Confucius Analects – attitudes and conducts of a learnt person, handling mistakes – 孔子论语 – 過則勿憚改

子曰、君子不重、則不威、學則不固。主忠信。無友不如己者。過則勿憚改。

The Master said, ‘If the scholar be not prudent, he will not build authority, and his learning will not be solid. Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles. Treat friends as if they are yourself. When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them.’

-> A learnt man is prudent, treat every speech he said seriously.  By fulfilling one’s word, one build authority, and credibility.  In handling relationships, it is helpful to be loyal and trustworthy, and treat others as oneself.  In handing mistakes, have courage to admit and correct.

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Discussion:

This chapter consists of three components.  First calls for being prudent in one’s word and one’s life.  This is similar to Buddhist’s teaching of mindfulness in one’s action, words, and thoughts.

Second calls for loyalty to oneself and others.  When we are loyal, we hold good will, and offer others what we would offer to ourself.  This is the meaning of treating others as oneself.

Third calls for proper ways of facing errors.  We all commit mistakes, sometimes we blame others, but a more effective way is to admit mistakes, and not commit again.  When mistake occurs, face it, take responsibility, forgive, and don’t commit it again.  This is acceptable in all three traditions.

子曰、君子不重、則不威、學則不固。主忠信。無友不如己者。過則勿憚改。

-> 有学问的人是谨慎的，对待每一个发言，他认真地说。通过履行发出的话，可以慢慢的建立权威和信誉。忠实和信赖会帮助处理关系。对待别人要和对待自己一样。犯了错误时，要有勇气承认和改正。

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讨论：

本章由三部分组成。第一部分提倡谨慎的说话和生命。这也是佛教所说的正思，正言，正行。

第二部分提倡对自己和他人忠诚。当我们是忠诚时，我们能保持良好的意愿，并提供其他人我们会提供给自己的。这是无友不如己的意思。

第三部分要求要正确的面对错误。我们都会犯错，有时候并会责怪别人，但更有效的方式是承认错误，而不再犯。当错误发生时，面对现实，承担责任，原谅，和不再次犯错。这是在儒道释三家，都是可以接受的。