dawei Posted February 14, 2018 On 2/4/2018 at 6:43 PM, Marblehead said: The master said, "The Way does not exhaust itself in what is great, nor does it absent itself from what is small. Therefore, the myriad things are realized in it. The Way is so broad that there is nothing it fails to accommodate, so deep that it is unfathomable. Form, virtue, humaneness, and righteousness are trifles of the spirit, but were it not for the ultimate man, who could determine them? The ultimate man holds the world - is this not a great responsibility? But it is not enough to burden him. All under heaven vie for the reins of power, but he does not accompany them. He examines flawlessness, but is unmoved by profit. He plumbs the truth of things and can guard what is fundamental. Therefore, he puts heaven and earth beyond him, leaves the myriad things behind, and so his spirit is never encumbered. He is conversant with the Way, joins with virtue, keeps humaneness and righteousness at a distance, and treats ceremonies and music as guests. Something there is that steadies the mind of the ultimate man."  the first half sounds daoist but the second half sounds confucian... maybe this is why the discussion is confusing. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marblehead Posted February 14, 2018 2 hours ago, dawei said:  the first half sounds daoist but the second half sounds confucian... maybe this is why the discussion is confusing. But keep in mind that Mair's intent was to show that these particular chapters had Confucian influence.   Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dawei Posted February 21, 2018 Sounds like Old Ears talking 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
