Confucius on the Self

Confucius on the Self From what I have read and taken in it is in my belief that the human “self” has something to do with a persons morals, values, background and really just everything that makes a person who they are. I believe that when one refers to the human “self” they are referring to what a person sees as right and wrong and truly what it is that they believe in. The readings that we have looked at so far all seem to focus around this central topic of doing right in the world and respecting others. Jen teaches you to love all men and not only that, but all people. “The Master said, "It is to love all men." (XII.22) It speaks of humaneness and the wish to be humane. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines humaneness as a sympathetic concern for the well-being of others which definitely adheres to the beliefs that Jen teaches of loving all. The mind is such a complex structure, it is so much more than the power house for all of your decisions and bodily functions. It goes so much deeper then just telling your organs what to do or sunconciously telling your finger to lift itself. It goes into the psychological state from which you are in. Your personality, social tendencies, habits and so forth are even more aspects that make up your human self because they are all traits that make you the way you are and how you are perceived to others. I think there are so many aspects to the human “self” that it is hard to explain exactly what it is. It is such a deep thought and so complex that I believe it may even be a state of being or a mind set that involves your conscious, subconscious, thoughts and feelings. Almost as if the human “self” is essentially someones soul because it is the basis from which all of our actions, beliefs, morals, emotions thoughts and really just everything stems from. I myself was raised on a set of beliefs and values to always be kind to others and to be very accepting. I am a very open minded and I believe that I am able to see things from many different perspectives. I contribute this to my up bringing and the surroundings and situations I had growing up. Not only was it my parents who raised me to be understanding and accepting, but we live in a society now that is beginning to accept more and more, were no where near perfect yet, but were working on it. Very often people are scared of others who are not like them. The difference scares them because they do not have the ability to see from a different aspect. It is common to look down on someone who is not the same as you, to you theyre not on the same level as yourself because they are not like you, but what makes that diversity so bad? My own personal human “self” sees everyone as equal. There is beauty in every single being and each has a purpose, variations in ourselves is what makes us human. No one should be the same because the fact of the matter is we are not we have our own sets of beliefs and ways of doing things so to look at someone who is not like yourself as less of a person is just silly to me. If we all saw the same way there would be no opposition in the world. Everything would be boring because everyone was the same, where is the excitement in similarities? Emerson said “opposites attract” The way I look at it is who is to say a person is less of a human being than I because of a distinct feature they have that is not like mine. Regardless of their skin color, sexual preference, ethnicity, religion or so on they are still a human being none the less, are they not? Often times too many people conform to society and what they believe is “right” but I like to take a more liberal approach towards situations and daily encounters. I tend to see the bigger picture rather then just what is in front of me. People don’t really realize just how much the people, society and culture they are surrounded by affect their everyday life. Rewind about 50 years and you have a very oppressive society. Segregation and racism towards African Americans is not only the social norm, but is basically enforced for every person to believe the same way, that African Americans are less of people, if you were alive during this time there would be almost no way all of the hate and racism could not influence your human “self.” That oppression is what made the people of that time who they are, just as in present time my ability to see everyone as equal and treat all with respect is what defines me. In Robert Frost's The Road Less Traveled the man in the story is willing to be different and stand out from the crowd, doing opposite from the normal and deciding to take a road not usually taken by others. Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, Betty Ford or even Lady Gaga, all people who are willing to stand up for something they believe in. People who are fearless and dare to be different, going against the social precedents of their time. The story never gives you a definitive answer on whether or not the road he chose is the more difficult one, but one can generally assume that it is. The road that is most traveled to me would be the easiest one, that's why most people choose it. It's not challenging, not only that but the people are not daring enough to be different. Some people are not as open minded as others so they wouldn't see the beauty in trying some different, they wouldn't see the interest in doing something out of the ordinary. Some of what Confucius teaches is to see everyone as equal beings and to be open minded to something you may not be all that familiar with and that is out of the ordinary. I believe that in the poem, the mans human "self" is one who is willing to challenge himself, someone who sees things from a different perspective and doesn't cringe in fear of the unknown, but rather embraces diversity. At the very end of the poem when everything is concluding the man, talking about his experience states, “I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” The man himself is saying that his choice to take a more challenging path, whether it be a literal road, the morality of right and wrong or the willingness to treat everyone as equal, in doing so can make all the difference. The readings talk about this Golden Rule, which is to treat others as you want to be treated. It really is a timeless saying that you really could not grow up without hearing. Jen teaches that every single person, male or female is equal and thus should be treated as if they are. Reciprocity is a major factor in the scheme of it all, it refers to the belief of responding to a positive action with another positive action. Similar to karma where what goes around comes around. Putting out positive energy into the world causes nothing but positive outcomes. Being respectful and kind to all is a very important aspect in most all of the readings because you’re being taught to love all and to see everyone as human beings. Humaneness is such an important trait to posses because it also relates to all of the readings in one way or another. To be humane is to have or show compassion or sympathetic concern for the well being of others. Confucius speaks of the moral disposition to do good, which is essential for Jen. Superior Man is a higher state of being, it is a person who is modest in speech and has humility. Upanishad illustrates how ones soul or the Atman is one with all things. All of these really are incorporated into the human self because all are aspects that make a person who they are. It defines them as well as gives each being sort of like a layout on how to achieve an inner state of being and complete bliss. All of the readings correlate in the sense that they are saying to treat everyone as equals, to not put unjustified hate and negative energy into the world. This all relates back to the human self because it is the beliefs that make someone who they are, it is the reasons people think a certain way and the cause of their actions.