Confucius Ren - Huminity
Confucius Teachings
Confucius sayings*:
A student asked Confucius, "What is huminity (ren)?" The Master said, "Love all men." What about knowledge? The Master said, "Know all men."
樊迟问仁。子曰："爱人。" 问知。子曰："知人。"
What is Ren?
Chinese ren 仁 (pronounced as ren, second tone) is translated as huminity or benevolence. The character is made up of two parts, 人 (ren) and 二 (two). 人 means people, and 二 means. So it implies relationship with others.
Confucius ren is the fountainhead from which all virtues flow. It implies love, compassion and equality. It brings harmony resulting from the loving benevolence in us.
Confucius believed that human nature is intrinsically good. Negative leaning and experience of life may surpress the good nature, but benevolence will ultimately bring about its actualization.
Filial Piety
Ren begins from the family, expressed through filial piety. If we can be benevolent to our family, we can do the same to the people around us, to our country and to the world.
How to be a person with Ren?
Confucius sayings**:
"As for the good man: what he wishes to obtain for himself, he helps others to obtain; what he wishes to achieve for himself, he helps others to achieve -- if you can begin from small things around you and use your ovwn aspirations as a guide, you know how to be benevolent."
"夫仁者己欲立而立人，己欲达而达人。能近取譬，可谓仁之方也已。"
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