The Great Learning

Dàxué

The Path of Great Learning is in manifesting virtue, loving the people, and resting in the highest good.

The ancients who wished to manifest virtue under Heaven first made well their own states. Wishing to make well their states, they first regulated their own families. Wishing to regulate their families, they first cultivated themselves. Wishing to cultivate themselves, they first corrected their minds. Wishing to correct their minds, they first became sincere in their thoughts. Wishing to be sincere in their thoughts, they first extended their knowledge. This extension of knowledge lay in the investigation of phenomena.

When phenomena had been investigated, their knowledge became complete. When their knowledge was complete, their thoughts were sincere. When their thoughts were sincere, their minds were correct. When their minds were correct, they were then cultivated. When they were cultivated, their families were regulated. When their families were regulated, their states were rightly governed. When their states were rightly governed, there was peace under Heaven.

From the Son of Heaven to the ordinary person, all things have their root in the practice of self-cultivation.