10
CONFUCIUS
THE NEW HIERARCH OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN
RETREAT
A SHORT
BIOGRAPHY AND A FEW OF HIS SAYINGS
On July 4th, 1958 after completing the ceremonies at
the Rocky Mountain Retreat, welcoming the Karmic Board and, generally,
officiating as Host to the Great White Brotherhood and their unascended chelas,
beloved Lanto, Hierarch of the Rocky Mountain Retreat for centuries of time,
took the seven-pointed Golden Crown, which lay, in state, on a golden pillow
before the Precipitation Flame, and lovingly placed it upon the head of his
Chosen and Qualified Successor, Confucius, who was Lord Lanto's Disciple, even
before his Ascension.
The Beloved Confucius, known by his contemporaries
as "the Master K'ung" was born in 551 B.C. His birthplace was the village of
Ch'ueh, in the state of Lu, whither the family had migrated from the dukedom of
Sung, of which they were a branch of the ruling house. The lineage of Confucius
may be traced to the sovereign Hang Ti, who reigned no less than 2,697 years
B.C. his father, renowned as a soldier, was twice married. Confucius was the
child by the second wife.
His own words trace the growth and development of his intellect and
genius. "At fifteen", he tells us, "my mind was bent on learning. At thirty I
stood firm. At forty I was free from delusions. At fifty, I understood the laws
of Providence. At sixty, my ears were attentive to the truth. At seventy I could
follow the promptings of my heart without overstepping the mean".
R. Dimsdale Stocker tells us that Confucius married when but
nineteen years old, and had one son and two daughters. When fifty years old, he
entered political life, being appointed governor of Chung Tu. Having previously
established a reputation as a teacher and moralist, Confucius rose still higher
in public estimation, until at length he became a veritable idol in the eyes of
the people.
This state of things, however, was destined to prove of but brief
duration. He had to resign his position and began a period of exile and
wandering from state to state. But his followers and disciples were able to
testify that, even in the hour of adversity and defeat, the courage and serenity
of the Master did not desert him. His passing on occurred in 479 B.C.
The following are a few of his well known sayings:
On the Superior Man
What the superior man seeks is in himself. What the mean man seeks
is in others.
The superior man is quiet and calm, waiting for the appointment of
Heaven, while the mean man walks in dangerous paths, looking for lucky
occurrences.
In archery we have something like the way of the superior man. When
the archer misses the center of the target, he turns around and looks for the
cause of his failure in himself.
On Sincerity
To see what is right, and not to do it, is want of courage.
Make conscientiousness and sincerity your chief object.
Sincerity is the way to heaven. The requirement of sincerity belongs
to man.
I do not see how a man without sincerity can be anything but good
for nothing.
What is required in feeling is sincerity; in words, that they be
susceptible of verification.
The superior man practices before he preaches.
On Virtue
Is virtue remote? I wish to be virtuous, and lo! virtue is at hand.
Virtue is not left to stand alone.
He who practices it will have neighbors.
Genuine virtue rarely accompanies artful speech.
What needs no display is virtue.
Is he not a man of perfect virtue who feels no discomposure though
men may take no note of him?
Miscellaneous Sayings
When you have faults, do not hesitate to abandon them.
He who expects much from himself and little from others, will
prevent himself from being disliked.
The untruthful man is like a chariot without a yoke.
If you would avoid vexation, reprove yourself much and others little.
The wise have no doubts, the virtuous no sorrows, the brave no
fears.
While you are not able to serve man, how can you serve the gods?
What do you do not like when done to yourself, do not to others.
When you are laboring for others, let it be with the same zeal as if
it were for yourself.
If acts of goodness be not accumulated, they are insufficient to give their stamp to one's reputation.
If acts of evil be not accumulated, they
are not sufficient to destroy one's reputation.
Make happy those who are near, and those who are far will come.