The social sage : confucius

1. The social sage: confucius 10th Grade Mrs. Karen Hernández

2. ConfuciusistheLatinizedname of K`ung Fu-tzuor Master K`ung, a legendaryteacherwhosawsocial decline, and took a more active approachthan Lao-tzu, he promoted social orderbasedonhummanity, custom, and personal moral cultivation. Confuciusbeganteaching in histwentiesorthirties, legendssaythathe wasthefirstman in Chinesehistoryto devote hislifetoteaching, we can describe him as witty, humane, complicated, confident and modest. He wasunimpressedbywealth and social standing.

3. ConfucianHumanism and The Golden Mean Ifonewordcharacterizestheoverallapproach of theancientsages, itishumanism, thenamegiventoanyphilosophythatemphasizes human welfare and dignity. In general humanismisbasedonthebeliefthat human intelligence and effort are capable of improvingpresentconditions. • Shortlybefore he died, Confuciuswept and said. “For a long time theworld has been living in moral chaos and no ruler has beenabletofollow me”. Leaningon a stick, he walkedslowlyaroundhisdoor, singing “Ah themountainiscrumblingdown! The pillar isfallingdown! Thephilosopherispassingout!”.

4. Confucianhumanismisrooted in Confucius`s visión of himself as a preserver and restorer of a declining culture ratherthan as an inventor orcreator of something new. • Confuciusacknowledgedtheneedtothink, butfocusedontheimportance of learning. “I usedtogowithoutfoodallday, withoutsleepallnight, tothink,” he said. “No use, bettertolearn.” Learntheway of chung-yung, theGolden Mean.The mean means “centrality and universality.” The mean isthesame as equilibriumorharmony. Byrestoringequilibriumtothe individual, Confuciusthoughtorderwould be restoredtothefamily, tootherrelationships, tostate, totheworld, totheuniverse.

5. Whatheavenimpartstomaniscalled human nature. TofollowournatureiscalledtheWay (Tao). CultivatingtheWayiscalledEducation. TheWaycannot be separatedfromusevenfor a moment. • Beforethefeelings of pleasure, anger, sorrow and joy are arouseditiscalledequilibrium. Whenthesefeelings are arouseditiscalledequilibrium, thisisthegreatfoundation of theworld, and harmonyits universal path.

6. Confuciusquotes

10. TheBuddha Siddhartha Gautama 10th Grade Mrs. Karen Hernández

11. So powerfulwastheperson and visión of Siddhartha Gautama, that he wasrecognizedduringhislifetime as anarchetypehimself. • Todaythearchetype of Buddhais a mayor source of meaning and purposeforover 2 billionpeople. • TheBuddhawas a sage, yet more than a sage, amonghisnames, perhapsthemostenduring are theAwakenedorEnlightenedOne, and theCompassionateBuddha. Yet of allhisinfluencewehaveverylittle factual informationabouthim, whatweknow comes from oral tradition and myth.

12. Unlike Lao-tzu and Confucius, Siddhartha Gautamawasbornintowealth and power as the son of a prince (rajah) in whatisnow Nepal. He wasintelligent and alert, a talentedstudent and athlete. Legendsaysthat he was a first-rate hunter and archer and that he enjoyed a rich and active life. • As anonly son, Siddhartha wasspoiled and indulgedbyhisfamily; he became a hedonist and a womanizer. At sixteen he marriedhiscousin, butthisdidnotseemtohavesloweddowmhispleasureseeking. The Young princelived in protectedisolation, surroundedbyservantswhocateredtohiswhim. One versión of hislifeclaimsthatSiddhartha`sparentstookgreatpaintoprotecthimfromtheugliness of life, evensurroundinghimwithyoungattractiveservants. Hisparentstriedtoprotecthimfromknowingaboutpoverty, hunger, sickness and deathbytryingto confine himwithinthepalace.

13. But Siddhartha wasnotcontent. As manyyoungpeople, curiosityledhimawayfrom home. Duringhissecrettripsoutsidethepalaceto a nearbycity, he sawthree of thenowfamousFourSignsthatalteredhislifeforever: • - A destitute and homeless beggar • - A deadmanbeingpreparedforcremationbyhisweepingmourners. • - A diseased and handicappedperson • Theseeds of theBuddhawereplantedwhen Siddhartha encounteredhisfirstsight of suffering.

14. Siddhartha theseeker • Beforehisexcursionsoutsidethefamilycompound, Siddhartha had no real idea of whatsicknessoroldagecould do tothebody and spirit. He had no real sense of thedepthsthatpovertycouldreach. He wasunaware of thepower of grief. Theprice he hadpaidfor living in a cocoon of softpleasures and hiddenfromsuffering of otherswas a feeling of boredunease. Butignorancecouldnotprotecthimforever. Allthepleasuresof hiswealthyfamilycouldnotquellhisnaggingsense of discomfort. He simplyhadtoknow more.

15. The Young princehad no onetotalkabouthistroubledquestionsexcepthisservantChanna, a hiredcompanionwhowasalso a guardian and bodyguard. Toeveryquestion Siddhartha raisedaboutlifeoutsidethefamily, goodChannacouldonlyreply, withgreatsadness and resignation, “Yes, master, thereis no escape tooldage, sickness and death. • In today`slanguagewemightsaythe Siddhartha “hadhiseyesopened”. Hisnaiveunawarenesswasspoiledforever. No longerwerehispleasures as sweet, he couldnotshakethehauntingimages of oldage, sickness and death. Hisanxietygrew, and he askedtohimselfagain and again, Howcouldanyone be happyifthereisabsolutely no escape fromsuffering, dissapointment, sadness and loss?

16. Walkingoutsidethepalaceoneday, Siddhartha saw a wonderingmonk, anascetic. Asceticsturnawayfrompleasure and severelylimitall sensual appetites in ordertoachievesalvationorpeace of mind. Asceticsinvolvelonghours of prayer, living onplainfood, and wearing simple clothes. • When Siddhartha lookedcloselyintotheface of thewanderingmonk, he wasastonishedtoseeserenity, purpose, and detachment. • Thiswasthelast of theFourSigns. • Siddhartha concludedthat he mustleavethesecurity of his home and live as a monk, homeless, with a simple robe and a beggar`sbowl.

17. SectionReview • 1. Listthedifferentnamesbywhichpeoplerefferedto, Siddhartha Gautama. • 2. Describe Siddharthas` life as a youngprince. • 3. NamethefirstthreesignsthatchangedSiddharthas` view of life. • 4. WhatopenedSiddharthas` eyestothereality of life? • 5. Whatwasthefourth and final sign? • 6. How do asceticslivetheirlives?