This Q and A session is for the previous post on Lunyu.
How actually did Confucius find out about the government of a country he was visiting?
This ability is not limited to Confucius alone. All sages and evolved persons have this ability of knowing whats happening around them. It comes from being in touch with the world. When we're in touch with our world we can have meaningful exchange with it, we know how to act in a given situation, and how to communicate with other people. In this way we're able to see and understand more about our world than we normally would. We rarely stay in touch with our world because all our attention is focused on ourself.
What is meant by meaningful exchange with the world? I thought we're having exchanges with the world every single moment we're awake.
Yes, correct. We're having exchanges with the world all the time but it's not whole hearted engagement. Sometimes we deal with the world grudgingly, we don't want to be in a certain situation, we want to fast forward to the episodes we like. Sometimes, we encounter something we like and we hold on to it, refusing to let go. We don't want or don't know how to interact with other people, instead we like to build a shield around us. In this way we're not having a genuine interaction with our world, we only want the world to fit into our expectations, refusing to see what's expected from us, what our roles are. This self absorption limits our awareness and knowledge. In simple term, it means we don't know how to live.
This sounds like the Buddhist concept of aversion and clinging.
If something is true, it must be recognized by all sages. Only the way of explaining it differs. In Buddhist terms, aversion and clinging bind you to the concept of your tiny self, making you unable to perceive the whole truth. According to Daoism, the emotions of hate and greed drain your energy and without sufficient energy your body and mind can't evolve. Confucius looked at it from a layman's point of view - without having a proper relationship with the world around us, we cant live a happy life.
Do we cultivate the five qualities (cordial, kind, courteous, moderate and differential) to become a sage or, are the five qualities the result of attainment?
They are the result of having arrived at right understanding. We know how the world functions and we act in the most appropriate manner and it manifests as being cordial, kind, courteous, moderate and differential. Of course, it could go the other way - you've not really understood and you use them as a guide to reach true understanding.
Isn't that being hypocritical? One is still a petty person but try to act like a sage.
We all learn by imitation when we're small. It's a good way to learn if you're not the type who like to ponder too much. In a way it's not being genuine; but I guess it's OK if you're fully aware that you only imitating and don't claim to be a full blown sage. An honest hypocrite isn't really that bad, is he? We have to start somewhere.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Friday, March 23, 2007
Lunyu 1.10 - 1.12
[1:10]
子禽問於子貢曰：「夫子至於是邦也，
必聞其政，求之與？抑與之與？」
Zi Qin asking Zi Gong said, "Master when arrived at a state,
unfailingly know about it's government, does he inquire? Is he informed?"
[1:11]
子貢曰：「夫子溫﹑良﹑恭﹑儉﹑讓, 以得之。
夫子之求之也，其諸異乎人之求之與！」
Zi Gong said, "Master is cordial, kind, courteous, moderate and differential, therefore he obtained (information).
Confucius' way of asking, is totally different from other people's way of asking!"
[1.12]
子曰：「父在，觀其志；父沒，觀其行；
三年無改於父之道，可謂孝矣。」
Confucius said, "Father when present, observe his aspiration; father when
departed observe his conduct;
For three years if he does not depart from the father's way, he can be considered as filial.
Notes
[1.10] One of Confucius' disciples ask another about the special ability of their master. When Confucius arrived at a country where he had not set foot before, he invariably knew about it's administration. Zi Qin wanted to know how Confucius obtained these information.
[1.11] Zi Gong provided the answer. He enumerated a list of qualities which he thought had endeared Confucius to the strangers he met in his travels. By projecting a kind and sincere attitude, people who came in contact with Confucius invariably caught on to this positive mood which fostered genuine communication.
[1:12] In ancient China, the rules of society was such that a son must obey his father. When he's alive the son wouldn't dare to act against his father wishes; the only way to know his character is through his aspirations. After the father is dead, the son could do whatever he wants so his actions would reveal if he's filial.
This sentence could be read as a response to Zi Gong's praise in 1:11. Confucius wanted to set the record straight - that he did not purposely put on an act to endear himself to strangers, that he had behaved consistently both at home and abroad. Instead of explaining this directly, he used a more subtle approach of talking about a different subject which has the same underlying theme - that of behaving consistently. In effect, Confucius was saying - "Look at my behavior now, and observe my conduct when I'm abroad. If you can't see any difference, then you have to admit that I've been filial to my true self at all times."
子禽問於子貢曰：「夫子至於是邦也，
必聞其政，求之與？抑與之與？」
Zi Qin asking Zi Gong said, "Master when arrived at a state,
unfailingly know about it's government, does he inquire? Is he informed?"
[1:11]
子貢曰：「夫子溫﹑良﹑恭﹑儉﹑讓, 以得之。
夫子之求之也，其諸異乎人之求之與！」
Zi Gong said, "Master is cordial, kind, courteous, moderate and differential, therefore he obtained (information).
Confucius' way of asking, is totally different from other people's way of asking!"
[1.12]
子曰：「父在，觀其志；父沒，觀其行；
三年無改於父之道，可謂孝矣。」
Confucius said, "Father when present, observe his aspiration; father when
departed observe his conduct;
For three years if he does not depart from the father's way, he can be considered as filial.
Notes
[1.10] One of Confucius' disciples ask another about the special ability of their master. When Confucius arrived at a country where he had not set foot before, he invariably knew about it's administration. Zi Qin wanted to know how Confucius obtained these information.
[1.11] Zi Gong provided the answer. He enumerated a list of qualities which he thought had endeared Confucius to the strangers he met in his travels. By projecting a kind and sincere attitude, people who came in contact with Confucius invariably caught on to this positive mood which fostered genuine communication.
[1:12] In ancient China, the rules of society was such that a son must obey his father. When he's alive the son wouldn't dare to act against his father wishes; the only way to know his character is through his aspirations. After the father is dead, the son could do whatever he wants so his actions would reveal if he's filial.
This sentence could be read as a response to Zi Gong's praise in 1:11. Confucius wanted to set the record straight - that he did not purposely put on an act to endear himself to strangers, that he had behaved consistently both at home and abroad. Instead of explaining this directly, he used a more subtle approach of talking about a different subject which has the same underlying theme - that of behaving consistently. In effect, Confucius was saying - "Look at my behavior now, and observe my conduct when I'm abroad. If you can't see any difference, then you have to admit that I've been filial to my true self at all times."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)