活法

From time to time, while I was teaching dizigui, some parents raised the following concerns: the principles in dizigui are nice, but when our kids stick to these principles, they might be restricted and not flexible enough to face all the situations and handle the problems when, in the future, they enter the society.

The short book 活法 (click the link) is a wonderful answer to this question. Thanks Mr. Wang, Cunlai for forwarding me this. The author 稻盛和夫成为迄今为止世界上唯一一位一生缔造 2个世界五百强的人, and he consistently sticks to some simple, basic principles all his life time. This book strikes me because it is first time for me to read such book from an business man. Same as Gandhi who applied the right principles in his political field and Martin Luther King Jr. in his community field, 稻盛和夫 applied his moral rules in the business world.

The key point, I think, this book tries to convey is that: some nice characteristics like compassion, honesty, diligence, altruism, etc. are not only religious matter. We can achieve secular happiness and success without comprising our integrity and moral standing.
Some quotations from this book:

"人类活着的意义、人生的目的到底是什么？对于这个最根本的疑问，我仍然想直接回答，那就是提高心地，修炼灵魂。"

"也就是说，不许撒谎，不许给他人添麻烦，要正直，不得贪得无厌，不许只考虑自己私人的利益等等，这些任何人在孩童时期曾经受到过父母、老师的教导----但随着长大成人逐渐遗忘----的单纯的规范，我们可以把它们作为经营的指针，作为必须遵守的判断标准。"

"这是一个极其简单的标准，也是通情达理的原理，遵循这个原理进行经营就不会茫然失措，就可以行进在正确的道路上，从而使事业走向成功。如果要寻求我成功的理由，也许就是这一点。亦即，也许我的才能存在不足，但是，我坚持了一种单纯且强有力的信念----追求人间正道的做人准则。"

"如果问为什么必须确立这样的哲学，那是因为当人在各种各样的境遇中感到迷失、苦恼、痛苦、为难的时候，这样的原理原则可以作为选择哪条道路、采取何种行动的判断标准。"

"明知吃亏也要遵守的哲学，明知有苦也要承受的觉悟，我们是否心存这些？这才是是否能够度过真正充实完满的人生，是否能够收获成功果实的分水岭。"

"努力勤奋地工作、心怀感恩之心、善思善行、诚恳地反省并约束自己、在日常生活中持续磨炼心智、提高人格。努力做到这些看似理所当然的事情才正是人生的意义。除此之外我以为没有别的活法。"

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Enjoy reading!