The word "narrow-minded" can be used in many sentences, such as "absolute ideological education methods make a person's thinking extremely narrow, and they don't believe anything beyond their knowledge," or "Losing is not actually narrow-mindedness," etc.
The literal meaning of "narrow-minded" originally described a narrow space, but later it was more often used to describe a person's thoughts, vision, breadth of mind, and judgment standards that are too limited, only able to accommodate a few things, and unable to see problems from a broader perspective, a longer time frame, or a deeper level.
The most obvious characteristic of narrow-mindedness is treating the part as the whole, the temporary as the permanent, and personal feelings as absolute standards. A person who only sees what's in front of them, only sees themselves, only sees the gains and losses in reality, and only allows one voice to exist, easily falls into narrow-mindedness.
From the perspective of truth, "truth" is not about stubbornly sticking to one's own views, but about respecting facts and being willing to see the whole picture. Narrow-minded people often only accept facts that are beneficial to them and only believe interpretations that conform to their emotions. They may avoid, reject, or even attack facts they don't want to face. Truly seeking "truth" requires courage.
Narrow-minded people cannot see the "truth" of the universe and things. Because their capacity is too small, they can only use their limited concepts to distort reality, keeping truths that do not conform to their understanding out, thus leading to delusion.
From the perspective of goodness, "goodness" elevates one's focus from "Am I at a disadvantage?" to "Is this beneficial to everyone?"
Goodness requires immense capacity. Narrow-mindedness is inevitably accompanied by selfishness and exclusivity. When a person can only accommodate themselves and those like themselves, their "goodness" is conditional and limited. Faced with different people or those who have hurt them, a narrow mind will instantly erupt with resentment, unable to generate true compassion.
From the perspective of forbearance, "forbearance" is not passive suppression, nor is it unconditionally enduring harm. Rather, it is maintaining clarity even in the face of intense emotions, not being immediately swept away by anger, resentment, desire, and fear.
Narrow-mindedness is the enemy of "forbearance." Forbearance is not about being idle or resentful, but a magnanimous heart that embraces the universe. A narrow-minded person is like a bowl of water; even a grain of sand can create ripples. A person of great virtue, however, has a heart like the ocean; even a boulder cannot alter its depth and tranquility. Without a broad mind, true "forbearance" is impossible.
Why does a narrow view of gain and loss easily lead to suffering? Why does absolutist ideological education easily narrow one's thinking?
Narrow-mindedness is not merely a lack of knowledge or a limited perspective; at a deeper level, it is the heart being confined by a narrow perspective.
True openness lies in seeing the truth clearly through "truth," transcending self-interest through "goodness," and releasing the shackles of emotion through "forbearance."
Absolute ideological education is a factory that manufactures narrow-mindedness. The absolutism of thought is like building a high wall in one's spiritual world, imprisoning life in a cage of both physical and spiritual "narrowness."
Having encountered the word "narrow-mindedness" in an extremely valuable book, I will discuss its surface meaning and its personal implications here. For a deeper and more profound understanding, one must read the original book!