Cai Gen Tan: The Blessed Should Be Generous, the Wise Should Conceal Their Wisdom
The wealthy and noble ought to be generous, yet instead are grudging and calculating—though rich and noble in station, their conduct is that of the poor and base; how can they enjoy their blessings? The clever ought to conceal their wisdom, yet instead flaunt it—though clever, they are afflicted with foolishness and obtuseness; how can they not come to ruin?
— Cai Gen Tan (Conversations from the Vegetable Root)
Generosity and self-effacement are important marks of a maturing mind.
The world is pluralistic, and people must after all live together. A completely independent person does not exist; however independent a person supposes himself to be, he inevitably lives among people, though the crowd may be large or small.
In getting along with others, one needs to be comfortable oneself and also let others be comfortable. The ancients described the noble person as 'warm and smooth as jade,' making others feel 'as though bathed in a gentle spring breeze.' The way of the noble is an ideal character; such charisma appears only when a person's mind has matured to a certain degree.
It is said that Hu Shi was the kind of generous noble who always wore a friend-like smile. Dr. Hu Shi, learned and versatile, even toward his intellectual opponents always wore an honest, simple smile, never minding the malice or faults of others; such magnanimity is enviable. Although I cannot reach such a realm, I deeply admire this noble bearing of Hu Shi.
Professor Ji Xianlin also had this noble bearing. During the Cultural Revolution, Professor Ji was locked in a 'cowshed,' struggled against no end and given cold stares no end. But after Ji became vice-president of Peking University, he did not retaliate against those who had struggled against him, nor did he make things difficult for those who had fawned on the powerful and struck him when he was down; he merely said lightly that all this was human nature and there was nothing to complain of. Ji wrote many articles, some offending the interests of many people, and he was scolded no end, but one never saw him scold anyone back.
The two gentlemen, Hu Shi and Ji Xianlin, confirm a famous ancient saying: 'Where the writing roams far, the spirit grows old; when learning is deep, the temper is calm.' When a scholar cultivates his nature and reaches a certain realm, he no longer always reacts emotionally. There are many kinds of passionate people; the even-tempered kind are the most admirable.
If a person can be true to his feelings, yet at the same time treat others generously, know how to restrain himself, and respect others, then he can live more at ease and at peace. Compassion has no enemies; wisdom has no worries. One who can embrace all things with a generous heart, overcome himself and return to ritual to treat others kindly, not forget to be kind even when in the right, and always conduct himself by the way of loyalty and forbearance, will have far fewer worries and enemies.
In Jin Yong's wuxia novel The Young Flying Fox, there is the figure of the Medicine King; the Medicine King was first named Master Yichen (One Grudge), then renamed Weichen (Slight Grudge), and later Wuchen (No Grudge). This change of names reflects the process by which most people's minds mature: as one grows older, one understands and forgives more and more conduct, disapproves of fewer and fewer things, and naturally grows less resentful.
I do not claim to have reached the realm of 'no grudge,' but I am also striving to have less and less resentment and cynicism.
The Cai Gen Tan also says: 'Virtue advances with breadth of mind, and breadth grows with insight. Therefore, to deepen his virtue, one must broaden his breadth; to broaden his breadth, one must enlarge his insight.' This means a person's virtue, breadth of mind, and insight are a trinity; only when insight is broad does breadth of mind become large, and only when breadth is large does generous virtue appear.
Only as people grow older and gain experience do they become increasingly reasonable, able, toward the 'common failing of human nature' of 'attaching when hungry, leaving when full, drawing near when warm, abandoning when cold,' to practice what the noble do: 'calmly wipe a cool eye and be careful not to lightly move a resolute heart.'
Unpleasant things happen eight or nine times out of ten; many people and matters in the world may not suit our own hearts. How should we deal with them? The answer: just let them be! When the heart is broad, the world is naturally large.