Wisdom Of The Week

At the Dog meat festival, Dog Peddlers Abuse Dogs to Get Higher Price from Dog Lovers - via Tyler

For those who still think countries should emulate Chinese "growth", for those idiots who order cheap stuff directly from China, for those live to keep up with the Joneses and for all others who use phrases like "What is the big deal?", "They are just dogs", "Who cares, I have other things to worry about" - I say, go fuck yourself.

I feel sorry for those Chinese who have to watch their fellow citizens commit these atrocities but rescuing these dogs by buying them will worsen the atrocities (basic demand and supply). My question is what is the omnipotent communist government doing anything to stop this? I guess, its plain stupid to expect communists to behave democratic (Are your listening Tom Friedman?).

But the land of Confucius will change. There are millions of Chinese waiting patiently for the right moment to strike. Never underestimate the power of the delusional ape inside us to make those delusions a reality.

How Confucius Taught

To be a good teacher Confucius believed he had to be a good student continually. Thus one of his most important methods of teaching was to be an attentive listener in order to learn from his students how to teach them. "To listen silently, to learn untiringly, and to teach others without being wearied-that is just natural with me."

Patience and perseverance were qualities which apparently enabled Confucius to stay with his students until they finally saw the light. This continual striving to better himself and others must have given the master an enduring energy. If he was so vigilant and disciplined with himself, he must have been an ever-present model for his students, even if he did not expect as much from them as he required from himself.

Confucius was always anxious to correct ideas and beliefs which could be improved. Here he used a rhetorical question to make his point. Someone had asked him about the principle of repaying injury with virtue. He responded, "In that case how will you repay virtue? Rather, repay injury with justice, and repay virtue with virtue." Confucius was practical and discriminating in his ethics so that his precepts could be easily followed and would prove successful. The following incident shows how seriously some of the students took the master's precepts. Zizhang asked how to get along with people, the fundamental humanistic question. Confucius said,

Be sincere and true to your word,

serious and careful in your actions;

and you will get along even among barbarians.

But if you are not sincere and untrustworthy in your speech,

frivolous and careless in your actions,

how will you get along even among your own neighbors?

When standing, see these principles in front of you;

in your carriage see them on the yoke.

Then you may be sure to get along.

So Zizhang inscribed these words upon his sash. Apparently the students often memorized the master's precepts, and Confucius apparently encouraged this practice. This is probably how these conversations were passed down until they were recorded in The Analects.

Often an enterprising student would ask follow-up questions in order to draw forth more information from his teacher. Zilu asked about the truly better person, and Confucius said, "One cultivates oneself carefully." Zilu asked if that was all, and Confucius said, "One cultivates oneself so as to help other people." Zilu asked again if that was all, and Confucius said, "One cultivates oneself so as to help all the people. Even Yao and Shun found that difficult." Confucius began with the primary step-improve yourself. If a person could do that, then one could help others. If one could help some, then one could strive to help all humanity. Thus he showed the successive stages. On another occasion Zilu asked about government, and Confucius said, "Lead by example; work hard for them." Again Zilu asked for further instruction, and Confucius said, "Untiringly."