Primary Source Readings 2 Table of Contents Analects of Confucius 170 Confucius Doctrine of the Mean 182 Lao Tzu Tao Te Ching 196 Bhagavad Gita 234 Buddha The Word 253 Book of Job 290 Gospel of John 302 Holy Koran Opening and The Cow 337 Rumi Love Poems and Discourses 358 Meister Eckhart Light Live and Love 374 358 169 ANALECTS Confucius http www sacred texts com cfu conf1 htm 1 The Master Is it not pleasant to learn with a constant perseverance and application Is it not delightful to have friends coming from distant quarters Is he not a man of complete virtue who feels no discomposure though men may take no note of him The philosopher Yu said They are few who being filial and fraternal are fond of offending against their superiors There have been none who not liking to offend against their superiors have been fond of stirring up confusion The superior man bends his attention to what is radical That being established all practical courses naturally grow up Filial piety and fraternal submission are they not the root of all benevolent actions The Master said Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue The philosopher Tsang said I daily examine myself on three points whether in transacting business for others I may have been not faithful whether in intercourse with friends I may have been not sincere whether I may have not mastered and practiced the instructions of my teacher The Master said To rule a country of a thousand chariots there must be reverent attention to business and sincerity economy in expenditure and love for men and the employment of the people at the proper seasons The Master said A youth when at home should be filial and abroad respectful to his elders He should be earnest and truthful He should overflow in love to all and cultivate the friendship of the good When he has time and opportunity after the performance of these things he should employ them in polite studies Tsze hsia said If a man withdraws his mind from the love of beauty and applies it as sincerely to the love of the virtuous if in serving his parents he can exert his utmost strength if in 170 serving his prince he can devote his life if in his intercourse with his friends his words are sincere although men say that he has not learned I will certainly say that he has The Master said If the scholar be not grave he will not call forth any veneration and his learning will not be solid Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles Have no friends not equal to yourself When you have faults do not fear to abandon them The philosopher Tsang said Let there be a careful attention to perform the funeral rites to parents and let them be followed when long gone with the ceremonies of sacrifice then the virtue of the people will resume its proper excellence Tsze ch in asked Tsze kung saying When our master comes to any country he does not fail to learn all about its government Does he ask his information or is it given to him Tsze kung said Our master is benign upright courteous temperate and complaisant and thus he gets his information The master s mode of asking information is it not different from that of other men The Master said While a man s father is alive look at the bent of his will when his father is dead look at his conduct If for three years he does not alter from the way of his father he may be called filial The philosopher Yu said In practicing the rules of propriety a natural ease is to be prized In the ways prescribed by the ancient kings this is the excellent quality and in things small and great we follow them Yet it is not to be observed in all cases If one knowing how such ease should be prized manifests it without regulating it by the rules of propriety this likewise is not to be done The philosopher Yu said When agreements are made according to what is right what is spoken can be made good When respect is shown according to what is proper one keeps far from shame and disgrace When the parties upon whom a man leans are proper persons to be intimate with he can make them his guides and masters The Master said He who aims to be a man of complete virtue in his food does not seek to gratify his appetite nor in his dwelling place does he seek the appliances of ease he is earnest in what he is doing and careful in his speech he frequents the company of men of 171 principle that he may be rectified such a person may be said indeed to love to learn Tsze kung said What do you pronounce concerning the poor man who yet does not flatter and the rich man who is not proud The Master replied They will do but they are not equal to him who though poor is yet cheerful and to him who though rich loves the rules of propriety Tsze kung replied It is said in the Book of Poetry As you cut and then file as you carve and then polish The meaning is the same I apprehend as that which you have just expressed The Master said With one like Ts ze I can begin to talk about the odes I told him one point and he knew its proper sequence The Master said I will not be afflicted at men s not knowing me I will be afflicted that I do not know men 2 The Master said He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it The Master said In the Book of Poetry are three hundred pieces but the design of them all may be embraced in one sentence Having no depraved thoughts The Master said If the people be led by laws and uniformity sought to be given them by punishments they will try to avoid the punishment but have no sense of shame If they be led by virtue and uniformity sought to be given them by the rules of propriety they will have the sense of shame and moreover will become good The Master said At fifteen I had my mind bent on learning At thirty I stood firm At forty I had no doubts At fifty I knew the decrees of Heaven At sixty my ear was an obedient organ for the reception of truth At seventy I could follow what my heart desired without transgressing what was right Mang I asked what filial piety was The Master said It is not being disobedient Soon after as Fan Ch ih was driving him the Master told him 172 saying Mang sun asked me what filial piety was and I answered him not being disobedient Fan Ch ih said What did you mean The …