As the natural cycle of our New Year is upon us, let us all reflect upon the following words from Confucius:
"While there are no stirrings of pleasure, anger, sorrow, or joy, the
mind may be said to be in the state of Equilibrium. When those
feelings have been stirred, and they act in their due degree, there
ensues what may be called the state of Harmony. This Equilibrium is
the great root from which grow all the human actings in the world, and
this Harmony is the universal path which they all should pursue.
Let the states of equilibrium and harmony exist in perfection, and a
happy order will prevail throughout heaven and earth, and all things
will be nourished and flourish."
Excerpted from -
The Doctrine of the Mean
(circa 450 –500 BCE)
By Confucius
Translated by James Legge [1893]
http://www.sacred-texts.com/cfu/conf3.htm
http://classics.mit.edu/Confucius/doctmean.html
