This article examines Chinese student teachers’ perceived university support for community service at the start of the semester in relation to three levels of purpose: expectations to feel self-transcendent emotions while doing service work, the strength of their sense of purpose and endorsement of specific purposes focused on social benefits. American questionnaires translated into Chinese were completed online by 284 students in a teachers’ university in northeast China. Compared to student teachers who perceived a lack of university support, those who (...) perceived strong support more weakly expected to feel negative self-transcendent emotions during community work, reported higher searching for purpose level and attached greater importance to both social and creative purposes aimed to help others. (shrink)

The research reflects the philosophy of vitality, mortality, and immortality, based on the mystical life and theories of Hryhoriy Skovoroda and Confucius. What connects these two philosophers from different epochs and parts of the world? What makes them always stay interesting for each new generation? And what are their ideas still provoking plenty of interpretations? Dealing with real philosophy, there are always more questions than answers. We can never be sure whether the true ideas of the teachings of the philosophers (...) of such high level were revealed or stayed mysterious secrets for the next generations. But we hope to analyze the tips, given by the great minds, to find out someday the clues to the actual problems for humankind of any century: What is the sense of life? Where can we find happiness? Is it possible to predict death? Are there any possibilities for becoming immortal? This study is focused on investigating the possible answers to all these questions, using modern discoveries of American scientists and the clues left for us in the legacy of the philosophers beyond time and space: Hryhoriy Skovoroda and Confucius. (shrink)