Mencius, "Do not chase those who leave, and do not block those who come"

Mencius, "Do not chase those who leave, and do not block those who come" 

Mencius's saying, "Do not chase those who leave, and do not block those who come" emphasizes respecting the natural flow of human relationships and adopting a life attitude free from attachment.

Meaning and Content

• Do not chase those who leave:
  • This means not forcibly holding onto those who intend to depart.
  • It signifies accepting the natural course of relationships without clinging to regrets or attachments.
  • It emphasizes respecting the choices of others and maintaining a mature attitude that is not consumed by one's own emotions.
• Do not block those who come:
  • This means not rejecting or excluding those who approach.
  • It signifies welcoming new relationships with an open mind and adopting a flexible attitude that does not miss opportunities.
  • It emphasizes valuing encounters with people and striving to form positive relationships.

Examples

• Workplace:
  • Respecting and supporting a colleague's decision to resign, rather than trying to hold them back, is an example of practicing "Do not chase those who leave."
  • Actively embracing a team member's suggestion to participate in a new project is an example of practicing "Do not block those who come."
• Interpersonal Relationships:
  • Supporting a friend's separate path, rather than forcibly maintaining a relationship despite differing values, is an example of practicing "Do not chase those who leave."
  • Actively engaging with people and forming new relationships in a new social gathering is an example of practicing "Do not block those who come."
• Romantic Relationships:
  • Respecting a partner's decision to end a relationship and moving forward with one's own life, rather than pleading or clinging, is an example of practicing "Do not chase those who leave."
  • Opening oneself to a new relationship, rather than closing off one's heart due to past pain, is an example of practicing "Do not block those who come."

This saying encapsulates the wisdom of following the natural flow of human relationships and living with an open mind, free from attachment and rejection.