Six stages towards freedom

Ancient wisdom can bring strength to people.

As for learning, I am five tenths, thirty, forty without confusion, fifty, sixty and seventy. This sentence should be said by Confucius in his later years. He is talking about his life's study experience. Finally, he can do whatever he wants without going beyond the rules. In my opinion, this is freedom.

I call this article "Six Stages to Freedom". There is no idea of defining it, nor is it an interpretation of The Analects. It's just that I was inspired by some ideas during my reading of The Analects of Confucius, and I just recorded them. Every era has its own social background, and everyone's experience is different, so the understanding of The Analects of Confucius is different. A gentleman who is harmonious but different can seek common ground while reserving differences.

Confucius/kloc-began to study at the age of 0/5. What did he learn? Li Zhou has The Analects of Confucius as evidence: Everything happened when his son entered the ancestral temple, or: Is familiarity a son who is a gift to others? Into the ancestral temple, ask everything. Wen Zi said after hearing this, this is a gift. Confucius set his own learning goals and put them into action. If he doesn't understand, he will ask. This learning attitude is very admirable. The fact that reading is useful has been accepted by more and more people, and the country has also put forward the slogan of reading for all. As my generation, we should be determined to study and arm ourselves with knowledge, which is also the first stage towards freedom.

By the age of 30, Confucius basically established his own thoughts and theories, and began to run private schools and accept disciples. In today's words, I have an independent personality. Today, Li has become synonymous with marriage and starting a career, and also represents commitment and responsibility. This is the second stage of freedom.

Forty is not confused. There is no doubt about it. If people live to be forty years old, they can master everything and stop being confused, which will be very desirable. The truth is, people are always confused. What does Confucius mean by not being confused? No longer tempted by external things, no longer have desires. At first, I stopped asking the outside world and started asking myself. This is the third stage of freedom.

Fifty knows the destiny. At the age of 50, I began to know the fate of everything, and I also followed the times and society. How do you know fate? It is recorded in The Analects of Confucius that if I spend a few years studying the Book of Changes at the age of fifty, it's no big deal. Confucius studied the Book of Changes and gained a new view and understanding of everything. At the age of 50, I feel that accepting people and things around me, stopping competing with myself and living in the present is the fourth stage of freedom.

A 60-year-old should have his own wisdom and experience in life. Confucius said he was obedient. Confucius was separated from his disciples when he traveled around the world. Confucius was described as a lost dog at that time. After hearing this, Confucius said that the description is really like, and this is obedience. Understand what others say and learn wisdom from what others say. This is also listening, which is the fifth stage of freedom.

Confucius returned to Shandong at the age of 68 and began his later life, centering on the Spring and Autumn Period, deleting poetry books and setting up rituals and music. By the age of seventy, I have formed the principle of doing things by myself. This is freedom.

I hope you can be free!