Analects 15:23

Tzu-kung asked, “Is there one word which can serve as the guiding principle for conduct throughout life?”  Confucius said, “It is the word altruism (shu).  Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you.”  [Analects 15:23]


Today, I would like to interpret this particular Analect from the topic "Shu as an Expression of Jen".

This particular Analect teaches us not to be greedy. It can be known through Confucius' statement saying that altruism is the guiding principle throughout which I understood as the lack of selfishness. A superior man cultivates himself so as to cultivate others. This man shares to everyone whatever he have learned that led him to be greater and not just to keep it for himself. If a man shares, something good would also come back to him equal or greater than what he have shared. If a man is selfish, then it would also be the thing or expression that will go back to him thus the saying, " Do not do unto others what you do not want them to do unto you". Meaning if a person wanted people to treat him kindly, then he should treat them kindly too if he treats them harshly, then they would treat him harshly too. Whatever you do will always go back to you.

Altruism is an expression of humanity because being unselfish or being generous proves that a man is open for another learning lesson, that he acknowledges his being as someone who is not perfect and will not be perfect but he could only be someone greater than the other human beings not by the power offered by the physical world but of a higher form of world. If he is open then, he shares with everyone and everyone will share to him thus in this way he learns and made elevates himself from a good to a greater person.