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Tag Archive for: humility

  • Confucius Analects – Truthfulness, Humility, Integration

Confucius Analects – Truthfulness, Humility, Integration

10/16/2012
10/16/2012

13.5 Qualities close to virtue

子曰、剛、毅、木、訥、近仁。

The Master said, ‘The firm, the enduring, the simple, and the modest are near to virtue.’

-> Further to appreciating simple lifestyle, strive to be simple, truthful, and modest towards others and towards ourselves.  Not only it helps us develop trust from others, it helps us to develop honesty and truthfulness towards ourselves.  We are so used to wearing a “mask” when facing the world, overtime and therefore, we are so disconnected from our inner reality and mistake the task to be ourselves.  A simple, direct yet embracing attitude therefore is helpful in recovering our inner and outer reality.

13.6 Qualities of a scholar

子路問曰、何如斯可謂之士矣。子曰、切切、偲偲、怡怡如也、 可謂士矣、朋友切切偲偲、兄弟怡怡。

Zilu asked, saying, ‘What qualities must a man possess to entitle him to be called a scholar?’ The Master said, ‘He must be thus,– earnest, urgent, and bland:– among his friends, earnest and urgent; among his brethren, bland.’

-> truthfulness, directness again emphasized in facing friends and brothers.

15.5 Qualities of a superior man

子曰、君子義以為質、禮以行之、孫以出之、信以成之、君子哉。

The Master said, ‘The superior man in everything considers righteousness to be essential. He performs it according to the rules of propriety. He brings it forth in humility. He completes it with sincerity. This is indeed a superior man.’

-> Here Confucius the whole process of carrying out virture.  From spiritual intention (righteousness), to worldly consideration (propriety), to implementation (humbly), to completion (sincerity).  This is unique in spiritual education that not only the intention is described, but the whole process of manifestation is guided.  It is wisdom of how to be successful as well, as well as how to integrate spiritual intention (internal) with the objective world (external).

* * *

Discussion:

Everyone talks about honesty.  I’m telling the truth.  I’m innocent, it’s not my fault, i didn’t know why i do that.  Are they really the case?  Spiritual students need to go beyond superficial honesty, ignorance, excuses, and seek to be really truthful and honest towards others and oneself.  It’s not helpful to keep blaming others for what happening inside yourself.  Seek to face and accept yourself as who you are.  Be honest, honest, and more honest.

Everyone knows what is humility, or to be humble.  How often can we hold this attitude in our life?  In the mist of habitual individual and collective self-centerness, humility is an antidote.  When facing decision points, instead of thinking what is best for me, meditate what is best for all, for the highest good of all.  This is the way of a Superior Man, this is the way of self-transcendence.

When you make progress in honesty and humility, it’s time to practice them in the real world.  Here brings the wisdom of Confucius teachings.  Typical spiritual teachings just emphasis on spiritual intentions, but some awareness of the external world and some human skills are also needed for the intentions to be successfully carried out.  Here Confucius describes righteousness (spiritually appropriate), propriety (worldly appropriate), humility (to counter one self), and sincerity (for completion) for ingredients for implementation.  What is use of a charity project, for example, if one only has good will (intention), but carry out inappropriately (wrong time/place/scope), inflating one’s self, and without completion due to lack of sincerity and will?  This is the power of Confucius life and his teachings.

2 Comments/in Chinese Philosophy, Confucianism, Online Class, Spiritual Cultivation /by Derek
  • Dao De Jing 67 – Dao not like anything, three treasures

Dao De Jing 67 – Dao not like anything, three treasures

06/26/2012
06/26/2012

The world called this Dao to be big, but it does not look like anything described.

-> When we think of big, we think of some thing describable and definable.

Because of its big, it does not look like anything.

If it looks like anything, it would be small long time ago!

-> When it looks like something, it is limited to the description of the something, and therefore is not the ultimate big.

* * *

I have three treasures, hold and keep them.

First is kindness, second is economy, third is not in front of the world.

-> Why? see below.

Kind and therefore can brave; economy and therefore can widespread; not in front and therefore can lead.

-> When we stand up for kindness, it is bravery aligned with truth; when we stand up for recklessness, it is bravery without purpose or direction.  When we can save, we can spend.  When we know humility, we can lead without getting lost.

Now (people) seek brave without kindness; widespread without economy; lead without staying in the back; die soon!

-> reckless bravery, unsustainable spending, arrogant leadership.  What else except destruction can they lead to?

Fight with kindness and one will win in war, defend with kindness and one will hold his ground.

Heaven will save it, and protect it with kindness.

-> Align with kindness and one life will be protected by it.

* * *

Chapter 67 Discussion:

The Dalai Lama’s religion is kindness. And so did Laozi taught.  An important quality towards mastering oneself and the world, one need to cultivate kindness.  Be kind to our self, be kind to our loved one, be kind to our enemies, and to our fellow members of the world.  Be kind to our essence-energy-spirit, be kind to our body-mind-spirit.  Jesus taught love, Buddha taught compassion, Confucius taught benevolence, and Laozi taught us kindness.  Learn economy as a practical way to life and cultivation.  Learn how to save so that we have something to spend.  Manage our money, manage our energy, and manage our life.  Lastly learn humility so we can live our lives embracing our limits, lead at the front yet supporting everyone from behind.  These are what Laozi suggested.

Bilingual version of Ch67: https://www.lisiming.net/chinese-philosophy/daoist/daoist-philosophy/dao-de-jing-core-33-chapters/ddj55-79/

2 Comments/in Chinese Philosophy, Daoism, Online Class, Spiritual Cultivation /by Derek

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