Although Kongzi (Confucius) held a few government positions, he spent most of his life as a teacher. We can never know what a day in Kongzi’s “classroom” was like, but […]
Author: Ben Butina, Ph.D.
Phubbing and Li
In 2012, a lexicologist, a phonetician, a poet, a debating champion, a crossword maker, and several authors gathered at Sydney University in Australia. Their mission? To create a new word to describe “the practice of ignoring […]
How Does a Noble Person Behave During a Pandemic?
Fourteen years! For fourteen years, Zilu had been following this dreamer on his fool’s errand! And for what? To die like a dog on the side of the road!? Would […]
The Importance of Memorization
After a long, cold winter, you’re anxious to get outside and enjoy the early spring sunshine. You call your dog and head to the neighborhood park for a long walk. […]
Is Ruism Just for Asians?
Ruism (sometimes called “Confucianism”) began in China more than 2,500 years ago. This tradition has had such a profound influence on Asian culture that some Westerners wonder if it’s strictly […]
What Do Americans Think about Confucianism?
What do Americans know about Ruism (i.e., Confucianism)? What is their opinion of it? Two of RAA, Inc.’s founding members, Bin Song and Ben Butina, recently published an article on […]
Finding the Mean in Ordinary Life
One of the most important texts in Ruism is the Zhongyong. The title is usually translated as The Doctrine of the Mean, but a more accurate translation might be Finding […]
Civility
One of the very best books written about Ruist ideas for a lay audience in recent years is Amy Olberding’s The Wrong of Rudeness: Learning Modern Civility from Ancient Chinese […]
How is Quiet-Sitting Different From Other Kinds of Meditation?
Have you ever started a meditation program, only to give up because the demands are too stringent? Do you find it hard to meet the requirements of a meditation program […]
Instructions for Quiet-Sitting
Brief instructions for quiet-sitting (a Ruist form of meditation) are available on InsightTimer, the world’s most popular meditation app. You can access the audio here or by search the app […]