A Small and Basic Exposition on revitalizing Mohism on Religious Grounds

It is caught upon to me the attention and need to build Meetinghouses to the divnely sacred founder of Mohism - Mozi himself - for the goodness of a social and spiritual awakening of Mankind in its wholeness. Mozi and his forgotten teachings, especially in regards to his view of Heaven as Monotheistic in a book titled Mozi (his namesake) as well as the concept of Benevolence (something that is universal a concept in many religions) as well as the tenet of Impartial Care and Jianai - Universal Love. The world garners attention when Mazuism, Confucianism, Taoism and Yiguandao are in the spotlight, but never the first Chinese logical monotheist himself - Mozi. Mozi, a prominent philosopher who garnered attention as a philosophical and spiritual leader in the manner of Pythagoras and his Pythagoreanism, was often overlooked in the sphere of religion and politics, but faded from Chinese History because of the triumph of Confucianism and Taoism; and, with the oppression of the Qin Dynasty to lesser philosophical religions, Mohism was forgotten, abandoned, and left to dust - ignored in prominence, unlike before when it had many followers who adhere to its principles, such as Jianai (Universal Love), Utilitarianism, Monotheism (Tian as rectifier, and absolute orderer of the world), which greatly is universal in practice and is more prominent in the doctrinal need for the mankind of today. Mohism is more than a philosophy; it is too, a religion - but forgotten at the heap of time.

Thus the need for the restoration and the revitalization of Mohism back again in the modern world. It shall regain prominence again as it did before; it shall be revived and restored - it shall be revitalized! Mohism shall make its return again, and so does its teachings and worldviews that one day, will take root again into the world. The ideas of Mohism as a religious doctrine and not simply just a mere philosophical doctirne, shall be emphasized and take root in order to have a solidifed worldview that will become the basis for the revival of Mohism in the modern world - then after religion, comes philosophical propagation.

Mozi, like Confucius and Lao Tzu, is a great sage that is revered in Chinese Culture, the great propagator of 'true harmony' that will make Man free from his suffering; not messianically or by revelation of texts by a higher being, but by Tian's great ordainment and dispensation to look at the conditions of the world, reveal the teachings by observation and examination, and take the best course of action so that Man may rectify and correct itself one day towards the right path: the right path being the restoration of harmonial respect of Man to Tian, and to Tian to Man: the great mutuality, bounded by Universal Love. Mozi, therefore, is a down-to-earth messenger of Tian himself; he is not a demigod, nor a deified mortal, nor a god, but an earthly messenger who rewakened the bond between Man and Tian. His theology, as seen in his book bearing his namesake, bears this fact; he only knew what was there to know in the world, for Heaven (Tian), bears righteousness as orderer in the world, gave Mozi the power to experience the world and know it in the name of Tian, so that He can know what is imperfect in the world; thus the reason why Mozi made the teachings in the book, so that he can send it to Tian (which Heaven recognized) and correct the world into good order [see (Andrus, 2024) for further exposition on the concept of God in Mohism]. Mozi is a visionary, but he attained this level of vision thanks to the righteous and blessed guidance of Heaven.

Mozi is the Great Reanimator of Mankind through the discovery of Tian's teachings, one by one; but Tian is, by the nature of His Way, is the great rectifier of the world.

They said too, that Mozi lacks the capability to comprehend the Way (Tao). This is not true; the Way of Mozi is the Way (pointing towards) to Heaven, for Heaven - the great embodiment of Tao, who keeps the world order in balance - and its reverence of the teachings is the Way. We are - and do not - revere the Tao of the Confucians, nor the Taoists; there is only the Way of Heaven, and Heaven demands that Man obey the World and to each other, so the world can be together harmoniously. Mozi's way is different; he is not like the others, for his Way is a balance of the Metaphysical Way (Tao of Taoism) and of the Worlding Way Tao of Confucianism); the Heavenly Way [or Ordered Way] is the Way of Mozi.

Mozi is the New Way, the Way of Heaven embodied in its teachings, contained in the book. This book, long-forgotten to time, shall return again from the ashes of forgetfulness, and shall bloom like a flower once more.

Start (a recommendation) by building simple Meetinghouses and simple Altars to Mozi: a Book (the Mozi), a statue (or figurine, any material so long as its not wasteful) to Mozi, then a candle surrounded by incense. Then, make simple chairs and simple tables for everyone to study together the book of Mozi; and there shall be a simple, not-so-complex pulpit, so that preachers can preach, and not just preach, but to study together: taking turns on discussing; solving man's problems, internal or external (so long as its beneficial); and worship Tian simply, without extravangance. (Or, make rows of chairs, then small tables - each table a book - then the altar, and the pulpit.)

We wish to revitalize this ancient but timely philosophy not just for its revival, for the reinvigoration and the ressurection of the goodness of the soul and being in Man - for Tian gave the breath of Man to rectify the world and correct disorderly imperfections in the world.

Joshua Kyle T. Rovero

Estado Rovero

May 17th 2024

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Di Mo, and Ian Johnston. 2010. The Mozi : A Complete Translation. New York: Columbia University Press.

Andrus, Gabriel. 2021. “Ancient Chinese Proofs for the Existence of Gods: The Case of Mohism.” Asian Philosophy, January, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/09552367.2021.1881232.