Mencius outlines core Confucian cultivation: fully expanding one’s mind reveals inherent good nature, which lets one understand Heaven. Guarding the mind and nurturing nature serves Heaven; steady self-cultivation amid varying life spans fulfills one’s destined mission.
Only the supremely sage person under Heaven possesses:
Confucius traced his teachings back to Yao and Shun,and took Wen and Wu as his models for institutions.Above, he conformed to the rhythms of Heaven’s seasons;below, he followed the patterns of earth, water, and soil.
The Master said:“I can speak of the rites of the Xia dynasty, but the state of Qi provides insufficient evidence.I studied the rites of the Yin dynasty; remnants still exist in the state of Song.I studied the rites of the Zhou dynasty – they are in use today – so I follow the Zhou.”
How great is the Way of the sage!Vast and overflowing – it nurtures all things, soaring up to the utmost heights of Heaven.
The Way of Heaven and Earth can be summed up in a single phrase:Because it is undivided and without duality, its power to generate life is unfathomable.