DAY 133 - HAPPINESS ACCORDING TO CONFUCIUS

DAY 133

Confucius, ancient philosopher and thinker,  was born in China in 551 B.C. His own name was Kong, but his followers called him Kong-fu-tse (Kong the Master, or Teacher), which was later on latinized by the Jesuit missionaries into Confucius. 


Confucianism, which is sometimes viewed as a philosophy, sometimes as a religion, is based on Conficius' teachings.  It first originated in China but quickly spread to Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam and Japan.  


Confucianism has greatly evolved through the years.  As for Buddhism and Taoism, it is based on a set of principles that aim at helping people live the 'good life'.  So, here is a little summary of some of Confucius' advice on how to do that:


Virtue:
Like many of his Greek contemporaries, Confucius believed that in order to be happy, one should acquire virtuous qualities such as benevolence, charity, humanity, love, honesty and kindness.


Family values
Confucius believed that strong family values and relationships were key to a stable society.  According to him, ancestors should be worshiped and parents respected and honored.


Pleasure
Confucius didn't reject the idea of enjoyment.  Contrarily to buddhism, which advocates that short-term pleasure  always leads to disappointment, Confucianism supports the idea of having pleasurable moments in your life.


Knowledge and learning
Confucianism views the acquisition of knowledge as an essential component for growth.   However, what is learned needs to be applied in order for growth to take place.  According to Confucius, to be beneficial,  knowledge has to be put into action and cannot remain theoretical.


Relationships and social involvement
Confucius believed that creating intimate ties with others and caring for the wellbeing of friends was essential to happiness.  He also thought that one should get involved in the community and participate actively in its improvement, through work and other means. 


"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop."

"Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated. "

"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."

"The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large."

"The one who would be in constant happiness must frequently change." 

Confucius