svetikya Chapter 87: Discussion of Art and Arts at the Banquet, Establishment of Learning Rules
Chapter 87: Discussion of Art and Arts at the Banquet, Establishment of Learning Rules
Chapter 87: Discussion of Art and Arts at the Banquet, Establishment of Learning Rules
1. When the wine is half-drunk, let's get down to business.
As the banquet progressed and everyone drank and became slightly tipsy, the relaxed and lively casual conversation gradually subsided.
The conversation gradually shifted, no longer idly discussing local customs and past trifles, but formally addressing the serious matter of apprenticeship and dedicated medical practice.
The relaxed and carefree atmosphere in the elegant hall instantly vanished, replaced by a solemn and peaceful ambiance.
The atmosphere was solemn, with everyone looking serious and no longer joking around.
Zhou Deshan and Xu Jingming exchanged a glance, already prepared, and their expressions immediately became serious.
Instantly, he abandoned his relaxed and leisurely demeanor, his face becoming respectful and upright, his heart filled with awe for his sect.
The two were fully aware that they had gone through many trials and tribulations, and waited anxiously for a long time before finally being able to fulfill their wish of becoming disciples.
The hard-won master-disciple relationship filled the two with reverence and respect, and they dared not be careless or negligent in their learning and cultivation.
The two of them immediately rose steadily from their seats, standing upright and bowing slightly to Chen Shanhe in front of them.
His face had completely lost the relaxed look he had taken during the drinking and chatting at the table, and his eyes were full of sincerity and earnestness in seeking advice.
He no longer possessed the arrogance and self-importance of a renowned doctor from the provincial capital; he had completely lowered his stance and was single-mindedly devoted to learning the Dao.
Their long-awaited wish finally came true, and the two were eager to embark on the path of medical studies and comprehend the true essence of traditional Chinese medicine.
Everyone around remained seated quietly, refraining from speaking or making any further noise.
Everyone focused their attention and watched the scene of the master and disciples discussing the Dao at the table. The atmosphere was quiet and solemn.
Su Wanjing sat gently beside Chen Shanhe, her brows and eyes serene and tranquil as she silently observed everything before her, a sense of peace and warmth rising in her heart.
Murong Fangxiang listened attentively with her mouth closed, and the provincial government officials also straightened their expressions and waited attentively, wanting to hear how Chen Shanhe would establish the rules for teaching.
The entire private room was completely silent, everyone holding their breath and waiting for the two old doctors to speak and inquire about the various rules for their future apprenticeship and training.
Poems as proof:
When the wine was half-finished, the discussion turned to medical procedures.
Casual conversation settles into a sincere and upright mind.
Now is the time to get down to business.
We await the guidance of our teachers to establish a clear path for our studies.
Second, humbly and respectfully seek knowledge and skills.
Zhou Deshan took a slow half-step forward, bowed deeply, and lowered his head, his posture humble and respectful.
His tone was humble and calm, full of respect, and he took the lead in speaking frankly, sincerely asking Chen Shanhe a question.
Master, we are both getting on in years, and we have spent half our lives practicing medicine while adhering to old and unchanging methods.
Years of rigid adherence to prescriptions and medications have led to a rigid and inflexible mindset in medical practice, making it difficult to adapt.
Now we have truly realized our mistake and sincerely wish to become your disciples, hoping to learn from scratch.
We hope that Master will give us some guidance on how to calm our minds and settle our hearts so that we can start learning and practicing diligently from the beginning.
Where should we begin, and how should we diligently study traditional Chinese medicine every day?
Only by refining one's mind day after day can one gradually comprehend the true essence and profound principles of medicine.
Xu Jingming followed closely behind, bowing his head in the same manner, his attitude humble and respectful, his eyes filled with a genuine thirst for knowledge.
His expression was serious and solemn, and he then spoke earnestly, each question coming from the depths of his heart.
In the future, when I go out with my master to make medical consultations, how should I calmly observe and practice the four diagnostic methods of palpation (inspection, auscultation, inquiry, and palpation) on a daily basis?
How can we accurately distinguish between the deficiency and excess of symptoms, differentiate the root causes of the disease, and thoroughly understand the key points of syndrome differentiation and treatment?
What duties and etiquette should one adhere to when traveling around with one's master to practice medicine?
What rules must be followed in learning a skill in order to cultivate oneself with peace of mind and not go against the teacher's principles?
We will remember your teachings for the rest of our lives and never dare to be lazy or negligent.
Diligently and conscientiously cultivate oneself, and steadily take every step on the path of learning medicine.
The two spoke earnestly and sincerely, their words coming from the bottom of their hearts, without a trace of false flattery or perfunctory politeness.
Having experienced a sudden awakening and deep self-reflection, the two had already thoroughly recognized their shortcomings and flaws in practicing medicine.
He willingly gave up the reputation and prestige he had accumulated in the provincial capital's medical community over half a lifetime, and put aside his lifelong pride.
Shedding all worldly vanity and empty pretenses, he humbly sought instruction and diligently cultivated himself as a novice disciple.
He only seeks to make up for the mistakes he made in his life as a doctor and to stop adhering to old methods and delaying patients.
I am determined to thoroughly learn the orthodox and authentic principles of traditional Chinese medicine, and to comprehend the supreme path of integrating military strategy with medicine, so as not to waste this rare opportunity to become an apprentice.
Poems as proof:
Humbly and respectfully inquire about learning skills.
Shed the superficial and discard the old.
He relinquished all worldly fame of his life.
Single-mindedly seeking truth and comprehending the mysteries.
III. The Mountains and Rivers Sit Firmly and Establish New Rules
Chen Shanhe sat calmly in his seat, his expression dignified and solemn, his demeanor composed and peaceful, his gaze calm and unbiased as he quietly looked at the two who were bowing in greeting.
He remained calm and composed, slowly raising his hand to signal the two to straighten up, indicating that they didn't need to keep bowing.
Then, in a calm and solemn tone, he slowly began to speak, and in front of everyone present, he carefully laid out the new rules for entering the apprenticeship and studying medicine diligently.
Since you two have sincerely repented and formally entered my tutelage to study medicine, the first and foremost rule is to completely abandon your old and rigid ways of practicing medicine.
One must clear away the old methods, rigid experiences, and deeply ingrained medical beliefs that have been held onto for many years.
Completely discard the rigid and unchanging diagnostic habits of the past half-life, and put aside all the narrow and outdated ideas about studying medicine.
If you want to truly immerse yourself in medicine from the beginning, to understand the truth and seek enlightenment, you must first turn yourself into a blank sheet of paper and eliminate all distracting thoughts and prejudices from your mind.
Completely reset your past arrogance, let go of the pride brought by seniority, and start your cultivation from scratch in a down-to-earth manner.
The second rule of apprenticeship is that every time I go out to make house calls, travel to other places to consult patients, or have a joint consultation with doctors from various places.
Both of you may accompany the patient and observe quietly every step of the medical treatment process.
Carefully observe the techniques of observation, auscultation, inquiry, and palpation; carefully examine the degree of acupuncture and medication application; and comprehend the depth and origin of disease diagnosis.
Accumulate medical experience little by little, never interrupt the diagnosis and treatment process, and never make arbitrary judgments.
You can only calm your mind, observe and think more, silently memorize the key points, ponder them privately, and gradually integrate them into your heart.
The third rule is the fundamental principle for doctors to conduct themselves: in order to practice medicine, one must first cultivate medical ethics and character before one can devote oneself to studying medical skills.
From now on, you must live a life of spiritual practice and never again be arrogant and conceited based on your past medical experience.
We must no longer harbor narrow-minded thoughts such as looking down on others, being stubborn, and being blindly confident.
Always be humble and kind, treat others with peace, respect and moderation, heal the sick and save lives regardless of their family background or wealth, and when examining patients, he only considers the severity and urgency of their condition.
Only by firmly upholding the original aspiration of a doctor to do good and save lives can one truly understand the core essence of traditional Chinese medicine and acquire the solid skills to treat and save lives.
Poems as proof:
The mountains and rivers sit upright, establishing new rules.
Cultivate medical ethics before studying medicine.
Clear your mind of old thoughts and return to your true self.
Rank should not be determined by seniority.
IV. Remembering the teacher's words and embarking on a new path
Zhou Deshan and Xu Jingming stood quietly in place, listening attentively to the rules set by Chen Shanhe, word by word.
Every word was clear to their ears and firmly etched in their hearts. The two nodded repeatedly, their expressions extremely solemn.
His face was full of sudden realization, and he clearly understood the direction and boundaries of his future medical practice.
The impetuousness and arrogance he had displayed in the first half of his life as a doctor were completely subdued at this moment, and would never be easily revealed again.
The two bowed deeply again, their waists bent with sincerity and solemnity, and answered in firm and steady tones.
Many thanks to our master for his careful guidance and for setting the rules for learning and the direction for our practice. We will keep these in mind.
From now on, I will definitely abandon my old, fixed mindset, clear my mind of distractions, and start learning from scratch with a calm attitude.
I will observe each diagnosis and treatment with a calm mind, first cultivate medical ethics and character, then immerse myself in medical skills, and never be arrogant or complacent.
From then on, the two of them lived a quiet and law-abiding life, wholeheartedly following Chen Shanhe to cultivate themselves, earnestly comprehend the Tao and study medicine.
Shedding all past achievements and empty fame, calm down and accumulate little by little, moving forward steadily step by step.
Everyone present saw this and nodded in approval, praising the two for admitting their mistakes and correcting them, and marveling at Chen Shanhe's noble character.
With the rules of master and disciple established, the road ahead is bright and open. From now on, I will devote myself to medicine, cultivate myself diligently, and live up to my teacher's kindness and my own heart.
Poems as proof:
Remembering the teacher's words, embark on a new journey.
He bowed and swore to uphold the rules.
With focused mind and unwavering dedication, one can truly understand the Tao.
I will live up to my teacher's expectations and my duty to medicine.