[One Thousand Characters a Day] Shindok, The Power of Time Alone <1>

Editor's NoteClassic scholar Jo Yoon-je's ＜Shindok, The Power of Time Alone＞ is a book that highlights 'Shindok (愼獨)', the value of time spent alone, among numerous classical sentences. In today's world where the time spent alone and the way of living alone have increased, our lives change depending on how we spend our time alone. In this book, the author unravels the wisdom of reflecting on oneself and strengthening oneself during time alone through famous writings from 2,000 years ago. You will be able to confirm the most essential, practical, and realistic advice for our lives that transcends long years, as well as unwavering inner strength. Word count: 931.

We usually work during the day and sleep at night. This is the law of nature and a physiological need, so almost everyone cannot escape from this. And before sleeping and after waking up, everyone is given time alone. People gain recognition of their value through their daytime achievements, and what determines the success of that work is precisely the time spent alone. Through time alone, we gain peace of mind, build skills, and acquire the power to develop abilities. Depending on how we spend our time alone, our daytime achievements change, and furthermore, our future changes.

Therefore, the old scholars regarded time alone as an opportunity for Shindok. They did not merely avoid wrongdoing while alone but used it as preparation for a fulfilling day. Thus, time alone was an opportunity for self-cultivation and intense improvement. In his later years, Dasan Jeong Yak-yong chose ＜Simgyeong (Heart Sutra)＞ as the one and only book to govern the mind. And in ＜Simgyeong Milheom＞, a commentary on ＜Simgyeong＞, he expressed his thoughts on Shindok as follows.

"Originally, Shindok means to be cautious and refrain carefully in what one knows alone, not simply to refrain in a place where one is alone. When a person sits alone in a room and silently reviews what they have done, their conscience is revealed. This means that shame is revealed in the dark corner of the room, not that one must not dare to commit evil in a place where it is not dark and visible. People commit evil mostly when they are with others."

Dasan did not limit the teaching of being cautious when alone to the concept of space or time. Being proper when alone is a natural attitude for someone studying the mind, and rather, when interacting with others, one should reflect alone on whether they have ever harmed or committed evil because others did not know. For Dasan, Shindok was not a special behavior but a principle to be observed in daily life.

－Jo Yoon-je, ＜Shindok, The Power of Time Alone＞, Business Books, 17,800 KRW