Chu Hsi said, (7.39)"... If you just spoke about and immersed yourself in human nature and principle, there'd naturally be a difference in your dealings with matters."
I liked this emphasis on speaking. So many who study Confucianism keep their learning to themselves. We live in communities and we must speak out.
Chu Hsi said, (7.45) "... Only the superior man is able to connect with the will of all under Heaven, opening up [his mind] so that its scope becomes vast, thus allowing everyone to feel a sense of plenitude in their hearts. How content they'll be!"
How does one open one's mind and affect others? Through writing and speaking, I believe.
How does one immerse oneself in moral principle? Is it a pool that one can dive into? Does one possess such a large amount of moral principle that is seems like a lake? I think the immersion is into the love of and the investigation of moral principle. Chu Hsi said (7.19), "In all matters examine into the right and wrong."
If you go to the Timeless Way, Dallas, yahoo group, you can search for the "Four Step Process of Self-Transformatin" and see that step 1 is seek truth and step 4 is share hope.
Investigating moral principle is one way to seek truth. Speaking and writing about moral principle is one way to share hope.
The lessons of the ancient sages are as profound and useful today as they ever were.
Robert
The quotes are from "Learning to be a Sage, Selections from the Conversations of Master Chu, Arranged Topically", translated by Daniel K. Gardner, a book I heartily recommend.
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