The Selfless Realm of Fan Zhongyan (Part 1 of 2)
 
Fan Zhongyan (989 – 1052 AD) was a very famous politician and writer during the Northern Song Dynasty (960 – 1127 AD). He wrote the everlasting profound quotes in The Yueyang Tower: "Not pleased by external gains, not saddened by personal losses," and "Be concerned before the world starts worrying, be satisfied only after the world is content." Honest officials used these quotes as models for their lives. His morality and virtue have been admired throughout history.
 
Fan Zhongyan studied very hard when he was young. He read into the night every day. He learned classic Confucianism. He resolved to become "a true gentleman to serve and help the public," and that “If he couldn’t be a good official then he will be a good doctor instead.” As he grew older, he was greatly influenced by Buddhism. He worshiped gods and Buddhas. Confucianism's "benevolent people care about others, and this includes the whole nation" and Buddhism's "Buddha nature is to be benevolent and merciful to all sentient beings" influenced him a great deal. His notion to save the nation and his belief in being an upright and just official so that he could take good care of his people as if they were his children, originated from those principles. He saw his mission as saving people from hardships and caring for each life. In one of his poems, Fan wrote about his wish for the people to be living in an orderly, simple and peaceful world, just like during the times of ancient virtuous emperors Yao and Shun.
 
"Not pleased by external gains, nor saddened by personal losses." Fan Zhongyan said that one should set aside personal interests, and not to be pleased or saddened by personal gains or losses. He held official positions for several decades, but he always lived a simple life. He didn't even build himself a large house when he became the Prime Minister. Someone wanted to build a new house for him, but he said, "A person should pursue morality and justice. If he has morality and justice in his mind, he will be happy under any living conditions. So please don't talk about a new house for me anymore." Fan did not buy any land or property for his children either. He used his savings to establish schools, buy farmland to give to the poor, and conduct other charity work.
 
He was exiled several times for speaking up for justice but was not upset or saddened when it happened. His aspirations remained unchanged. "Leaving the capital three times" is a perfect example. In the seventh year of the Tiansheng Era (1029 AD), Fan Zhongyan was appointed Imperial Editor of the capital city. He wrote a letter criticizing the empress dowager's extravagance and wastefulness. For this, the empress dowager exiled him.
 
In the second year of the Mingdao Era (1033 AD), Fan Zhongyan was a Deputy Censor. However, he was exiled to Muzhou Prefecture by the Emperor for insisting on seeking justice for other people. In the second year of the Jingyou Era (1035 AD), Fan was promoted to Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Rites. Prime Minister at the time, Lu Yijian, was afraid that Fan would point out his mistakes and affect his authority, so Lu asked the Emperor to appoint Fan as Governor of Kaifeng Prefecture (today's Henan Province). Lu also sent people to warn Fan, "Since you are not a censor, do not waste your energy debating about state affairs." However, Fan Zhongyan remained concerned about the welfare of the country. He continued speaking up for the people and was never afraid of those in power. As he wrote in one of his letters to the Emperor, "I maintain a strong confidence in my beliefs and don't regret being exiled three times."

“先天下之忧而忧”的境界与胸怀 (上)
 
北宋著名的政治家、文学家范仲淹，在《岳阳楼记》中写下了“不以物喜，不以己悲”、“先天下之忧而忧，后天下之乐而乐”的千古名句，寓意深远，被古代正直的士大夫们视为立身行己的准则，也是历代人们所崇仰的思想境界和美德。
 
范仲淹从小学习刻苦，每天读书到深夜，学习《诗经》、《尚书》、《礼记》、《春秋》等儒家经典，立志“大丈夫当利泽生民”、“不为良相便为良医”。后来又受到佛家思想的影响，敬信神佛，信奉佛法。他的济世精神，他为官清正、爱民如子的思想基础源于儒家“仁者爱人、兼济天下”的理念和佛家“佛性向善、慈悲众生”的境界，以拯民于水火为己任，关爱生命，关照未来。他在诗中写到：“长戴尧舜主，尽作羲黄民。耕田与凿井，熙熙千万春”，希望黎民百姓能够生活在像尧舜那样的盛世，天下清平而祥和。
 
不以物喜，不以己悲。范仲淹提出要把个人利益置之度外，不因外物和个人的得失或喜或悲。他为官数十年，生活非常俭朴，即使身居宰相时也没建造一座像样的宅第，有人主张为他建新宅，他说：“人追求的是道义。一个人如果心中有了道义，无论身在何处心里都是高兴的。建造宅第的事你们不要再提了。”范仲淹也没有为子孙置办田地房产，却用自己的积蓄兴学、置办义田、周济他人等，为后人留下了高风亮节。他一生因正义敢言而数次被贬，但他从不为个人的际遇而悲伤，矢志不改初衷。“三出专城”便是例证。天圣七年，刚进京任秘阁校理的范仲淹，因上疏反对皇太后铺张浪费被皇太后贬出了京城。明道二年，任右司谏的他，因坚持为他人讨回公道被皇帝贬往睦州。景祐二年，范仲淹升任礼部员外郎，时任宰相的吕夷简为防范仲淹直谏，影响自己专权，便奏请皇上委范仲淹知开封府，并传话范仲淹“不为言官，不要多费口舌去议论国事”。但范仲淹心系朝廷，不畏权贵，依然为民请命，正如他在上疏中所写“持一节以自信，历三黜而无悔”。