1. "Study as if you have not reached your goal - as if you were afraid of losing what you have." This is a message about the eternal quest for knowledge. It should never be satisfied. One can never learn enough. When someone is afraid of losing what they have they value it more. This is a positive message imparting the value of learning and studying. My reaction would be to study earnestly with a true desire to not just reach my goal. The journey not the end result should be what you gain pleasure from. Also, being afraid of losing what you have makes you value what you have more as it can all be lost in one minute. All is fleeting.
2. The message here is that what is of real value is character and virtue. The inferior man cares about material things which is foolish because all can be lost in one moment. When you die, you can take nothing with you to meet your maker not even a paper clip. The only thing that is lasting is what you leave this life with - memories and the love (or hate) that you treated other human beings with during your time on Earth. The Superior Man seeks discipline. Control is desired as a lack of control such as debauchery, drunkenness, gluttony, etc. only cause problems. The Inferior Man seeks favors perhaps this means having to ask others for help to get out of the problems that lack of control causes. This is a very positive message that attempts to impart wisdom such as the book of Proverbs does in the Bible.
3. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. The message here is "what goes around comes around", "you reap what you sow", "karma is a .. painful thing". An atmosphere of darkness surrounds bad people when they die. The negativity is palpable. A bad or negative attitude often results in bad even terrible things happening to the person who treats others horribly or is cruel to them. This is a positive message that imparts the knowledge that the universe sometimes tries to balance itself and bad things happen to bad people. Many times good things happen to good people. This has been attributed to the level of vibrations, energy or aura that surround individuals. Do good and good comes to you. Do bad and you reap what you sow. I would react to this by remembering that what you do comes back to you and treat others as I would like to be treated. Empathy is desperately needed in this world. As things continue to go south in this world, love and caring can make a huge difference in people's lives. This is a positive message revealing a universal truth that people should respect, have empathy towards others and often ask themselves, "Am I treating this person as I would like to be treated in this situation?"
4. Filial means "of, relating to or befitting a son or a daughter" and has long carried the dutiful sense "owed to a parent by a child," as found in such phrases as "filial respect" and "filial piety." This is a positive message stating that one should act with respect towards others at home and when they are out or abroad. Overflowing in love means that one should be kind to others. Love one another and cultivate the friendship of the good. You should surround yourself with people who have good habits, good character, are genuinely concerned for your welfare and are genuinely happy when you succeed. My grandmother used to say, "Tell me who your friends are and that will tell me who you are." A person tends to take on the attitudes and habits of those he surrounds himself with. This is a positive message saying that since you choose the people that you surround yourself with, choose wisely. I would react by being selective about those I allow into my circle of friends. Your friends have a great impact on what happens to you. One girl was in the news because her "friend" pushed her off a bridge which resulted in her paralysis. Another girl was videotaped being pushed into the path of a bus and was horribly close to having her foot crushed. Confucious said, "Cultivate the friendship of the good" because the wrong choices can kill or maim you.
Explanation:
5. "Return good for good; for evil, justice," is reminiscent of "an eye for an eye" from the Bible. "One good deed deserves another" also comes to mind. This is a positive message stating that when someone is good to you, you should return that kindness. Justice is what is desired when one is cruel to another. Revenge is a dish that is best served cold means that when one is cruel to you, justice is acceptable and right. I would react to this by noting the kind things done for and to me and responding in kind. When someone is cruel or unjust, they will have to pay for that.
