I want to be an excellent student: Mind Training Tutorial

Author: Lin Ge
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-12-01
Features: Thinking is the core of intelligence and the main indicator of one's intellectual level. This book is a systematic program for training thinking ability under the "Step-by-Step Learning Method." It includes scientific explanations, detailed training methods, and effective training plans, making it an ideal reading choice for parents to gift to their children. Thinking is the core of intelligence and the primary marker of one's intellectual capacity. What makes humans human is their ability to think; being called the "most noble of all creatures" is precisely because of their thinking. Engels praised thinking as the "most beautiful flower on earth," and the progress of humanity, fundamentally speaking, is the progress of human thought. For every individual in human society, whether one can achieve success hinges on whether they can engage in effective thinking exercises from a young age. Looking at the world's outstanding contributors, they indeed share many extraordinary qualities, but one thing is common: their extraordinary agility in thinking. World-renowned political leaders, scientific giants, and academic masters are all the same. The great inventor Edison was known for his love of thinking and quick-wittedness from a young age. It can be said that for both society and individuals, thinking is as vital as the soul. If a person possesses extraordinary thinking ability, this capability is reflected in their words and deeds at every turn and gradually becomes an integral part of their life. This can be fully demonstrated by the following historical anecdote.
One summer, the heat was unusually intense. Ji Ying (also known as Ji Xiaolan, a famous scholar of the Qing Dynasty) was overweight and averse to heat, so he sat in the study, bare-chested and with his queue tied, correcting the General Catalogue of the Four Treasuries. Suddenly, the door officer announced, "His Majesty has arrived!" Ji Ying, unable to dress quickly, feared punishment if the Emperor saw him, so he hid under the desk and covered himself with a curtain. Unbeknownst to him, the Emperor had already entered and spotted him. The Emperor pretended not to notice and sat at Ji Ying's desk. The study fell silent. Ji Ying remained under the desk for a long time, drenched in sweat. Seeing no movement, he assumed the Emperor had left and poked his head out, asking, "Has that old man gone?" With that, he climbed out. When he realized the Emperor was sitting right before him, he was startled and quickly knelt, bowing his head in apology. The Emperor was displeased and said, "How dare you call me 'that old man'?" In that feudal era, addressing the Emperor as "that old man" in public was a grave offense, punishable by death. Seeing Ji Ying's fearful demeanor, the Emperor added, "If you can explain the term 'that old man' in a reasonable way, I will spare you. Otherwise,!" Ji Ying, a man of sharp wit, thought for only a moment before responding, "Your Majesty has passed the age of sixty, and the people respectfully call you 'Ten Thousand Years.' This is 'old.'" The Emperor nodded in approval. Ji Ying then said, "Your Majesty is the head of the people, and 'head' means the first in the twelve zodiac signs." The Emperor laughed. Ji Ying continued, "Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, and the Rat is the first of the twelve zodiac animals. You are the greatest under the heavens." Impressed by Ji Ying's clever explanation, the Emperor indeed pardoned him.
This shows that Ji Ying's extraordinary thinking ability saved him in a critical moment. Imagine if a dull-witted person had been in his place—such a seemingly insignificant remark might have brought him dire consequences. Although this story comes from a feudal era, the principle remains the same for us today. The difference is that we no longer face an Emperor with the power to life and death, but rather a series of important figures who will shape our future.