FOR A QUICK CHANGE OF PACE :O) The “ANALECTS OF CONFUCIUS” (551-479 BCE)
When Mari and I were travelling in China (years ago it seems now) I picked up a special, boxed two volume copy of Confucius’ “Analects” (Collected Teachings). It makes for fascinating – and challenging – reading. I’ll offer here a few examples. The thing to remember is that Confucius was a humble teacher, the very first real “educator” in ancient China. He started the very first real “school”. He never held any “official” academic position, but he is still revered throughout China as a very, if not the, wisest man of all. He is “down home” clever and wise.
Book 1.1 The Master said “Is it not pleasant to learn and to review constantly what one has learned? Is it not delightful to have friends coming from a far? Is he not a superior man, who feels no disconnect though others do not know him?”
1:3 The Master said: “Honey words and flattering looks seldom speak of human-heartedness.“
1:16 The Master said: “I do not worry about others not knowing me; what I worry about is that I do not know others.”
2:9 The Master said: “I can talk with Hui for a whole day without his ever differing from me. He seems to be stupid. But when he is not with me I examine his conduct and find that he is able to illustrate my teachings. He is by no means stupid.”
2:12 The Master said: “The superior man is not like a utensil, which only has one specific use.”
2:17 The Master said: “I shall teach you what wisdom is. When you know a thing, say that you know it. When you do not know a thing, admit that you do not know it.”
2:20 The Master said: “Treat people with dignity, then they will respect you. Show piety to your parents and kindness to your children, then they will be loyal to you. Promote good and teach the incompetent, then they will seek to be virtuous.”
3:26 “The Master said: High officers without magnanimity; ceremonies performed without reverence, mourning conducted without grief: how can I0 bear see such things. “
4:9 “The Master said: The scholar whose heart is set on the truth, but who is still ashamed of poor clothes and bad food, is not worth discussing truth with.”
4:17 “The Master said: When we see a man of virtue and talent, we should think of equaling them; when we see a man of contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.”
6:15 “The Master said: Meng Zhifan does not boast himself. He was the last in the flight from the enemy. But when his men neared the city gate, he whipped his horse, saying “It was not that I dared to be last. My horse would not gallop.”
7:11 “The Master said: “I will not take such a man who will attack a tiger unarmed, or cross a river without a boat, not caring whether he lived or died. I should take the man who acts with caution and can succeed by strategy. “
7:33 “The Master said: As for cultural knowledge, perhaps I am equal to other men, but as to carrying out the duties of a superior man in actual life, I have not yet attained.”
7:34 “The Master said: As to being a sage or a man of perfect virtue, how dare I lay such a claim? It may simply be said of me that I learn without unflagging efforts and teach others without weariness.”
Thus did KUNGFU follow “The Way.”