For Tuesday, please read through the selections from Confucian teaching (pp 111-144) in your Novak anthology. Choose one or two selections from Confucius that you think would be particularly useful reminders in American society today, some things worth learning from Confucian teaching. Explain why you think those ideas particularly important.
The first one I choose was one which may sound familiar (pg.127, Confucius Golden Rule). It reads just like Christianity's golden rule. I think more people need to follow this in today society. If you are treating others in a manner which you wouldn't want to be treated, why cause the other person the same type of grief.
ReplyDeleteThe second one says "a noble mind can see a question from all sides without bias. Small minds are biased and see a question only from one side.(pg.129) I like this one because in today's society the goal is to win at all cost. Many people look at things in black and white when the world is many many shades of grey. If we can see the other point of view, compromise becomes a whole lot easier. Working together instead of dividing everyone is more beneficial to all.
In todays age we're all looking out for #1 so therefore I think a good reminder would be "The good person does not grieve that other people do not recognize her merits. Her only anxiety is lest she should fail to recognize theirs." (p129) If we shine the light on others, it might come back to us.
ReplyDeleteBeing a teacher I also liked the part where he says, "Only one who bursts with eagerness do I instruct; only who bubbles with excitement, do I enlighten. If I hold up one corner and a student cannot come back to me with the other three, I do not continue the lesson." (p115) I don't know how this would work in our "no child left behind" classroom, but I get where he is coming from.
-John Vogel
Is the point that only the kids that want to learn, do?
DeleteOr is it that the teacher has to meet his students at their level and try to make the “waters rise?”
I surely don't know that answer, but can it be looked at that way?
I know some of my special students cannot hold up those other three corners of the “paper” that I have given them, and it is then that I must get down on the floor with them and help them find the rest of that paper. I have to try to teach what they don’t yet know, have forgotten, or maybe just can’t know or learn.
I remember a pupil in my World History class who was so badly brain damaged that the two things I could get him to remember was that Napoleon had a pretty hat, and my crowning achievement with him, was he knew Hitler was a bad man.
I found two that I think could be particularly helpful in today's society.
ReplyDeleteThe first is from page 129. "The Master said, [the good person] does not grieve that other people do not recognize her merits. Her only anxiety is lest she should fail to recognize theirs." I think this is important because in society today so many of us want others to recognize us for our accomplishments so badly that we often forget to congratulate others on theirs. There is such a push to be the first to this, or to be the best at that, that we often spend so much time trying to obtain our goals that we miss out on when others obtain their goals.
The second is from page 125. "The Master said, in serving his father and mother a man may gently remonstrate with them. But if he sees that he has failed to change their opinion, he should resume an attitude of deference and not thwart them; may feel discouraged, but not resentful." I feel this displays two important lessons for the price of one; honor your father and mother, and you can't expect everyone to see things the same way you do. I feel that honoring the family is important and often times worry that not enough emphasis is being placed upon it in American society anymore. Learning to respect our parents and elder family members is an important lesson in learning how to show respect to others around us. I also see the importance of allowing others to disagree with us. I'd be sadly mistaken if I thought that my parents shared every belief or conviction that i hold, and that's ok. The important thing is that both sides can defend their opinions in a way that shows that they have thought about the issue. This again is something that we learn in family life that we can take with us into the world as we grow up and move away from home.
“Pg 117 e. Integrity” explains that wanting nothing more than the essentials will bring happiness. I feel that America has forgotten this. We always want more and better items and are often disappointed when we do not receive them. If, instead, we did not expect more than water, “coarse food,” and a “bent arm for a pillow,” we would be more appreciative of the other, extra gifts that we earn or receive.
ReplyDeleteThe fourth paragraph in section “3. The Teacher” tells how Confucius would only teach exceptionally eager students. Many American high school students today do not get excited about learning and do not appreciate their teachers’ gifts of knowledge the way that they should. The paragraph also states, “If I hold up one corner and a student cannot come back to me with the other three, I do not continue the lesson.” Students today sometimes do not want to find the other “pieces;” they expect them to be told to them. Education is taken for granted, when it should be considered a privilege.
Confucius was a lover of the Ancients. He teaches that everyone should have a respect for age and that is a useful reminder. Children now-a-days have little to no respect for their elders. They ignore their advice, see them as useless and run around as if they didn’t pave the road for them. The young are disrespectful and I also believe that the fact that we have “private families” contributes to this. Confucius basically teaches the principle that it takes a village to raise a child. Every adult should keep an eye on every child to make sure he/she is provided for and doing the right thing. Adults should use all their energy to make sure everyone is taken care of. Grand Unity is what would be reached if everyone looked out for everyone. I believe that if this teaching was followed everyone would grow up respecting one another and crimes and “evil plotting” would be almost non-existent.
ReplyDeleteI noticed Forgiveness and Forbearance on pg 140. "If you loves other people, he himself becomes worthy of love; if one hates other people. he himself becomes worthy of hatred." I think that is something that should be taught to people today. I think that people judge prematurely and when they automatically hate someone, they don't understand why no one likes them. I think if it was taught that people who practice hate deserve to be hated, maybe it would cut dwn on some of the discrimination and hatred that exists today.
ReplyDeleteThe Learner:
ReplyDeleteThe Master said, To learn and at due time to repeat what one has learnt, is that not after all a pleasure?
For me the anticipation of this class was a wonderful, yet nervous wait, for I knew I wanted to be reading and learning again. It’s been a long time since I was studying in Rome in 1993, and I feared I might not have all that it takes to dust off the note taking gloves again. During the school year I am just so overwhelmed by papers of three levels of Latin and then Classical Mythology’s lectures as well as drama readings plus the class preparations that they entail, I just don’t get the time to do the intellectual or even pleasure reading I wish to consume. What a glorious change this class has given me.
The Teacher:
ReplyDeleteThe Master said, He who by reanimating the Old can gain knowledge of the New is fit to be a teacher.
Here again teaching Latin—“A dead Language, as dead as it can be. It killed all the Romans and now it’s killing me.” But I try to take this ancient idea and relate it to our modern language, grammar, and vocabulary. By trying to teach the nearly extinct skill of memorization I am trying to prepare kids for some of their college courses. By trying to teach the skill of reading cursive writing, I’m also working on a dying art.
The Rewards of Teaching in response to “As for unwearying effort to learn and unflagging patience in teaching others, those are merits I do not hesitate to claim”
ReplyDeleteThis is from and old essay of mine.
What are my rewards in teaching? After some musing on the subject, here is a list:
• One of my “boys” standing next to Pope John Paul II introducing young American candidates for the priesthood;
• The straight A pupil quietly asking after class, “Mr. Mick, I think, I’m starting tonight for varsity basketball, can you be there?”
• My student with cerebral palsy who cannot communicate with spoken words having tears streaming down his face, as I read the WWI poem by Wilfred Owen “Dulce et Decorum est.”
• One of my “girls” saying, “You seemed to like me and gave me hugs, when I didn’t know if I even liked myself. It was you that got me through high school.”
• Oh, yes, there are doctors, lawyers, and politicians, but there are also the waiters, teachers, mothers, and motel managers, too. However, being out in the barn with one of your former pupils, pulling a calf from a cow having trouble and watching it draw its first breath of life together, “What a rush!”
The Master said, ‘A noble mind can see a question from all sides without bias. Small minds are biased and see a question from only one side.’ Novak 129
ReplyDeleteIf more people, especially politicians, could follow this teaching life could be much better. But, but I understand that it is very difficult to follow this teaching since it is hard to separate oneself from emotions and emotions can certainly cause bias.
However, much bias comes from the arrogant position of – since I didn’t think of it, it has to be a bad idea. This shows itself very often in business when a subordinate brings forward a suggestion but the supervisor automatically blocks the suggestion as being untenable. The supervisor is afraid that if the idea is put forward the subordinate would get the credit and possibly be promoted over them. In politics this shows up as the parties being unable to support a bill from the other party because it would make it look like that opposite party had better ideas.
The other teaching I liked was this:
The Master said, ‘I have listened in silence and noted what was said, I have never grown tired of learning nor wearied of teaching others what I have learnt. These at least are merits which I can confidently claim.’ Novack 115
I liked this one because I feel it talks directly to me. I have never grown tired of learning new things or of sharing (teaching) what I have learned with others. Knowledge has no value unless it is shared.
I chose passage 4. Glimpse of His Character C. Humility and Candor to respond to and relate to contemporary Western life. The first stanza talks about seeing one’s own faults, identifying them and fixing that problem internally.
ReplyDeleteI don’t live a Buddhist life for the most part but this reminded me of an ancient Grandpa proverb: “When you decide to start pointing fingers, remember that there are three pointing back at you.” This is something that I do live by (or try to). America is a nation of sniveling whiners, where nothing is our fault and someone else is always to blame. We are sue happy. I need a million dollars because I spilt my coffee in my own lap, but you didn’t tell me it’s hot so it’s your fault McD’s. Americans need to quit looking externally for why things happen. Look at those three fingers pointing back at you.
Stanza two I’ll summarize by relating it to the Serenity Prayer. God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. This is the Christian version of knowledge, not too far off from what Buddha is saying here.
Third stanza is a little harder for me. I’m confused by the exclamation point at the end. “Heaven does not speak!” but metaphorically he talks about the seasons changing and the animals being born without a word from heaven, but I’d say these are the words of heaven without being spoke. So is the exclamation point sarcastic? If so then this line too would be comparable to Christina teachings. If not, then this doesn’t translate well with Western Religion since God speaks to a lot of people in many ways. Sometimes even in spoken word.
The Master said, in serving his father and mother a man may gently remonstrate with them. But if he sees that he has failed to change their opinion, he should resume an attitude of deference and not thwart them, may feel discouraged, but not resentful. Many children, of all ages, should remember this. In today's society, we are very disrespectful. If we think we are right, then we make a major point of telling people so. Being right is the utmost importance to a majority of society today.
ReplyDeleteThe Master said, in serving his father and mother a man may gently remonstrate with them. But if he sees that he has failed to change their opinion, he should resume an attitude of deference and not thwart them, may feel discouraged, but not resentful. Many children, of all ages, should remember this. In today's society, we are very disrespectful. If we think we are right, then we make a major point of telling people so. Being right is the utmost importance to a majority of society today.
ReplyDeleteThere is a passage in section 13 (pg.129) that says:
ReplyDelete"Tzu-kung asked about the truly human being. The Master said, He does not preach what he practices till he has practiced what he preaches."
I believe this is wisdom that has transcended the years, and is still sound advice for anyone. To tell others to follow certain directions, or a certain path, or just blowing smoke when you don't or haven't followed your own advice is borderline hypocrisy/dishonesty, not to mention ignorance. If a man truly means what he says, then he has to have been through trials first hand, able to share those errors that he's come by, if any. If there isn't any experience behind the advice or instruction, then how much credibility can their word have?
Furthermore, one tends to fall short on faith in those who spew empty promises about their convictions repeatedly.
"The path for learning greatness is to illuminate the goodness in man, to bring out what is best in people, and to achieve the highest excellence. Once the true point of departure on this path is found, thought becomes clear. A calm imperturbability yields the tranquility needed for careful deliberation. That deliberation will achieve the desired goal." This shows that it is more effective to reward morality, rather than legislate against it. If you start at that small seed you will get a better tree. "Things have their roots and their branches. Affairs have their ends and their beginnings. To know what is first and what is last will lead near to what is taught in The Great Learning." To look back at history and find the pattern that looks most like the current situation will lead to the best solution. I believe these things are truly missing in this country. We have a feeling that only we are right and therefore we have to impose on everyone else our morality, instead of nurturing the morality that leads to cultural success. We build enmity between groups in this way rather than listening to what we each have to say. Also, our general view of history is not to find an answer, but is rather a source for entertainment. This is probably why the History Channel runs Ancient Aliens stuff.
ReplyDeleteMy first choice would be the (universal?,"(11b) Confucius's Golden Rule: Tzu-kung asked saying, Is there any single saying that one can act upon all day and everyday? The Master said, Perhaps the saying about consideration: Never do to others what you would not like them to do to you" (pg127). This is taught in the Bible as well, just different wording, never-the-less this is something Americans and all humanity should take heed and practice; maybe then we'd have a little less war!?
ReplyDeleteSecondly, I chose, "(15a) Music, Harmony, and Virtues" because of the appreciation of music, encouragement to be transformed by music, and his view of music as something spiritual. Of course, being a musician adds bias to my choice but just think about some of these choice statements: "Music rises from the human heart when the human heart is touched by the external world... Character is the backbone of our human nature, and music is the flowering of character... The poem gives expression to our heart, the song gives expression to our voice, and the dance gives expression to our movements. These three arts take their rise from the human soul, and then are given further expressions by means of the musical instruments" (pg131-132). If only people could learn to express themselves solely through these arts; how peaceful a world we might have.
"The Root of Social Transformation is Self-Transformation"
ReplyDeleteI find this one particularly interesting because the explanation of it ties in with the conservative idea (and title of a Rick Santorum publication) "It takes a family to raise a child". This is saying that the family is the foundation of a state which is the foundation of the nation, but self-esteem plays a key role in this too. A person can define who their family is (in most cases), and depending on how one establishes their self, social change or maintenance starts with the individual's personality.
This can also be used widely despite political affiliation; change comes from the individual, and some change can rapidly spread throughout various foundations of environment. If I were to have a family and rear them up in the teachings of Confucianism, I'd be representative of where I live, and there would be some impact of my family and beliefs.
I also highly regard the Forgiveness and Forbearance portion- "if one loves, they are worthy of love; if one hates, they deserve hatred." I wish there were more to this portion, but the title and opening speak to me, because I really wish I had the strength to forgive.
I will admit- when I forgive someone, it is one of the best feelings in the world. But in my heart, I may be upset with others even over the smallest things, and I despise them for making me feel low, even if that were not their intent. As of right now, there's a balance for me. I give love and compassion to people, yet at the same time, I bear hatred (though I do not want to call it hate).
According to this portion, it is rightfully so that I deserve hate. I cannot necessarily use love to cancel out the hate, or find the right balance.
I pray someday that I find the will to forgive.
(off subject here) In the film "Into the Wild", the character of Ron Franz says to Chris McCandless "When you forgive, you love. And when you love, God's light shines on you." . . . . I love that quote.