This post is one produced with difficulty. It has challenged me to think so critically for the first time. I'm doing a philosophy module on philosophical thoughts during the China Warring States. The Analects in one text that I attempt to read on my own but its meaning too deep and abstract for me to apprehand. It is a very important Confucian texts of China history. So I take up the module, in the hope of understanding the text better. The lessons have been beneficial. It has certainly facilitated my understanding. Looking forward to it every week. Well, if philo doesn't bore u, go ahead and read it.



The Analects mention about the ideal person everyone should strive to achieve. That is to be gentleman, a man of highest virtue and morally upright. Confucian thoughts of the Analects highlight a lot on Ren (benevolence), and talks about Yi(propriety) and Li(ritual propriety). The three terms are inter-connected and have to be interpreted in terms of taking all of them into account to get a clear picture of a junzi. One general point that all three share in common is that a junzi must possess all these three qualities, as well as other qualities that are not discussed here, to pass off as a junzi.

I would like to use the analogy of the network of the various organs of the human body to illustrate the relationship between the three qualities. Ren like the heart, pumps the blood to the various organs. The blood serves as a transportation of oxygen and nutrients to the whole body. Without this vital supply, the rest of the organs cannot function. Needless to say, the man dies of should the heart stops. At the same time the lungs bring in the oxygen to the blood and the kidney removes toxins from the blood. If one of the organs is to fail in its function, the effects is disastrous to the body and the person may die eventually, that is in our case, the man disqualifies as a junzi without any of these qualities. It is not justified to say the heart is the primary organ of the human body or that the other organs are derived from the heart; Li and Yi are derived from Ren and Ren is the primary virtue.

[Passage 12.1] (Quoted from Readings in classical Chinese philosophy)
Yan Hui asked about Goodness.
The master said, “ Restraining yourself and returning to the rites constitutes Goodness. If one day you managed to restrain yourself and return to the rites,……. Do not look unless it is in accordance with ritual; do not speak unless it is in accordance with ritual; do not move unless it is in accordance with ritual.”

Here, in the passage, it can be interpreted that the way to cultivate Goodness is through the mastering of Li. Yet in passage 3.3 “A man who is not Good- what has he to do with ritual?” highlights the point that Li without Ren is useless. In 15.18, it is mentioned that “the gentleman takes rightness as his substance, puts it into practice by means of ritual”. Yi, carrying out the right actions, has to be judged according to certain standards set and laid down. Li is the answer to Yi. It acts as guideline in aiding a person to carry out his conduct. Acting in accordance to the rites will be correct. In this sense, from Li, one can nurtures his sense of rightness.

A conclusion can be drawn about the inter-relations between Ren and Yi from the connection between Yi and Li. Both Li and Yi have very close relations. Both are sets of rules whereby how one conducts, comprising of actions that is to be done. The only difference is that Li is restricted to the actions and practices of rituals and traditional practices. Without Ren, Li alone is inadequate, same likewise for Yi. Yet at the same time, Li is the way to nurture Ren as mentioned earlier on. The conduct itself eventually can cultivate the goodness of a person. This seems plausible that a person may do good things for all the wrong reasons initially but after receiving all the appreciation from those he had helped, his goals and selfish desires converge to one and is transformed into a genuine heart of goodness. All three shaped each other in a way that we perceive as the outwardly and innate ideals of a junzi.

Abnormal psychology of a cat

I like to stop and observe the behavior of cats. Not just that, i will not hesitate to approach any cats in my sight just to give a little pat and attention to it. There r people who enjoy bird-watching, my friend in particular, has this hobby. Well, with this interest of mine, maybe u can label me as a cat watcher. I just find the cat's behavior very unusual and decided to write about it. After being "chased out" of the NUS library, i took the usual route of going home, 96 to clementi and then 184 home. At the void deck near to the Clementi bus-stop, i spotted a cat sitting down and starring into empty space. From where i was, i could see that it has a light orange coat of fur. I approach it from behind and see whether it will run away. This is one good sign of telling whether it has been domesticated before or not. As i draw myself closer, I observe that it was really one fat cat. I rarely see one that is so well fed before. I would say that its a obese cat. It didn't ran away when it saw me. At that instant, I wasn't too far away from the cat. It mewed in response and started rubbing its body against the nearby walls. So far, this is a normal response. It is, to my understanding, an submissive behavior. There is a trend in cat's reaction to any person who approaches it that is submissive. From my past experiences and encounters, after the rubbing act, it would be followed by the cat's approach towards the person and start to rub its own body against him, or it would lie on the floor and start rolling around, allowing the person to pat it . Either way, the cat will accept any form of contact with the human, be it just a pat or the rubbing itself. What can be considered anomalous tonite was that the cat avoided any form of physical contact with me. I was also quite shocked at the force of rubbing the cat applied. There was a bicycle tied to the pipes near the wall. The cat was pushing itself so hard to the bicycle wheel that the whole bicycle moved quite a bit. Then when i tried to pat it, it avoided me and ran to another wall to continue its forceful rubbing. So it started to run between the two walls and continue its strange behavior, while doing so, it smartly avoided my attempts to touch it. It sure is one interesting finding today. I wonder wat's the cause of its strange action and wat it means.

I like very much the chinese way of describing all natural phenomenons. Not just to the world around us, but the nature of the world is innate element of the living. The nature of u, me and the cat u see along the road is all but one. We are all similar, yet also there are distinct differences. It is interesting to take note that the heavenly order or the way of all under heaven, is nothing but a cycle of events. The growth cycle of plant goes like this, seeds grow to and mature to adult gigantic trees. Before their death, the seeds they produced dispersed and the whole process repeats itself again. Observe the 4 seasons, and the switch between day and nite, r they not also a cycle that endlessly perpetuate itself? It is a never-ending story. It proceeds on, just like that.

This will be my last semester in NUS. Some envy my position, happy that i'm about to complete the course of education and move on. Not only this, some of my friends can't wait to graduate, complaining about their mundane repetitive school semesters of intense workload. They r just missing the point. What do they know? These words come out from those who do not really give it a serious thought. Yeh, sure, everyone's busy and tired but what is studying compared to the outside work life? Earning the bucks does give you the right, freedom and access to spending but it comes with such a high price. One realise the ups to school life, if u examine closely enough. Acquiring knowledge can be quite pleasurable, if without exams, i have to agree, but the tough part of the exams, the preparation is only that few weeks. In school, you dont have to answer to ur boss or get screwed by him, neither would u have to face senseless, irritating customers. I think the responsibilites increase, and the roles you assume changes along with it. I cannot bear to leave the warmth of the NUS environment, the place where u make good friends and interact more freely together, the social context i'm trying to bring across is so much diff from ur working environment, at least when u take ur fave module, u noe people in ur class more or less do, how to tell and meet one who likes chinese literature in my newly posted workplace? See my point??? No politics in school, no back-stabbing, no power abuse. Sometimes, i wish that i can retreat to my isolated hut in the middle of the forest, plant my own crops and live a life without conflicts, away from people. Just drink wine, make merry and watch birds and aprreciate nature. (daoism teachings)This is one dream i often have, inspired by hermit lives lead by ancient chinese sage. Sounds pessismistic but a person's mood, emotions and beliefs are constantly everchanging. Changes can be quite drastic and quite ironical as they move between two extreme thoughts. And i thought i was the only one like this but people before my time had presented such thoughts. Sometimes, I feel that my life is wasted away as i have no accomplished anything. I have dreamt of great dreams, ambitions and inspiration to make fame for myself(think i got influenced by confucian teachings)

In conclusion, i'm a daoist combine with confucianist in my future workplace..........