Over the past few days, I’ve been reading The Analects by Confucius.
The reason I love this book is its ability to constantly remind us how to live a good life.
In particular, I would like to share one key principle that has the power to improve our personal and professional relationships. But to be effective, it needs to be treated as a keystone habit of everyday conduct. Here’s how it’s described in “Book Fifteen” when a disciple asks Confucius the following question.
Zigong asked, “Is there a single word that can serve as the guide to conduct throughout one’s life?”
The Master said, “It is perhaps the word shu.” Do not impose on others what you yourself do not want [others to impose on you].”
This interpretation of Confucius’ teaching from The Analects reminds me of what The Dalai Lama wrote in his book Beyond Religion about cultivating inner values: “[We] survive and thrive only in an environment of concern, affection, and warmheartedness” and “we need to observe the ‘golden rule’ found in all of the world’s ethical systems: ‘Treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself’ or ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.'”
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