By joining hermeneutical inquiry and contemporary neurobiology, exploring the psychic experience of Confucius is now possible. According to his autobiographical account in Analect 2:04, Confucius was drawn to the Sacred through a felt-sense of “perfect satisfaction” experienced viscerally. For him, perfect satisfaction is to live in the fundamental pleasure of incarnation. From this felt-sense of satisfaction over the course of his long life, he develops a map of psyche, as well as guidelines to human spiritual development that inspire resting in the original peace which informs our quest for happiness throughout the lifespan.

For Confucius, the human quest for pleasure, peace, and a sense of being at home in the world is a psychic function called an 安. An 安 guides our inborn luminescence and bonds of love as the human agenda within the universe. An resides in the organ of the heart xin 心, which encompasses heart, mind, and psyche. Anchored therein, we can delight in our body-mind-spirit as the gift of existence.

Archive organized and created by Meili Pinto (May Lee 李梅) Ph.D., Independent Researcher and Scholar

The organizer and creator of this archive has secured permission from authors to make their writings available as digital resources below. Related books and book chapters listed are available in libraries and at online and local bookstores.

Articles and Books

  • Pinto, M. (2010). The heart-mind fusion. [pdf is available at https://ciis.academia.edu/MeiliPinto]
  • Pinto, M. (2011). Confucius, septuagenarian. [pdf is available at https://ciis.academia.edu/MeiliPinto]
  • Pinto, M. (2012). Confucius, mediator: The caveat for being human. [pdf]
  • Pinto, M. (2012). Tiger & mom. [pdf]
  • Pinto, M. (2014). Confucius on psychological peace and joy. [pdf is available at https://ciis.academia.edu/MeiliPinto]
  • Pinto, M. (2015). Confucius A-Z: A psychological exploration, 2nd Ed. [pdf is available at https://ciis.academia.edu/MeiliPinto]
  • Pinto, M. (2017). Confucius’ hero’s journey. In Hoffman, L. et al. Existential psychology, East-West, v. 2. Colorado Springs, Colorado: University of the Rockies Press. [pdf]

Additional General Resources Related to Confucius:

  • Beinfield, H., and Korngold, E. (1991).  Between heaven and earth:  A guide to Chinese medicine.  New York:  The Ballantine Publishing Group.
  • Fingarette, H. (1972). Confucius–The secular as sacred. New York: Harper Torchbooks.
  • Holloway, K. (2013).  The quest for ecstatic morality in early China.  New York:  Oxford University Press.
  • Johnston, A., and Malabou, C. (2013).  Self and emotional life:  Philosophy, psychoanalysis, and Neuroscience.  New York:  Columbia University Press.
  • Lee, M. (1998). The Great Learning: Confucius’ implicit integral psychology of individuation amplified through Jung and Aurobindo (doctoral dissertation). Ann Arbor, MI: UMI Press.
  • Legge, J. (1860/1991).   The Analects. The Chinese Classics, I. Taipei, Taiwan: SMC Publishing.
  • Legge, J. (1860/1991).   The Doctrine of the Mean.  The Chinese Classics, I. Taipei, Taiwan: SMC Publishing.
  • Legge, J. (1860/1991).   The Great Learning.  The Chinese Classics, I. Taipei, Taiwan: SMC Publishing.
  • Matthews, R.H. (1975).  Index of radicals:  Ideograms formed from the root hsin/xin-heart-mind.  Mathews’ Chinese-English dictionary. Revised American edition. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
  • Nan, H. 南懷瑾 (1998). Commentaries on The Great Learning 大學微言. Taipei, Taiwan: Lao Ku Culture Foundation.
  • Pert, C. (1997).  Molecules of emotion:  Why you feel the way you do.  New York:  Scribner’s.
  • Schiller, D. (2011/2015). Confucius: Discussions/conversations or, The Analects, vol. I and II. Charlton, MA: Sage Virtual Publishers. Available at www.amazon.com as an ebook.
  • Taylor, R. (1990). The religious dimensions of Confucianism. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.
  • Tu, Weiming (1989). Centrality and commonality. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.
  • Upledger, J. (1991).  Somato-emotional release and beyond.  Palm Beach Gardens, Fl:  UI Publishing.
  • Wu, Yi 吳怡 (1976). The philosophy of cheng 誠 in the Zhongyong 中庸誠的哲學. Taipei, Taiwan: Tongda Books Publishing.