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.
While never achieving great success in Life, Confucius is
remembered as one of the great teachers of all mankind.
In the great learning he points to the interconnectedness of
all things. A good ruler requires an ordered state, family, an ordered self, a rectified
heart, sincerity of thought, and the extension of knowledge from the
investigation of things. One thing leads to another. When all are in harmony,
the kingdom is successful.
When asked to explain
in one word how we should live, he answered Reciprocity
a basic principle of Confucian ethics that says not to do
to others what you would not want them to do to you.
The teachings of Confucius can generally be summarized in
the five virtues
Ren: Benevolence, charity and humanity
Yi: honesty and uprightness
Zhi: Knowledge
Xin: faithfulness and integrity
Li: correct behavior, propriety, good manners, politeness,
ceremony, worship
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