#英语[超话]# Preface: Why We Study Traditional Culture and The Analects

In today’s world, material desires (/dɪˈzaɪəz/ n. 欲望) spread everywhere,
and all kinds of temptations (/tempˈteɪʃnz/ n. 诱惑) fill our daily life.
We run after wealth, fame, and social status (/ˈsteɪtəs/ n. 地位),
yet we often feel empty, anxious (/ˈæŋkʃəs/ adj. 焦虑的), and lost.

We possess more material things than ever before,
yet we struggle (/ˈstrʌɡl/ v. 挣扎，难以) to find real peace of mind.
We master (/ˈmɑːstə(r)/ v. 掌握) many modern skills (/skɪlz/ n. 技能),
yet remain confused (/kənˈfjuːzd/ adj. 困惑的) about life and our future.

Under such circumstances (/ˈsɜːkəmstənsɪz/ n. 情况，环境),
learning traditional Chinese culture, especially The Analects (/ˈænəlekts/ n. 《论语》),
is not only meaningful but also necessary (/ˈnesəsəri/ adj. 必要的).

It guides (/ɡaɪdz/ v. 引导) us in self-cultivation (/ˌkʌltɪˈveɪʃn/ n. 修身),
family harmony (/ˈhɑːməni/ n. 和睦，齐家), social responsibility (/rɪˌspɒnsəˈbɪləti/ n. 责任，入世),
spiritual freedom (/ˈfriːdəm/ n. 自由，出世),
and even in understanding the true Dao (/daʊ/ n. 道，天道).

Culture is the spirit and soul (/səʊl/ n. 灵魂) of a nation.
The German philosopher (/fəˈlɒsəfə(r)/ n. 哲学家) Karl Jaspers
spoke of the “Axial Age” (/ˈæksiəl eɪdʒ/ n. 轴心时代),
an era when great thinkers (/ˈθɪŋkəz/ n. 思想家) emerged across many civilizations (/ˌsɪvəlaɪˈzeɪʃnz/ n. 文明).

In ancient (/ˈeɪnʃənt/ adj. 古代的) Greece, there were Socrates and Plato.
In India, there was Buddha.
In China, there was Confucius (/kənˈfjuːʃəs/ n. 孔子) and Laozi.
Their wisdom laid the foundation (/faʊnˈdeɪʃn/ n. 基础) of the human spirit.

Traditional Chinese culture has endured for more than 5,000 years.
It teaches us to be strong and virtuous (/ˈvɜːtʃuəs/ adj. 品德高尚的).
As the Book of Changes says:
“A gentleman should keep improving (/ɪmˈpruːvɪŋ/ v. 提升) himself every day.”

Many modern people blindly (/ˈblaɪndli/ adv. 盲目地) follow foreign cultures
and ignore (/ɪɡˈnɔː(r)/ v. 忽视) their own roots.
They feel spiritually (/ˈspɪrɪtʃuəli/ adv. 精神上) homeless.
The famous historian (/hɪˈstɔːriən/ n. 历史学家) Qian Mu
reminded us to view our own history with respect (/rɪˈspekt/ n. 尊重) and affection.

Learning traditional culture helps us find our spiritual roots,
so we will not drift like grass in the wind.

The Analects records the words and deeds (/diːdz/ n. 言行) of Confucius and his disciples.
For over 2,000 years, it has shaped (/ʃeɪpt/ v. 塑造) Chinese values and virtues (/ˈvɜːtjuːz/ n. 美德).

In the Song Dynasty, Prime Minister Zhao Pu said:
“Half of The Analects can govern the world well.”
It is not magical (/ˈmædʒɪkl/ adj. 神奇的),
but its wisdom is deeply practical (/ˈpræktɪkl/ adj. 实用的).

Today many people feel anxious
because they equate (/ɪˈkweɪt/ v. 把……等同于) success only with money.
The German thinker Nietzsche (/ˈniːtʃə/ n. 尼采) said:
“The hardest thing is not being misunderstood (/ˌmɪsʌndəˈstʊd/ adj. 被误解的),
but not understanding yourself.”

The Analects helps us know ourselves better and calm (/kɑːm/ v. 平静) our hearts.

Confucius said:
“Simple food, clean water, and joy in the heart are enough.”
He did not refuse (/rɪˈfjuːz/ v. 拒绝) wealth,
but he taught:
“Wealth gained improperly is like floating clouds.”
It teaches us not to be controlled (/kənˈtrəʊld/ v. 被控制) by excessive desires.

Modern life is full of temptations: money, power, popularity (/ˌpɒpjuˈlærəti/ n. 名气), pleasure.
Many people abandon their moral bottom line (/ˈbɒtəm laɪn/ n. 底线).

The Analects tells us:
“Do not look, listen, speak, or do anything that is not proper (/ˈprɒpə(r)/ adj. 恰当的，合礼的).”
This is timeless wisdom of self-discipline (/ˈdɪsəplɪn/ n. 自律).
It teaches us to restrain our wishes, behave (/bɪˈheɪv/ v. 举止，行为) with propriety,
and uphold our dignity (/ˈdɪɡnəti/ n. 尊严).

In human relationships (/rɪˈleɪʃnʃɪps/ n. 人际关系), people often feel weary.
The Analects offers the wisest rule:
“Do not do to others what you do not want others to do to you.”

This is similar (/ˈsɪmələ(r)/ adj. 相似的) to the “Golden Rule” in Western culture.
It teaches us to be kind, tolerant (/ˈtɒlərənt/ adj. 宽容的),
and not to blame (/bleɪm/ v. 责备) others easily.

Confucian wisdom includes two dimensions:
entering the world (入世) and transcending the world (出世).

Entering the world means taking responsibility (/rɪˌspɒnsəˈbɪləti/ n. 责任), working diligently,
and caring for family and society.
The Confucian ideal (/aɪˈdɪəl/ n. 理想) is:
Cultivate yourself → Unite your family → Govern a state → Bring peace to the world.

Self-cultivation is the most fundamental foundation (/faʊnˈdeɪʃn/ n. 基础).
Confucius said that everyone, from emperors (/ˈempərəz/ n. 皇帝) to common people,
must reflect (/rɪˈflekt/ v. 反省) on themselves daily.

Transcending the world does not mean withdrawing from society.
It means inner peace, freedom from excessive fame and gain,
and spiritual maturity (/məˈtʃʊərəti/ n. 成熟).

Confucius traveled through many states and faced numerous hardships (/ˈhɑːdʃɪps/ n. 困难),
yet he never abandoned his moral pursuit (/pəˈsjuːt/ n. 追求).

He described his life journey:
“At fifteen, I aimed (/eɪmd/ v. 立志) at learning.
At thirty, I stood firm (/fɜːm/ adj. 坚定的).
At forty, I was no longer confused (/kənˈfjuːzd/ adj. 困惑的).
At fifty, I knew Heaven’s will.
At sixty, I could accept (/əkˈsept/ v. 接受) all words calmly.
At seventy, I followed my heart without overstepping the rules.”

This is the path of true self-realization (/ˌriːəlaɪˈzeɪʃn/ n. 悟道，觉醒).

The central (/ˈsentrəl/ adj. 核心的) idea of The Analects is Ren (/rən/ n. 仁),
which means benevolence, love, and care for others.

• It means loving people.

• It means being sincere (/sɪnˈsɪə(r)/ adj. 真诚的) and honest.

• It means being forgiving (/fəˈɡɪvɪŋ/ adj. 宽容的).

• It means improving oneself to benefit others.

Confucius said:
“To overcome (/ˌəʊvəˈkʌm/ v. 克制) oneself and return to propriety is Ren.”

A benevolent person does not worry;
a wise (/waɪz/ adj. 智慧的) person does not doubt;
a brave (/breɪv/ adj. 勇敢的) person does not fear.
This is the spiritual state (/steɪt/ n. 境界) we need today.

Some people think ancient classics are out of date.
But human nature (/ˈneɪtʃə(r)/ n. 本性) never changes.
People still need kindness, honesty, dignity, and peace.

The French thinker Voltaire (/vɒlˈteə(r)/ n. 伏尔泰) highly praised Confucius.
He said “Do not do to others what you do not want”
is the most universal (/ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsl/ adj. 普遍的) moral principle in the world.

The German philosopher Leibniz (/ˈlaɪbnɪts/ n. 莱布尼茨) also admired (/ədˈmaɪəd/ v. 推崇) Confucian thought.
Today Confucius Institutes are established around the globe.
It shows The Analects is a treasure of all humanity (/hjuːˈmænəti/ n. 人类).

From today onward, we will study The Analects sentence by sentence, word by word.

• We read the original (/əˈrɪdʒənl/ adj. 原文的) Chinese carefully.

• We read clear English for speaking and reading practice.

• We understand the profound meaning of self-cultivation, mind, virtue, and Dao.

• We connect (/kəˈnekt/ v. 结合) ancient wisdom with modern life.

We will not study hastily, but study deeply.
We will reflect, practice, and improve little by little.

As Confucius said:
“Building a mountain requires daily effort (/ˈefət/ n. 努力).
Even one basket of earth brings progress (/ˈprəʊɡres/ n. 进步).”

In a world filled with material desires,
The Analects is like a bright light.
It calms our heart,
nurtures our character (/ˈkærəktə(r)/ n. 品格),
balances (/ˈbælənsɪz/ v. 平衡) duty and freedom,
and reveals the true meaning (/ˈmiːnɪŋ/ n. 意义) of life.

May we keep our original (/əˈrɪdʒənl/ adj. 初心的) heart,
walk the path of virtue,
and live with dignity, peace, and wisdom.

～[咖啡]📖[咖啡]～