Post No. 12,477
Date uploaded in London – – 28 August, 2023
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Chinese philosopher Confucius was a great teacher. His birthday September 28 is celebrated as Teachers Day by Taiwan (Nationalist China) like we Indians celebrate September 5 as Teachers day. Philosopher and President of India Dr Radhakrishnan was also a teacher and his birth day was September 5.
Confucius attracted a lot of students; they loved him, and they honoured him like their father. Most of them revered him a sage. He accepted whoever came to him. He said “I have never refused to teach anyone. Even if a student brings a bundle of dried meat as fees”. But he wanted only students who wish to learn and who are capable of understanding. “I do not display the truth to one who is not eager to know it. When I presented one corner of a subject to a student, and he cannot take for himself the other three, I do not repeat the lesson”.
This reminds us of the story of Sathyakama Jabala in the Upanishads. He told the teacher the truth he did not know his father; and that was what his mother told him. The Vedic teacher was moved and accepted him as a student at once. If one speaks truth that is enough; because the first lone the Vedic teacher teaches is Sathyan Vada- Speak the Truth.
(सत्यं वद। घर्मं चर। स्वाध्यायान् मा प्रमदः।’ ‘Satyam vada; dharmam chara; svãdhyãyãn mã pramadaha’ – ‘Speak the truth. Abide by your dharma. Never be idle in your studies’ (Taittireeya Upanishad: 1/11). ‘मातृदेवो भव। पितृदेवो भव। आचार्यदेवो भव। अतिथिदेवो भव।’ – ‘Matruvedo bhava, pitrudevo bhava, atithidevo bhava’ – ‘Know your mother to be like a goddess (i.e. serve her and please her as if she were a goddess), know your father to be like a god, know your teacher to be like a god, know a guest to be like a god’ (Taittireeya Upanishad: 1/11).
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Sleeping Student in the Classroom!
Once he found a student asleep in the classroom. He did not punish him. He allowed him to sleep and said, “Rotten wood cannot be carved; one cannot build a wall with dung. Why should I even reprieve him?”
He was never given an opportunity to serve the people in high posts in the government; but several of his disciples got higher posts in local governments. One of them heard people were saying that he was greater than Confucius. “Let me compare our stature to a wall around a house”, he said. “My wall reaches to a man’s shoulders, anyone may look over it and see whatever is within. My Master’s wall is fathoms high; if one cannot find a door to enter it, he cannot know the beauties lie within; and few find the door.”
He also heard a courtier was speaking evil of his Master. “It is of no use to do that. My Master cannot be reviled. The talents and virtues of other men are mounds and hillocks; he is like the Sun or Moon which cannot be stepped over. What harm can anyone do to him?”.
Confucius was like a Vedic Rishi (seer). He said that he had nothing new to teach or preach. He is not founding a new doctrine. He said “I am a transmitter and not a maker. I love and believe in ancient sages.”
They were the legendary kings and the founders of the Chou dynasty.
Confucius longed for higher posts where from he could influence more. But no one gave him higher posts. He left his own province Lu and travelled abroad; several of his disciples followed him in carriages. He was honoured wherever he went but was not given influential posts; he was disappointed and came back to his own place and died at the age of 72. Later his wisdom was appreciated, and they built a temple at the place of his birth in Quipu in Lu province of China.
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He once gave a very brief account of his life:
At 15, I set my heart on learning;
At 30, I stood firm;
At 40, I had no doubts;
At 50, I understood the Way of Heaven;
At 60, I obeyed it;
At 70, I could follow my own desires and do no wrong.
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Although he wrote nothing except a brief chronicle of his own state Lu, his disciples have written down what he said. Teachings of Confucius were cherished by his disciples, and they spread it after he died. They exist in a book called The Analects (or Conversations) and in two short treatises called “The Doctrine of the Mean” and “The Great Learning”, which were in later centuries, added to the Five Classics and equally honoured. They are called the Four Books for another was added, written by Mencius, the greatest follower of Confucius.
Those who read Confucius teachings will find similarities with Indian scriptures. There is nothing contradictory. Several of his teachings are in Sanskrit and Tamil proverbs, ethical teachings of Bhartruhari and Tiru Valluvar (In Niti Satakas and Tirukkural).
Bharati and Confucius
Probably the Tamil Poet Bharati was the first one who introduced him to Indians. Bharatiyar died in 1921. He included in one of his poems Confucianism and Taoism as great religions of the world.
In September we celebrate both the great men; Confucius’ birth day and Bharati’s memorial day are observed by a large number of people in September every year.
–subham–
Tags- Confucius, Teachers Da, Bharati, Sleeping student, Quipu, The Analects
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