"The Biography of Su Dongpo (Commemorative Edition)" Reading Notes#
Author: Lin Yutang
Reading Duration: 3 hours
These are the notes and excerpts I recorded while reading "The Biography of Su Dongpo (Commemorative Edition)" on WeChat Reading.
Chapter Twenty-One: The Way of Humility and Retreat#
What troubled the court the most at that time, as it has throughout Chinese history, was the prevalence of redundant officials. There were too many scholars, but too few official positions available from the court. This has been a long-standing issue in China, where people believe that an excellent scholar must "learn and then serve in office." If this idea is not changed now, the national education system will lead to the country's demise. How many official positions do we have to supply for 450 million people?
What troubled the court the most at that time, as it has throughout Chinese history, was the prevalence of redundant officials. There were too many scholars, but too few official positions available from the court. This has been a long-standing issue in China, where people believe that an excellent scholar must "learn and then serve in office." If this idea is not changed now, the national education system will lead to the country's demise. How many official positions do we have to supply for 450 million people?
Chapter Twenty-Two: Engineering and Disaster Relief#
Those who have foresight are always irritable.
Those who have foresight are always irritable.
Chapter Twenty-Six: Immortal Abode#
All conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, and shadows; like dew and lightning, one should view them as such.
All conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, and shadows; like dew and lightning, one should view them as such.
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Beyond the Domain#
I can accompany the Jade Emperor above, and I can accompany the beggar in the lowly fields below. In my eyes, there is no one in the world who is not a good person.
I can accompany the Jade Emperor above, and I can accompany the beggar in the lowly fields below. In my eyes, there is no one in the world who is not a good person.
Chapter Twenty-Eight: Conclusion#
The vast and righteous spirit does not depend on form to exist, does not rely on strength to act, does not wait for life to exist, and does not perish with death. Thus, it becomes stars in the heavens, rivers and hells on earth; in the dark, it becomes ghosts and deities, and in the light, it returns to being human. This is the common principle, and there is nothing strange about it.
The vast and righteous spirit does not depend on form to exist, does not rely on strength to act, does not wait for life to exist, and does not perish with death. Thus, it becomes stars in the heavens, rivers and hells on earth; in the dark, it becomes ghosts and deities, and in the light, it returns to being human. This is the common principle, and there is nothing strange about it.
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