Chinese Religious & Philosophical Leaders Confucius

Confucius sought for himself and his disciples to become a superior man. This perhaps his most outstanding attribute -- a continuous striving for a perpetually unattainable perfection. Although this construct refers to superiority as measured against a man's peers, it is more focused on becoming superior to one's own self both in the present and in measure of the past. Striving for perfection, or a "perfect virtue" (Analects, bk.ix., c.i.), was a goal for Confucius but he did not teach a perfectionist doctrine. He evidently understood that "They who know virtue, are few" (Analects, bk. xv., c.iii.) and such a doctrine would consist more of striving than of attaining. Confucius valued the perpetually relative. That is, with superiority cast as a constantly moving target, a human being must face the condition that facilitates being superior within one's own sphere -- being superior to that which one can reach. Confucius intended the aim star for virtue to be high, but he had the clarity of vision to recognize that it might be high or low, dependent...

Confucius expected that humans would attempt to cultivate useful traits and higher qualities since the value of aiming for excellence or virtue would be immediately apparent, even to a child. Moreover, striving for perfection or virtue would seem logical and universally recognized as a worthy aim. A life lived this way would be powerful, capable of bringing about transformation, and characterized by a compelling vigor. Confucius encouraged his disciples to continuously seek the path to becoming a superior, virtuous man. Through his teachings, Confucius put forth the importance of pursuing the art of life, which is possible for all people since, "By nature men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart." (Analects, bk. xvii., c. ii.)
Part 2: Zhu Seng Du and Seng Baozhi

Zhu Seng Du fulfilled his filial responsibilities to his mother and was soon to marry Taiohua. When Taiohua's mother and father died -- and shortly after, his own mother died -- he was devastated. The losses clarified the transience of all that…