The highest good is like water.
Water gives life to the ten thousand things and does not strive.
It flows in places men reject and so is like the Tao.
In dwelling.. be close to the land.
In meditation.. go deep in the heart.
In dealing with others.. be gentle and kind.
In speech.. be true.
In ruling.. be just.
In business.. be competent.
In action.. watch the timing.
No fight; no blame.
Accept disgrace willingly.
Accept misfortune as the human condition.
What do you mean by `accept disgrace willingly'?
Accept being unimportant.
Do not be concerned with loss or gain.
This is called `accepting disgrace willingly.'
What do you mean by `accept misfortune as the human condition?'
Misfortune comes from having a body.
Without a body.. how could there be misfortune?
Surrender yourself humbly; then you can be trusted to care for all things.
Love the world as your own self; then you can truly care for all things.
CONFUCIUS - THE MEAN
"The way of the superior man may be found, in its simple elements, in the intercourse of common men and women; but in its utmost reaches, it shines brightly through Heaven and earth.
The Master said "The path is not far from man. When men try to pursue a course, which is far from the common indications of consciousness, this course cannot be considered The Path.
When one cultivates to the utmost the principles of his nature, and exercises them on the principle of reciprocity, he is not far from the path.
What you do not like when done to yourself, do not do to others.
In the way of the superior man there are four things, to not one of which have I as yet attained.-To serve my father, as I would require my son to serve me: to this I have not attained; to serve my prince as I would require my minister to serve me: to this I have not attained; to serve my elder brother as I would require my younger brother to serve me: to this I have not attained; to set the example in behaving to a friend, as I would require him to behave to me: to this I have not attained.
Earnest in practicing the ordinary virtues, and careful in speaking about them, if, in his practice, he has anything defective, the superior man dares not but exert himself; and if, in his words, he has any excess, he dares not allow himself such license. Thus his words have respect to his actions, and his actions have respect to his words; is it not just an entire sincerity which marks the superior man?"
THE BUDDHA
"True wisdom can be acquired by practice only.
Practise the truth that your brother is the same as you.
Walk in the noble path of righteousness and thou wilt understand that while there is death in self, there is immortality in truth."
"The Master taught them that the Dhamma is for all, and for you householders, There is especially the rule of doing to others what you would have others do to you, and refraining from doing to others what you would not have others do to you.
You will say to yourselves: "Here I am, fond of life and not wanting to die, fond of pleasure and averse to pain. If anyone should attempt to take my life from me, or inflict pain upon me, that would not be pleasing to me, and if I were to rob someone else of life, or inflict pain, that likewise would not be pleasing to him."
Therefore you will say to yourselves: "How then could I inflict pain upon another?" As a result of such reflection you will abstain from taking life of anything, or inflicting pain on any living creature. And you will do the same as regards thieving, adultery, lying, idle speech, slander, harsh and uncharitable words. For you could not inflict these things upon others when you would not have them inflicted upon yourself."
