The Analects

I have recently joined a self-study group learning the Analects of Confucius. We meet each week to discuss and contemplate the ancient teachings written down and passed on to this modern generation.

One of my study partners told me he believed, without reservation, that the Analects were absolutely the best teachings for learning the propriety of human interaction and relationships, which are so desperately out of balance in this chaotic world. Struggling in this vain for as long as I can recall, I hope this new approach will give me a solid foundation upon which to live my life.

Having attended only one class, I am already inspired and happy. Though I am the only westerner, I have a good translation (Dover, unabridged, from 1911), and we work together to help each other learn, sharing our understanding as we go. This style of interactive class in and of itself seems to be the essence of what Confucius was trying to convey. Benevolence. Helping our fellow man. That sort of thing.

Though on the surface the sayings and teachings seem very simple, i.e. choose a place to live that has benevolence, when I think about my daily life and use these concepts as a sieve through which to filter the happenings of the day, they take on a much more profound and deep meaning. I truly love doing so. I feel like I am learning something truly useful.

The quote that inspires me the most this week is, only a benevolent person is qualified to like or dislike people. Reflecting on this I see it relates to me because I am full of self-righteousness and judgment of others. I go through the week, always reminding myself on this point.

It usually happens like: whenever someone is rude to me or disturbs the 'peace' I so treasure, often by blocking my way walking on the sidewalk, or being extra-noisy, I not only hate them from the bottom of my heart, I dub them terrible evil people. Whether their 'evilness' is true or not, I am not able to say, I do have not a benevolent heart to see peoples' character clearly. It is only how they affect me on which I have judged them, not their qualities as a human being.

What is true is that all these thoughts waste so much time and cause my mind to be filled with chaos; like a small black hole whose gravity I cannot escape, all the anger was just harming my own original nature and making me hate life. Though my false judgment issue does not disappear, it does seem to quiet down and I have a much more peaceful week. At least I know the problem is mine and not all these 'evildoers' on the outside.

Now when I get angry at others so-called 'wronging' of me, I think of this line from the Analects, and remember it is just that; my anger.

thank you Confucius.