QUOTE
老子:「道德经」:第四十九章
圣人常无心，以百姓心为心。
善者，吾善之﹔不善者，吾亦善之﹔德善。
信者，吾信之﹔不信者，吾亦信之﹔德信。
圣人在天下，歙歙焉，为天下浑其心，
百姓皆注其耳目，圣人皆孩之。
Laozi "Dao de Jing": Chapter 49
The sage does not distinguish between himself and the world;
The needs of other people are as his own.
He is good to those who are good;
He is also good to those who are not good,
Thereby he is good.
He trusts those who are trustworthy;
He also trusts those who are not trustworthy,
Thereby he is trustworthy.
The sage lives in harmony with the world,
And his mind is the world's mind.
So he nurtures the worlds of others
As a mother does her children.
圣人常无心，以百姓心为心。
善者，吾善之﹔不善者，吾亦善之﹔德善。
信者，吾信之﹔不信者，吾亦信之﹔德信。
圣人在天下，歙歙焉，为天下浑其心，
百姓皆注其耳目，圣人皆孩之。
Laozi "Dao de Jing": Chapter 49
The sage does not distinguish between himself and the world;
The needs of other people are as his own.
He is good to those who are good;
He is also good to those who are not good,
Thereby he is good.
He trusts those who are trustworthy;
He also trusts those who are not trustworthy,
Thereby he is trustworthy.
The sage lives in harmony with the world,
And his mind is the world's mind.
So he nurtures the worlds of others
As a mother does her children.
Recently I was asked to define what I mean when I use the word "respect." That's a fair question - so let's give it a whirl.
My definition of the word "respect" is based on Chapter 49 of Laozi's Dao de Jing. By my simple minded understanding, this chapter is "The Golden Rule" (aka "the ethic of reciprocity") stated in Taoist terms.
The same thought has been expressed in many ways over centuries:
QUOTE
"Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the LORD." — Moses (ca. 1525-1405 BCE) in the Torah Leviticus 19:18
"This is the sum of duty; do naught onto others what you would not have them do unto you." from the Mahabharata (5:15:17) (ca. 500BCE)
"What you do not wish upon yourself, extend not to others." — Confucius (ca. 551–479 BCE)
"What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man." — Hillel (ca. 50 BCE-10 CE)
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." — Jesus (ca. 5 BCE—33 CE) in the Gospels, Matthew 7:12, Luke 6:31, Luke 10:25
"None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself." — Muhammad (c. 571 – 632 CE) Hadith.
"This is the sum of duty; do naught onto others what you would not have them do unto you." from the Mahabharata (5:15:17) (ca. 500BCE)
"What you do not wish upon yourself, extend not to others." — Confucius (ca. 551–479 BCE)
"What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man." — Hillel (ca. 50 BCE-10 CE)
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." — Jesus (ca. 5 BCE—33 CE) in the Gospels, Matthew 7:12, Luke 6:31, Luke 10:25
"None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself." — Muhammad (c. 571 – 632 CE) Hadith.
Respect for me is a great deal about acceptance and acting in accordance with "the ethic of reciprocity." What does "respect" mean to you?
