Learning without Thinking is Labor Lost
 
Confucius (551 – 479 BC), was born in the Kingdom of Lu in the Spring and Autumn Period. His given name was Qiu and his courtesy name was Zhongni. (A courtesy name in Chinese culture is a name to be used later in life instead of the given name.)
 
Confucius was appointed as an official in the Kingdom of Lu, but he spent his life mainly focusing on education. He traveled throughout the numerous kingdoms teaching moral values, such as ethical concepts, thought, political views, and cultivation within the context of morality, as well as the ideological and cultural concepts of his time.
 
It was said that Confucius's highest standard was “Mercy.” One of Confucius’ most prized students, Zeng Sen, said that his instruction centered around “loyalty and consideration of others.” It’s well known that Confucius emphasized the “doctrine of the mean," which was compiled in one of the four ancient Confucian texts, known as the Four Books, and published in 1190 AD by Zhu Xi.
 
Cultivators know that to improve xinxing (one's morality and ethical behavior), a person should behave well and become a good person. But this extends even further, meaning to turn into a better person and improve one's moral standard beyond the norm for humans.
 
So, what's the standard for a human as given by God? What kinds of standards are there? The words of Confucius that follow might open our minds.
 
According to the Analects of Confucius, which are thought to be an interpretation of his words and behavior, Confucius said:
 
"Learning without thinking means labor lost; thinking without learning is perilous."
 
By this, Confucius explained that if one learns without thinking, one will not understand, and that if one thinks but does not learn, one will get confused.
 
When a person learns, he can memorize and then remember what he has learned. But often he only gains a superficial understanding and not the deeper meanings that are being presented. Many do not connect what they learn with reality, which means that they read it but can't apply what they have read. Thus, learning becomes superficial. We could describe it as “inhaling information without digesting it.” He will know the basics but cannot put into practice what has he learned given the half understanding. He learns mechanically, without processing what he has learned.
 
Because modern science is very mechanical, formulaic and superficial, it prevents one from understanding the deeper content unless one cultivates one's xinxing and improves one's character. Modern science limits people's thoughts in terms of depth, breadth and richness. People nowadays should therefore pay attention to this method of study and understand its strengths and weaknesses to avoid becoming computerized, mechanized, and linearized.
 
On the other hand, Confucius advised that if one solely thinks but doesn't study, one will become confused and one will not improve one's level. Without improvement, conflicts and problems cannot be solved. Of course, a wise teacher plays an important role when instructing students. It is really hard to find a master that has wisdom. Therefore, when one finds such a teacher, one should not be lazy but seize the time, realize what a precious opportunity it is, and study hard, follow teacher's directions, and do better until one succeeds.
 
Cultivation is different from human behavior. The learning of a cultivator is different from studying human knowledge, cultivating one's moral character, or self-improvement. The standard for a cultivator is higher, and the reason for it is more profound. Only cultivators can understand this concept when they cultivate diligently.
 
学而不思则罔
 
孔子（公元前551年-公元前479年）名丘，字仲尼，是春秋时代鲁国人。他曾在鲁国做过官，一生主要是从事教育，并周游列国宣讲他的做人理念，其中包括伦理概念、教育思想、政治主张、品德修养等等。
 
人们说，孔子做人的最高标准是“仁”，孔子的得意学生曾参认为，孔夫子讲的道理可以用“忠恕”二字贯穿起来。很多人也都知道，孔子思想中很强调“中庸”之道。修炼人知道，提高心性，要从常人中的好人做起，然后做成比常人中的好人还好的人、更好的人，直至道德标准超常的人。那么，上天给人规定的纯正做人标准，都有哪些呢？是什么样的标准呢？这里，让我们看看孔子的一段话。
 
据《论语》〈为政〉记载，孔子曾说：
 
    学而不思则罔，思而不学则殆。
 
这句话用白话来说就是，只学习而不思考，就会罔然而无所得；只思考而不学习，就会疑惑。
 
只要学习过的人，背、记都是能做到的，但很多人在很多情况下，只停留在“知道”的层面，也就是，把所学习的东西，当作外在的理论和知识“知道了”，而没有足够的思考，特别是结合切身实际的深入思考。这样的学习，是比较表面化的，可以形容为“囫囵吞枣”，真到需要应用的时候，往往因为一知半解，而不能发自内心地付诸实践；或者比较机械，说一只知道一，不能做到触类旁通、举一反三，那实践效果当然也就会大打折扣了。
 
现代科学的教学，往往都是比较机械的、程式化、表面化的，与心性的磨炼、悟性的提高相隔绝，直接限制和淡化著人类的思维深度、广度、丰富程度。所以现代人学习，更要注意学习的思路，明白其中的利弊才能在获取知识的同时，不让自己的人脑被电脑化、机械化、僵硬化、线性化。
 
当然学习的另一面，正如孔子阐述的，如果只思考而不学习，就会疑惑不止，陷在原有的水平和层次中出不来，提高不上去，矛盾和难题也解决不了。当然，要学习，必须有明师。明师很难找，所以真正的明师找到了，就千万不要懈怠，要珍惜，要努力不断地学习、理解，以便按照明师的指导不打折扣的越做越好，精进不停，直到“圆满功成”。
 
当然，修炼还不同于做人，修炼人的学习也不同于一般的学理论、学知识，不同于常人的修身养性、自我修养。修炼的要求更高、道理更精深，如何做好，只有置身修炼的人在不断的实修中才能逐渐明白。