The paths we choose to take, or don't take,
are different.(趨舍異路)
There was a famous minister in China's
Northern Song dynasty named Wang Anshi, whose story is recorded in history
books.
He spearheaded reforms in the Song dynasty.
His policies were well-intentioned, but too idealistic. When they were
implemented, they not only failed to benefit the people, but caused suffering
and resentment instead. Ultimately, the reforms failed, and he left the central
government in disgrace.
After retiring, he lived a simple life in
what is now Nanjing, China.
One day, he received a letter. Opening it,
many memories of the past flooded back.
It was written by Lü Huiqing, a former
close friend of Wang Anshi's. They had shared similar political ideals and
views, and Lü Huiqing had been Wang Anshi's most capable assistant and
supporter during his time in power. However, as the reforms progressed, their
ideas diverged, leading to numerous arguments and a deterioration in their
relationship. They eventually ceased all contact.
In the letter, Lü Huiqing wrote:
'We were once good friends, but our
differing political ideologies caused our relationship to sour. Now that we are
both retired, I hope we can become friends again.'
Wang Anshi later wrote a reply to Lü
Huiqing:
'We promoted reforms together because we
cared about the country, and it was this same concern that led to our strained
relationship. We each acted from our own perspective, doing what we believed
was right.
I cherish our past friendship and regret
that our relationship deteriorated, but I don't hate you.
I'm old now, I'm retired, and I think all
of that is in the past.
The paths we choose to take, or don't take,
are different.
The famous ancient Chinese philosopher,
Zhuangzi, told a story. 'You and I are like two small fish. If we were trapped
in a small puddle together, breathing on each other to survive, and I had to
choose to be with you, I would rather we were never together and could each
live freely in a wide river.'
This idiom translates directly as: The
paths we choose to take, or don't take, are different.
Dear friend, what did you gain from this story? What inspiration did it give you?
Do you have any friends with whom you used to have a good relationship, but with whom you later fell out? If you had the chance, who would you want to reconcile with?
I hope this story gives you some new
insights.
趨舍異路(The paths we choose to take, or don't
take, are different.)
中國的北宋王朝有一個著名的大臣，他的名字叫做(王安石)，歷史書上記載了一個他的故事。
他曾經主導宋王朝的改革，他的政策很好但是太理想化，這些政策在執行的時候不但沒有達成原本他所預期的造福百姓的效果，反而造成了百姓們的痛苦與埋怨，改革行動後來失敗，他黯然地離開中央政府。
他退休後住在現在的中國的南京市，他過著簡單的生活。
有一天，他收到一封信，打開這封信後，他的內心裏面又湧起了過往的很多回憶。
寫這封信的人的名字是呂惠卿，呂惠卿曾是是他的好朋友，他們兩個人曾經有著相同的政治理念與看法，在王安石發動改革時，呂惠卿曾經是他最得力的助手與支持者，但是在改革的行動推進的過程中，他們兩個人的想法逐漸發生了分岐，呂惠卿與他因為政治理念的差異產生了許多次的爭論，他們兩個人的關係後來變得很糟，他們兩個人到後來就再也沒有來往。
呂惠卿寫這封信，他在這封信的內容中寫著。
我們兩個人曾經是好朋友，後來因為政治理念不同所以關係變得很壞，現在我們兩個人都退休了，我希望我們可以再重新成為朋友。
王安石後來寫了一封回信給呂惠卿，他在這封回信中寫著。
我們兩個人因為關心國家所以一起推動改革，我們也因為關心國家而導致我們兩個人的關係變得很糟，我們都站在各自的立場去作我們各自認為對的事情。
我很珍惜曾經跟你的友情，我也很遺憾我們後來的關係變得很差，但是我的內心並不恨你。
我已經老了，我退休了，我認為這些事情都已經過去了。
我們兩個人各自所選擇要走或不走的路並不相同。
中國古代的著名的哲學家莊周說過一個故事，我跟你是就像是兩條小魚，如果要讓我選擇跟你在一起，但我們被困在一個小水漥中彼此吐氣去讓對方存活，我更願意我跟你從此不在一起，我們可以各自在寬廣的大河中自由的生活。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是我們兩個人各自所選擇要走或不走的路並不相同。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有什麼樣的或有什麼樣的啟發
你是否有曾經關係很好但後來關係交惡的朋友呢?如果有機會你會想要跟誰和解呢?
我期待這個故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為宋-周惲-清波別志-卷2-45條