Benevolence Begins With Oneself (Part 2 of 2)

 

A Sage Is Able To Bring Teachings Everywhere
 
A long time ago, the farmers on Mount Li invaded the borders of farmland that belonged to others. Emperor Shun (2294 – 2184 BC) went to the foot of Mount Li to farm the land. After one year, incidents like that did not happen again. Another time, the fishermen by the bank of the Yellow River competed with each other for the high grounds in the river. Shun went there to fish. A year later, the fishermen learned to respect the elderly. In the area of East Yi, the ceramic makers often produced low quality products. Shun went there to make ceramics. One year later, the ceramics produced in that area were of good quality.
 
Confucius praised, "Farming, fishing, and ceramic making were actions governed by Shun. Shun went to those places to teach the people to farm, fish, and produce ceramics. Shun touched the people's heart with his honest, trustworthy, benevolent, and virtuous behavior. The people were willing to learn from him. This is how a sage enlightens people. A sage teaches virtue through his actions."
 
Be Strict With Oneself But Treat Others With Tolerance
 
During the Spring and Autumn, and the Warring States Period (771 – 221 BC), the army of the State of Jin attacked the State of Chu. Although the Chu army retreated 90 li (Chinese measure for distance, about 25 miles), the Jin army continued their attack. Chu's generals pleaded with King Zhuang of Chu (? – 591 BC), "Please let us counterattack." King Zhuang replied, "When the previous King of Chu was in charge, the State of Jin did not invade Chu. However, Jin is now attacking us during my ruling of Chu. This is my fault. If I give an order to counterattack, Chu's generals will be disgraced and hurt. How can I allow that to happen?" The generals responded, "When the previous King of Chu was around, Jin did not attack Chu. However, now that we are the generals, Jin is attacking us. This is our fault. Please allow us to counterattack." King Zhuang lowered his head and sobbed for a while. Then he got up and made a gesture of respect to each general.
 
Upon hearing what happened in the State of Chu, the Jin people said, "The King and the generals of Chu can all admit their faults, and the King of Chu was humble and courteous toward them. Obviously they are all united, and their troops are coordinated. Therefore, we may not be able to conquer Chu if we press forward." As a result, the Jin troops retreated overnight.
 
Confucius made a comment about the incident, "With a few words in the imperial court, King Zhuang of Chu was able to keep the enemy's army at bay thousands of li away. Because the King and the officials placed importance on the cultivation of their moral character, the nation lived in peace. It is no wonder that the State of Chu became a strong state. This is the principle stated in a poem from the Classic of Poetry - 'By treating everyone near and far away with tolerance and modesty, the nation will be stable'."
 
When a virtuous person encounters any situation, especially during hardships, one should remind oneself with morality and be strict with oneself. On the surface it seems that one is preserving the righteous principles, but in reality one is preserving one’s own conscience and instinct. One should always remember to perform duties with a calm and peaceful heart, be strict with oneself but treat others with tolerance, and treat all beings benevolently.
 
从“为仁由己”看君子修养 (下)
 
何处不可行教化？
 
当初，历山的农夫侵占别人田地的边界，舜到历山脚下去耕种，过了一年，此类事情就再也没有发生。黄河边上的渔夫互相争夺水中的高地，舜到那里去打鱼，过了一年，那里的渔夫都知道了尊让年长的人。东夷一带制陶器的人往往制造出一些粗劣的制品，舜到那里去制陶，过了一年，那里所制作的陶器都很坚实了。
 
孔子赞叹说：“耕田、打鱼、制陶，都是舜所管的事，但是，舜到那里去做同样的事，是用来救助这些事情的。舜以诚信仁德感化百姓，百姓都愿意跟从，这就是圣人道德的教化呀！”
 
严己宽人
 
晋人伐楚，楚人已经退避九十里，晋人的攻击仍不停止。楚国的大夫说：“请允许臣反击吧。”楚庄王说：“我们的前代君王在位的时候，晋国不攻打楚国，但是，到了孤家这一代，晋国却来攻打我们，这是寡人的罪过啊。如果下令攻击晋国，楚国的大夫必然要受到羞辱和伤害，怎么能让大夫因此而受到侮辱呢？”大夫说：“前代君王还在的时候，晋国不攻打楚国，但是，到了臣担任大夫，晋国却来攻打我们，这是臣的罪过。请允许臣反击吧。”楚庄王低下头哭泣了一会儿，然后站起身，对各位大夫施以拜礼。
 
晋国人听说此事之后说：“国君和臣子都能主动承担过失，而且国君在臣子面前表现的那么谦卑有礼，可见是上下同心，三军也同心协力啊。由此看来，楚国恐怕是攻打不成了。”于是，晋国人连夜退兵回国了。
 
孔子听说之后说：“在朝廷之上，楚庄王凭借那一句话，就能够却敌于千里之外。君臣能够重视道德修养，因而社稷得以安宁。楚国后来能够成为强国，也是理所当然的了。《诗经》中说‘宽容谦卑待远近，因此安定我君王’，正是这个道理啊。”
 
君子无论面对任何事情，即使在最困难的时候，都应用道义提醒自己，严于自律，从表面来说是坚守道义，从实质来说是坚守自己的良心、良知。以宁静、祥和的心态把自己的职责做到最好，严己宽人，仁民爱物，这是永远不该忘记的。