Who was Confucius? - Bryan W. Van Norden

Prevodilac: Milenka Okuka Lektor: Mile Živković

Most people recognize his name

Mnogima njegovo ime zvuči poznato

and know that he is famous for having said something,

i znaju da je čuven po tome što je rekao nešto,

but considering the long-lasting impact his teachings have had on the world,

ali imajući u vidu dugoročan uticaj koji su njegova učenja imala na svet,

very few people know who Confucius really was,

sasvim mali broj ljudi zna ko je uistinu bio Konfučije,

what he really said,

šta je zaista rekao

and why.

i zašto.

Amid the chaos of 6th Century BCE China,

U središtu haosa u Kini, u VI veku p. n. e,

where warring states fought endlessly among themselves for supremacy,

u kojem su zaraćene države međusobno vodile beskonačne ratove za nadmoć,

and rulers were frequently assassinated,

a vladari su često ubijani,

sometimes by their own relatives,

ponekad od strane svoje rodbine,

Confucius exemplified benevolence and integrity,

Konfučije je bio primer čovekoljublja i integriteta

and through his teaching,

i kroz svoja učenja

became one of China's greatest philosophers.

je postao jedan od najznačajnijih kineskih filozofa.

Born to a nobleman but raised in poverty from a very young age

Rođen kao plemić, ali podizan u siromaštvu od ranih dana,

following the untimely death of his father,

koje je pratila prerana smrt njegovog oca,

Confucius developed what would become

Konfučije će razviti

a lifelong sympathy for the suffering of the common people.

životnu simpatiju za patnje običnog naroda.

Barely supporting his mother and disabled brother

Jedva zarađujući dovoljno za majku i onesposobljenog brata

as a herder and account keeper at a granary,

kao čoban i računovođa u žitnici,

and with other odd jobs,

kao i uz druge neobične poslove,

it was only with the help of a wealthy friend

tek je uz pomoć imućnog prijatelja

that Confucius was able to study at the Royal Archives,

Konfučije bio u stanju da se obrazuje u Kraljevskoj arhivi,

where his world view would be formed.

gde će se njegov pogled na svet oblikovati.

Though the ancient texts there were regarded by some

Iako su neki smatrali te drevne tekstove

as irrelevant relics of the past,

nevažnim relikvijama prošlosti,

Confucius was inspired by them.

Konfučije je u njim pronašao inspiraciju.

Through study and reflection,

Kroz učenje i promišljanje,

Confucius came to believe that human character is formed in the family

Konfučije je došao do ubeđenja da se ljudski karakter oblikuje u porodici

and by education in ritual, literature, and history.

i kroz učenje o ritualima, književnosti i istoriji.

A person cultivated in this way works to help others,

Osoba koja je na ovaj način odgajana radi u službi drugih,

guiding them by moral inspiration rather than brute force.

vodi ih putem moralne inspiracije, a ne sirovom snagom.

To put his philosophy into practice,

Kako bi ovu filozofiju isporbali u praksi,

Confucius became an advisor to the ruler of his home state of Lu.

postavili su Konfučija za vladarevog savetnika u njegovoj rodnoj državi Lu.

But after another state sent Lu's ruler a troop of dancing girls as a present

Ali kada je druga država poslala vladaru Lua trupu plesačica na poklon,

and the ruler ignored his duties while enjoying the girls in private,

a vladar je ignorisao sve svoje obaveze, uživajući s devojkama u privatnosti,

Confucius resigned in disgust.

Konfučije je zgađeno dao ostavku.

He then spent the next few years traveling from state to state,

Potom je proveo narednih šest godina putujući od države do države,

trying to find a worthy ruler to serve, while holding fast to his principles.

pokušavajući da pronađe vladara vrednog službe,

uz koga će moći da se čvrsto drži svojih principa.

It wasn't easy.

Nije bilo lako.

In accordance with his philosophy, and contrary to the practice of the time,

U skladu sa njegovom filozofijom, a nasuprot ondašnjim običajima,

Confucius dissuaded rulers from relying on harsh punishments and military power

Konfučije je odvraćao vladare da se ne oslanjaju na stroge kazne i vojnu moć

to govern their lands

kako bi vladali svojim zemljama

because he believed that a good ruler

jer je verovao da dobar vladar

inspires others to spontaneously follow him

inspiriše druge da ga spontano slede

by virtue of his ethical charisma.

zahvaljujući njegovoj moralnoj harizmi.

Confucius also believed

Konfučije je takođe verovao

that because the love and respect we learn in the family

da zato što su ljubav i poštovanje koje smo naučili u porodici

are fundamental to all other virtues,

temeljni za sve druge vrline,

personal duties to family sometimes supersede obligations to the state.

lične obaveze prema porodici ponekad potiskuju obaveze prema državi.

So when one duke bragged that his subjects were so upright

Pa kad se jedan vojvoda hvalisao da su njegovi podanici tako pravdoljubivi

that a son testified against his own father

da je sin svedočio protiv sopstvenog oca

when his father stole a sheep,

kada je njegov otac ukrao ovcu,

Confucius informed the duke

Konfučije je obavestio vojvodu

that genuinely upright fathers and sons protected one another.

da istinski pravdoljubivi očevi i sinovi štite jedni druge.

During his travels, Confucius almost starved,

Tokom svojih putovanja, Konfučije je skoro umro od gladi,

he was briefly imprisoned,

na kratko je bio u zatvoru,

and his life was threatened at several points.

i nekoliko puta mu je život bio u opasnosti.

But he was not bitter.

Ali nije bio ogorčen.

Confucius had faith that heaven had a plan for the world,

Konfučije je verovao da nebesa imaju plan za svet

and he taught that a virtuous person

i podučavao je da vrla osoba

could always find joy in learning and music.

uvek može da pronađe užitak u učenju i muzici.

Failing to find the ruler he sought,

Kako nije pronašao vladara koga je tražio,

Confucius returned to Lu

Konfučije se vratio u Lu

and became a teacher and philosopher so influential,

i postao je učitelj i filozof toliko uticajan

that he helped shaped Chinese culture

da je pomogao u oblikovanju kineske kulture

and we recognize his name worldwide, even today.

i njegovo ime je prepoznatljivo širom sveta, čak i danas.

For the disciples of Confucius,

Za Konfučijeve učenike,

he was the living embodiment of a sage who leads others through his virtue,

on je bio živo otelotvorenje mudraca koji vodi druge svojom vrlinom,

and they recorded his sayings,

te su oni zapisali njegova učenja,

which eventually were edited into a book we know in English as "The Analects."

koja su konačno sabrana u knjizi, koju znamo pod nazivom "Analekti".

Today, millions of people worldwide adhere to the principles of Confucianism,

Danas se milioni ljudi širom sveta pridržavaju principa konfučijanizma

and though the precise meaning of his words has been debated for millennia,

i, iako se o tačnom značenju njegovih reči raspravljalo milenijumima,

when asked to summarize his teachings in a single phrase,

kada je upitan da sabere svoja učenja u jednu rečenicu,

Confucius himself said,

Konfučije je rekao:

"Do not inflict upon others that which you yourself would not want."

"Nikada ne učini drugome ono što ne bi želeo da drugi učini tebi."

2,500 years later, it's still sage advice.

To je 2500 hiljade godina kasnije i dalje mudar savet.