adept Posted December 6, 2010 (edited) The teachings of the Confucian sages are a joy to read and contemplate. They have much relevance to family life and working together in society. The Great Learning What the great learning teaches, is to illustrate illustrious virtue; to renovate the people; and to rest in the highest excellence. The point where to rest being known, the object of pursuit is then determined; and, that being determined, a calm unperturbedness may be attained to. To that calmness there will succeed a tranquil repose. In that repose there may be careful deliberation, and that deliberation will be followed by the attainment of the desired end. Things have their root and their branches. Affairs have their end and their beginning. To know what is first and what is last will lead near to what is taught in the Great Learning. The ancients who wished to illustrate illustrious virtue throughout the kingdom, first ordered well their own states. Wishing to order well their states, they first regulated their families. Wishing to regulate their families, they first cultivated their persons. Wishing to cultivate their persons, they first rectified their hearts. Wishing to rectify their hearts, they first sought to be sincere in their thoughts. Wishing to be sincere in their thoughts, they first extended to the utmost their knowledge. Such extension of knowledge lay in the investigation of things. Things being investigated, knowledge became complete. Their knowledge being complete, their thoughts were sincere. Their thoughts being sincere, their hearts were then rectified. Their hearts being rectified, their persons were cultivated. Their persons being cultivated, their families were regulated. Their families being regulated, their states were rightly governed. Their states being rightly governed, the whole kingdom was made tranquil and happy. From the Son of Heaven down to the mass of the people, all must consider the cultivation of the person the root of everything besides. It cannot be, when the root is neglected, that what should spring from it will be well ordered. It never has been the case that what was of great importance has been slightly cared for, and, at the same time, that what was of slight importance has been greatly cared for. Edited December 6, 2010 by adept Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Simple_Jack Posted December 6, 2010 Ah yes, Confucianism.....there are many things from that philosophy that can help cultivators. You'll notice it (as all religions do) talks of watching/improving your behaviour. In the road of cultivation it all comes down to improving your behaviour in the world. This is related link from an interview on Nan Huai Chin: http://www.presencing.com/dol/interviews/Nan-1999.shtml It goes into a bit of Confucian philosophy and other stuff. A very good article. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rene Posted December 6, 2010 Simple Jack, thanks for that link; Adept, thanks for starting the topic. I enjoy reading about the ways of others. (-: warm regards Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marblehead Posted December 7, 2010 I'm going to keep quiet because of the usage of this word in the article: regulated 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dawei Posted December 7, 2010 (edited) I'm going to keep quiet because of the usage of this word in the article: regulated Legge's translation is widely quoted. Muller used the word "harmonize" which I think is better. The word means to make uniform, equal, set in order or in good order. Here is the original character, what feeling do you get? Oracle Bone >> Seal >> Traditional >> Simplified >> >> >> Edited December 7, 2010 by dawei Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
