15.15 People have different paths

子曰、道不同、不相為謀。

The Master said, ‘Those whose courses are different cannot lay plans for one another.’

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Discussion:

Despite of being connected, and sharing the same origin, we come here with different level of consciousness, and for different roles and purposes.
Confucius said it is unrealistic to expect others to understand, therefore it is also difficult for one to lay plan for others given our limited knowledge. All we could do, is to fulfill our roles to the best of our ability, and leave the rest.  I.e. be the best parents/kids, bosses/workers, siblings/friends we can, and let go of the desire to self-centered manipulation and interference.

For spiritual students, apart from our worldly roles and responsibility, we see the world as a training ground for self understanding, mastery and transcendence.  This is quite different than regular lives that seek gain, stability, and control.  Therefore, let go of the desire of other’s understanding , and let go of the desire to control others to follow your way of life.

Respect the choices of others, and let them go their ways (unless you are in a parental and guardian role that requires you to actively involve).  If others’ choices are different than yours, acknowledge, understand, wish them well, and continue your own.  Harmony is attained through acceptance, which brings compassion, and leads to the Superior Man’s ideal of Harmony in Diversity.

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 were that Confucius was at peace with the world (age 60), and arrived at internal freedom without crossing the morality line of what is right and wrong (age 70).

The Master said, ‘At fifteen, I set my mind on learning.

-> studying classics, to learn about the laws of the society and the universe.

At thirty, I stood firm.

-> established goal of life, and stood firm on it.

At forty, I had no doubts.

-> about himself and the world.

At fifty, I knew the decrees of Heaven.

-> he was clear about what the universe had arranged for him, and could feel and align with by moment.

At sixty, no sound irritates me.

-> he was able to embrace the world without internally getting irritated.

At seventy, I could follow what my heart desired, without transgressing what was right.

-> with morality firmly established and practiced within himself, he was able to live life freely without committing wrong.

Autobiography of Confucius – Discussion:

This chapter brings out the characteristics of a Chinese scholar and practitioner, which requires a life-time of dedication.  It took Confucius himself 15 years of learning before he found and established his position in the world;  another 10 years before he was sure about his life beyond doubt.  After mastering his mind, it took him another 10 years to establish a proper relationship and connection with the universe, and another 10 years before he could embrace all situations in the world.  Confucius was truly a hero in personal development, who had dedicated his entire lifetime in the pursue of and practice of knowledge.  He represented a role model that had affected practitioners for years to come.

Finally, he brought out the important relationship between freedom and morality:  Elementary freedom seeks to live life selfishly without consideration of others, whereas advanced state of freedom is achieved without committing what is wrong for oneself or for the world.  The acceptance of yet non-alignment to negativity is a common teachings among all major religions in the world.  It would be an error to think that one could do anything to anyone under the name of freedom.