Valuable Values

Professor J. Rufus Fears ("Books That Have Made History: Books That Can Change Your Life") weighed in on the question of universal values (Lecture # 23  Confucius, The Analects):

For Confucius, the Golden Rule is the path of benevolence, the way of truth and harmony in the world.  The path of good is marked in our character by wisdom, courage and justice.

(1) Justice is doing unto others what you would have them do unto you.
(2) Courage is steadfastness in truth and doing what needs to be done, unafraid of any consequences.
(3) Wisdom - the ultimate goal of the teacher and seeker of truth - is knowing what needs to be done.
(4) Moderation joins justice, courage and wisdom together to ensure that they work in harmony

All four of these "universal values" resonate with what I hope I live and try to pass on each day. 

I had to get a kick out of the Professor's timeline of Confucius life ( since I have my uncompleted "Decade Project still in progress):

A.  At the age of 15, Confucius began his studies
B. At the age of 30, he took his stand and decided to devote his life to the search for truth.
C. At the age of 40, all his doubts were put aside, and he began to understand the way and knew that he must follow it.
D. At the age of 50, Confucius understood what heaven had decreed for him.
        1. Heaven had decreed that his proper place and destiny was to teach.
        2. He believed that people can find their way without invoking the gods (the divine played no role in his teachings).
E. At 60, his "ears were properly attuned." He knew what he should be doing.
F. At 70, he was conscious that he was treading the path of truth.

The mystery would be what would have happened in his 80's?

Confucianism Symbol