20 world religions and faith practices 235

Robyn Lebron The order of development that Confucius set forth is as follows: investigation of phenomena, learning, sincerity and rectitude of purpose, self-development, family discipline, local self-government, and universal self-government ͵Ǥ Š‡ ‘…–”‹‡ ‘ˆ –Š‡ ‡ƒǤ This work deals with the relationship of human nature to the order of the universe This is considered by many to be one of its most valuable treatises It consists of a collection of sayings of Confucius characterizing the man of perfect virtue Authorship is uncertain but part of it may be attributed to Confucius’s grandson Tzu-Ssu ͶǤ Š‡ ‘‘ ‘ˆ ‡…‹—•Ǥ Mencius wrote the first exposition of Confucian thought about 300 bc, by collecting earlier teachings and attempting to put them down systematically This work, which has had great influence and gives an idealistic view of life, stresses the goodness of human nature Confucianism’s doctrines can be summarized by six key terms or ways: ͳǤ ‡ ‹• –Š‡ ‰‘Ž†‡ ”—Ž‡Ǥ All those virtues that help maintain social harmony and peace, like benevolence, charity, magnanimity, sincerity, respectfulness, altruism, diligence, loving kindness, goodness, are included in Jen The rule of reciprocity, that is to say, not anything to others that you would not have them to you Tzu-Kung asked, “• –Š‡”‡ ƒ •‹‰Ž‡ ™‘”† –Šƒ– …ƒ „‡ ƒ ‰—‹†‡ –‘ …‘†—…– –Š”‘—‰Š‘—– ‘‡ǯ• Ž‹ˆ‡ǫ ’ The master said, “– ‹• ’‡”Šƒ’• –Š‡ ™‘”† •Š—Ǥ ‘ ‘– ‹’‘•‡ ‘ ‘–Š‡”• ™Šƒ– ›‘— ›‘—”•‡Žˆ †‘ ‘– †‡•‹”‡Ǥ” The nearest equivalent to this difficult word is social virtue ʹǤ Š—Ǧ–œ— –Š‡ ‰‡–Ž‡ƒ Chun-tzu can be translated as true manhood, the superior man, and man-at-his-best The teachings of Confucius were aimed toward the gentleman, the man of virtue Confucius had this to say about the gentleman: “‡ ™Š‘ ‹ –Š‹• ™‘”Ž† …ƒ ’”ƒ…–‹…‡ ˆ‹˜‡ –Š‹‰• ƒ› ‹†‡‡† „‡ …‘•‹†‡”‡† ƒǦƒ–ǦŠ‹•Ǧ„‡•–ǣ —‹Ž‹–›ǡ ƒ‰ƒ‹‹–›ǡ •‹…‡”‹–›ǡ †‹Ž‹‰‡…‡ǡ ƒ† ‰”ƒ…‹‘—•‡••Ǥ ˆ ›‘— ƒ”‡ Š—„Ž‡ǡ ›‘— ™‹ŽŽ‘–„‡Žƒ—‰Š‡†ƒ–Ǥˆ›‘—ƒ”‡ƒ‰ƒ‹‘—•ǡ›‘— ~ 234 ~