Four Chinese Philosophers

A Reflection about the Four Chinese Philosophers

Having a lot of ideas taken, let me express myself by sharing my own reflection. This reflection revolves around the four great Chinese philosophers: Confucius, Mencius, Chuang Tzu and Lao Tzu. Each of them has their own perspective and thoughts. Each thoughts conforms the important elements that a human person must possess to have and maintain a wonderful life, a wonderful living. With this reflection, I would like to express myself in terms of learning, leadership, .

Confucius 

Let me start by giving some information about the first philosopher. Confucius was born on 551 BC in Lu. He became the prime minister of Lu on 501BC at the age of 50. He focused on the three aims and with the four virtues. The three aims are the following: reform of the government, educate the people and transmit the Chou culture, and the four virtues are the following: Li, Chih, I and Ren. He wandered around for 13 years and returned to Lu where he spent his last years in literal studying and teaching, and died on 479 BC. ¹

I had a lot of interest with his sayings, regarding the aims and virtues, which are found in the Analects. According to 7:8, Confucius said, “I do not enlighten those who are not eager to learn, nor arouse those who are not anxious to give an explanation themselves. If I have presented one corner of the square and they cannot come back to me with the other three, I should not go over the points again.” Some experiences came to my mind when I read this saying. I remembered my parents while I was still an elementary student and a high school student. They always taught me and became the persons who reviewed me with the lessons. The ask questions and I answer them. At first, I had the difficulties in answering them because they focus on the book.  But as the time passed, I was able to answer all the questions they gave.

I used this example because it shows a lot of love of the parents to their children. But how come I was able to say these? Simple! Parents must take care of their children not only physical but of the whole totality of their children in every way possible. They must educate their children, love their children, and find ways to make their children become happy and a lot of more. Through these caresses, the children will be able to appreciate what their parents are doing to them and at the same time they will be able to do these to their future sons and daughters. Educating children will be a great way for families to bond with each other by teaching them the things that they must know inside and outside the four corners of the school.

There were symbols which Confucius used in his saying. These are the square, a corner of the square and the points. I reflected that the square represents the whole classroom, the first corner is the teacher and the point is the knowledge a teacher has. Thinking of a square with only one corner, it will never be square if it has only one corner because in Geometry, a square is a parallelogram has four equal angles and has four equal sides. If there is already one corner or one side, how many sides are lacking? Of course, there are three left. If the master or teacher is the first corner, the students are the other three, the remaining corners. In learning, there are four important factors that make learning meaningful and useful: the one who teach the one who is being taught, the place for learning and the though discussed. These four must be completed for learning to be effective. Imagine learning without a student. No one will occupy the classroom, the teacher will be useless and the knowledge will be meaningless. Imagine learning without a teacher. No one will teach the students, the place will be useless and the knowledge will still be meaningless. Imagine learning without place. It is impossible for place to be missing because there are lots of places for learning to achieve. It can be in the classroom, dining room, living room, lobby, and many more. Imagine knowledge is missing in learning. What will be the teacher teach the students with nothing? Therefore, these four factors must be satisfied for learning to be said present.

When the four factors are complete, the teacher is there with the knowledge and he or she is with the students in a certain place, learning is present, yet, it is not the real essence of learning. In learning, there must be a harmony between one of the factors to the other factors. The teacher must be in harmony with the students, place and knowledge. Same as the student with the teacher, place and knowledge; as the place with the teacher, student and knowledge; and the knowledge with the other three.

During our high school days, there were lots of instances that I remembered. My classmates, sometimes I’m also included, were not really listening. We were just talking to one another or using the cellular phone or playing the portable play station. Sometimes some of us were always late or absent. Some of us were just sleeping during class hours and not participating properly in class discussions. Sometimes, the teachers were also unprepared. They forgot their materials, book, class record, white board marker, or sometimes teachers maltreat students when they tease the students in front of the class or the school. Sometimes they were not that prepared to discuss the topic. These are examples for an unproductive learning. There were lacking in the four factors.

In a square, there are equal lines and equal angles or in mathematical term, it is an equilateral and equiangular figure. These four factors must be treated equally or must be given importance equally to gain a productive and useful learning.  Why productive and useful? From the term itself, productive and useful learning will help the students be successful in their future career and may be able to achieve their dreams, their goals, the teachers may improve their teaching skills and for them to whole-heartedly share their expertise to others, the room may be developed into something humongous and the idea will be widened much more.

So, as a student, my duty is to study harder to attain my goals and to give my parents and my family their due as they helped me grow and be mature. It is not the academic endeavors I must only prioritize because there are still other things in this world: my service to God, my family, my parents, my friends, my girlfriend and my own self. Nothing must be greater than the other but there must be balance between.

Mencius

            The second Chinese philosopher is Mencius. He was believed to be born on 371 BC in the state of Tsou, near Lu. He lost his father at the age of 3. He received education from the disciple of Tzu Ssu, the grandson of Confucius. He traveled to many states to offer pieces of advice to rulers. He went back to Lu on 307 BC for him to have his privately and died on 289 BC. ²

            After reading Mencius’ life and works, I had this in mind, “Of all the important things he taught the people a long time ago, I like his way of leading the people:

1.      For politics and economy to exist for the benefit of the people,

2.      that he has a heart that cannot bear to witness the sufferings of others,

3.      That a man does not develop his goodness, and

4.      To extend relations to include others.”

I value these four statements which Mencius had given importance. Why? Because I am a person who love to mingle with others and a ‘somebody’ who loves to lead children in serving God and His Church.

Why do I serve God? Why do I have this in my mind that I love to serve God? Why do I have this in my mind that I would like to help other children to serve God? Why am I doing this? I am a student but why did I accept the challenge of serving God and leading the acolytes?

I did not look at the four statements above literally. I go deeper its meaning and what it really means to me. Let take this story for example:

I am Glenn Ian P. Barcebal. Since grade 3, I am a server of the Church of God. Ever since, I love my duty. I went to seminars and trainings to enhance my knowledge regarding the church and the important things that I must learn in serving in the Mass. When I reached grade 6, I was appointed as the president. It was a tough job though, but for the sake of my learning and for the sake of all the acolytes in St. Raphael, I accepted it. I trained the kids and helped them to know more about God. When I went to high school, my presidency ended. When I was in my junior year, I became the leader of the Knights of St. Thomas Aquinas and became the Animator of the AQUIlytes in my freshman year in college. I trained the kids, shared them my experiences and some stories about life and friendship, taught them the basic movements in the Mass and guide them with their studies. Until now, I have this duty to serve God and his Church by guiding little children in the way that God leads them.

We know that a good leader, just like what Jesus said, must be also a good follower. He must not always think of himself. He must not always think of the best for him. But he must always think of the best for his subject or for the place where he rules. Many people love leaders who are close to them and who always think of the fairness and the good of all. I got annoyed of the governor in the teleserye “Ikaw ay Pag-ibig” because he always thinks of himself. He robbed the baby Jesus for him to show off that he is the one who will be able to return it. Because of this, his plan is for the people to be close to him and to love him for them to re-elect him for the upcoming election. Many will love him if he is just true to his subject and if he proves that he really deserves his position.

If he is just true to his subject, they will not suffer. The people suffered because the child Jesus was robbed. For an instance, the people decided not to celebrate Christmas unless the child Jesus is returned. We know that Christmas is the most awaited part of the year so why prolong the waiting? See? Suffering appeared because of the self-centeredness of the leader.

Relating again to the governor of the said teleserye, we can see that he lacks goodness. We cannot say that he is totally bad because philosophically speaking, being is good. That’s why we can only say that that governor lacks goodness, and if he lacks goodness, it doesn’t mean that he lacks something to be good but he does not only develop them. May be that governor wasn’t able to have something good from his past experiences that’s why he appeared and acted that way. But I know that goodness also relies upon him.

As a leader, I always think what is best for the members of our group. I am encouraging them to value respect, discipline, obedience, piety, reverence and brotherhood and sisterhood. With all of these virtues, we remain as a united group. As a leader, I lead them and guide them to follow these virtues not only for the sake of fame but for the sake of the common good, and not only for a certain time but for all the rest of our lives. In times of problems, all of us sympathize with a member who has a problem. We give some pieces of advice and we do our best to make that someone smile because it is so hard to see a brother or a sister suffering. I want them to be happy because it makes me happy, too. In times that someone committed a mistake, we do not deprive him to learn from his or her mistake. Instead, we help him or her to know what wrong he or she has done for him or her to correct it next time. Mistakes may affect another person or the whole group that’s why we maintain peace and harmony in the group. And lastly, we do not only include ourselves, the installed AQUIlytes, but we also want to include those who are willing to join us in serving God and His Church.

I always look upon the brighter side of everything I experience. Without these experiences, I will not be this happy. I give my best to the things that I am ought to serve and to do. I know I am an imperfect person, but with this imperfection, I know that I have a lot of potential and a lot of improvement grounds to fill. So, if no one stands up, get up! Lead the way using your mind and your heart.

Lao Tze

            Lao Tze is a native of Ch’u, the southern part of the present Honan province. It was known to be abundant in terms of natural resources but it is not a cultured one. The book he made was Tao Te Ching. Tao means way or road, Te means virtue, efficacy and a power inherent in a thing.

            I did not focus on this book but with the two laws imbedded in it: the law of reversion and Wu Wei. The Law of Reversion or Return states that when thing reaches one extreme, it reverts from it. For example to be huge is to be small, to be great is to be less, to love more is to love less, and many other more examples and instances. While the second one, Wu Wei, states that “Tao does not do, yet there is nothing that is not done”.

Let me share some stories regarding the law of reversion which I reflected:

(1)   One day, I saw a friend who was so disappointed and whose face seems to be having some problems in life. I went beside him and asked him, “Tol, ano ang problema? Bakit nagmumukmok ka diyan?” He answered me, “Talo ako tol eh.” At first, I was not able to get what he wants to tell so I asked him, “Bro, ano ang problema? Kwento mo naman sa akin.” So he told me that he was dumped by his loved one because the girl has already a loved one. I tried to help him by giving some pieces of advice. Of course, I will use some from my experiences so that it can also help him. But, after giving him pieces of advice, he became mad at me.

(2)   Last week, two of my friends were talking. The other one said, “Ano ba yan? Kelan ka ba magpapakatino sa love life? Kelan mo seseryosohin ang taong yan? Hahayaan mo bang mawala siya sayo bago mo siya seryosohin? O di mo lang siya kayang seryosohin kasi mayroon ka pang number 2 at number 3? Ano ka ba naman? Magseryoso ka naman. ‘Wag ka na manloko. Ikaw kaya ang lokohin tingnan natin kung ‘di ka magpakamatay…………..”

(3)   One of my friends was so in love with our classmate way back high school years. He has the girl’s pictures in his wallet, study table, personal computer, laptop, iPod and notebooks. He even cannot go near that girl and talk with her. But, he can only look at her from a bit afar. When the girl asked him something or sometimes borrowed his notebooks, he was always thrilled. I can see that he was OBSESSED.

For the first story, I didn’t know why he became mad. Maybe I gave him too much pieces of advice that he was not able to grasp them all. But I am hoping that he was able to cope up with his problem and continue his life. For the second one, one of my friends was over the limit that she was not able to limit her words. She was not able to make the situation easy but she made it worse. Giving pieces of advice is good because you can share to others what you already experienced which you do not want others to experiences it themselves because it is a heart-aching experience. You never want your friend to suffer much because of that experience that’s why you are willing to share some of what you know and share what you already experienced. But the problem was, in the first two stories, they went over the limit that’s why too much pieces of advice will make problems bigger.

For the third story, we can see that the guy is obsessed. And we know that obsession is too much feelings or too much love to a certain person. Too much love to a certain person may cause you to be really blind from others’ existence because you know that she is the only one with you in the world and you know that she is the one. It is a big problem to make your loved one as your world. Why would that be? Because when you treat her that she is the only one and the two of you are the only people living in the world, you will not be able to see the beauty of all the living beings. I have this friend that he will not go to class if his girlfriend is absent, he will only go out of his house if his girlfriend will. What an obsessed one right?  Think of this, “what about others, your family, your friends, what about the One who created you?  You are alone. We are here for you.” Too much feelings may also ruin friendship and love between each one another.

We must also remember the seven deadly sins. What are these? These are pride, lust, gluttony, sloth, envy, greed and anger. Too much of sexual desires is lust, too much of the self is pride, too much of food and drink intake is gluttony, too much laziness is sloth, too much wanting of what others have is envy, too much desire to have everything is greed, and wrath is too much anger. Do you want to commit these deadly sins? Always remember, that:

Too much of everything is not nice. Too much less of everything is not nice, too. So it is better to make things moderated so things will be in a good way. So it is better to be simple that to be too much or to be too less.

Chuang Tze

            Chuang Tze is the last Chinese philosopher discussed. He lived between 399-255 B.C. state of Meng. He is the contemporary of Mencius and he was invited to become prime minister but decided to love a life of personal freedom. Chuang Tzu is thought to have lived during the reign of King Hui of Liang and King Xuan of Qi, in the span from 370 to 301 BCE. Zhuangzi was from the Town of Meng (蒙城, Méng Chéng) in the state of Song (now Mengcheng 蒙城, Anhui).

Regarding Chuang Tze’s philosophy, I would like to give importance to the following points:

·         Te is what which makes us what we are.

What really is Te? Te means virtue, efficacy and a power inherent in a thing. Te is something that makes us what we really are. Reflecting on this point, I remember my childhood. Since I was a child, I served at the Saint Raphael Church in downtown Legazpi. As I serve God, I learned a lot of things about myself and about God. I joined the acolytes there, underwent through catecheses and different trainings. After all of these challenges, one day, I learned to bring my rosary every day, pray to God before and after meals and before sleeping. I also learned to mano po to my parents, treat them as my parents, obey them and love them. After months and years, I realized that I have been doing these things for a long time and it became a habit to me – a good habit, virtue, Te.

Te let us realize that we become a person who we really are through the virtues we continuously do. With these actions, we are able to show others and reach their mind that we really are this person. By following God’s commandments and doing good deeds, we will be better persons through our virtues.

Of course, we do it not only for ourselves but for others too. Other people will experience these virtues. They will be able to see and feel the goodness of a person. So we must always remember that we must not only be virtuous towards ourselves but also to others.

·         Nature is the source of happiness and goodness but man is the source of evil.

We can really say that nature is the source of all happiness and goodness because God made the whole universe perfectly. There are plenty of things, blessings, creatures, beings which we may see in our surroundings. The trees are there for us to make fire in times of cold weather, shelter us by making it as a material to build a house, to make it as a door, window, table, chair, etc. Animals are there for us to love, to train, to respect, to cherish and by the virtue of survival, as food. Plants are there to absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen for us to inhale. Some plants may be used for medicinal purposes. Some may be used as food, especially the vegetable and fruits. The people for us to be with share the world with enjoy life with, to be merry with and to live with.

But why do we say that man is the source of evil? Man is good in nature but given all the material things in the world, sometimes man forgot the real essence of his existence in the world. It is said that man is the steward of the earth and steward means a care giver. It means that man must be the one who takes care of the world, not the one who destroys it because we do not have the right to destroy which we do not possess or which we did not create.

With all the beautiful things we see, man lives in a life full of cravings. Man desires to have all the wonderful things in the world by means of having a lot of money and power. We want to possess everything that’s why we suffer a lot and crave for more. Relating to Indian philosophy, we must remove these desires for us to attain a magnanimous and ecstatic life here on earth.

·         Principal source of human unhappiness is the fear of death and anxiety over its coming.

If there is something that could make man happy, there is also something that could make a man unhappy. What are these? Death and Anxiety. Who among us doesn’t like to live a long life and a peaceful life? All of us like to live in that kind of manner. All of us want a peaceful life and all of us want a long life. Because of these cravings, we suffer again because of the fact that we do not want to end this kind of happiness we feel.

In my opinion, what makes a person afraid to die is because he or she is not yet ready to go one with the next life. Before it is too late, it is best for us to do good things, to do virtuous things for us to be ready before this “death” appears in front of us and take us away from the people and from the things we want to share our life with.

To end my reflections, I would like to express my gratitude for giving me the chance to understand how things in life occur and how to surpass such problems. Thank you very much!