The Path: What Chinese Philosophers Can Teach Us About the Good Life

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/apr/09/forget-mindfulness-stop-trying-to-find-yourself-start-faking-it-confucius?CMP=fb_gu

Thank you Akkarin for posting that very interesting newspaper article.

A long story; the way things go for Adjunct Faculty like myself is this: community colleges have courses that need filling and the Department Chair tries to match those who want to teach with those courses. We don't often get the exact course load and schedule we want. This is what occurred at one of the colleges where I will teach in the Fall - I was offered one of my least favorite classes: Introduction to Ethical Theory. Textbook orders are expected soon so I've been researching other kinds of texts so as to make the course more interesting for me. I decided to make it a comparative ethical theory course that would include more Chinese philosophy. The course I envision sounds very much like what the article is about. So, thanks.

Why is it every great thinker in their time are labeled radical or a threat? They bring about change. Thinking and choosing for ones self releases one of many holds on our attention and effort. I personally think this, for "individual thinking" is not common nor is it openly accepted. When one chooses to take responsibility for their own "individual-ness", you become a small sprout, thirsty and willing at that moment to grow anywhere, no reserve. The responsibility to tend, root and grow become your own and the ability to see what makes it grow becomes (hopefully) possible. I personally pride myself in the ability to encompass and plant my self next to great thinkers and do-ers in my circle of forested knowledge. Although a yearling; I encourage as many as possible to plant a few trees of wisdom, regardless of era or common consensus. Take time to find what your circle of things need. Trust me its possible and worth the effort.
That, I think , is a good life..

One of Confucius' most insightful suggestions is our need for ceremony.

It is a good article, except for the mindfulness bit.. I think that was rushed. I'd say western use of it isn't the opposite, but rather just the inner component which needs the same nature of attention outwards, and that development of that interconnected inner and outer becomes representative of what can be called ones 'view', which has particular focal fields and a capacity to define focal points to maintain a form to that view, to enable function to develop, which lets us appreciate a frame, which lets life flow.