Shu - to Accommodate
What Confucius Says ...
Confucius quote*:
"Is there any single word that could guide one's entire life?"
The Master said: "It is to accommodate ? What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others."
子贡问曰："有一言而可以终身行之者乎？"子曰："其恕乎！己所不欲，勿施于人"。
恕 Shu (Chinese pronounciation in the forth tone), may be translated as being accomodative. In the modern Chinese, it is often interpreted as forgiveness.
Confucius shu can be understood as not to impose on others what they feel difficult about, or bring to them harm. It also implies that if you are harmed by others in any way, you should forgive. The best way to understand the concept is to read the original text:
"What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others."
Shu is a very important word in Confucius teachings. It is part of Ren - benevolence.
When a disciple of Confucius summarized the philosopher’s teaching, he says, “The Doctrine of the Master is: Loyalty and being accomodative, and that’s all.”
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