修治齐平

Confucius Analects – 4 Stages of Virtue – 孔子论语 – 德行4阶段

15.13 Four stages of virtue (knowing, abiding, applying, integrating)

子曰、知及之、仁不能守之、雖得之、必失之。

知及之、仁能守之、不莊以蒞之、則民不敬。

知及之、仁能守之、 莊以蒞之、動之不以禮、未善也。

The Master said, ‘When a man’s knowledge is sufficient to attain, and his virtue is not sufficient to enable him to hold, whatever he may have gained, he will lose again.

‘When his knowledge is sufficient to attain, and he has virtue enough to hold fast, if he cannot govern with dignity, the people will not respect him.

‘When his knowledge is sufficient to attain, and he has virtue enough to hold fast; when he governs also with dignity, yet if he try to move the people contrary to the rules of propriety:– full excellence is not reached.’

* * *

1st stage: knowing (understanding, thinking, talking)

2nd stage: abiding (holding the core intentions)

3rd stage: applying (in worldily roles)

4th stage: integrating (within propriety, in harmony with prevailing situation)

At the first stage, one knows what is and not virtue.  At second stage, one not only knows about it, but can abide in it in one’s individual life.  At third stage, one expands the practice of virtue from isolated individual to interacting with others through various worldly roles. At final stage, one succeeds in aligning with virtue without contradicting with propriety and prevailing social standards, e.g. final stage of life of Confucius.

Therefore, first stage practitioners are scholars, second stage practitioners are hermits and experts of the internal world, third stage practitioners are socialists and Bodhisattvas (masters of the internal world seeking to help the world); forth stage practitioners are full enlightened masters of internal and external worlds.

5.13 知及之、仁不能守之、雖得之、必失之

子曰、知及之、仁不能守之、雖得之、必失之。

知及之、仁能守之、不莊以蒞之、則民不敬。

知及之、仁能守之、 莊以蒞之、動之不以禮、未善也。

* * *

第一阶段: 知及之 (了解, 明白, 会、能说)

第二阶段: 仁能守之 (意守之)

第三阶段: 莊以蒞之 (行之于世)

第四阶段: 動之以禮 (包容万物,德以导之)

在第一个阶段,我们认清德是什么和不是什么。 在第二个阶段,我们不但知道,并能应用在个人的生活之中。 在第三个阶段,通过各种世间的角色,德的实践从单独的个人生活扩大至与他人的互动之中。 在最后阶段,德能和谐地和不违背社会标准的情况下实践于生活之中, 如孔子所说的:從心所欲、不踰矩

因此,第一阶段的修炼者是学者,第二阶段的修炼者是隐士和内在世界的专家,第三阶段的修炼者是社会主义者和菩萨,第四阶段的修炼者是通达内在和外在世界的大师。


Comments

2 responses to “Confucius Analects – 4 Stages of Virtue – 孔子论语 – 德行4阶段”

  1. 妮基 Avatar
    妮基

    “…second stage practitioners are hermits and experts of the internal world..”

    Are you implying (above quote) that it is necessary to embrace a hermit’s life at some stage in one’s life in order to develop one’s self more fully/ completely?

    1. Derek Avatar
      Derek

      An focused intention at one’s self is sufficient. Hermit type of life is suitable only if one has completed the worldly roles, and consciousness has reach a very advanced level. For example, Jesus and Buddha did went through a period of time in solitude in desert and forest respectively. For most practitioners, short retreats will do for rejuvenation, studies, and practices. I suggest listening to and following the universal flow in this topic.

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