In performing actions which support harmony, man is doing nothing more but manifesting his nature and realizing his essence. The tool that the individual uses in order to be able to manifest essence is reason. Therefore, the link between the universe and the beings is represented by the mind. When everything is in the right lace we have perfect order. therefore it is safe to state that perfect order, in the cosmos and in the human world, leads to harmony.
In an attempt to define harmony furthermore, we may quote another famous passage which stares that, since order is the natural way of being of the world, all the things which exist will develop naturally and without harming each other notwithstanding the differences which exist between them. In addition, all the principles which are at the base of this development will exist in the absence of a relation of contradiction.
It is extremely interesting to notice the fact that according to the Confucian doctrine the realization and the manifestation of the human essences take place in the absence of conflicting and contrasting relationships. How is this possible?
A possible explanation may assert that people do not really manage to fully realize their potential. From this point-of-view life is nothing but a continuous attempt t realize one's essence. The realization is never maximum although a constant development is acceptable. The ideal world ought to be the one in which the essences are fully realized and manifested in everything. One can easily understand why this remains an ideal world only. The real world is full of tensions and conflicts and it seems that these conflicts are stimulating development.
Taking these aspects into consideration we can ask ourselves what is Confucius really trying to say? The concept of harmony, is it suppose to remain an ideal and idealistic general principle or is its realization really possible? Perhaps the concept ought to be interpreted in a different manner. Perhaps the perfect harmony is the perfect harmony of the mind.
We could support this argument with examples from the Confucian texts. The interface between the world and the being is represented by the mind. The principle of harmony exists, but in a world which is dominated by conflict. However, man is supposed to be capable of regulating the world through the use of reason. But regulating the world is not the only thing.
The more important aspect seems to be regulating the self. And it makes perfect sense. Regulating the internal conflict through the use of reason leads to a realization of the personal essence. In this manner we assist to the manifestation of substance...
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