π Daily Study Log β October 10, 2026
Assigned Reading:
- Recited The Doctrine of the Mean (Zhongyong) β 1 round
- Recited Fa Li De Dao up to page 217
Study Reflection:
The essence of “Li” (propriety) in Li governance is respect, and its practice is rooted in gratitude. Treat others with propriety and never cease to be reverent.
A question from the heart: Where do I come from? Who has made all that I am possible?
Before I truly understood gratitude, after Journalist Teacher finished the lesson, we were asked to make two lists β the “List of Knowing Where to Stop” and the “Gratitude List.” At the time, I was rather confused and didn’t fully grasp it. But now, I can clearly see the answer: everyone must have a heart of gratitude.β Our growth today is inseparable from the care and help of everyone around us.
Making a Gratitude List means reflecting on who the first person to be grateful to is. Who am I? Where do I come from? Of course, the first are my parents β those who gave me life and raised me. Without them, there would be no me today. They brought me into this world and nurtured me into who I am. Therefore, we must be grateful to our parents at all times, for their nurturing grace.
Then there are the benefactors on our path of growth β first and foremost, the teachers who imparted knowledge to us. They educated us, helped us grow, and taught us what we know. So they are the second group of people to be grateful to. Because of them, we gained wisdom. Every teacher on our path of growth is a benefactor in life; it is because of them that we grow.
The third to be grateful to are our siblings β brothers and sisters. Because of their companionship, we spent a happy childhood. Because of them, we had one more companion on the road of growing up. So we must be grateful to our elder brothers, elder sisters, younger brothers, and younger sisters.
There are also those benefactors in our careers who extended a helping hand when we were in difficulty. Because they pulled us up at a critical moment, our endeavors today were made possible. Of course, this also includes our subordinates, whose silent dedication has brought the enterprise to where it stands today. So every single person around us is worthy of our gratitude.
The teacher asked us to make the “List of Knowing Where to Stop” to remind us: which people have we forgotten to be grateful to? This is what we ought to do. Who am I? Who has made all that I am possible? They are the benefactors at every stage of life. We must keep them in our hearts at all times, with a heart full of gratitude β grateful to everyone around us, grateful to heaven and earth, grateful to all things.
Love given returns to the giver; blessings sent forth come back to the sender.
Those who love others are always loved in return.
Those who respect others are always respected in return.
