Letters to Romain Rolland from Tolstoy
1892年、ロマン・ロランはトルストイに人生の意味について尋ねる手紙を送りました。その半年後、59歳のトルストイは返事を出し、肉体労働の重要性、人助け、他者への愛による幸福の追求の幻想について考えを述べました。トルストイは、肉体労働は誰にとっても義務であり喜びであり、知的労働は召された者にとっての喜びであると考えました。また、自己犠牲と愛の大切さについても述べています。(English) In 1892, Romain Rolland sent letters to Tolstoy asking about the meaning of life. Six months later, the 59-year-old Tolstoy replied, expressing thoughts on the importance of manual labour, helping others, and the illusion of seeking happiness through the love of others. Tolstoy believed physical work was a duty and pleasure for everyone, while intellectual work was a joy for those called to it. He also discussed the importance of self-surrender and love.
Tolstoy, Letters to Romain Rolland
A)
On April 87, 21-year-old Romain Rolland, a university student in Paris, sent three times letters to Tolstoy. He asked him, among other things, to teach him about the meaning of life.
Finally, six months later, in October, the 59-year-old Tolstoy replied. The letter is a frank expression of Tolstoy's thoughts at the time. Unfortunately, the translation into Japanese is 13 pages long in the small book, so I will only present part of it.
It begins with answering Rolland's question about why Tolstoy advocates manual labour as a fundamental condition for true happiness.
B)
One of the defects of the modern world is the gratuitous exploitation of the labour of the ignorant and unfortunate poor. Serious people who preach Christian, philosophical or humanitarian principles in this society must avoid this contradiction as far as possible.
First, we must look after ourselves and not allow others to empty our urine bottles. The most apparent moral formula is to avoid being served by others as much as possible and to help others as much as possible. Demand as little from others as possible and give as much to others.
One feels happy for the first time when one can be sure that by doing an act, one is serving others. For example, to carry a load for a tired person, to plough a field for a sick farmer, or to tend a wound.
C)
Physical work is both duty and happiness for everyone. However, intellectual work is a special kind of work, which is duty and joy only for those called to it.
A vocation can only be recognized and proved by a scholar or artist who sacrifices his peace and happiness to carry out his work. The man who supports his life through physical labour and fulfils his duty of thinking and creating in the world of the spirit while giving himself time for rest and sleep is evidence of his vocation.
Getting out of the superstition into which you have fallen is necessary. It is useless to argue with someone obsessed with certain beliefs, however trivial they may be. To know the truth of life, you don't need anything positive like philosophy or deep science; you need the damaging ability not to have superstitions. You have to be like a child, like Descartes.
D)
(N.B.) People tend to be prejudiced. They find it difficult to be free of prejudice. Also, the ability to be harmful is something that many people can have, unlike esoteric philosophy. The important thing is that it can be given equally.
E)
We seek happiness. And secretly, we think, 'I will only be happy if people love me more than they love themselves'. That is not possible. And all our activities, our pursuit of wealth, honour and power, attempt to make people love us more than others. We sometimes forget that this is an illusion and not a reality.
All living beings love themselves more than we do, and happiness is impossible. Nevertheless, more and more people are troubled by the belief that the human world is deceitful because they cannot solve this riddle.
F)
(N.B.) Is this what happens when we compete and try to beat others? You are often driven by hidden snobbish motives while seemingly acting from beautiful motives.
G)
The solution to this problem is quite simple and self-explanatory. I will not be happy unless a law says people must love others more than themselves. So I have to love others more than myself. If only people thought this way, life would be very different.
H)
(N.B.) Is this possible? To ordinary people, it seems to be a complicated way.
I)
The greatest happiness known to man is a state of self-surrender and love. So, naturally, I have only tried to give you my view of things.
From Lev Tolstoy.
//New words - Level B2//
gratuitous (adjective): given or done without good reason; uncalled for
Example sentence: The film had a lot of gratuitous violence that made some viewers uncomfortable.
contradiction (noun): a statement or situation in which two or more things are mutually opposed or inconsistent
Example sentence: There is a contradiction between what the government says and what it does.
vocation (noun): a strong feeling of suitability for a particular career or occupation
Example sentence: She felt a solid field to become a doctor from a young age.
esoteric (adjective): intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with specialized knowledge or interest
Example sentence: The professor's lecture on quantum physics was esoteric and went over the heads of most of the audience.
snobbish (adjective): behaving in a way that shows a belief in one's superiority to others
Example sentence: She was arrogant toward people who didn't attend prestigious universities.
surrended (noun): the action of giving up one's power or control
Example sentence: The country's surrender to the invading army was a difficult but necessary decision.
riddle (noun): a question or statement intentionally phrased to require ingenuity in ascertaining its answer or meaning
Example sentence: The mystery about the chicken crossing the road is a classic example of a brain teaser.
formula (noun): a particular method or procedure for achieving something
Example sentence: No recipe for success applies to everyone - each person's path is unique.
humanitarian (adjective): relating to or concerned with the welfare of human beings
Example sentence: The organization provided humanitarian aid to refugees who had fled their homes due to war.
frank (adjective): direct and unreserved in speech; straightforward
Example sentence: The manager's frank assessment of the situation helped the team understand what must be done.
//About article Q&A//
Q1. Who sent letters to Tolstoy asking about the meaning of life?
A1. Romain Rolland sent letters to Tolstoy asking about the meaning of life.
Q2. What did Tolstoy believe about physical and intellectual work?
A2. Tolstoy believed physical work was a duty and happiness for everyone, while intellectual work was a joy only for those called to it.
Q3. What did Tolstoy suggest as the solution to the illusion of seeking happiness through the love of others?
A3. Tolstoy suggested that people must love others more than themselves and practice self-surrender and love.
Q4. What did Tolstoy mean by the "superstition" of life?
A4. Tolstoy referred to the superstition of life as certain beliefs that people hold without any rational or logical basis, preventing them from understanding life's truth.
Q5. What did Tolstoy mean when he said, "Demand as little from others as possible and give as much to others"?
A5. Tolstoy meant that people should avoid being served by others as much as possible and should help others as much as possible, giving more to others than they demand.
//Disccusions//
Q1. The unknown 21-year-old Romain Rolland wrote three letters to the great writer, 59-year-old Tolstoy, asking about his life, and Tolstoy wrote back. Romain Rolland became a Nobel Prize-winning author, but he got to answering letters to any fan like respecting Tolstoy. What do you think about this episode?
A1.
I thought it was a perfect story.
I may not have the passion for writing a letter to someone I admire, even though I haven't heard back from them three times.
And Tolstoy wrote back in a long letter in French to an unknown young man in France, not in his native Russia.
Is that possible?
Although Romain Rolland was not highly regarded in his home country, Tolstoy's recognition led to his later success.
I thought that being understood by someone could maximize the possibilities and abilities of that person.
Q2. Do you agree with the concept of working and helping someone? Why?
A2.
Working and helping others is both a purpose of life and a natural thing.
My grandmother always used to tell me when I was little, "Think of others before yourself."
It became a barrier to self-establishment and made me wonder what I wanted to do.
However, now that I think about it, caring for others and caring for yourself can go hand in hand.
Because it's the same thing.
In other words, it is based on my beliefs: live politely, walk the middle path, create your place, keep smiling, and always say thank you.
Q3. Do you have superstitions and prejudices? What is it like, for example?
A3.
People have prejudices even if they don't realize it.
It is essential to be aware that you are biased.
On top of that, you need to engage with people, make corrections, and take a neutral middle ground.
Taking the middle path does not mean living in compromise.
It's all about finding the right balance and a place to settle down.
People have different opinions, and that's natural.
However, the final goal as a person is the same.
Instead of cheating and outsmarting each other, we must think of ways to make as many people as possible happy.
Q4. Do you think we can love others more than we love ourselves? Why?
A4.
Yes, I think it is possible.
We can love ourselves.
And you can love other people, nature, animals, and everything in the world.
It has no up and down and no strong or weak.
We are equal; life is born from the universe and returns to nothingness.
This idea is based on Buddhism, but I'm neither Buddhist nor Shinto; just my honest opinion.
Q5. Can you believe in a state of self-surrender and love? Why?
A5.
Yes, getting to those two, in the end, is essential.
We will die in the end.
It's not sad; it was initially nothing.
We come from nothing and return to nothing.
And while you're alive, you can try to make the world a little brighter, create love, and leave quietly.
Depression of a Great Man Tolstoy Part 2 Letter to Romain Rolland
https://urawasanatorium.com/tolstoy2/
Introducing Romain Rolland's Life of Michelangelo.
The Life of Michelangelo｜Loran - A true story to heal an overly damaged and sensitive heart.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JNj_t-nlsk