Bushido Virtue #3 : Jin or Benevolence
Whoa! Benevolence is not a word we see on a day-to-day basis! It brings up images of religious saints, philanthropists, and Boy Scouts helping someone cross the street. It seems to be reserved for those special people that do not get caught up in the rat race of trying to keep up with the Jones’. The World English Dictionary defines benevolence as “inclination or tendency to help or do good to others”. It stems from Latin – meaning disposition to do good. Similar words are altruism, amity, compassion, generosity, kindness, charity, mercy. Benevolence is one of the five tenets of Confucius , perhaps the most fundamental. It has also been translated as selflessness, good will toward humanity, and brotherly love. The kanji itself is described as a man and the number two – implying the unity of two human beings. Mencius , a follower of Confucius, sums it up, as “a benevolent man is ever min...