Personal growth: Confucius’ approach to inner freedom September 21, 2017
Posted by Dennis Mellersh in Goal Setting and Realization.Tags: Confucius, inspiration, life, philosophy, psychology, self-actualization, writing
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For Confucius, at least some of the character traits we would likely think of as relatively benign must have seemed to him like physical restraints.
Consider the language Confucius uses in this passage from The Analects:
“The Master had freed himself of four things: idle speculation, certainty, inflexibility, and conceit.” (1)
“Freedom” from “things.”
Perhaps if we thought of the personal faults we are trying to eliminate in less abstract terms and more as physical shackles or barriers, we might gain more satisfaction from our self-improvement achievements.
(1) As translated and quoted in David Hinton’s Book, The Four Chinese Classics
—Dennis Mellersh
Learning from Confucius: The need for daily self-analysis May 7, 2017
Posted by Dennis Mellersh in Concept of personal development.Tags: Confucius, inspiration, life, personal development, personal development potential, personal growth, philosophy, writing
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By Dennis Mellersh
Rigorously learning a plan of personal development and self-improvement, no matter how thorough and profound it is, will not benefit us much if we aren’t honest in our self-appraisal.
If we are not truthful with ourselves, with our inner commitment, in terms of what we are doing outwardly, we are not on a path of growth.
This from Confucius:
“Master Tseng said:
‘Each day I ask three things of myself: Have I been trustworthy in all that I’ve done for other people? Have I stood by my word in dealing with friends? Have I practised all that I’ve been taught?’” (1)
(1) Confucius, the Analects, as translated in David Hinton’s book, The Four Chinese Classics, Counterpoint, Berkeley, California, 2013
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