The Way to Health: Three Secrets of Confucian Health

健康养生之道：儒家养生三秘法

Wise people enjoy water, benevolent people enjoy mountains, wise people move, benevolent people quiet, wise people happy, benevolent people live

-----Zhuge Changqing

Confucius, the sage of Confucianism, said that "benevolence is longevity", bringing people into the realm of sages.

What is benevolent longevity? Zhuge Changqing believes that Confucius's benevolent longevity reminds people to do good and accumulate virtue, benefit the society and care for others, so that there will be a way to live a long life.

Confucianism, like mountain and spring water, seems flat, but actually contains the profound way of heaven and earth.

Take health care for example. If you love health care very much, you are also an expert in health care.

Zhuge Changqing shared the Confucian health care experience studied by Mr. Hou Quanfu with the predestined.

People are always interested in talking about the health preserving methods such as Buddhism, Taoism, medicine and martial arts, while the Confucian health preserving methods are rarely mentioned, which is very strange. In fact, the Confucian regimen is the closest to life, and it points directly at the heart of the people. It has similarities and differences with Buddhism, Taoism, medicine and martial arts, and has its unique features. Now, the Confucian method of self-cultivation is explained as follows.

1、 Those who are virtuous and virtuous will live a long life

Zhuge Changqing: People who do good deeds, accumulate virtue and have a benevolent heart will naturally live a long life if their heart is integrated with heaven and earth. Confucianism advocates being a gentleman, a sage and a man of virtue.

Confucianists are the first to cultivate the mind and morality, and believe that people who have the heart of benevolence will live a long life. That is the so-called "benevolent longevity" (The Analects of Confucius, Yongye Sixth).

So, what is "benevolence"?

Zhuge Changqing: If you have a benevolent heart, you will be integrated with heaven and earth, and naturally live a long life.

Confucius said "love". That is to say, only those who are full of love in their hearts will reach the realm of "benevolence". "Fan Chi asked Ren, and Confucius said: Love" (The Analects of Confucius, Yan Yuan, 12th).

Mencius also further confirmed that "benevolence is the heart of the people" (Mencius, Chapter Two). It seems that the "benevolence" of Confucianism is human nature, love and human heart. Only those who really have love and sincerity will have the virtue of "benevolence".

So, what is "virtue"?

Confucianism compares man to a big tree. Virtue is the root of the tree and the root of life, while wealth is only the branch of the tree. "Virtue is the root, and wealth is the end" (University · Interpretation of "Chapter of Governing the Country and Leveling the World").

Only when the roots are deep can the leaves grow luxuriantly and the trees grow vigorously. Only those with noble moral character will be praised by the society and respected by the world, can they obtain real wealth, health and longevity. Therefore, Confucianism believes that "benevolence" is the foundation of virtue, and virtue is the foundation of people, which is the principle of dealing with people.

"Benevolent people get rich with their own wealth, and those who are not benevolent get rich with their own wealth" (University · Interpretation of the "Chapter of Governing the Country and Leveling the World"). Rich people often think first of how to decorate luxury houses and live comfortably, but their hearts are empty, and they often worry about money. The people with noble morality are broad-minded, open-minded, open-minded and never do anything against their will. They are naturally happy and can eat and sleep, so they are naturally healthy.

"Rich house, virtuous body, broad heart and fat body, so a gentleman must be sincere in his mind" ("University · Interpretation of" Sincerity Chapter "). Water has the virtue of containing things, so people with noble virtue often take water as a guide and often encourage themselves. Only in this way can they be ambitious and good for the world.

The mountains are towering and majestic, and are often loved by people with great benevolence and virtue. Only those with broad minds like Dashan can seize the opportunity and remain invincible. Smart people often exercise, which not only exercises their bodies but also strengthens their brains. Gentlemen who are indifferent to fame and wealth like to live a quiet and leisurely life. They never do anything immoral without desire or desire, nor let worldly worries bind them. So smart people always feel happy and free from worries.

Those who are full of love in their hearts, who can contribute to the society and the public, and those who do more good deeds will surely live a long life. Confucius said, "Wise people enjoy water, benevolent people enjoy mountains, wise people move, benevolent people are quiet, wise people are happy, and benevolent people live long" (The Analects of Confucius, Yongye Sixth). So how can we reach the heart of "benevolent love" and live a long life? Mencius said that a person should strive to preserve his heart of goodness, cultivate his character and strengthen his moral cultivation, do more useful things, do not feel ashamed of the sky, do nothing, treat the law of natural development correctly, and have a normal heart no matter how long his life is, and have a healthy body and mind is the way to cultivate his life. "Keep your heart and cultivate your nature, so that you can do everything in the world. You can live a long life. You can cultivate yourself to wait for it, so that you can set up your life" (Mencius, Chapter 1).

Mencius also said that a person's misfortunes and blessings do not come without reason, but because of his own actions. Good people will be blessed, while evil people will be plagued. So a person's misfortunes and blessings are not caused by himself. "All misfortunes and blessings are those who seek them by themselves" (Mencius · Gongsun Chou Zhang Ju Shang).

2、 Careful and friendly health care

Zhuge Changqing: Be careful when making friends. Good friends are like nutrition, making you better and better. A bad friend is like a virus, which makes you desperate. Make friends with virtuous people, have a good mentality, and naturally live a long life.

Confucianism not only attaches importance to self-cultivation, but also reminds people to have a correct idea in making friends and living, because the negative effects of these aspects also directly affect people's mental outlook and physical health.

As for making friends, Confucius said that there are three kinds of useful friends and three kinds of harmful friends.

Confucius said, "Three friends are good and three friends are bad. Friends are straight, friends are understanding, and friends are knowledgeable, which is good. Friends are withdrawn, friends are kind, and friends are sycophantic, which is bad" (The Analects of Confucius, Ji's 16th).

It is good to make friends with honest people, honest people and knowledgeable people. On the contrary, it is harmful to make friends with people who are hypocritical and pretentious, with people who flatter and flatter, and with people who are clever and articulate.

As for life, Confucius also proposed that there are three kinds of beneficial happiness and three kinds of harmful happiness. Take the pleasure of regulating life as happiness. Be open-minded, not jealous of others' success, and take praising others' strengths as happiness. It is a pleasure to make more virtuous friends who can distinguish right from wrong and are willing to help others. This is beneficial. We regard the behavior that likes to be arrogant and wanton, regardless of social morality, and willful and reckless as happy; It is regarded as happy to like to indulge in loitering, loafing, eating all day long, and doing nothing; It is regarded as happy to enjoy a banquet all night, indulge in sensuous, extravagant and immoral behavior. These are actions that harm both society and oneself.

Confucius said, "Three pleasures are beneficial, and three pleasures are harmful. Music, etiquette and music, the kindness of the Taoist, and the abundance of virtuous friends are beneficial. Music, pride and pleasure, loss of travel, and pleasure of banquets are harmful" (The Analects of Confucius, Ji's Sixteenth). Confucius not only praised some good styles that are beneficial to society and health. They also denounced some selfish, hypocritical and cunning people and bad behaviors that affect the normal order of society. Warn people what should be done and what should not be done. Only by knowing what to do, can we make a difference. Mencius said, "People can do something if they don't" ("Mencius Lilou Zhang Ju Xia").

Confucianists not only attach importance to the cultivation of the mind, but also to the cultivation of the body. The cultivation of the mind is for the cultivation of the nature, and the cultivation of the body is for the establishment of the life. Only with a healthy body can they exert their intelligence and intelligence. Therefore, the cultivation of the mind and the cultivation of the nature cannot be without one.

Therefore, Confucius believed that there are three major events in human life that should be vigilant at all times.

When you are young, your blood is not stable. You should be alert to lust for women, cherish your life, and have a healthy body.

In your prime of life, you should be alert and competitive. Don't make noise over small things, or even fight each other. It's not good for yourself and others.

When you are old and your blood is declining, you should be alert to insatiable greed. You should always be calm, regardless of gains and losses, and always maintain psychological balance, happy mood, and happy spirit. Only in this way can you live a long and healthy life. Confucius said, "A gentleman has three precepts. When he is young, his blood is uncertain, and his precepts are in color. When he is strong, his blood is strong, and his precepts are in battle. When he is old, his blood is weak, and his precepts are in gain" (The Analects of Confucius, Ji's Sixteenth).

The reason why the people who were enlightened in ancient times were able to live a long and healthy life was that they paid attention to health preservation, so they lived a long life and could enjoy the happiness and delicacies of the world for a long time. Why?

It is because they can establish the idea of abstinence and longevity early, know how to care for the body and cherish the energy, so the energy will not be exhausted. Human beings and nature are closely connected. Although all things have different forms, they all interact with human beings and rely on each other to live together in nature. Therefore, in ancient times, the people who cultivated themselves and governed the world followed the example of heaven and earth. "The ancients who gained the Tao were born with a long life, a taste of sound and color, and could enjoy it for a long time. Xi said that" on early determination, on early determination, we know early miseries, and on early miseries, we can never be exhausted... People are the same as heaven and earth, and all things are different in shape, but their feelings are integrated. Therefore, those who govern the body and the world in ancient times must follow the law of heaven and earth "(Lus Spring and Autumn Annals).

Confucius not only pays attention to spiritual and physical cultivation, but also attaches great importance to living and eating. He likes food with fine workmanship, and requires strict knife work for dishes. Shredded meat should be cut thin and well-proportioned. First, it should be good in shape, color and taste. This can increase appetite and make people feel satisfied and eat well.

He also believes that even in daily life, there are many places related to health preservation. Not only should we put forward high requirements for diet, but also the sleeping posture and dressing should meet the health requirements.

If you don't lie on your back like a dead person for a long time when sleeping, it will hinder the visceral movement and respiration, which will cause adverse consequences. The correct posture should be lying on the side and on the right side. In this way, the heart will not be compressed and the breathing will be normal. In addition, you should relax all over the house and give yourself a free space, which is good for your health. "It is not allowed to sleep without a corpse" (The Analects of Confucius, The Tenth Xiangdang).

3、 If people and the sky are united, sincerity will lead to spirit

Zhuge Changqing: People should always be close to nature, experience nature, and integrate with nature, so you will be physically and mentally harmonious and naturally live a long life. This is why ancient people always prefer nature and prefer to live in seclusion in places with elegant environment. According to modern scientific analysis, where there are many forests, there is sufficient oxygen, which will make people happy physically and mentally. The forest oxygen bar is based on forests, clear springs, mountains, streams and waterfalls, characterized by a high content of negative oxygen ions in the forest air and plant essence and other ecological factors that are extremely beneficial to human health, supplemented by various simple, simple and consistent recreational facilities. When you have time, you can often go to the forest to absorb enough oxygen.

So how can we enter the best requirements and state of health preservation?

First of all, we need to have happy feelings, that is, happy mood, calm mind and peace of mind. This kind of emotion comes from the peaceful mood, and the peaceful mood comes from the Tao, which is nature. So we should approach and understand nature. Although it is invisible, inaudible and unable to describe its form, it does exist.

If one can integrate with the "Tao", that is, nature to cultivate one's character, he will be able to avoid disasters, enjoy life and preserve nature.

"Joy is born in peace, and it is born in the Tao. The Tao also means that people can't see, hear, and act as if they don't see. Those who can see, hear, and act as if they don't know are almost as good as those who can know... Those who can cure their bodies with one method, avoid disasters, end their lives, and complete their lives" (Lu's Spring and Autumn Annals, Da Le). To achieve this state, we must first have sincerity. Only with sincerity can we have a correct mind. Only with a correct mind can we improve our moral cultivation.

In addition to correcting the heart and having sincerity, we should also have a clear understanding, and the way to achieve a clear understanding is to study the principles of things. "If you want to cultivate your body, correct your mind first; if you want to correct your mind, you should be honest with your mind first; if you want to be honest with your mind, you should be honest with your knowledge first, and your knowledge should be in the essence" (University · Classic Articles). So as long as you have a sincere heart to seriously think and study and experience, you will understand the mystery of it, and achieve the effect of "preserving nature all the time".

Reference: How to maintain health in Confucianism, by Mr. Hou Quanfu.

智者乐水，仁者乐山，智者动，仁者静，智者乐，仁者寿

----- 诸葛长青

   儒家圣人孔子一句“仁者寿”，把人们带入了圣贤境界。

   什么是仁者寿？诸葛长青认为，孔夫子的仁者寿，提醒人们行善积德，造福社会、关爱他人，如此自然会有长寿之道。

   儒家学问，就像山泉水，看似平淡，实际上包含了深深天地之道。

   就拿养生来说，如极爱养生，也是养生的行家。

   诸葛长青把侯全福先生研究的儒家养生经验分享给有缘者。

   人们总是对佛道医武等养生之法津津乐道，而对儒家养生之法却很少道及，陌生的很。其实，儒家养生法最贴近生活，而且直指人心，与佛道医武有同有异，有其独特之处。今就儒家的修身养性方法作如下诠释。
　　一、德润身仁者寿

   诸葛长青：行善积德、仁爱之心的人，心和天地融为一体，自然长寿。儒家主张做人要做君子圣贤，心怀仁义之道。
　　儒家养生首重修心养德，认为具备仁德之心的人一定会长寿。即所谓“仁者寿”(《论语·雍也第六》)。

   那么，什么是“仁”呢?

    诸葛长青：有仁爱之心，就与天地融为一体，自然长寿。

   孔子说“爱人”。就是说只有内心充满爱人之心的人才会达到“仁”的境界。“樊迟问仁，子曰：爱人”(《论语·颜渊》第十二)。

   孟子也进一步证实道：“仁，人心也”(《孟子·万章章句下》)。看来儒家的“仁”即人之本性，是爱心，是人心。只有真正具备了爱心和真心的人，才会具备“仁”的美德。

   那么，什么又是“德”呢?

   儒家把人比作一棵大树，德即树之根，做人之根本，而财富只是树的枝梢。“德者，本也;财者，末也”(《大学·释“治国平天下章”》)。

   根深才会叶茂，树才会生长旺盛。品德高尚的人才会得到社会的赞许，世人的尊崇，才会获得真正的财富，健康长寿。所以儒家认为“仁”为德本，德为人之本，这才是为人处世的原则。

   “仁者以财发身，不仁者以身发财”(《大学·释“治国平天下章”》)。有钱的人往往首先想到的是怎样装饰豪华的房屋，住得舒舒服服，但他们的内心却是空虚的，而往往又为钱财而忧虑。而道德高尚的人心胸宽广，性格开朗，做事光明正大从不做违心的事，自然心情愉悦，吃得下睡得着，所以身体自然就好。

   “富润屋，德润身，心广体胖，故君子必诚其意”(《大学·释“诚意章”》)。水有载物包容之德，所以德行高尚的人往往以水为鉴，经常勉励自己，只有这样才能够胸怀大志兼善天下。

   山岳岿然巍立气势雄伟，往往为具有大仁大德的人所钟爱，只有大山那样博大胸怀的人才能够审时夺势立于不败之地。聪明的人经常活动，既锻炼了身体又增强了大脑智慧，淡泊名利的君子都喜欢过恬静悠闲的生活，无欲无求从不做有违道德的事，也不让世俗烦忧的事来束缚自己。所以聪明的人总会心情愉快舒畅，没有烦恼。

   凡是胸中充满爱心的人，能为社会和大众作出贡献的人，多做善事的人，一定会长寿。子曰：“智者乐水，仁者乐山，智者动，仁者静，智者乐，仁者寿”(《论语·雍也第六》)。那么怎样才能达到“仁者爱人”之心而又能长寿呢?孟子说：一个人要努力保存自己的性善之心，修身养性加强道德修养，多干一些有益的事，做到仰不愧天，俯不怍地，正确对待天命即自然发展规律，无论寿命长短都要有一颗平常心，具有健康的身体和心态才是修身立命的方法。“存其心，养其性，所以事天地。夭寿不贰，修身以俟之，所以立命也”(《孟子·尽心章句上》)。

   孟子又说：一个人的祸福不是无端而来的，是由于自己的作为而来的。善者自会多福，恶者多有祸事。所以一个人的祸福无不是自己招来的。“祸福无不自己求之者”(《孟子·公孙丑章句上》)。
　　二、慎交友善养生

   诸葛长青：结交朋友要慎重，好朋友就好像营养，使你越来越好。坏朋友就像病毒，使你陷入绝境。结交有品德的人，心态好，自然长寿。
　　儒家不但重视自身修养，而且还提醒人们在交友和生活方面也要有一个正确的观念，因为这些方面的负作用也直接影响着人们的精神面貌和身体健康。

   对于交友方面孔子说：有益的朋友有三种，有害的朋友也有三种。

  子曰：“益者三友，损者三友。友直，友谅，友多闻，益矣。友便僻，友善柔，友便佞，损矣”(《论语·季氏第十六》)。

   要与正直的人交朋友，与诚实的人交朋友，与知识渊博见闻广的人交朋友是有好处的。反之，与虚伪做作的人交朋友，与谄媚逢迎的人交朋友，与巧嘴利舌的人交朋友是有害的。

  　对于生活方面孔子也提出：有益的快乐有三种，有害的快乐也有三种。把能够经常得到调节生活的乐趣作为快乐。心胸开阔，不妒嫉别人的成功，把赞扬别人的长处作为快乐。把多交能辨是非、肯助人为乐的贤良朋友作为快乐。这是有益的。把喜欢骄纵放肆，不顾社会公德，任性妄为的行为视为快乐的;把喜欢纵情游荡，游手好闲，饱食终日，无所用心的行为视为快乐的;把喜欢彻夜宴饮，姿情纵欲，花天酒地，丧失道德的行为视为快乐的。这些都是既损害于社会又损害于己身的行为。

    子曰：“益者三乐，损者三乐。乐节礼乐，乐道人之善，乐多贤友，益矣。乐骄乐，乐佚游，乐宴乐，损矣”(《论语·季氏第十六》)。孔子不但赞扬了一些有益社会，有益健康的优良作风。也痛斥了一些自私自利、虚伪狡诈的人和影响社会正常秩序的不良行为。警示人们那些该作，那些不该作。只有懂得有所不为，然后才能有所作为。孟子曰：“人有不为也，而后可以有为”(《孟子·离娄章句下》)。
　　儒家不但重修心也重修身，修心为养性，修身为立命，有了健康的身体才会发挥聪明才智，所以修身养性二者不可缺一。

   因此，孔子认为人一生中有三件大事要时时警觉。

   年轻的时候血气尚未稳定，要警觉贪恋女色，要惜精保命爱护身体，要有一个健康的身体。

   壮年的时候血气方刚，精力旺盛，要警觉争强好胜，不要为一些小事就吵吵闹闹，甚至拳脚相向，于己于人都不好。

   年老了血气衰退，应警觉贪得无厌，要常怀平常心，不计得失，经常保持心理平衡，心情畅快，精神愉悦，这样才能健康长寿。子曰：“君子有三戒，少之时血气未定，戒之在色。及其壮也，血气方刚，戒之在斗。及其老也，血气既衰，戒之在得”(《论语·季氏第十六》)。

   为什么古代得道的人能够健康长寿，是因为他们注重养生，因而长寿，能够长久地享受人间快乐和美味。这是为什么呢?

   是因为他们能早树立节欲长生的观点，懂得爱护身体，爱惜精力，所以精力不会枯竭。人和大自然都是息息相通的，虽然万物形态各有不同但它们都和人类是相互感应沟通的，是相互倚持共同生活在大自然中的。所以，古代修身养性的人和治理天下的人都效法天地。“古人得道者，生以寿长，声色滋味，能久乐之，奚故?论早定也，论早定则知早啬，知早啬则精不竭……人之与天地也同，万物之形虽异，其情一体也。故古之治身与天下者，必法天地也”(《吕氏春秋·情欲》)。
　　孔夫子不但注重精神修养和形体修养，而且对起居饮食也非常重视。他喜欢做工精细的食品，对菜肴要求刀工严格，肉丝要切得细而匀称，一是要达到形、色、味俱佳。这样能增加食欲，使人看得满意吃得香。

   他还认为即使在日常生活中也有许多与养生有关的地方，不但要对饮食提出高要求，而且对睡觉姿势和衣着梳妆也要符合保健要求。

   如睡觉时不要长时间仰面朝天躺着像死人一般，这样对内脏运化活动和呼吸都有障碍，会造成不良后果。正确的姿势应以侧卧为宜而且以右侧卧为佳。这样不会使心脏受压，呼吸也正常。再者在家中应全身心放松，给自己一个自由自在的空间，这样有利于健康。“寝不尸，居不容”(《论语·乡党第十》)。
　  三、人与天同心诚则灵

   诸葛长青：人要经常亲近自然，体会自然，和自然融为一体，于是你就会身心和谐，自然长寿了。这也是古代人为何总是偏爱自然，总是喜欢环境优雅的地方隐居。现代科学分析，森林多的地方，氧气充足，会使人身心愉悦。森林氧吧是以森林、清泉、山石、溪涧、瀑布为基点，以高含量的对人体健康极为有益的森林空气负氧离子和植物精气等生态因子为特色，辅以各类简约、朴素且与环境格调相一致的游憩设施。有时间，你可以经常到森林中吸收充足氧气。　　

   那么怎样才能进入养生的最佳要求和状态呢?

   首先需要有欢欣的情感即心情愉悦，心静意宁。而这种情感产生于平和的心情，而平和的心情又产生于道，这个道就是大自然。所以我们要接近大自然，了解大自然。它虽然是看不见听不到的而又无法形容它的形态，可是它确实存在的。

   如果能和这个“道”也就是大自然融为一体来修身养性的人，一定会免除灾祸，终享天年，保全天性。

   “欢欣生于平，平生于道。道也者，视之不见，听之不闻，不可为状。有知不见之见，不闻之闻，无状之状者，则几于知之矣……能以一治其身者，免于灾，终其寿，全其天”(《吕氏春秋·大乐》)。要达到这个境界首先要有诚意，心诚才能心思端正，只有心思端正而后才能提高自身的道德修养。

   除了端正内心和具备诚意外，还要认识明确，而达到认识明确的方法就是推究事物的原理。“欲修其身者，先正其心;欲正其心者，先诚其意;欲诚其意者，先致其知，致知在格物”(《大学·经文章》)。所以只要有一颗真诚的心去认真思考研究并亲身体验，才会明白其中之奥秘，才能达到“终其天年，保全天性”的效果。

    参考资料：儒家如何养生，作者侯全福先生。

(This article is an original article by Zhuge Changqing, and the pictures are selected from the Internet. Welcome to forward it, and please indicate the source for forwarding)

Introduction to Zhuge Changqing: Zhuge Changqing, the inheritor and promoter of traditional Chinese culture, is willing to "learn from sages, promote virtue, revitalize China and benefit the world" together with people with the same ideals in the world.

(Zhuge Changqing: zhuge8031@163.com ）

Zhuge Changqing mailbox：

zhuge8031@163.com

Zhuge Changqing's Chinese Dream

Learn from sages and carry forward virtue

Revitalizing China for the benefit of the world

 （本文是诸葛长青原创文章，图片选自网络。欢迎转发，转发引用请注明出处）

诸葛长青简介：诸葛长青，中国国学传统文化传承弘扬者，愿与天下志同道合者一起“学习圣贤、弘扬善德、振兴中华、造福世界”。

（诸葛长青：zhuge8031@163.com）

Zhuge Changqing mailbox：

zhuge8031@163.com

  诸葛长青中国梦  

学习圣贤 弘扬善德

振兴中华 造福世界

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