Clarity,
Office 17622,
PO Box 6945,
London.
W1A 6US
United Kingdom
Phone/ Voicemail:
+44 (0)20 3287 3053 (UK)
+1 (561) 459-4758 (US).
Uninformed, maybe. Concerned with the small stuff and lacking the big picture, basically. Somebody's whose chief concerns are security, filling their belly and getting a cuddle or two.
This is an interesting topic. Don't forget the bandits (kou), bad guys (fei ren), evil doers (e ren), and the infamous Red Knee-bands (zhu/chi fu = government men in wing-tip shoes?). Also, there are several different types and grades of prince, lord, and duke mentioned. This was a hierarchical society, and titles and positions mattered a lot.
I always thought the da ren was just a Big Guy - powerful, rich, influential, connected. The kind of person who can make things happen. Needless to say, seeing him can be very, very beneficial. The junzi, on the other hand, has a touch of nobility, refinement, cultivation, he's a gentleman. Like all the rest of the feudal thugs who ran the show, he can hack you into chunks in ten seconds flat, but you'll die admiring his poise and gravitas.
What's so less than great about those goals?
Try the concrete alternative-- the King is the ruler, commander of the army, who is responsible for making decisions and assuring his people of peace and security.
The Prince isn't the ruler though he may be an important vassal (feudal law without the heavy discipline capable of fielding a truly powerful infantry--just a collection of sub- commanders for battle).
The junzi is the sage gentleman whose merit shines even without the outer trappings of power or position.
The great man is someone with status and position in time of peace. The small man is the bureaucrat at his important desk.
Because that's the ONLY thing that concerns a 'small person'. That's what makes them small. There's nothing wrong with it; I do those things and you do them too. But the small person limits themselves to those goals - that's all that moves them, that's all they really want out of life. A comfy tummy and a safe, warm space. There's nothing wrong or bad about it. But you do have to describe it as 'small'.
By contrast there are the movers and shakers, the people who tend to influence others or dominate socially - they're trying to achieve. Somebody like you, with your website and the projects you've worked out with a lot of work and over a considerable amount of time - you're AT LEAST at that level or stage. Now, about these movers and shakers
With the exception perhaps the important bureaucrat at his desk, I'd endorse all of those descriptions. But what do they refer or correspond to psychologically, do you think? What's the Prince in you? By contrast to the King, I mean? And compared to those psychological functions, what's the Junzi, then? And the great man?
That's where I really want to go with this. If you've got any ideas, I'd be eternally grateful etc... lol
Clarity,
Office 17622,
PO Box 6945,
London.
W1A 6US
United Kingdom
Phone/ Voicemail:
+44 (0)20 3287 3053 (UK)
+1 (561) 459-4758 (US).