In Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu showed the wonderful use of frugality in life cultivation, governing the country by the family, and the unity of man and nature, and took frugality as the code of conduct to teach people to "govern man and nature" and behave in a way.
People usually say "stingy", which means stingy, stingy and reluctant. When I say "frugality" here, I mean saving, frugality and cherishing, which is close to the meaning of "frugality" in Chapter 67.
In Laozi's thought, "indisputable", "no desire" and "inaction" are behaviors that must be followed. Laozi believes that the basic law of reducing people's desires is "frugality". He said, "It's better to be stingy than to be stingy." Laozi emphasized the importance of "frugality" through a series of parallel arguments.
First, "husband is just stingy, which means early service." What is "advance service"? "Early" is the first, "service" is the first, and "early service" is the first act of God. Because "frugality" is the way and method to conform to heaven, if you do things frugally, you will conform to the way of nature.
The second one is "take it early, build up your hair." "Increasing" means accumulating virtue, and accumulating virtue means constantly approaching virtue. Ordinary people accumulate virtue, gentlemen accumulate goodness, and saints accumulate virtue. Laozi's "accumulated virtue" is different from Confucius'. Laozi's "accumulated virtue" is the natural virtue of silence, the pursuit of "true self", "id" and "innate self". The "virtue" of returning to Confucius is the virtue of benevolence, courtesy and wisdom, and it is the cultivation of people's acquired moral character. Confucius and Xiu De used addition to increase virtue, while Laozi and Xiu De used subtraction to reduce desire and gradually approach virtue. This process of returning to the "innate self" is the process of "saving".
Third, "there is nothing wrong with accumulating virtue." Broadly speaking, virtue is the benefit of all beings; In a narrow sense, all behaviors that are beneficial to world peace, social stability and human health belong to the category of virtue. People must accumulate virtue in order to get close to heaven and learn from nature. Once the moral energy field is formed, the energy of virtue can be fully exerted. Everything in the world is born of Tao and accumulated by virtue. As long as we keep in mind Laozi's famous saying, "If you accumulate virtue, you will be invincible and omnipotent."
The fourth is "I don't know its extreme, but I can have its country." The energy of virtue is infinite and incredible. Only by mastering this energy can we shoulder the heavy responsibility of governing the country. On the other hand, if morality is thin and shallow, it will make the country uncomfortable and the people uneasy, and it will be impossible to shoulder the heavy responsibility of governing the country.
The fifth is "the mother of the country can last a long time." The king who becomes a Taoist must have miraculous effects, be guarded by the moral "mother", and the country will have long-term stability.
Sixth, "deep-rooted, long-term vision." The "roots" here all refer to "Tao", the roots that extend around the tree are called roots, and the roots that go straight into the ground are called roots. Deep-rooted shows that morality, like a deep-rooted tree, is the foundation of a country's long-lasting prosperity.
Understand the wonderful use of "money"
As far as the harmony between man and nature is concerned, "saving" means caring for natural resources, controlling exploitation and rationally utilizing limited natural resources. Only by respecting nature, conforming to nature, protecting ecology and staying away from war can human society develop continuously. Arbitrarily plundering natural resources, squeezing natural resources to the extreme, and seriously damaging the ecological environment are the opposite.
From the perspective of governing the country, "saving" means cherishing resources, encouraging saving and accumulating strength, so that the country can have room for sustainable development. "Increase" means making preparations early, making long-term plans, preparing for a rainy day before the disaster comes, and coping with changes with constant changes. Only by fully accumulating national strength can we be in an invincible position and be included in the forest of powerful countries without being insulted by foreign enemies. The word "miser" also implies the harvest and storage of farming. The ancients called the farmer a "miser", who had food in his hand and didn't panic. Rulers of past dynasties have always attached importance to agriculture and emphasized the extensive accumulation of grain.
From the health point of view, "saving money" means following the laws of nature, cultivating temperament, saving energy, reducing desire, laying a solid foundation and cultivating strength. It is to be clear-minded, sincere but not false, and pay attention to the accumulated virtue. With honest virtue, you will be restless and healthy. As the saying goes, life is long without virtue. A person's virtue is high, and the limit of life is naturally high.
From the perspective of moral heirloom, "frugality" means saving money, enjoying simplicity and taking "frugality" as a way of life.