Doctrine of the Mean (Chapter 2, 3 and 4)

By Hrukti MaatPu-Lin Temple Master

Introduction

• This the continuation discussion on the Confucian classic “The Doctrine of the Mean”

• The gist of the teaching is that Tao is the Center, the Harmony, the Mean, the moderation, etc.

• Therefore the cultivation of Tao is to achieve the Center, the Harmony, etc.

• The next 3 chapter continues the discussion

Translated Text

• Chapter 2: Confucius Said Confucius said, “Gentlemen sustain the Mean, Small-men oppose the Mean. The Gentlemen sustain the Mean by constantly focusing on the

Center. Small-men oppose the Mean by having no consideration.”

• Chapter 3: Center and MeanConfucius said, “The Doctrine of the Mean is truly great. But people can rarely sustain.”

Translated Text

• Chapter 4: The TaoConfucius said, “The Tao cannot be achieved, now I understand; the intelligent ones have

exceeded, and the foolish ones cannot attain.The Tao cannot flourish, now I understand;

the virtuous ones have exceeded, and the immoral ones cannot attain.

If a person does not eat or drink, it’s rare that the flavor can be known.”

Chapter 2

• Confucius said, “Gentlemen sustain the Mean and the Small-men oppose the Mean.”– Gentlemen is referring to the people who aspire to

the cultivation of Tao and thus achieve greatness by have great contributions to the world

– Small-men refers to people who are self-serving and only look after self-interests

– The Mean in this case refers to the Tao (the attribute of the Tao--Center and Harmony)

Chapter 2

• “The Gentlemen sustain the Mean by constantly focusing on the Center” – A gentleman who cultivates the Tao constantly

meditates on the Center (the First Treasure)– A gentleman who cultivates the Tao constantly act

to create harmony amongst people– A gentleman who cultivates the Tao constantly

deals with all affairs of the world with moderation

Chapter 2

• “Small-men oppose the Mean by having no consideration.”– A person who does not cultivate the Tao has no

concern for meditation– A person who does not cultivate has no

consideration for the wellness of others– A person who does not cultivate has no

considerations and follows only his senses to pursue sensual pleasures (results in transgression)

Chapter 3

• Confucius said, “The Doctrine of the Mean is truly great. But people can rarely sustain.”– The Tao is the greatest of all spiritual pursue– The end result of the cultivation of Tao is the

restoration of one’s divinity (the greatest achievement)– Ordinary people do not have the insight nor the faith

to pursue the Tao– Even the few that aspired, will have encountered

challenges and eventually given up

Chapter 4

• Confucius said, “The Tao cannot be achieved, now I understand; the intelligent ones have exceeded, and the foolish ones cannot attain.”– Confucius is frustrated that few to none of his disciples

can achieve the Tao– Those disciples who are intelligent, are too full of their

egos and have disdain on the simple teaching of Tao– Those disciples who are less intelligent, are

bewildered by spirituality and cannot comprehend teachings beyond the material manifests

Chapter 4

• “The Tao cannot flourish, now I understand; the virtuous ones have exceeded, and the immoral ones cannot attain.”– Expanding beyond his school and talk about

“flourish” the Tao to the world– The virtuous cultivators are blinded by their

egocentric title of being virtuous and thus have no consideration for the Tao

– The immoral ones simply do not care about spirituality and thus will not pursue the Tao

Chapter 4

• “If a person does not eat or drink, it’s rare that the flavor can be known.”– No amount of explanation can replace the actual

experience of enlightenment (just like no amount of explanation can replace the experience of eating or drinking)

– Likewise, true enlightenment of Tao is something that a person must experience

– If a person does not practice deeply, then the Tao can never be achieved

Summary

• Chapter 2 talked about the cultivator of Tao having right meditation and the application of Moderation on all events

• Chapter 3 talked about the greatness of Tao, and that only a very few will sustain

• Chapter 4 talked about the Ego being a hindrance to the cultivation of Tao and that only by deep practice will one truly experience enlightenment and achieved Tao

Conclusion

• Chapter 2, 3 and 4 are some of Confucius’ frustration that ordinary people simply do not have the capacity to cultivate the Tao

• One perspective is that people of his time are simply not ready for the Tao

• It took another 2,500 years of spiritual evolution for people of this world to be ready and the great flourish of Tao is at hand

Question