sincerely every day, but you actually ignored me and let me go." The flood drowned me, what on earth did you do?" After hearing what he said, God said: "O Niu, I sent you a raft, a big tree, and a barrel, but you didn't make good use of it, so I can't help you. "

2. "Everyone is equal before the law of the country"

In the eighteenth century, the German Emperor Wilhelm I built a palace in Potsdam. Once, he lived in the palace and climbed up to overlook the panoramic view of Potsdam, but his sight was blocked by a mill. The emperor was greatly disappointed. The mill was "an eyesore." He sent people to negotiate with the mill owner, intending to buy the mill for demolition.

No, the miller refused to sell it. The reason was very simple: this is what my ancestors have left over from generation to generation, and they can’t be defeated in my hands no matter how much money they spent. The emperor was furious and sent out his guards to demolish the mill. The stubborn miller filed a lawsuit in court. Surprisingly, the court ruled against the emperor.

And the emperor was ordered to rebuild the mill on the original site according to its original appearance and compensate the mill owner for his economic losses. The emperor obediently carried out the court's decision and rebuilt the mill. Decades later, both William I and the miller died. The miller's son was on the verge of bankruptcy due to poor management. He wrote to the then Emperor Wilhelm II and offered to sell the mill to him.

After receiving this letter, William II was filled with emotions. He believes that the mill incident is related to the country's judicial independence and the image of fair trials. It is a monument that has become a symbol of German judicial independence and judicial impartiality and should be preserved forever. He wrote a letter in person, urging him to keep the mill to pass it down to his descendants. And gave him 6,000 marks to repay the debt he owed.

The little miller was very moved after receiving the reply. It was decided not to sell the mill to keep this memory in mind. As William Pitt, the British Prime Minister in the mid-eighteenth century, said: "Even the poorest man dares to defy the authority of the king in his cottage.

The house may be shabby, the roof may be crumbling; but The wind can enter, the rain can enter, but the king cannot enter, and his thousands of troops dare not cross the threshold of this shabby house

3. "Everyone has equal opportunity"

In August 2011, I visited Mount Wutai. There was a Manjusri Pagoda in the Tayuan Temple in Mount Wutai. This pagoda has a history: Legend has it that during the Northern Wei Dynasty, Dafu Lingjiu Temple held a temple fair every March and set up a "Wuzhaozhai". No distinction was made between monks and laymen, no distinction was made between men, women, old and young. All those who went to the temple were given a hearty meal.

In one temple fair, a woman in rags was holding a baby in her arms. , followed by a dog, went to the temple to receive a meal. She was penniless, so she cut off her hair as charity.

The monk gave her three portions of vegetarian food, and she said, "My dog ??deserves to eat too." The monk reluctantly gave her another portion. The woman then said: "I have a baby in my belly, but I still have to share the food." The monk said angrily: "You ask for fasting without getting tired of it, but you have to share the food before the baby is born. You are so greedy!"

The woman was scolded by the monk, so she jumped into the air and showed the appearance of Manjushri Bodhisattva. The dog turned into a green-haired lion, and the baby and child turned into a two-day boy. Manjushri Bodhisattva chanted a verse in the misty cloud light: "All living beings learn to be equal." , The heart is rippled by all kinds of circumstances, and all the bones are gone, what is the love of a monk?"

At this time, thousands of believers inside and outside the temple quickly bowed to the sky: "Great Sage, I wish to show you the Dharma of Equality. Wait for it to be followed." He chanted a verse in the air: "The mind is like the earth, like water, fire, and wind. This is the popular story of Manjusri going to Zhai to give alms.

I think the story of "Manjusri giving birth" tells a truth, that is, we have a holistic and systematic view of things, and we must look at problems comprehensively. In my new book "The Law of Space and Time", I pointed out that the "holographic" thinking and "phenomenological" thinking of the universe are simple natural thinking.

When this kind of thinking is applied to real work and life, everything is connected. From the part to the whole, and from the whole to the part, we must pay attention to the macroscopic and horizontal connections, and "draw inferences from one example" . "Manjushri" chants a verse in the air, which means that the heaven and earth are empty and have laws, and all things are the same. All living beings are equal, and everyone is equal before opportunities. The only difference is human heart and desire.

This is the "Equality Method". Recently, a student who had participated in the martial arts fitness training I organized wrote to me and said: "I read your book "The Path of the Dao", and my heart suddenly became enlightened and my "Tao" heart became firmer. I was there last year I will study Taoism in Huashan, Sanqingshan, Wuhan Changchun Temple and other places. In the new year, I will better practice and seek truth.”

I replied: “I needed to learn Taoism in Wudang Mountain in the past. I realized the Tao in a cave and a tree cave, and realized that I am Tai Chi, Tai Chi is me, I am the Tao, and the Tao is the nature, nature, and origin, and is the incarnation of Tao in all things. , everyone can enlighten and educate all living beings.

The Tao is everywhere, in your heart, in your daily life, and in your happiness. The sky and the earth are empty and empty, and all things are indistinguishable. This is the great road.

4. "Difference and Equality"

What I draw is a balance, but what I want to express is not the balance between one object and another, but the correspondence. Fairness and equality between people in human society.

The bottom of the picture is a straight line, which can be extended infinitely and connect everything. It symbolizes the all-encompassing world of human society. The big triangle is the "seat", an equilateral triangle that looks the same no matter it is viewed from left to right, up or down, symbolizing that people are inherently equal.

The most important thing in this picture is the triangle on the left and the circle on the right on the second straight line (the weighing plate). They are different but equal. It symbolizes the differences and equality between people. Finally, the middle circle on the "weighing plate" symbolizes a force. When the scale is tilted, it will exert pressure on the weak and eventually push the weak out of the game.

This is a neutral force that will make people with high status take another step forward and cause those who have failed to suffer another heavy blow. Through this picture, I want to express my call, that is: society should give people a right, the right to equality, that is, the right for everyone to be equal and compete fairly. People are allowed to be different, but they must not be without it. Equality!

5. "Equality"

Not long ago, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife went to a small town in southwest France for vacation. Although the Prime Minister and his wife are here, the town still goes its own way, sunbathing when it's time, falling in love when it's time, and everyone lives a comfortable and orderly life. We know that Blair is a "big shot", but everyone seems not to take it seriously because all living beings are equal.

Blair likes to go to bars. The owner of the only bar in the town did not show any respect and closed the door for vacation as planned. However, the boss still politely left a note at the door of the bar: "Welcome Mr. and Mrs. Blair. Sorry, we are on holiday now. We will be back after the holiday is over. Sorry!"

A person has to face many people and experience many things in his life, but no matter what, he must live freely and noblely. In fact, this is not difficult. If you learn to look at authority head-on, you will become majestic, that is, noble.