Observations placeholder
Confucius - The Analects - Li Ren 05
Identifier
013290
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
A description of the experience
子曰。富與貴、是人之所欲也。 不以其道得之、不處也。貧與賤、是人之惡也。 不以其道得之、不去也。君子去仁、惡乎成名。君子無終食之間違仁、造次必於是、顚沛必於是。
Confucius said, “Riches and honors are what all men desire. But if they cannot be attained in accordance with the Way they should not be kept. Poverty and low status are what all men hate. But if they cannot be avoided while staying in accordance with the Way, you should not avoid them. If a noble man departs from his fundamental goodness, how can he be worthy of that name? A noble man never leaves his fundamental goodness for even the time of a single meal. In moments of haste he acts according to it. In times of difficulty or confusion he acts according to it.”