Love #1
From today's Zaobao:中国文化的传统基本上是关于律法的，即做人处事的行为规范。它道出了人性的道德本性，因此它是磨灭不了的。时间也好，文革也好，都不能消去它的影响。然而它却未达人性的根本，只是训蒙的师傅。人性的根本在于爱。爱成全完备了律法。
Recently there have been a lot of articles discussing the suitability of a Chinese classic <弟子规> as a basic text for teaching traditional Chinese values to kids. I grew up studying some form of Chinese classics and I support the idea of making kids learn traditional texts. We can't take them at face value though; things like 晨昏定省 is certainly no longer applicable but things like 出必告, 返必面 should definitely be advocated.
The above paragraph struck me though, because there is a parallel verse in the Bible:
Romans 13:10:
Love does no harm to its neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
If you love your neighbour (i.e. everyone else) as yourself, you will automatically fulfill the law. If you genuinely love your parents, you will do what <弟子规> tells you to without even knowing what is inside.
Well love needs to be carefully defined - I kind of know what how to do it now. Haha next post perhaps...
Labels: Philosophy and Religion
