• English
  • 中文
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Gplus
  • Linkedin
  • Mail
  • Rss

Lisiming.net

  • Chinese
    Philosophy
    • Confucius
    • Daoism
      • Daoist Basics
        • Yin-Yang Bagua System
        • Five Element System
        • Essence-Energy-Spirit System
        • Energy System in Body
        • Daoist Regimen
      • Daoist Philosophy
        • Dao De Jing core 33 Chapters
        • Why select 33 Chapters from Laozi
        • Summary of Laozi core 33 Chapters
        • Qing Jing Jing
      • Daoist Cultivation
        • 4 types of human
        • 5 types of immortals
        • Internal Alchemy: An Overview
        • ZhangSanFeng Teachings
    • Buddhist
      • Buddhist Basics
      • Buddhist Cultivation
        • 6 Paramitas
      • Buddhist Teachings
        • The Heart Sutra
        • The Diamond Sutra
        • The Zen Teachings of Bodhidharma
          • Outline of Practice
          • Wake-up Sermon
  • Spiritual
    Cultivation
    • 4-Stage Development
    • 3 Pathways
    • Meditation
    • Related Topics
    • Modern Research
      • Messages from Water
      • The Master Key System
      • Map of Consciousness
  • Study with
    Derek
    • Derek’s Approach
    • Individual/group class
    • US tour May 2013
    • US Tour April 2014
    • 12 Day Heart of China Cultural Spiritual Tour
    • 100-Hour Chinese Spirituality Foundation Program
    • Testimonials
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Contact
  • Blog /
    Online Class
    • Blog
    • News
    • Online Class
    • Archives

Tag Archive for: study

  • practice

Online Class – foundation course completed

03/09/2014
03/09/2014

Dear readers,

After 26 months of discussion and exploration, we have finally completed our online discussion on the core teachings of the three great classics in Chinese Civilization.  

With the focus on personal and spiritual cultivation, we first learnt about the transcendental reality and the way towards it from Laozi’s Daodejing.  After understanding our self, and going beyond it, we then learnt the importance of fulfilling our personal, family and social responsibility in the world through practical advises from Confucius’s Analects.  Finally, after mastering the world and the reality beyond it,  we learnt from the Buddhist Diamond Sutra that all teachings and phenomena, no matter how extraordinary and spectacular, are temporary like dreams and bubble and therefore are not to be attached.

If we can gain a throughout understanding of these three classics, and integrate them into our daily life, then a solid foundation is laid on the roadway of personal and spiritual cultivation.  Hopefully these discussions could serve as an opening door and overall guidance for further studies and practice.

This concludes this series of our online classes.  As Laozi said, “excessive speeches exhaust our reason, it’s better to stay centered.” The foundation understanding of cultivation has been laid and it is time for practice and integration into our life.  If you have further question on the topics mentioned, you may contact me for advice or further discussion.  Thank you for your interest and support all along.

Best wishes to you in your life, studies, and practices.    

Regards,

Li Siming

March 2014

1 Comment/in Buddhist, Chinese Philosophy, Confucianism, Daoism, News, Online Class, Spiritual Cultivation /by Derek
  • virtue-without-study

Confucius Analects – balance learning of 6 virtues

04/02/2013
04/02/2013

17.3 Importance in learning the 6 virtues (benevolence, wisdom, sincerity, straightforwardness, courage, firmness)

好仁不好學、其蔽也愚、好智不好學、其蔽也蕩、好信不好學、其蔽也賊、好直不好學、其蔽也絞、好勇不好學、其蔽也亂、好 剛不好學、其蔽也狂。

‘There is the love of being benevolent without the love of learning;– the beclouding here leads to a foolish simplicity. There is the love of knowing without the love of learning;– the beclouding here leads to dissipation of mind. There is the love of being sincere without the love of learning;– the beclouding here leads to an injurious disregard of consequences. There is the love of straightforwardness without the love of learning;– the beclouding here leads to rudeness. There is the love of boldness without the love of learning;– the beclouding here leads to insubordination. There is the love of firmness without the love of learning;– the beclouding here leads to extravagant conduct.’

* * *

Be kind without learning, leads to stupidity;

Be intelligent without learning, leads to recklessness;

Be trusting without learning, attract thieves;

Be straightforward without learning, leads to rudeness;

Be courageous without learning, leads to chaos;

Be firm without learning, leads to wildness.

While proper cultivation of these 6 qualities uplifts one’s life and others, cultivation without balanced learning could harm oneself and others.  Learning therefore, should be pursued in balanced and all-rounded manner, and be seen as a lifelong endeavor to avoid falling into these traps.

0 Comments/in Chinese Philosophy, Confucianism, Online Class, Spiritual Cultivation /by Derek
  • 学而优则仕

Confucius Analects – Balance Work and Study

12/04/2012
12/04/2012

19.3 Serving vs. learning

子夏曰、仕而優則學、學而優則仕。

Zixia said, ‘The officer, having discharged all his duties, should devote his leisure to learning. The student, having completed his learning, should apply himself to be an officer.’

* * *

Zixia, a prominent student of Confucius, talked about the importance of balancing work and study.  When we are in schools, study well and prepare ourselves for serving in the society (Note that in the old days, the goal of study was to provide service for the government and society).  When we are at work and in society, AFTER we have discharged our duties excellently, engage in study and continuous cultivation.

Note that Confucius teachings did not call us to abandon our social-work-family role for personal cultivation, but to fulfill our roles first and at the same time strive to upgrade our selves.  This is in-line with the Confucius classic “Daxue(大学)”,which calls for development in a step-by-step manner: from personal, to family, to country (social organization), and finally to the world (修身齐家治国平天下).

Such advice is still valid for spiritual students in this modern world. In cultivating our life, how should i position my self, to best fulfill our various roles in life, to fulfill the highest good of all?

3 Comments/in Chinese Philosophy, Confucianism, Online Class, Spiritual Cultivation /by Derek
  • teachers

Confucius Analects – There are teachers everywhere

11/20/2012
11/20/2012

7.4 There are teachers everywhere

子曰、三人行、必有我師焉、擇其善者而從之、其不善者而改之。

The Master said, ‘When I walk along with two others, they may serve me as my teachers. I will select their good qualities and follow them, their bad qualities and avoid them.’

* * *

Discussion:

Last week there was a question about where or whom to learn from.  Confucius said, look around, whenever there are three or more people, there is a teacher and we can learn.  How?  If we observe good in people, we learn to be it.  If we observe bad in people, we help to correct it.  As no one is the same, there is always something to learn!   This is line with the prior teaching on the Superior Man, where one seeks to bring the good out of people, and dissolve the bad.  This is beneficial to both the individual, and the collective, i.e. a win-win situation.

Of course, this is speaking from the dualistic and separated paradigm.   From a nondualistic and united paradigm, the world is observe as a manifestation of one’s perception, i.e. from one’s own self.  In such state, this teaching stills applied:  All can be seen as teachers, and that one can manifest the good and dissolve the negative of all.  This requires wisdom to see, compassion to embrace, and devotion to carry out.

1 Comment/in Chinese Philosophy, Confucianism, Online Class, Spiritual Cultivation /by Derek
  • Study: Learn and Think

Confucius Analects – Study: ask, learn, and think

11/13/2012
11/13/2012

Last week we finished the discussion on the general image of a proper Confucius/Superior Man.  This week we start the discussion on the topic of study.  Study leads to knowledge.  The world “knowledge” in Chinese, consists of two components: Learn (学)and Ask (问). Learn implies acquiring, while ask includes thinking and inquiring.  These 2 components are considered essentials in learning wisdom and truth, and often represent the theme of a student/scholar/teacher in his/her entire lifetime.  Study, and its related topics, will be the theme of our discussion in the following few weeks.

2.9 Learn (acquire) and think

子曰、學而不思則罔、思而不學則殆。

The Master said, ‘Learning without thinking is labour lost; thinking without learning is dangerous.’

-> Learning without thinking is like a recording information without knowing what it is, whether it is true or not, and how it can be used, therefore provide no meaning and represent labour lost.

-> Thinking without learning (proper study, research, validation), is dangerous because when we run into questionable and possible negative information and people, thinking alone in them could lead us to confusion and destructive patterns, e.g. following question teachings/practices of a cult.  Learning widely and broadly (e.g. the classics of the Confucius/Daoist/Buddhist schools), therefore, could be useful in comparing and validating information presented.

5.1 Learning and asking question.

子曰、敏而好學、不恥下問。

The Master said, ‘Learn diligently, not ashamed to ask question, even from inferiors (people with lower social rank/status).’

-> No human could be number one in every area, to upgrade ourselves and to understand the world, we need to find teachers who are more advanced than ourselves in respective areas to learn (and think).  When need clarification or advice, overcome our laziness, pride, and fear to ask question when needed.  This is good student.

* * *

Great masters from Confucius, Daoist, and Buddhist traditions are mostly also well-learnt scholars.  This is a Chinese saying in the Daoist tradition: “未有神仙不读书” (no immortal had succeeded without study). This suggests the importance of study in personal and spiritual development.

2 Comments/in Chinese Philosophy, Confucianism, Online Class, Spiritual Cultivation /by Derek
  • Statue of Confucius - An Autobiography of Confucius

Autobiography of Confucius – Confucius Analects

07/31/2012
07/31/2012

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.

4 Comments/in Chinese Philosophy, Confucianism, Online Class, Spiritual Cultivation /by Derek
  • Dao De Jing 48 – Study gains vs. cultivate surrenders

Dao De Jing 48 – Study gains vs. cultivate surrenders

05/29/2012
05/29/2012

Study and one accumulates, cultivate (Dao) and one surrenders.

-> When we study in school, at home, in society, typically we acquire and accumulate information.  When we cultivate the Dao, on the other hand, we surrender our attachments and aversions.

Keep surrendering and one will arrive at non-doing.

-> In the beginning, the strong attachments of the someone is surrendered, e.g. attachment to feelings is surrendered, aversion to physical discomfort is surrendered, etc.  At a later stage, attachment to the “someone” and “someone doing” are surrendered, doing happening on its own without the notion of anyone claiming authorship and ownership. This is non-doing.

Not-doing and not not-doing.

-> Not-doing: no “one” doing. not not-doing: no “one” not doing.  Ordinary people just do and not-do; Advanced students align to not doing, masters neither do nor not-do.

Rule the world in non-doingness, if one perceive something to do, he is not sufficient to rule the world.

-> Be in the world in non-doingness.  In such state, all is perfect.  When attention is drawn back to the self and its perception, the notion of something to do arises, one becomes limited and not sufficient to rule the world (discordant from the universal rhythm of the Dao).

* * *

Chapter 48 Discussion:

This chapter outlines a key attitude in cultivation – surrenders.  In conventional study, one usually thinks of learning something, acquiring something, understanding something, and realizating something, and realizing something.  At a more advance stage, all of the above continues, yet no separate self drives or claims to drive the process.  All becomes part of the flow, with one merely agree to and allow the process to unfold.  Such is surrender.

Bilingual version of ch48:  https://www.lisiming.net/ddj34-52/

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

Contact

To conact Derek you can use the contact Form on the Contact Page.

Phone - (+86) 133 8714 8778

Links

  • Wudang Dao Institute

Recent Comments

  • Ricardo on Confucius Analects – Balance Work and Study
  • Derek on Dao De Jing core 33 chapters – completed!
  • Georgi Marinov on Dao De Jing core 33 chapters – completed!
  • Derek on Dao De Jing 2 – Dualistic nature of worldly standards, vs. non-dual lifestyle of sages

Recent Comments

  • Ricardo on Confucius Analects – Balance Work and Study
  • Derek on Dao De Jing core 33 chapters – completed!
  • Georgi Marinov on Dao De Jing core 33 chapters – completed!
  • Derek on Dao De Jing 2 – Dualistic nature of worldly standards, vs. non-dual lifestyle of sages
  • SKent on Diamond Sutra – the mystical presence of this Sutra
  • Sosiale medier – hvorfor markedsføre her? | tdidr on Autobiography of Confucius – Confucius Analects
  • tworzenie stron www kursy kraków on Happy Chinese New Year of the Horse!

Latest News

  • Health Tips during Virus Outbreak03/13/2020 - 11:25
  • lisiming.net01/12/2019 - 11:00
  • New Year01/01/2019 - 11:00
  • ZenZen Reality and Practice12/26/2017 - 19:36
  • Reference from Academia04/19/2015 - 15:35
  • US Tour 2014 – photo04/27/2014 - 12:51
  • practiceOnline Class – foundation course completed03/09/2014 - 10:56

Categories

  • Buddhist
  • Chinese Philosophy
  • Confucianism
  • Daoism
  • Health
  • News
  • Online Class
  • Spiritual Cultivation
  • Uncategorized
  • Wudang

Contact

To contact Derek you can use the Contact Form on the Contact Page.

© Copyright - Lisiming.net - Shimsy Website design