Category: Confucianism
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Confucius Analects – Do not act outside propriety
12.2 Do not act outside propriety 子曰、非禮 勿視、非禮勿聽、非禮勿言、非禮勿動。 The Master said, ‘Look not at what is contrary to propriety; listen not to what is contrary to propriety; speak not what is contrary to propriety; make no movement which is contrary to propriety. * * * Discussion: Propriety (礼)means the appropriate, according to the prevailing social standards,…
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Confucius Analects – Accept life as it is, simple life
4.1 Proper attitude to face fortune and misfortune 子曰、富與貴、是人之所欲也、不以其道得之、不處也。 貧與賤、是人之所惡也、不以其道得之、不去也。 The Master said, ‘Riches and honours are what men desire. If it cannot be obtained in the proper way, they should not be held. Poverty and meanness are what men dislike. If it cannot be avoided in the proper way, they should not be avoided.…
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Confucius Analects – seek to understand – 孔子论语 – 不患人之不己知、患不知人也。
1.7 Seek to understand others 子曰、不患人之不己知、患不知人也。 The Master said, ‘I will not be afflicted at men’s not knowing me; I will be afflicted that I do not know men.’ -> With our diverse backgrounds and goals, we act, think, and behave differently. It is normal that we don’t understand others very well. Therefore, do not…
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Confucius Analects – who love to learn? speech vs. action – 孔子论语 – 先行其言、而後從之。
1.6 Characteristics of man who love learning 子曰、君子食無求飽、居無求安、敏於事、而慎於言、就有道、而正焉、可謂好學也已。 The Master said, ‘He who aims to be a man of complete virtue in his food does not seek to gratify his appetite, nor in his dwelling place does he seek the appliances of ease; he is earnest in what he is doing, and careful in his…
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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…
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Confucius Analects – expectation of self (reflect daily) – 孔子论语 – 吾日三省吾身
1.2 Three things to reflect daily 曾子曰、吾日三省吾身、為人謀、而不忠乎、與朋友交、而不信乎、傳不習乎。 The philosopher Zeng [Tsang] said, ‘I daily examine myself on three points:– whether, in transacting business for others, I may have been not faithful;– whether, in intercourse with friends, I may have been not sincere;– whether I may have not mastered and practised the instructions of my teacher.’…
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Confucius Analects – Superior Man vs. Mean Man (2) – 孔子论语 – 君子与小人(二)
12.6 The superior man seeks to menifest the admirable qualities of men, and does not seek to manifest their bad qualities. The mean man does the opposite of this. -> Everyone has strength and weakness. When we facilitates our goods and others’ goods, good is strengthened. When we facilitates our bads and other’ bads (e.g. fuel…
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Confucius Analects – Superior Man vs. Mean Man (1) – 孔子论语 – 君子与小人(一)
2.8 The superior man concerns the whole and does not compare. The mean man compares and does not concern the whole.’ -> Superior man sees the benefit of all and live his life towards it, Mean man is self-centered, busy comparing him/herself with others, and live his/her live only on one’s own interest. 4.4 The mind of…
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Autobiography of Confucius – Confucius Analects – 孔子论语 – 孔子一生
This is an autobiography of Confucius. There were three stages in Confucius life, first stage begins on learning (age 15) and establishing oneself (age 30) in the world. Second stages consolidates and refine one’s life until there is no internal doubt (age 40) and one knows one’s role in the world (age 50). The results…
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Dao De Jing core 33 chapters – completed!
After 7 months of work and sharing, i’m pleased to announced that our weekly lecture on Daodejing core 33 chapters has come to an end. I hope you have gained something in this series, as i certainly had. We will continue our weekly lecture on Confucius Analects starting next week. Please stay tuned.…
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Confucius Analects – by topics – 孔子论语 – 按题目分类
We have just finished a serious of lectures on Confucius Analects for personal development here in the mountain. For the purpose of easy learning and appreciation of the text, Derek had reorganize the text by topics as follows: “Confucius life; Superiorvs. Mean Man; Image, manner, lifestyle and expectation on oneself; Study; Practice/devotion; Life towards others; Trust and honesty; Appearance vs. essence; Mistakes and forgiveness; Food…
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Confucius – Founder of Confucianism
Confucius Analects is a collection of dialogues between Confucius and his students. It is the core scripture of confucianism, which hugely affect the Chinese civilization for thousands of years and up to the present. In this core scripture, Confucius and his students discussed the importance of Virtue (Kindness, benevolence), Propriety (commonly accepted standards in society) in establishing one’s…