Being Benevolent

The reading from Confucius

today has a couple interesting features. One is that it compares and contrasts wise and foolish people, wise and foolish attitudes, etc.

I chose the picture of the two shrines on the left to illustrate this pattern, which actually is common in the Chinese sages teaching, and is like the one that appears often in other World Wisdom too, such as the book of Proverbs in the Hebrew Bible.

The other feature worth attending to is the emphasis on benevolence. This term appears often in the teachings of Confucius. The Chinese word for the English "benevolence" includes other meanings as well, such as compassion and consideration. I like the word "benevolence" because it connotes kindness, goodness, and generosity. Is it innate to our human nature, needing only to be allowed to blossom in our lives, as Lao-Tzu might say? Or does it need to be consciously cultivated, as Confucius might say? Either way, there is no doubt that human society is much better when people are benevolent in their attitudes and actions.

I know I certainly want to be benevolent, and I want to be treated benevolently as well.

Ponder these words by Confucius on benevolence and other subjects, and see if they ring true for you.

A town or a village is beautiful if its inhabitants are benevolent.

How can people be considered wise, if they do not value benevolence in their neighbors?

Benevolent people are attracted to benevolent people, because they feel comfortable in their company.

Wise people are attracted to benevolent people, because they know they will be treated well by them.

If people lack benevolence, how can they win respect?

Never abandon benevolence--even for the time it takes to eat a meal.

If a person hears about the Way, and then dies on the same day, that person has not lived in vain.

Do not listen to those who have set their hearts on following the Way,

but are ashamed of ragged clothes and simple food.

Do not worry if you do not hold any power.

Concern yourself only with whether you are worthy of holding power.

Do not worry if no one appreciates you wisdom.

Concern yourself only with whether you are truly wise.

Wise people know what is right.

Foolish people know only what is profitable.

Wise people are confident about themselves.

Foolish people are anxious about themselves.

A person may possess numerous virtues;

but if honesty is not among them, that person should be avoided.

Be honest with others, even if they are annoyed by your words.

Never cease to be truthful. Then you will render them true service.

Help others to discover their own abilities and virtues.

Help them find the goodness within their own souls.

To be wise is to understand other people.

To be benevolent is to love other people.

My response:

As I reflect on my life, I can see the wisdom of these words of Confucius.

There are times I have not been honest with others, because I didn't want to upset them.

I was not serving them well.

And there are times when I have foolishly trusted people whose virtues I could see,

but who turned out to be dishonest. I can see why it is wise to avoid them.

I am not sure how doing so, however, is in harmony with being benevolent.

Confucius always gives me a lot to think about, and cultivate in my own life.