When I reflect on myself: Wisdom, Virtue, and the True Measure of a Human Life

It is said that knowing oneself and knowing others leads to success in all endeavors.

However, knowing oneself and others does not necessarily guarantee smooth sailing.

This is the meaning behind what Jiang Taigong said in his military treatise: if the strength is equal, wisdom will determine the outcome; if the wisdom is equal, virtue will determine the outcome.

Even if I know myself and others, when there is a difference in capabilities,

it may be possible to protect myself, but impossible to defeat others. Furthermore, if the difference is so great that I cannot even protect myself, there is no other option but to humble myself and wait for the right time.

However, even if I know that all conditions are unfavorable and I have no intention of defeating others, if the opponent attacks with malicious intent, even a person with superior wisdom cannot do anything.

Therefore, virtue is more important than wisdom. Knowing oneself and others does not guarantee smooth sailing in all matters.

More importantly, it is theoretically and practically impossible to know others without knowing oneself. In human relationships, many failures stem from not knowing oneself before knowing others, a common experience for everyone.

Therefore, as the ancients said, both excess and deficiency deviate from the middle way; underestimating oneself is wrong, and overestimating oneself is also something to be avoided.

Only by accurately knowing one's own position without any deviation can one truly act in accordance with one's capabilities. That is precisely why I am trying to reflect on myself now.

Who am I?

Even as I hold this brush and write these words, I keenly feel that knowing myself is by no means easy. What is the reality of my position after walking this path for the past 90 years? And what is the scope of the ideals and abilities I hold in my heart? I want to evaluate myself without adding or subtracting anything.

When I evaluate myself, I usually adopt a humble attitude, but now I want to examine my true self as it is, and compare myself to the ancients to see how I measure up, and furthermore, to assess how far I can go when the time is right.

First of all, I am clearly completely ignorant of the excellent writing skills and various talents that scholars have traditionally possessed from ancient times to the present. Therefore, I lack the qualities of a scholar. However, I have studied some I Ching and glanced at various philosophical thoughts, so I can say I have some knowledge. However, in the pursuit of learning, rather than the profound writings of various eminent sages, I admired Yan Hui, a disciple of Confucius who sat silently like a foolish person all day long, and therefore avoided discussing matters using written words, focusing only on clarifying the fundamental principles.

Therefore, I dare not presume to join the ranks of prominent scholars, but I do know how to listen attentively to others' stories when attending serious discussions. They may not be well-versed in orthodox doctrines, and while they might occasionally attempt to explain the fundamental meaning of scriptures in their own way or casually discuss popular theories, it's all just talk; they are not experts.

However, because I have a hobby of reading various academic books, including philosophical texts of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, I am considered not entirely ignorant, although not sufficiently knowledgeable.

Regarding my religious views, I believe that I am sufficient unto myself, so I avoid faith in any religion, but because my own beliefs are weak, I cannot say that I possess a firm philosophy.

Also, because I have some legal knowledge, I often get involved in judging the right and wrong of others, which leads to me being the subject of gossip.

I have an unnecessary sense of righteousness, and although I only manage to mind my own business in dealing with the world, I often side with the weak rather than the strong, so people in the world criticize me as "someone who likes to meddle."

Furthermore, although I try to mind my own business, I am greedy and repeatedly fail, yet I still daydream.

In addition, I am confident in my ability to predict the flow of world events, and I sometimes make the mistake of boasting.

And in military science, regardless of what others say, I am confident that I can command a military force, not necessarily the entire army, but at least a portion of it in any region. I have analyzed wars that have occurred in various places over several decades, and my predictions of the results have rarely been wrong. In this area, although I am not a professional, I am confident that I have a high chance of success if the opportunity arises. That's just my confidence.

I am truly ignorant in economics, I lack confidence in diplomacy, and in other areas, I am just a hindrance and completely useless. And realistically, I lack the ability to gather people and undertake any project. Furthermore, they lack the inclusiveness to be effective superiors, nor are they well-suited to remaining in a subordinate position, serving those above them and training those below them.

I might be suitable as a mere spectator with no real power, but I'm confident in handling any matter that requires real authority, except for situations involving an army in distress. I'm confident that I wouldn't engage in corruption, and I'm simply someone who is somewhat strict in establishing discipline and correcting customs.

Even if I had lived in the past, I would have been a person of little use when the country was at peace. I would likely have only earned the hatred of those in power by speaking carelessly. I only think that I might have some potential to achieve something significant if the country were in a critical situation.

Furthermore, in today's world, I'm practically useless. I don't have any scientific qualifications, and while I have some humble intellectual abilities, it's not yet the time to express them. Moreover, I lack the ability to awaken national spirit in any way.

I have the will, but when I try to do something, I lack the practical skills, so the saying "I have the intention, but I cannot accomplish the task" suits me.

Thus, when I reflect on who I am, it's clear that I am a useless existence in the current reality.

I'm not the best, I'm not even adequate, and I lack confidence in any practical field of work. I'm unqualified in every respect.

Economically, I'm completely ignorant, and intellectually, I'm merely a scholar hovering around the periphery. I might be temporarily useful in a very critical situation, but otherwise, I have no purpose.

Therefore, I am neither at the top, nor at the bottom, nor in the middle; I am in a position of no consequence. Everyone in the world has their own place, but I am foolish and do not have such a place.

Everyone in the world boasts of some power, wisdom, and virtue, but I am foolish and have no wisdom or virtue to boast of.

<Announcement to the Baekdoosan Mountain tribe> written by Master Bongwoo Taehoon Kwon>