(Clearwisdom.net) Mr. Tao Kan was a famous courtier who lived in
Poyang County during the Dongjin Dynasty (317-420). He established merit during
the wars, and was a high official in Jinzhou. Some people were jealous of him
and slandered him. As a result, he was demoted and transferred to a far-away
place in the Guangzhou region.
Mr. Tao Kan had very little to do in Guangzhou, but he never lowered his
standards or enjoyed the pursuit of leisure. Every morning, he would carry one
hundred bricks from his study to the yard, and then carry the same bricks back
to his study in the evening. People were curious about his behavior, and asked
him why he did this.
Tao Kan replied, "I aim to regain Central China during this lifetime. If I
am too comfortable and become complacent, I am afraid that I will not be able to
accomplish my goal."
Mr. Tao was transferred back to Jinzhou. Although he became much busier than in
Guangzhou, he still carried the bricks every day to strengthen his will power.
People later called him "The brick-carrying old man."
Tao Kan often told people, "Dayu, the first emperor in Xia Dynasty around
2100 B.C., was a sage, but he knew how to treasure every minute. We are ordinary
people, therefore, we should treasure every second. How can we indulge in games
and pleasure, and forget our duties?" Nowadays, there is a place called
Xiyinli - Treasure Time Block in Kaifu District, Changsha City, Hunan Province,
and it is said this name originated from Mr. Tao's famous statement of
cherishing time.
Mr. Tao held a very responsible position and endured many hardships. He did not
pursue leisure. He was so persistent that he was later promoted to Grand General
of West Battle Field, plus the Highest Official in Jizhou. He was in charge of
military affairs for eight states, was given the title Sir Changsha County, and
became a very famous person in history.
During the Spring and Autumn Period (770 B.C. - 476 B.C.), Guan Zhong, the Prime
Minister of Qi State, advised the ruler, Qi Huan Gong, "One should not
pursue good food, comfort, and wine." Our ancestors saw leisure as
something worse than poisoned wine, because leisure can erode 'man's willpower.
There is an ancient saying, "One will live due to hardship, but die due to
comfort." This is the same wisdom!
It is stated in Hanshu [Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD) Historical Records],
"The ancients considered leisure as poisoned wine and trading virtue for
wealth as misfortune. From the beginning of Han Dynasty to the last Emperor
Xiaopingdi, among hundreds of kings and emperors, most of them were corrupt and
morally degraded. Why is history like that? It was their living environment and
their position that caused them to sink into a state lacking self
discipline." This is truly a lesson we later generations should learn from.
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