Ethical Connections

How philosophers of the past can help you understand your self.

Throughout our semester with Professor Deng we've learned a great deal about the idea of the self. Westerners like ourselves might have trouble implementing some of these theories but we encourage you to look to the teachings of the Dao and Buddha.

The Self:

The idea of the self as nonexistent can work to encourage people to live in the moment and constantly work towards their goals without the guilt that can be associated with Western thinking. You cannot allow yourself to be bogged down by past actions if you're focus is to live in the moment.

“One of the key paradoxes of Buddhism is that we need goals to be inspired, to grow, and to develop, even to become enlightened, but at the same time we must not get overly fixated or attached to these aspirations. If the goal is noble, your commitment to the goal should not be contingent on your ability to attain it, and in pursuit of our goal, we must release our rigid assumptions about how we must achieve it. Peace and equanimity come from letting go of our attachment to the goal and the method. That is the essence of acceptance. Reflecting.” – Dalai Lama

Humor:

Zhuangzi emphasizes Spontaneity --and from that, Humor-- to allow for emotional freedom and easy responses. Don't take life so seriously that you ruin it for yourself.

Very few things are the End of the World As You Know It. Most setbacks can be recovered from. Pick your battles friends. Don't choose to die on a hill that isn't worth it.

Most college kids have been raised to understand the nuances of satire and unfortunate humor. We all joke about our depression. THIS is kind of a joke about our depression.

Skilled Actions and Goal-Oriented Behavior:

“The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.” - Confucius

Though Confucius has very different ideas of how to go about one's life, his ideas of ritual propriety and skilled action blend well with real-world applications of ethics.

Through rituals that we demand of ourselves, we can create good habits. Good habits eventually become internalized as virtues.

Zen Buddhism and Confucianism both value skill actions. Both require careful work to become good at the things we want to succeed at.

Confucius demands us to work hard to learn as much as possible, his teachings will help us force ourselves through boring schoolwork. Some things simply need to get done.

Zhuangzi suggests that we allow ourselves to exist naturally. Find a task you enjoy --one that is in harmony with your nature-- and practice it until you make it your own.

Regardless, try approach any task with a sense of peace. This too shall pass. Let it. Flow with it. Make yourself into who and what you value.