I gladly accept the arrangements of Heaven; I understand and accept my destiny.(樂天知命)
The Sui dynasty in China was historically
significant despite its short lifespan of only 38 years, from 581 to 619 AD.
Following the end of the Jin Dynasty, China
descended into a prolonged period of chaos.
From 439 to 581 AD, five dynasties rose and
fell in northern China: the Northern Wei, Eastern Wei, Western Wei, Northern Qi
and Northern Zhou.
Meanwhile, from 420 AD to 589 AD, four
dynasties rose and fell in southern China: the Liu Song, Southern Qi, Southern
Liang and Southern Chen.
The Sui Dynasty's emergence brought an end
to the chaotic period from the Jin Dynasty to the Northern and Southern
Dynasties, reuniting China. During this chaotic era, a remarkably talented
Confucian scholar emerged: Wang Tong.
He was born in 584 AD and died in 617 AD.
He wrote many books, but most of them have been lost. Only a collection of his
dialogues with his students has survived, including the following short
passage:
One morning, one of Wang Tong's students
asked him:
'Are you ever worried, even though you are
so wise, virtuous and perfect?
Does someone as wise, virtuous and perfect
as you have doubts?'
Wang Tong smiled and replied to the
student:
'Everyone worries; how could I not worry?'
Everyone has doubts; how could I not?"
That afternoon, another of Wang Tong's
students came to ask him a question.
'Does someone as wise, virtuous and perfect
as you have worries?
Wang Tong smiled and replied to the
student.
'I gladly accept Heaven's arrangement. I
understand and accept my destiny; therefore, I feel no worry.
I can understand the essence of things and
clearly recognise human nature; therefore, I dare not doubt."
'This student asked, puzzled.
This morning, another student asked you
these two questions, but why is your answer to him this morning different from
your answer to me now?
Wang Tong smiled and answered the puzzled
student.
'You two have different experiences and
motivations for asking these questions, so I'm tailoring my answers to your
individual needs.'
This morning, the student asked these two
questions because he wanted to know how a wise, virtuous and well-rounded person
should act in the face of worry and doubt.
You, on the other hand, want to understand
the inner state of mind of such a person when faced with worry and doubt.
As your motivations are different, I will
give you different answers.'
Seeing that the student was still looking
confused after hearing his explanation, Wang Tong added:
'Everything in this world is
interconnected. A person of exceptional wisdom, high moral character and
perfect integrity cannot be indifferent to the world. They will also feel worry
and confusion about what happens in the world, but they will not be trapped by
these emotions.
Because they can deeply understand both the
laws of the world and their own limitations, they will ultimately choose to
face everything they encounter in life with a positive attitude and a peaceful
mind.'
This idiom translates as "I gladly accept the arrangements of Heaven; I understand and accept my destiny".
It
is used to describe a person who is content.
Dear friend, what inspiration or thoughts
did you gain from this story?
Have you ever complained about social
injustice or your own fate? How do you think a truly wise person should respond
to social injustice and their own destiny?
I hope this story gives you some new
insights.
樂天知命(I gladly accept Heaven's arrangement
and understand my destiny.)
中國的隋王朝是一個很短但是在歷史上有著很重要影響的朝代，從西元581年開始到西元619年為止，隋王朝只維持了38年。
中國的晉王朝結束之後，中國陷入一段長時間的混亂狀態。
西元439年到西元581年，這段期間內中國的北方更換了五個王朝。這五個王朝的名字依序是北魏王朝、東魏王朝、西魏王朝、北齊王朝和北周王朝。
西元420年到西元589年，這段期間內中國的南方更換了四個王朝，這四個王朝的名字依序是劉宋王朝、南齊王朝、南梁王朝與南陳王朝。
隋王朝的出現結束了中國從晉王朝開始到南北王朝時代的混亂局面，中國再次從分裂的狀態回歸統一，在這個混亂的時代中，出現了一個非常天才的儒家學者，這個學者的名字叫做王通。
王通出生於西元584年，他在西元617年逝世，他寫過很多書但這些書大部分都已經失傳，目前僅存的有他與他的學生們的對答集之中，有一小段文字的記錄如下。
有一天上午，王通一個學生問他。
像你這樣智慧卓越、品德高尚且人格完美的人也會憂慮嗎?
像你這樣智慧卓越、品德高尚且人格完美的人也會有疑惑嗎?
王通笑著回答這個學生。
只要是人都會憂慮，我怎麼可能不憂慮呢?。
只要是人都會有疑惑，我怎麼可能沒有疑惑呢?
當天下午，王通的另外一個學生也來問王通問題，這個學生問。
像你這樣智慧卓越、品德高尚且人格完美的人也會憂慮嗎?
像你這樣智慧卓越、品德高尚且人格完美的人也會有疑惑嗎?
王通笑著回答這個學生。
我欣然接受上天的安排，我明白且接受自己的命運，因此我不感到憂慮。
我能夠了解事物本質的道理，我能夠清楚認清人的本性，因此我不敢到疑惑。
今天早上有另外一個同學也問你這兩個問題，但為何你早上對他說的答案和現在對我說的答案不一樣呢?
王通微笑著回答這個充滿疑惑的學生。
你們兩個人的遭遇不同，你們兩的人問這個問題的出發點也不同，所以我告訴妳們的答案是針對你們各自不同的需求說的。
今天早上那位同學問這兩個問題的動機是因為那位同學想要了解一個智慧卓越、品德高尚且人格完美的人在面臨到憂慮與疑惑時的行動表現應該為何。
你問這兩個問題的動機是因為你想要了解一個智慧卓越、品德高尚且人格完美的人，在面臨到憂慮與疑惑時，他的內在心境為何?
因為你們問問題的動機不同，所以我用不同的答案來回答你們。
看到這個學生聽完自己的解釋之後仍然表情迷惑，王通補充說明。
這世界上的事情都是一體的，一個智慧卓越、品德高尚且人格完美的人並不會對這個世界漠不關心，這個人也會為了這個世界上發生的事情感到憂慮與疑惑，但是這個人不會陷在這種情緒裡面。
這個人因為同時可以深刻理解世界規律與自身的局限後，所以他最終會選擇用積極的態度與安靜的內心去面對生命中所遇到的一切。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是我欣然接受上天的安排，我明白且接受自己的命運。這句成語被用來形容一個人處於一種安然自得的狀態。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有怎樣的啟發或有怎樣的想法呢。
你是否曾經抱怨過社會的不公義或自己的命運呢?你認為一個真正有智慧的人要怎樣面對社會的不公義與自己的命運呢?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為文中子中說-卷五-問易篇-12條13條