Constantly Dusting Off the Ideological Grime

General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “Some prominent problems existing within the Party are, at root, ideological problems.” At present, the entire Party is carrying out study and education on thoroughly implementing the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations. Party members and cadres must make good use of this opportunity for self-examination, inspection and rectification, constantly dusting off ideological grime and correcting behavioral deviations through study, inspection and correction, thereby solidly building the foundation of faith, replenishing the calcium of the spirit, and steadying the helm of thought.

习近平总书记指出：“党内存在的一些突出问题，从根源上说都是思想上的问题。”当前，全党正在开展深入贯彻中央八项规定精神学习教育，党员、干部要利用好这一反躬自省、检视整改的契机，在学、查、改中不断掸去思想灰尘、纠正行为偏差，切实筑牢信仰之基、补足精神之钙、把稳思想之舵。

“Nothing in the world is harder to control than the mind, and nothing is easier to contaminate than desire.” The reason ideology becomes dusty and rusty is mainly that the “master switch” is not tightened firmly enough, allowing corrupt practices and evil winds to erode it. Whether it is the formalism of mountains of documents and seas of meetings and falsification, the bureaucratism of being divorced from the masses and lording it over them, or the invisible and mutated forms of the “four undesirable work styles” [1]1 The “four undesirable work styles” (四风) refer to formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism, and extravagance, which were the target of a major Party rectification campaign launched in 2013. such as not taking responsibility, not taking action, passing the buck, and illegal eating and drinking, these are all essentially manifestations of Party members and cadres whose ideals and convictions have been shaken, whose sense of purpose has become weak, whose values have been distorted, and who have been influenced by undesirable ideologies such as subjectivism, utilitarianism, and hedonism. Faced with external interference and temptations, the most crucial thing is to maintain inner steadfastness and mental clarity. The *History of the Yuan Dynasty* records a story about the Neo-Confucian scholar Xu Heng: One scorching summer day, Xu Heng was out and saw passersby picking pears from a pear tree by the roadside to quench their thirst, but he did not pick any. Someone asked him, “Now that the land is in chaos from war, this pear tree has no owner. Why don’t you pick a pear to eat?” Xu Heng replied, “Though the pear tree has no owner, my mind has an owner.” [2]2 This story from the *History of the Yuan Dynasty* (《元史》) is a classic Chinese moral exemplum about inner integrity and self-discipline in the absence of external supervision. Today, although the times are different and we no longer suffer from material scarcity, various cultural currents interweave and clash, and various temptations of interest emerge endlessly. Party members and cadres equally need the steadfastness of “though the pear tree has no owner, my mind has an owner,” not to be disturbed by discordant noises, not to be seduced by desires and interests, not to be swayed by corrupt practices and evil winds, so that “ideological grime” has nowhere to hide, and the “house of faith” is bright and clean.

“天下之难持者莫如心，天下之易染者莫如欲。”思想之所以会蒙尘生锈，主要还是“总开关”拧得不够紧，受到歪风邪气侵蚀。无论是文山会海、弄虚作假的形式主义，脱离群众、高高在上的官僚主义，还是不担当不作为、推诿扯皮、违规吃喝等隐形变异“四风”问题，本质上都是党员、干部理想信念动摇、宗旨意识淡薄、价值观念扭曲以及受主观主义、功利主义、享乐主义等不良思想影响。面对外界干扰和诱惑，最紧要的是保持内心的坚定和头脑的清醒。《元史》中记载了理学家许衡的一个故事：某个炎炎夏日，许衡外出，看见行人纷纷到路边的一棵梨树下摘梨解渴，他却不去摘。有人问他，如今兵荒马乱的，这棵梨树已经没有主人了，你为什么不去摘梨吃呢？许衡回答说：“梨虽无主，我心有主。”今天，尽管时代不同，我们不再饱受物质短缺之苦，但各种文化思潮交织碰撞，各种利益诱惑层出不穷，党员、干部同样需要“梨虽无主，我心有主”的定力，不为杂音噪音所扰，不为欲望利益所惑，不为歪风邪气所动，让“思想灰尘”无处藏身，让“信仰之屋”窗明几净。

“If a gentleman studies widely and daily examines himself, he will become clear-minded and free from error in his actions.” [3]3 This is a quotation from the *Xunzi* (《荀子》), a foundational text of Confucian philosophy, emphasizing the importance of self-cultivation through study and reflection. To sweep away ideological grime, one must persist in “daily self-examination on three counts” [4]4 “Daily self-examination on three counts” (吾日三省吾身) is a saying from the *Analects* of Confucius, where the disciple Zengzi describes his practice of reflecting daily on whether he has been loyal, trustworthy, and diligent. and make good use of the “broom” of criticism and self-criticism. Comrade Mao Zedong likened criticism and self-criticism to sweeping and washing. He said: “The minds of our comrades and our Party’s work will also become contaminated with dust and should be swept and washed.” [5]5 This is a paraphrase of a well-known metaphor used by Mao Zedong in his 1945 report “On Coalition Government” at the Seventh National Congress of the CPC. Party members and cadres must diligently reflect on “their own faults,” constantly sound the “warning bell,” eliminate impetuosity, remove greed, and ensure that all kinds of restless, non-compliant, and undisciplined thoughts have nowhere to hide. At the same time, they must have the magnanimity to be glad when told of their faults and to know their mistakes without concealing them, be able to listen to differing opinions, tolerate sharp criticism, and through “pulling ears and tugging sleeves” and “red faces and sweating brows” [6]6 “Pulling ears and tugging sleeves” and “red faces and sweating brows” are colloquial Party metaphors for the practice of conducting frank, sometimes uncomfortable, criticism and self-criticism within Party organizations., promptly eliminate negative emotions from their minds and discard bad habits in their work style, preventing ideological “dust” from accumulating into work-style “chronic ailments.”

“君子博学而日参省乎己，则知明而行无过矣。”打扫思想上的灰尘，就要坚持“吾日三省吾身”，用好批评和自我批评这把“扫帚”。毛泽东同志把批评和自我批评比喻为打扫和洗涤，他说：“我们同志的思想，我们党的工作，也会沾染灰尘的，也应该打扫和洗涤。”党员、干部必须勤思“己之过”、常敲“警示钟”，剔除浮躁、祛除贪欲，让各种不安分、不合规、不自律的思想念头无处藏身。同时也要有闻过则喜、知过不讳的胸襟，听得进不同意见，容得下尖锐批评，在咬耳扯袖、红脸出汗中，及时清除思想上的消极情绪、丢掉作风上的不良习气，防止思想“尘埃”累积成作风“顽疾”。

Work-style issues are essentially issues of Party spirit. The Party spirit cultivation and moral level of Party members and cadres will not naturally improve with the increase of age, Party standing, or length of service, nor will they naturally improve with the promotion of positions. Only by persistently strengthening self-cultivation, enhancing self-discipline, and continuing self-transformation, diligently dusting off “ideological grime,” thinking more about the “harm of greed,” and constantly breaking the “thief in the heart” [7]7 “Thief in the heart” (心中贼) is a term from the Ming-dynasty Neo-Confucian philosopher Wang Yangming, referring to selfish desires and erroneous thoughts that corrupt one’s innate moral knowledge., can one stand firm on major issues of principle, be fearless in the face of trials and storms, and remain steadfast in the face of various temptations. The mirror must be frequently polished, and the clothes must be frequently straightened. Only by benchmarking against the Party’s work style to find gaps, comparing with the Party’s spirit requirements to trace roots, and referencing Party discipline requirements to clarify measures, promptly washing away the filth of thought, discarding selfish distractions, and eliminating outdated malpractices, can one forever maintain the political nature and fine work style of a Communist Party member.

作风问题本质上是党性问题。党员、干部的党性修养、道德水平不会随着年龄、党龄、工龄的增长而自然提高，也不会随着职务的升迁而自然提升。只有持之以恒地强化自我修炼、加强自我约束、持续自我改造，勤掸“思想尘”、多思“贪欲害”、常破“心中贼”，才能在大是大非面前旗帜鲜明，在风浪考验面前无所畏惧，在各种诱惑面前立场坚定。镜子要经常照，衣冠要经常正。只有对标党风要求找差距、对表党性要求查根源、对照党纪要求明举措，及时涤清思想之垢、摒弃私心杂念、革除陈规陋弊，才能永葆共产党员的政治本色和优良作风。

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心