The teachings of Shri Confucius

 The teachings of Shri Confucius

Self-discipline

The teachings of Confucius are still actively practiced around the world and reforming societies through education. The Noble, he says, is not a Saint; Saints are born and remain such, whilst people become Noble thanks to self-education. His task is education, not contemplation.

His aim is the Noble, not the Saint: 

“A man of noble mind can acquire a culture by assiduous study and by observing the ancient norms he gives it a complete order”

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Research of Balance

“The Centre as such only respects two extremes; knowing the two extremes, the Centre will be known as an harmonic point between them. Centre is that state in which neither hope nor rage, neither pain nor happiness will be felt.”

“Harmony is the state in which these feelings are manifested, but totally obey to the right rhythm.”

“The Constant Middle is the maximum, the apex and the summit, and is few the men who are capable to keep to them for long.”

“Balance is the norm of the Heaven. Reaching it is the norm of man. This balance devoid of constrictions is the mean, which means reaching it without struggling. The superior man put the norm of the middle into practice without difficulties.”

“There are those who get the balance in one hit and who get it in 100 hits. There are those who succeed in 10 hits and who in 1000. This rule is certainly accessible to men. So the ignorant will be able to become clever and the weak strong.”

Right Action

Action together with study are for Confucius the ways that lead man towards the Constant Middle, because the knowledge has sense only if it is transformed in effective practice:

“It's necessary to know the point where we need to stop. The point at which to arrive.  Knowing it, you can be quiet and obtain peace. Obtaining peace, it is possible to take decisions. After taking decisions, it is possible to act.”

“Who respects the principles of his nature is not far from the norm. Nor he is far from the norm, who behaves with others in the way he would others behave with him.”