yesterday i watched a show that got me thinking alot....i mean this post is going to be about confucious....it might be boring and very cheena for some...so reader warning alert.

we always feel that confucianism(dunno how to spell la) is some dusty crackpot thing that we will never associate with. but strangely, yestd the show actually deciphered the meanings and the implementations of one of his books which is 论语...it speaks about the central idea of an open heart and open mind.

below are some highlights:

a student of confucious once asked him, "how do you sum up your teachings in one simple word that we may use in every aspects of our lives?"

that word is 恕(shu4)...meaning to be 宽容....cheem no?

well, it's actually very simple.

- do not force others to do what you do not wish to do, and do more of those things that make you happy in life.

- in life we are inevitably affected by different people: marraige problems, betrayal amongst friends etc. and day in and day out we think about revenge, getting back at them, spreading wildfires.however, by doing so, we are actually tormenting ourselves and making these problems a shadow in our lives. once we open our hearts and forgive them, forgive yourself and the situation- naturally the problem becomes very small. and you can walk in the light again.

there was this buddhist story mentioned by the speaker which i think is very meaningful that reflects the above point subtlely yet profoundly.

there was this novice monk and a elder monk who was trekking across the forest. they met a stream and saw a young lady wanting to cross but she was afraid because the river flow was very fast. the elder monk saw and offered his help to piggback her over and he did just that. the novice monk was surprised because as we all know, monks must not have physical contact with the opposite sex. so he held his silence until after 20 miles later, he couldn't find any logical reason and when his tolerance is almost reached, he asked the elder monk, "aren't monks prohibited from having contact with the opposite sex?" then elder monk didn't explain or defend himself, instead, he said,"i only carried her across the river, but it seems that you have carried her for 20miles."

- being benevolent, is not some big thing afterall...everyone can be benevolent. confucious's idea about helping people is - 如果你要成功，你也就要帮别人立起来。it means to not forget about others whilst in your personal pursuit. it means to help people most immediate to you...downstairs there is this ah ma who can't bend down to pick something, you help her to pick up...that itself is already benevolence. to help the most needy people, at their most needy time regardless of their motives or background.

如果你有宽容一心，你就会给自己留下一个海阔天空。

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yeah....做的事情，要对得起自己的良心，要做的光明正当。真正的圣贤教导，不是疏远陌生， 而是将一种能让百众容易理解的生活道理。过了2000年，孔夫子的意思将仍然清晰明确。

在我的生活中，我很感谢教导我的人。 有了他们，我才认得以上所说的道理- 其实，我们每一个人都了解这些“论语”，但是因为一时的错失，一丝的自私还有别人的影响，让我们忘了以前父母所教导我们的简单道理。

大家，做人要持之以恒，会衡量，不要不自量力，自我中心。抱着宽恕一心过不忧不欲得开心生活

it's good to be poor and not suck up to the rich and powerful and just as good to be rich and not be proud and arrogant.

but confucious said that a even higher level, is to be poor yet happy and contented. that way, a person will exude a sparkling joy that cannot be taken away from him, and he also influences those around him. that...is what life is all about.