What Is Goodness?

Confucius Essential Analaects Books 4,5,6.

What is Goodness? I ask, throughout my reading. What is the truth of Goodness? What does Confucius think he is saying what is right or wrong? What is Good? What lacks Goodness?

After reading the Bible's teaching, I started comparing many things while reading the Analects. What I see is that the Confucius is based more on morality. Respect in our society and what is supposedly Good. " To live in the neighborhood of the Good is fine. If one does not choose to dwell among those who are Good. how will one obtain wisdom?" (Book4 4.1) How do we know what is Good? What is the true meaning of Good? We can live in a place filled with "Good" people. But that is what they think they are. They could actually be terrible, dreadful, but since we stay in that "neighborhood", then, it is Good for us?

I think the meaning of Good has been formatted by society. Now and then, the "Good" people are the ones who do social work, and do things to help society. That is being a "Good" person now.

Everyone says that we should be Good. Good in our school, in life and with people. But what is the real meaning? I am so lost! Right now we just follow what society thinks that is "Good", is it? "Wealth and social eminence are things that all people desire, and yet they are acquired in the proper way I will not abide them. Poverty and disgrace are things that people hate, and yet unless they are avoided in the proper way I will not despise them." (Book4 4.5)If people that have everything are "good"? Would it mean that poverty is bad? Why do people want wealth so much? To have a "Good" life. With poverty and disgrace you suffer and live no "Good". What is so ironic also is that people say " Happiness is not about how much money or things you have". Until now, I just see a thirst for wealth. Not only wealth referring to money, but wealth of wisdom, of spirit and mind. Everyone wants to be a star. Everyone wants to be perfect.

According to Confucius "The wise take joy in river, while Good take joy in mountains. The wise are active, while the Good are still. The wise are joyful while the Good are long-living." (Book6 6.23) What I understand form this teaching is that Good, is superior to wisdom. While wisdom is in a river, down below, the Good is on top, in a mountain. Not mentioning that the rivers come from mountains. Then it could mean that wisdom comes from Goodness.

Anyways, I dont think there is a true meaning for Goodness. Even so, Confucius has his strict way of thinking. According to him, we should all think just like him, and there will be a better world. Right now, I think Goodness is as anyone thinks or has been taught as it is.