To My Son: Fame and Glory Don't Matter
Last night, my son asked me: "Dad, you've written so many articles—have you ever thought about publishing a book?" I told him that before he was born, Dad had already published quite a few books, but never under my own name. My son asked why I didn't put my name on them, why I didn't seek fame and glory. This child grew up in Beijing, and competitive comparison among classmates has become quite serious; he has developed a desire for fame and fortune, which in my view is very unhealthy. So I am writing this article for him, hoping that when he grows a little older, he will understand that fame and glory are not important.
The words I have written, if collected, should amount to over ten million characters. In just the past year or two, the pieces published on my own blog alone number in the millions of characters. If I were to publish books, I would now have enough to stack to my height. If I don't die, I will continue writing essentially every day for the rest of my life. Eventually, from these written words, I may compile several books worth publishing.
Judging from the readership my articles have received on the internet over the years, I do have some influence, but I frequently change pen names to avoid becoming too famous. Fame brings controversy. I have had enough of a life where standing out too sharply leads to all kinds of trouble. The drawbacks of seeking fame and glory far outweigh the benefits.
Fame and wealth, once they reach a certain magnitude, become the greatest burden in life. I deeply understand why Mr. Ji Xianlin in his later years forcefully declined all kinds of "master" titles. For someone who loves reading and writing, reading and writing are themselves a joyful way of life, and the joy inherent in this life is sufficient. Fame and fortune are purely a double-edged byproduct, and generally the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. Unless one's inner cultivation has reached the point of viewing fame and wealth as nothing, the troubles they bring will be unbearable.
People care about fame and wealth only because of greed and vanity. If one can be at peace with a frugal life and withdraw from the masses to live in seclusion, then fame and fortune cease to matter. Moreover, the happiness brought by a frugal, secluded life far exceeds the happiness fame and wealth can bring. Fame and fortune are public property; everyone desires them. Once we possess them, we become targets of public attack. Not only will inner peace be unattainable, but personal safety will also be precarious.
For a quiet person, the right attitude toward life can be summarized in eight characters: "What others abandon, I take; what others reject, I gain." Do not participate in any competition; immerse yourself only in your own joy. What others cast aside, we take a little to make a living. What others desire, we avoid. Then all fierce competition in this society becomes completely irrelevant to us.
Only competition in games is entertainment. Real competition is a foolish game in which the evil side of human nature is fully exposed, and all kinds of falsehood, emptiness, and ugliness emerge in the struggle for fame and profit. A person should cultivate a hobby, spend a lifetime enjoying it, entertaining himself, passing the endless hours, master a trade for making a living, and help others when able—this is enough.
As for the foolish pursuit of fame and glory that destroys one's own peace and happiness, before one can master one's own heart, one must learn to avoid it.