Chinese Traditional Story: Shi Chengqi Seeks Taoism from Laozi

Hello everyone, the story I'm going to share today is Shi Chengqi seeks Daoism from Laozi. Laozi was a great philosopher, thinker, and founder of Daoism during the spring autumn period. He left behind immortal work Dao De Jing. His extraordinary thought and vision were widely attracting many to seek his guidance. At that time, there was a scholar named Shi Chengqi. When he heard someone praising Laozi as a saint, he was very curious and wanted to visit him in person to find out the truth. So he traveled long distance to arrive at Laozi's home. When he arrived, he found that Laozi's home was very simple. The dashed house seems to have been in disrepair for a long time, and the things in the house were very messy. So he started to have doubts in his heart. He thought, how could this person be as magical and great as people said? So he casually said to Laozi, I've heard that you are knowledgeable, wise, and man of virtue. So I have come here from far away, but what I see makes me very disappointed. Your house is like a red horse, and not much different from a cow, horse, or pig shed. I don't know what else I can ask you for otherwise. It's so disappointing. After he finished speaking, he looked at Laozi, and seeing that Laozi seemed not to have heard him, he turned around and left. On his way back, he couldn't calm down. He was wondering, if he is so famous, why didn't I see anything special about him in front of me? Even when I used such harsh words to mock him, he didn't react at all. If my judgment is correct, I should be happy and at peace, as if my journey wasn't in vain, but I feel a sense of emptiness inside. Why didn't he react to what I said? No, I won't accept it. I must get to the bottom of it. So a few days later, he went to see Laozi again. He apologized, saying, A few days ago, I was sarcastic and said something bad about you. Today, I have realized that I was wrong, but I am not sure why. Laozi replied, I have long not been a sage. If people call me a cow, then I am a cow. If people call me a horse, then I am a horse. If I do not accept what people say, which may contain some truth, then it is just like asking for trouble in the future. My actions and behaviors are consistent. I do not pretend to be something else for other people to see. Ashamed, Shi Chengqi immediately treated Laozi with respect. He wholeheartedly asked, How do I cultivate myself? Laozi replied, You are arrogant with head unrolled, starting straight ahead and acting self-righteous. You want to advance but cannot. Like a horse eager to gallop but restrained by its rope, you move fast like a machine. You are insightful but cling to your opinions. You are quick-witted but have too many desires. These and other similar problems are at odds with the principles for being human. Barbaric invaders who act like this often become thieves and harm society. How can you cultivate with a calm heart? Then Laozi continued, The way is always natural, but at the same time, the development and change of all things cannot be separated from the laws of the way. If rulers can follow the laws of the way, all things will grow and change naturally. When things develop to the point where I want to make a difference, I will use nameless simplicity to calm them down, allowing them to return to nature and their true selves. Nameless simplicity refers to the natural, most fundamental state of the way itself. An ideal ruler who strictly adheres to the principles of the way will achieve ideal society where the world will settle itself. Xi Chengchi listened and felt that he had benefited greatly. He apologized to Laozi once again for his arrogance and unreasonable behavior. He determined to return home and restrained his behavior according to the Tao that Laozi had taught him. Through Laozi's teachings to Xi Chengchi, we can see that today's humanity is indeed drifting further and further away from the Tao. Sadly to say, people would experience calamities such as earthquakes, plagues, and floods, and these calamities are caused by human beings themselves. Therefore, a return to tradition is imperative. May each of us re-examine our thoughts and actions and work together to return to the way that leads to God's beautiful world. Thank you very much for listening to the story. More touching stories will be ready for you if you just subscribe it. Thank you again.