yushi : rain is brought forth

Clouds ramble, rain is brought forth, and there is harmony everywhere. 雲行雨施，天下太平

– a beautiful quote from I-Ching, or, the Book of Changes 易經.

From observing clouds, rain, and other natural phenomena, the ancients have realized that Nature must function properly in order that Man may prosper and live in harmony. We modern people are not so wise, we ruin Nature by cutting acres and acres of forest trees, releasing into the atmosphere large quantities of harmful gas, polluting our waters by industrial wastes,…

Yes, we are ruining Nature – from the perspective of Man, we are. Actually Nature itself is unharmed. It is too big and too strong for us to cause it any harm. We are only destroying ourselves. We begin to wonder: Can we still live in harmony? Do we have a future?

The same three Chinese words 天下平 translated above as there is harmony everywhere is also Man's ultimate goal in life, as described in the classic Great Learning 大學. Here are the steps, one following another, to attain this goal:

1. Things having been studied, then let knowledge be broadened.
2. Knowledge having been broadened, then let thoughts become sincere.
3. Thoughts having become sincere, then set the mind right.
4. The mind having been set right, then cultivate the whole person.
5. The whole person having been cultivated, then put the family in good order.
6. The family having been put in good order, then govern the state properly.
7. The state having been properly governed, then there is HARMONY everywhere.

Great Learning thus puts forward the complete course one must follow to become a man fit to live in a highly developed society. It calls for the wholesome education of the real Man.

Now we often talk about creating a harmonious society. The ancients have already taught us how – both I-ching and Great Learning are basic Confucian texts dominating Chinese thought and education for centuries. They tell us: respect NATURE and value EDUCATION.