Never Too Late

In Analects we can see different way of life from the one we live in. I don’t agree with all the ideas that the master proposes but I generally see them as something that will make the world a better place. When I read these sections of analects I found the greatest teaching of all and that is to serve the community. The master mentions the effects of public service “To avoid public service is to be without a sense of what is right… The gentleman takes office in order to do what is right even though he already knows that the way will not be realized (book 18.7).” but what is important to understand is that this lesson can only work if the community as a whole works together. There are some people that believe the good of the public is above their personal good but we can also see people who believe their good is above the good of the public. This is the reason why our society is stuck and will not work. The good action of one person is taken away by the other person because of a lack in trust. What people don’t understand is that if I believe in the benefit of the public over my own benefit and everybody else believes the same thing the public as a whole will be better off. My good deed will eventually come back and I will receive a good deed from somebody else. If society is able to change and remove that self serving mentality the world will slowly become a better place.

Some people believe that it is impossible to change because of the mistakes we have made. This is entirely false “To make a mistake and yet not to change your ways- that is what is called truly making a mistake (book 15.30).” What you have to do when you make the mistake is make it right. It is very important to understand that it is never too late for improving.