When people are genuinely pleased and willing to set aside their own desires, where does the power come from, external forces, or the inner self? For thousands of years, Westerners have searched for external sources, looking to the heavens for blessings, while Chinese philosophers have looked inward, seeking the source of happiness within their own hearts.

The story of "The Record of the Peach Blossom Spring" is, in fact, Tao Yuanming's dream of retreating to a rural life. His "Returning Home Ode" serves as his declaration to leave his official career and return to the countryside.

Today let’s read a story titled “The Record of the Peach Blossom Spring,” written by Tao Yuanming, a great literary figure during the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420), who used the journey of a fisherman from Wuling to vividly depict the peace and joy of a fictional land called Peach Blossom Spring and the free and equal way of life.

Zhuangzi once told a story of the cook named Ding. While Ding prepared to slaughter an ox for Lord Wenhui, his skillful act resembled the rhythm of music and the beats of a dance. The lord was amazed, and asked the reason for this. Ding laid down his knife and replied, “What I cherish is not the act of butchering, but the approach.”

When I was young, my mother often told me a story titled “Mencius Meets King Hui of Liang,” and I vaguely understood it. Upon growing up and reading the story in the first chapter of “Mencius,” I was completely impressed by Mencius’ grand spirit and eloquence.

Today we are discussing “Family Instructions for the Yan Clan” written by Yan Zhitui, a trusted attendant to the emperor in the Northern Qi Dynasty (550-577).

Xunzi, whose given name was Kuang, was a figure from the State of Zhao in the late Warring States period (475-221 B.C.). He was the final great master of Confucianism in the pre-Qin period. His works were later compiled into a 32-chapter collection known as “Xunzi.”

Confucian culture highly esteems harmonious brotherly relationships. Yan Zhitui (531-597) once said, “Brothers should be like an object and its shadow, the sound and its echo.” Today, let’s hear a story of the brothers Su Shi and Su Zhe in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127).