My Metro Medicine
  • Home
  • Acupuncture
    • Forms & Fees
  • Tai Chi & Qigong
  • Media
    • Publications
    • Blog
    • Podcast
    • YouTube Channel
    • Ask The Expert Show
  • Location
  • About Us
    • Our Staff
    • Mission & Vision
    • Contact Us

The Official Blog of
My Metro Medicine

Reviving an Ancient Confucian Practice

2/22/2018

0 Comments

 
Monk Walking
Source: Pexels.com
In the wake of another tragic moment in history where innocent lives have been lost, we find ourselves again in the same position; on our knees both mourning and pleading for answers and change. Knees bloodied, voices strained, we feel lost and confused as to why we constantly find ourselves again and again in this submissive posture. We seek answers. We seek change. We seek safety.

The recent and horrific event at a Florida school has called us all to action. Consider this my small drop in the ocean moved by emotional waves of fear, confusion, and loss of life. This offering of a small drop is hopefully enough to temporarily quench our thirst for change. And within this drop is a small reminder of an ancient practice that will hopefully nourish an internal state of ease we all yearn for at this moment.

​This unimaginable event in Florida has re-ignited an ongoing debate, which I will not continue here as my specialty is health rather than school safety or gun legislation. However, it reminds me of an important ancient practice that can begin to heal our society and potentially prevent events such as these from happening again by focusing internally on the one person we truly have the ability to change; ourselves.
The students of this school of thought were able to transform their ways of life and  contributions to society in a way that sculpted their culture into a living work of art.
You might recall from ancient Chinese society a school of thought called Confucianism. Now, I am not an expert in this school of thought, but I am certainly curious about one specific objective that was the overarching goal in this ancient and wise way of life that has been practiced for more than two millenia. This practice is referred to that of being a Hao Ren (好人) or "good person". By regularly practicing the ethical and humanistic beliefs of Confucianism, the students of this school of thought were able to transform their ways of life and contributions to society in a way that sculpted their culture into a living work of art. In other words, they learned to become good people. Sadly though, these beliefs have slowly disappeared over time and are virtually absent altogether in modern society erasing away our overall sense of humanity.

It is time to resuscitate these practices once again and revisit the basics of humanism and the essentials of life. For in the presence of mass suffering, we are vividly reminded of the emotions that connect us to one another and those that separate us. Hence the reason for people joining together in solidarity aiming and hoping for a similar outcome; in this case, the protection of human life, which will eternally outweigh the desire to protect material belongings, e.g. weapons.

This is not an article of blame, nor is it a conversation leading to more pain or destruction. Think of it as an opportunity to expand our wherewithal by beginning with an internal, personal conversation. One leading to the development of self in a positive direction that will ultimately guide the development of others. By embodying the fundamental values of this ancient practice, we can relearn that which has been forgotten. This does not mean you must adopt a new religion and belief system altogether. It is simply a nudge in the direction of positive change and development starting with ourselves as individuals. The Five Constants and Four Virtues are the essential values needed to become a Hao Ren through the lens of Confucian philosophies. And if we were to instill these values within a modern mindset, we could virtually eradicate the suffering we constantly inflict upon ourselves and others.

The Five Constants are:
Humanity
Righteousness
Ritual
Knowledge
Integrity

AND

The Four Virtues are:
Loyalty
Filial Piety
Contingency
Righteousness

Of course there exist more values than these alone, but these Constants and Virtues are the essence of our humanity. Practice them religiously and your mind and body will transform. Embody them holistically and the people around you will transform. Exhibit them effortlessly and the world we live in will transform, allowing us to achieve an harmonious level of coexistence and that of a Hao Ren. The painful steps taken to achieve progress in difficult times like these are nurtured by nothing other than the quality of our learned beliefs together with our persistent effort towards living the life of a good person. And I pray that by coming together we can, for the sake of the lives that have been lost, discover our potential of becoming good people long enough that we remain as living examples for all the future generations to come.
Picture
0 Comments

    RSS Feed

    Acupuncture DC VA

    Posted here are...

    inspirational ideas on healthy living through eastern medicine, optimism, and possibility through empowerment.

    Archives

    March 2020
    September 2019
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    June 2016
    February 2016
    September 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    June 2013

    Categories

    All
    Achievement
    Acknowledgement
    Acupuncture
    Acupuncture School
    Appreciation
    Attitude
    Autumn
    Believe
    Be Present
    Breath
    Breathe
    Challenge
    Children
    Coaching
    Communication
    Compassion
    Confidence
    Confucius
    Conservation
    Conversation
    Courage
    Destiny
    Diet
    Dream
    Dreams
    Eat Well
    Education
    Elders
    Emotions
    Empowerment
    Encouragement
    Endurance
    Energy
    Ethics
    Excellence
    Exercise
    Existence
    Expectations
    Experience
    Finding Purpose
    Fitness
    Five Senses
    Food
    Future
    Goals
    Gratitude
    Growth
    Happiness
    Harvest
    Healing
    Healing Wisdom
    Healthcare
    Healthy Living
    Holistic Health
    Humble
    Humility
    Injury Prevention
    Kindness
    Korean
    Letting Go
    Life
    Life Coach
    Live Well
    Longevity
    Love
    Loyalty
    Martial Arts
    Martial Morality
    Mastery
    Meaning Of Life
    Medicine
    Mindful
    Mindfulness
    Morality
    Mother Nature
    Motivation
    Music
    Nature
    Non-Communicable Diseases
    Nurturing
    Nutrition
    Oriental Medicine
    Pain
    Pain Management
    Passion
    Patience
    Patient Education
    Patriotism
    Peacefulness
    Perseverance
    Philosophy
    Physical Therapy
    Physiology
    Pilates
    Posture
    Potential
    Power Of Words
    Presence
    Present
    Purpose
    Qigong
    Reason
    Regret
    Reminder
    Respect
    Righteousness
    Seasons
    Seeing
    Self Care
    Self-care
    Speaking
    Sports
    Standards
    Stress
    Stress Management
    Stressors
    Stress Relief
    Success
    Tai Chi
    Tcm
    Thankfulness
    Thank You
    Time
    Tradition
    Traditional Martial Arts
    Transformation
    Transition
    Trust
    Vuim
    Warming Foods
    Wellness
    Western Medicine
    Winter
    Wushu
    Yoga

    View my profile on LinkedIn

HOURS & Location

HOURS OF OPERATION
Saturdays   1:00-6:30pm

1980 Gallows Road
Vienna, VA 22182
(Acupuncture Appointments Only)

CONTACT Us

(202) 505-2805
jflinner@mymetromedicine.com

    ASK a Question

Submit
Photo used under Creative Commons from mockstar
  • Home
  • Acupuncture
    • Forms & Fees
  • Tai Chi & Qigong
  • Media
    • Publications
    • Blog
    • Podcast
    • YouTube Channel
    • Ask The Expert Show
  • Location
  • About Us
    • Our Staff
    • Mission & Vision
    • Contact Us