Confucius s explanation of benevolence, what is the connotation of Confucius s benevolence

"Benevolence" is a moral category with a wide range of meanings in ancient China. It refers to mutual affection between people. Confucius.

Take "benevolence" as the highest moral principle, moral standard and moral realm. He was the first to integrate the overall moral norms and form an ethical ideological structure with "benevolence" as the core, which includes filial piety, brotherhood, loyalty, forgiveness, courtesy, knowledge, courage, courtesy, generosity, faithfulness, sensitivity, and benevolence. Among them, filial piety.

It is the foundation of benevolence and one of the basic pillars of the ideological system of benevolence. He proposed to dedicate oneself to the realization of "benevolence", that is, the idea of "killing oneself to become benevolent", which had a great impact on later generations.

Confucius believed that the benevolent person loves others. It refers to mutual respect and love between people.

The main content of Confucius's moral education is "propriety" and "benevolence". Among them, "etiquette" is the moral norm, and "benevolence" is the highest moral code. "Li" is the form of "benevolence", "benevolence" is the content of "li", with the spirit of "benevolence", "li" is truly fulfilling.

In terms of moral cultivation, he proposed methods such as establishing aspirations, self-denial, practicing deeds, introspection, and having the courage to make amends.

The connotation of Confucius's benevolence is "self-denial", and "self-denial" is "benevolence". "Gram" means restraint and restraint. "Self-denial" is to restrain and restrain one's thoughts, words and deeds, and to purify the soul and carry forward positive energy in the words that everyone often says.

Benevolence, in fact, is the realm of Buddhism after enlightenment and clear mind. Confucius went on to elaborate on this realm of "benevolence": "One day of self-denial and retribution, the world will return to benevolence."

Once you have enlightenment, you will understand that there is no self or other in this world, that all things are one, and that the whole world and the entire universe are themselves.

According to Yang Bojun. Mr. "Commentary on the Analects".

Statistics, in the Analects

, the word "benevolence" is mentioned 109 times. It can be said that "benevolence" is Confucius.

The core of thought is also its ideal personality realm.

Yan Yuan once asked Confucius how to achieve "benevolence", and Zi said: "Self-denial is benevolence." One day of self-denial and revenge, the world will return to benevolence. For the sake of benevolence, and by others. (The Analects of Yan Yuan.)

In other words, the requirement of courtesy by restraining one's desires is benevolence. Yan Yuan then asked about the specific way to seek benevolence, and Confucius replied: "Do not listen to incivility, do not listen to incivility, do not speak incivility, and do not move incivility" (ibid.).

The above dialogue shows that, in Confucius's view, "benevolence" is inseparable from "propriety", and "propriety" is the standard of behavior and the only way to seek "benevolence". It is worth noting that Confucius used "self-denial", not "destroying people's desires" as advocated by Song scholarsThis shows that Confucius saw the existence of self (human desire), but at the same time emphasized more restraint from self.

In other words, Confucius recognized that "benevolence" is based on human desires, and on the other hand, he also realized that human desires are not "benevolence" and cannot automatically achieve "benevolence", and that in order to achieve the ideal state of "benevolence", it is necessary to restrain human desires, that is, "abstinence", so that all actions are in line with the etiquette system (reciprocation).

Confucius believed that the problem of human beings lies in having too many desires, and if there are too many desires, there is no rigidity. He also emphasized: "Fortitude, perseverance, wood, ne, and benevolence" "The Analects of Zilu", which means that:

Strong, tenacious, simple, and cautious, it is close to benevolence. And these characteristics of "benevolence" are all manifestations of not yielding to human desires.