China's President Hu Jintao recently issued a virtuous living list, essentially a To Do list for an entire country.
According to an Associated Press report, Chinese President Hu Jintao recently made personal development a Chinese mandate. When he issued a list of do's and don'ts of virtuous living, he signaled that China is making personal development and virtuous living a national goal. Hmmm, perhaps we should learn from this.
Let's examine President Hu Jintao's list for areas we might agree signal the virtuous life for you and me:
Love, do not harm, the motherland.
This is clearly a plea for patriotism. No argument here, but my version of this first virtuous life mandate would stop with Love. Just love. A person who reaches the ability to love all beings unconditionally is someone who has climbed to the pinnacle of self development.
Serve, don't disserve, the people.
Always a noble goal. There is pride and dignity in service, though I always stress that we must include self in those we choose to serve.
Uphold science; don't be ignorant and unenlightened.
Pretty specific, more intended to build support for an area of Chinese emphasis, than for virtuous living. How about expanding this to uphold all systems that further human development?
Work hard; don't be lazy and hate work.
I'd broaden this to work hard and do your best; always strive to do your best at what you choose to do.
Be united and help each other; don't gain benefits at the expense of others.
Can't quarrel with this advice, though I'd put it number two.
Be honest and trustworthy, not profit-mongering at the expense of your values.
Terrific advice. Being honest to myself about myself is a noble goal of personal growth and a solid foundation for a virtuous life.
Be disciplined and law-abiding instead of chaotic and lawless.
No argument here.
Know plain living and hard struggle, do not wallow in luxuries and pleasures.
This sounds more like a plea to put up with poverty and a weak infrastructure than a goal of virtuosity. I'd leave this off my list.
Some specific goals of China aside, this is a pretty good list. Do you agree with my suggested modifications? Share your list for virtuous living in the following discussion.
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Comments
Apr 5, 2006 2:31 PM
Jerry Lopper :
At first glance, virtuous living seems clear enough. But I started wondering just what that phrase might mean to other people. Looking back at China President Hu Jintao's list, I realize virtuous living to him included furthering China's national goals. What does virtuous living mean to you and me? To me it means harming no living being: human, animal, plant, or earth. To me it means doing my best to be my best, arriving at the doorstep of death with few regrets. What does it mean to you?
Apr 11, 2006 3:49 PM
Judy M Merrill :
Love, do not harm the Motherland: This is about patriotism for sure. But is it too focused? Love by nature is for all.
Serve, don't disserve, the people: This is about patriotism again. Only the people in your own motherland deserve service? I think it could be interpreted as being a narrow concept.
Uphold science; do not be ignorant and unenlightened: This would smack of a worship of science...beyond all other philosophies or religions?
Work hard; don't be lazy and hate work: Well a little hard work never did anyone too much harm. It might just be the way to improve our health and well being.
Be united and help each other, don't gain benefits at the expense of others: Need not greed is a good rule to enhance the balance within each of us. But can it be legislated, so much as taught to a caring populace?
Be honest and trustworthy, not profit-mongering at the expense of your values: Again, need not greed would help us see the benefits of what is good for one, will benefit all. Spiritual values only survive in an atmosphere of caring and sharing.
Be disciplined and law-abiding instead of chaotic and lawless; The natural law shows us the way to keep ourselves balance. This requires discipline to the in body, mind, spirit that would eliminate the chaos of lawless thoughts.
Know plain living and hard struggle, do not wallow in luxuries and pleasures. All effort has its own rewards. We do not accumulate to live. We live to enjoy the benefits and rewards of our own accomplishments.
These are my thoughts...perhaps more global and consciousness raising. I find these ideas for China a bit focused on control of a populace.
God bless, J
Apr 17, 2006 4:03 AM
Jerry Lopper :
Spiritalk Good insights. Thanks for contributing. I did visit your msn website. coachjerry
Apr 19, 2006 8:40 AM
Judy M Merrill :
I'll stick my neck out...did you get anything from it?
God bless, J
Apr 20, 2006 4:23 AM
Jerry Lopper :
Yes, I got out of it that you are a person I'd like to exchange ideas with, but I couldn't locate an email link.
I believe there are miracles waiting to happen for us when we're open and allowing, and I accept the validity of alternative healing modalities. I'm attuned as a Reiki I healer and have explored EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) healing.
Send an email link to jerry@yourcoachtosuccess.com if you'd like more interaction.
May 4, 2006 2:26 PM
Judy M Merrill :
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin: We are not a human being having a spiritual experience. We are a spiritual being having a human experience.
To me virtuous living is learning how to find that spirit within (each of us has it) and dealing with myself and others in spirit and in truth. Spirituality is the trait within that we are here to learn and grow within.
Human beings are like a diamond with many facets. The more we can polish through our life experiences, the more spiritual we can become.
God bless, J
May 9, 2006 6:13 AM
Jerry Lopper :
Yes, I've always loved that quote by Chardin, though I've seen it credited to someone else. Can't think who though.
