Zhuangzi
Zhuangzi (about 369 BC - 286 BC), whose name was Zhou and whose courtesy name was Zixiu, was from Zhuangzi's hometown (now Minquan, Henan). A famous thinker, philosopher, and writer, he is a representative of the Taoist school, the inheritor and developer of Laozi's philosophical thoughts, and the founder of the pre-Qin Zhuangzi school. His teachings covered all aspects of social life at that time, but the fundamental spirit still relied on Laozi's philosophy. Later generations will refer to him and Laozi as "Laozi and Zhuangzi", and their philosophy is called "Laozi and Zhuangzi philosophy".
"Historical Records" introduces Zhuangzi in just a few lines, saying that he wrote more than 100,000 words, most of which are fables, such as "The Fisherman", "The Robber's Plant", and "The Box" etc. , are all used to attack Confucius's teachings and thereby identify Laozi's propositions.
The thirty-three chapters of "Zhuangzi" are divided into three parts: "Inner Chapter", "Outer Chapter" and "Miscellaneous Chapter". It is generally believed that the seven texts in the "Inner Chapter" must be Zhuangzi The fifteen "Outer Chapters" are generally believed to have been written by Zhuangzi's disciples, or they were written by Zhuangzi in collaboration with his disciples. They reflect Zhuangzi's true thoughts; the eleven "Miscellaneous Chapters" The situation is more complicated. It should be written by Zhuangzi school or later scholars. There is some space to think that it is definitely not the thought of Zhuangzi school, such as "Robber Zhi", "Shuo Jian", etc.
Zhuangzi seems to be a cynical person. He lived during the Warring States Period, at the same time as King Hui of Liang and King Xuan of Qi. He was slightly younger than Meng Ke. He once worked as a clerk in Qiyuan and lived a very happy life. Although he was poor, he refused to accept the large sum of money offered by King Wei of Chu. Morally, he was actually a very honest, upright, and sharp person.
Although he was indifferent to fame and wealth throughout his life and advocated self-cultivation and tranquility, deep in his heart he was full of grief, anger and despair about the world at that time. From the appearance of his philosophy of retreat, non-competition and straightforwardness, It can be seen that Zhuangzi is a person who has a strong love and hate for the real world.
It is precisely because the world is dirty that he retires; it is precisely because he has the experience of being behind the oriole that he is independent of the world; it is precisely because there is too much unfreedom in life that he emphasizes willfulness. . Zhuangzi highlighted his unique personality charm with his straightforwardness. It is precisely because he loves passionately that he hates thoroughly. He believes that it is natural to be an official and harm people, rather than to enjoy himself in a poor and humble life. In fact, it is a strong awakening and rebound against the reality that the reality is too dark and dirty.
Zhuangzi advocates spiritual freedom, so in terms of body, he also tries to achieve a state of freedom that does not need to rely on external forces; Zhuangzi advocates that everything in the universe All have equal nature, and humans are integrated into all things, thus ending and beginning with the universe; Zhuangzi advocates that the master of life, that is, the human spirit, must obey the laws of nature and be at peace with the times; Zhuangzi requires attention to inner virtue With sufficient cultivation and sufficient virtue, a self-sufficient spiritual power naturally flows out of life.
Zhuangzi believed that the relationship between the universe and human beings is "the unity of nature and man" and forgetting both things and myself, so he has a comprehensive view of life and death; Zhuangzi believes that it is Tao that gives us the shape. God has given us bodies, and what we have to do is not to damage our own nature because of our likes and dislikes. He takes the complete life of a person as the starting point to think about what kind of life journey a person should live.
He transcended the limitations of any knowledge system and ideology, standing in the circle of heaven and on the edge of life to reflect on life. His philosophy is a philosophy of life, and his thinking also has ultimate significance. .
The word "benevolence and righteousness" is regarded as the symbol of Confucianism, but the word "morality" is the essence of Taoism. Zhuangzi's "Tao" is the Tao of Heaven, which is imitated by nature, rather than man-made.
In Zhuangzi’s philosophy, "Heaven" is two concepts that are opposite to "Human". "Heaven" represents nature, while "Human" refers to everything "man-made", which is different from nature. Everything that goes against it. The two words "artificial" combined together are the word "pseudo".
Zhuangzi advocates obedience to the way of heaven, and abandons "artificiality" and the "pseudo" impurities in human nature. Obeying the "way of heaven" and thus communicating with heaven and earth is the "virtue" advocated by Zhuangzi.
In Zhuangzi’s view, real life is natural, so there is no need to teach or stipulate anything, but to get rid of something, forget what, and forget about intentionality, scheming, and discrimination. In this case, is there any need for political propaganda, ritual and music education, and persuasion of benevolence and righteousness? Zhuangzi believes that these propaganda, education, and persuasion are all "hypocrisy" in human nature, so he must abandon them.
As the founder of the Taoist school, Lao-Zhuang philosophy is the only ancient Chinese philosophy that can compete with Confucianism and later Buddhism as the greatest ancient theory. Its status in the history of Chinese ideological development is by no means lower than that of Confucianism and Buddhism.
In the minds of intellectuals, the philosophy of Laozi and Zhuangzi, especially Zhuangzi, is the most adaptable to the needs of creativity and the most intimate part of their hearts. Between the strict rules of Confucianism and the strict asceticism of Buddhism, it provides Chinese intellectuals with a space where they can breathe freely. It is straightforward and conforms to nature, and opposes artificial restraints. It is preserving the In the process of free "life", I tried my best.
In the history of Chinese philosophy, Zhuangzi is not only a great philosopher with distinctive characteristics, but also full of poet temperament. In his works, he uses vivid, humorous and weird fables to illustrate his thoughts. , this allegorical way gives Zhuangzi's thoughts and imagination a water-like integrity.
The structure of Zhuangzi's articles is very strange. It doesn't seem to be rigorous, often coming out of the blue, doing whatever you want, stopping where you don't want, it's wild and unbridled, changes without any reason, sometimes seems irrelevant, jumps up and down at will, but the thoughts can be threaded through. The sentence structure is also full of changes, either forward or backward, long or short, rich in vocabulary, detailed description, and often rhymes irregularly, making it extremely expressive and original.
Zhuangzi’s writing is unbridled, his images are soaring, his imagination is strange and rich, and his emotions are nourishing and broad-minded. They give people an otherworldly and sublime feeling. They are unique in the history of Chinese literature. His article structure It has broken away from the form of quotations, which marks that Pre-Qin prose has developed to a mature stage. It can be said that "Zhuangzi" represents the highest achievement of Pre-Qin prose.
There can be a long list of those who were influenced by "Zhuangzi" in terms of their thoughts, literary style, article structure, and writing skills. In terms of first-rate writers, there are Ruan Ji, Tao Yuanming, Li Bai, Su Shi, Xin Qiji, Cao Xueqin, etc. This shows its great influence.
Later generations of Taoism inherited the Taoist theory. After the evolution of the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, the Lao-Zhuang theory became the core content of Taoist thought. Zhuangzi was deified and regarded as a god. In February of the first year of Tianbao, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty (724), he was granted the title of "Nanhua Immortal". The book "Zhuangzi" he wrote was called "Nanhua Zhenjing" by imperial edicts. During the reign of Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty, he was granted the title of "Zhenjun Wei Yuantong".
Zhuang Zhou wrote a book of more than 100,000 words, titled "Zhuangzi". The emergence of this document marks that during the Warring States Period, our country's philosophical thought and literary language had developed to a very far-reaching and profound level. It is a treasure among ancient Chinese classics. Therefore, Zhuangzi is not only a famous thinker in the history of Chinese philosophy, but also an outstanding writer in the history of Chinese literature. Whether in terms of philosophical thought or literary language, he has had a profound and huge influence on thinkers and writers of all ages in our country, and plays an extremely important role in the history of Chinese thinkers and literature.
Regarding powerful people as rotten rats
"Zhuangzi Qiu Shui" records: Hui Shi became prime minister in the Liang Kingdom, and Zhuangzi wanted to see this good friend. Someone hurriedly reported to Huizi, saying: "Zhuangzi came to replace your position." Huizi was panicked and wanted to stop Zhuangzi, so he sent people to search the country for three days and three nights. Unexpectedly, Zhuangzi calmly came to see him and said: "There is a bird in the south. Its name is Phoenix. Have you heard of it? This Phoenix spreads its wings and flies from the South Sea to the North Sea. It will not rest unless it is a parasol tree, and it will not eat unless it is a phoenix tree. At this time, an owl was eating a rotten mouse with relish, and the phoenix happened to fly over the head. The owl looked up and said, "Scared!" Do you want to scare me with your Liang Guo?"
I'd rather be a free turtle
One day, Zhuangzi was fishing in a vortex. Two officials appointed by the King of Chu came to hire him and said: "My king has heard of your reputation for a long time, and wants to help you with state affairs. I deeply hope that you will come out of the mountain happily, thinking that the king will be relieved, and that the people will benefit." Zhuangzi held the pole and said calmly. ; "I heard that there was a magical turtle in the Chu State. It was three thousand years old when it was killed. The King of Chu kept it in a bamboo box, covered it with brocade, and enshrined it in the temple. I would like to ask the second doctor whether this turtle would rather die. Is it valuable to have bones left behind, or would you rather swim in the mud while alive?" The second doctor said, "Of course I would rather live in the mud and walk with my tail." Zhuangzi said, "Two doctors, please go back!" I am willing to drag my tail through the muddy water."
It is poverty, not destitution
"Zhuangzi·Mountain Trees" contains: Once, Zhuangzi was wearing coarse patchwork clothes and had grass on his feet. He wore broken shoes tied with a rope and went to visit the King of Wei. The King of Wei saw him and said, "Sir, why are you so poor?" Zhuangzi corrected him: "It's poverty, not poverty. A scholar who has morality but cannot embody it is poverty; his clothes are tattered and his shoes are tattered, which is poverty, not poverty. This is the so-called It's not the right time to be born! Have you never seen the leaping apes on the tall nanmu and camphor trees? , there is nothing they can do. But if they are in the thorn bush, they can only look sideways and pass by in fear. This is not because their muscles and bones have become stiff and inflexible, but because they are in an inconvenient situation and cannot perform their abilities well. , 'How is it possible that I am in a state of confusion and chaos, and my desires are not enough?"
Three swords can make a country prosper with one word
During the Warring States Period, Zhao Guo's King Zhao Wen was particularly fond of swordsmanship. The swordsmen who liked him came to show their skills one after another, and there were as many as three thousand swordsmen on the left and right of the palace gate. They fought with each other day and night in front of King Zhao Wen. Hundreds of people are killed or injured every year, but King Zhao Wen is still interested in it and never tires of it. As a result, the practice of swordsmanship among the people flourished, chivalrous knights emerged in droves, idlers increased in number, the number of people cultivating the fields decreased day by day, the countryside became desolate, and the national power gradually declined. Other vassal states wanted to take this opportunity to attack Zhao.
Prince Zhao Kui was worried about this and summoned his ministers to discuss: "If this continues, the country will be destroyed and dominated by other countries. If any of you ministers want to please the king, , Can you stop swordsmen from fighting? I will reward you with a thousand pieces of gold." Everyone said in unison: "Zhuangzi can take on this task.
The prince asked, "Who is Zhuangzi?" A minister replied: "Zhuangzi is a hermit." His talent is enough to run a country, his ability is enough to build a country, his arguments can bring people back to life, and his theories can shake the world. If you can invite him to come, you will definitely be able to comply with the king's wishes and save the people from fire and water. " So the prince sent an envoy to invite Zhuangzi with a thousand gold coins.
Zhuangzi saw the envoy, understood his intention, and said, "Why is this so difficult? It is worth a thousand gold rewards? " He refused to accept the thousand gold, and went to see the prince together with the envoy, and asked the prince: "The prince gave me a gift of a thousand gold from Zhuangzhou. What can I say? The prince said, "Mr. Wen, the gods, have specially given you a thousand pieces of gold to cover the expenses of your students' journey." If your husband doesn't accept it, what else can I, Zhao Kui, dare to say? Zhuangzi said: "I heard that the prince wants to use my Zhuangzi's place because he wants to give up the king's hobby." Suppose the minister persuades the king and goes against the king's wishes. If I betray the prince, I will also be tortured and die. What is the use of a thousand gold coins? If the envoy can please the king at the top and satisfy the prince at the bottom, what can I ask for in Zhao and not get it? "
Three days later, Zhuangzi came to see the prince in Confucian clothes. The prince took him to see King Wen of Zhao. King Wen unsheathed his sword and treated him with a bare blade. Zhuangzi was majestic and solemn, and his expression was calm. He did not rush into the palace door. , seeing that the king refused to bow, the king said: "The prince introduced you, what do you want to teach me? Zhuangzi said: "I heard that the king is good at swordsmanship, so I paid homage to the king with swordsmanship." The king said, "What are your specialties in swordsmanship?" Zhuangzi said: "My sword is extremely sharp, and my sword skills are unparalleled in the world. I can kill a person in ten steps and leave no trace for a thousand miles." After hearing this, King Wen greatly appreciated it and praised: "You are invincible in the world!" "Tao: "If you are good at wielding a sword, you will show it's weakness, open it to gain advantage, follow it with a blow, and be the first to reach it. May your Majesty give me a chance to give it a try. King Wen said: "Sir, please rest for a few days and wait in the library. After I make arrangements, I will ask you to show off your sword skills." "So King Wen of Zhao selected the masters through a sword competition. The competition lasted for seven days. More than 60 people were killed or injured, and five or six of the best were selected. He asked them to wait for His Highness with swords, and invited Zhuangzi to come and show off. Zhuangzi came happily. , King Zhao Wen ordered: "These six people are all masters. I hope you can show your skills and test your edge. Zhuangzi replied: "I have been looking forward to it for a long time!"
King Zhao Wen asked: "I wonder what kind of sword you want to hold?" What's the length? Zhuangzi replied: "I can hold any sword." However, I have three swords, which are specially used by the king. Please allow me to speak first and then try. The king nodded and said, "Would you like to hear what the three swords are like?" Zhuangzi said: "The three swords are: the emperor's sword, the princes' sword, and the common man's sword." The king asked curiously: "What is the emperor's sword like?" Zhuangzi said: "The emperor's sword has Yanxi and Shicheng as its front, Qi and Taishan as its back, Jin and Wei as its back, Zhou and Song as its head, Han and Wei as its handle. It is wrapped by the four barbarians, wrapped by the four seasons, surrounded by the Bohai Sea, tied by the Hengshan Mountain, controlled by the five elements, divided by punishment and virtue, opened by yin and yang, held by spring and summer, and moved by autumn and winter. This sword is as straight as it can be, it can be lifted as high as it can be, it can be pressed as hard as it can be, and it can be swung to no side. Go up to the floating clouds and go down to the bottom. As soon as he comes out at this moment, he will rectify the princes, spread his power all over the world, and conquer the world with his virtue. This is what I call the Emperor's Sword. "
After hearing this, King Wen was at a loss. He asked again: "What are the swords of the princes like? Zhuangzi said: "The sword of the princes takes the wise and brave as the front, the honest as the fright, the virtuous as the back, the loyal and saintly as the head, and the heroic as the handle." When this sword is held straight, it cannot be seen in front, when it is lifted, it cannot be seen upward, when it is pressed, it cannot be seen downward, and when it is swung, it cannot be seen sideways. The upper part imitates the round sky in order to smoothen the three lights; the lower part imitates the square earth in order to harmonize the four seasons; it neutralizes the will of the people in order to bring peace to the four villages. Once this sword is used, it is like the vibration of thunder, and everyone in the four seas will obey and obey the king's orders. This is the sword of the princes. " King Wen listened and nodded frequently.
King Wen then asked: "What about the common man's sword? Zhuangzi said: "The common man's sword is held by those with shaggy hair, protruding temples and hanging crowns, thick eyebrows and long beards." Their clothes were long in the front and short in the back, their eyes were glaring with anger, and they spoke vulgarly. They struck each other in front of the king, cutting off his neck and stabbing his liver and lungs. This common people's sword fighting is no different from cockfighting. If you are not careful, your life will be ruined and it will not help the country's affairs. Today, the king is sitting on the throne of the emperor, but he likes the sword of a common man. I feel deeply sorry for the king! "After hearing this, King Wen of Zhao immediately stood up and took Zhuangzi's hands to the palace. He ordered the chef to kill chickens and sheep, and entertain Zhuangzi with good wine and food. King Zhao Wen walked around the table three times. When Zhuangzi saw it, he said: "Your Majesty, please sit down and calm down. I will serve you with my sword. It's done. "King Wen sat down and meditated for a long time.
King Wen of Zhao did not leave the palace for three months after listening to Zhuangzi's talk about the three swords. From then on, he gave up the pain of being a swordsman and devoted himself to governing the country. Those swordsmen were self-conscious With no future left, everyone was filled with fear, and soon they all fled or committed suicide.
Is life so confusing?
One day, Zhuangzi sat on his chair, looked up to the sky and sighed, The disciple stood by and said, "Sir, why are you sighing?" Can the human body really be reduced to the shape of a dead tree, while the solid heart can be reduced to the ashes of death? Aren't those who sit on chairs today the same as those who sat on chairs in the past? Zhuangzi said: "That's a good question." Now I have lost myself, do you understand? The disciple said: "What is the self?" The disciple is stupid and really doesn’t understand. Zhuangzi said: "All things in the world are opposite to each other."
Therefore, without the other, there would be no this, and without you, there would be no me. This is opposite and complementary, but I don’t know who made it like this? Is it the Tao in the dark? What does Tao look like? The bones, the five internal organs and the six internal organs are all present in the body. What is the self? Who am I closer to? Do you like them all, or do you have a preference? If this is the case, do the bones and the nine orifices, the five internal organs and the six internal organs have a concubine relationship with each other? If they are all concubines, do these concubines restrict each other? Or take turns as king and minister? Is there really a master among them? Alas, once one accepts essence and achieves physical form in life, the energy is exhausted before you know it. Isn't it too sad to fight and rub against external objects every day, and my energy is exhausted like a galloping horse, but I can't stop it? Don’t be sad if you are busy all your life but don’t see success, and you are exhausted and don’t know your destination! Although the body is immortal, what is the benefit? It is not a great sorrow that the mind and spirit also die along with the body! Are people always so confused when they are born? Or am I the only one who feels confused and no one else is confused? "
To unite all things, there is no need to separate them.
The disciple asked: "Compared between human beings and heaven and earth, who is bigger and who is smaller, who is noble and who is inferior? Zhuangzi said: "Human beings are formed in heaven and earth, receive energy from yin and yang, and stand between heaven and earth, just like pebbles and trees in the mountains. They are really insignificant, so why should they be arrogant?" Isn't it like an ant's nest in the desert? Isn't planning for China in the sea just like millet grains in a big warehouse? There are countless things in the world, and humans are just one of them. Compared with all things, aren't humans like the hair on a horse's body?
The disciple seemed to have some realization and said: "Sir, what you mean is that there are mountains outside the mountains, and there is a sky beyond the sky, right?" Zhuangzi said: "It means this." The disciple asked: "Then I regard the heaven and the earth as big and the hair as small. Is that okay?" "
Zhuangzi said: "No! Any object is inexhaustible in terms of measurement, and endless in terms of existence time; it can be divided infinitely, with no beginning and no end. Therefore, people with great wisdom and wisdom view far and near as follows: small things should not be regarded as less, large things should not be considered as many, and each is infinite in terms of knowledge. He knows a lot about the past and the present: although the ancient times are far away, he is not confused; even though the ancient times are within reach, he does not stand on tiptoe to get them, knowing that there is no beginning or end in time. He knows that the way of heaven has its ups and downs, gains and losses, existence and death, so he is not happy when he gains, and he is not worried about losses. He understands that the way of heaven is magnanimous, so he is unhappy in life and has no regrets in death, and he knows the changes from beginning to end. What a person knows is far less than what he does not know; the time he is alive is not as long as the time he was not born. Taking it as small as possible and trying to limit its maximum scope will lead to confusion and nothing to gain from the world. From this point of view, how can we know that the smallest detail is enough to define the limit of the smallest and the smallest? How can we know that heaven and earth are enough to exhaust the greatest territory? "
The disciple said: "I understand. Sir, you are saying: There is a small among big things, don’t think big is big; there is big among small, don’t think small is small. Zhuangzi said: "It seems unclear." It is better to say: there is a big one above the big one, and there is a small one below the small one. The big is infinite, the small is infinite. ”
The disciple asked: “How do you distinguish between high and low things, how do you distinguish between small and large things?” Zhuangzi said: "From the perspective of Tao, all things have no responsibility and no inferiority; from the perspective of things, self-exaltation and inferiority are inferior to each other; from the secular point of view, nobility or disgrace is not in oneself, but in external honor and disgrace." Reputation and reputation are the standard. Looking at the external differences, everything is big if it is big because of its bigness; if it is small because of its smallness, everything is small. If you understand that the heaven and the earth are like a plant of rice, and the grains of it are like hills and mountains, then there is no difference in size. In ancient times, Yao and Shun abdicated and became emperors, but Zizhi and Yan Wang Haxiang abdicated and the country perished; King Tang of Shang and King Wu of Zhou fought and became emperors, but Duke Bai fought for the throne and destroyed himself. From this point of view, the etiquette of fighting for concessions and the behavior of Yao and Liang are sometimes noble and lowly, but not always noble and often lowly. The pillars can break through city gates but cannot block the entrance, so their uses are different; the Qiji can run thousands of miles a day, but its skills are different; the owl can catch fleas at night and can detect the smallest details, but even if its eyes are wide open during the day But there are no hills and mountains, and its performance is limited. There are different ways of inheriting the emperor's Zen, either from the same surname to another, or to another surname; the inheritance methods among the three generations are also different, either from father to son, or by raising troops to conquer. But if it is inappropriate, it will go against the world. It is called a usurper. If one conforms to the time and customs, he is called a righteous man. It can be seen that sometimes nobles and inferiors cannot help themselves. I said, disciple, how can you understand the family of noble and humble, the family of small and large? "
When a real person walks in the world, he will not be hot when he enters the fire, nor drowns when he sinks into the water.
The disciple asked: "What is a person who understands the Tao? Zhuangzi said: "Those who understand Tao must understand reason, and those who understand reason must understand contingencies. "Only those who understand contingencies will not harm themselves due to external things." A person with supreme virtue cannot feel heat when he enters fire, cannot drown in water, cannot be harmed by cold or heat, and cannot be harmed by animals. This is because he can clearly detect dangers, be at ease with misfortunes and blessings, and be cautious about getting there, so nothing can harm him. ”
The disciple asked: “Are there really any virtuous people in this world?” Zhuangzi said: "Confucius is like that." The disciple asked: "How can you see it?" Zhuangzi said: "Confucius traveled around the world to promote benevolence and righteousness. Although he encountered obstacles everywhere, he still persevered." His concern for the country and his people is admirable, admirable, and inspiring. Once, Confucius went to Kuangdi for lobbying. When he was surrounded by layers of Wei people, he still played the piano and sang without caring. A passerby saw Confucius and asked, "Teacher, what do you want to enjoy?" ’ Confucius said: ‘Come here! Let me tell you: I have long been taboo about poverty. It is still inevitable to be down and out, it is determined by fate; I have also longed for prosperity for a long time, but I have not yet been rich, it is limited by fate. In the time of Yao and Shun, if there were infinite people in the world, it was not a sign of wisdom; in the time of Zhou, if there were no people in the world, it was also a case of lack of wisdom.
Times dictate this. Walking in the water without avoiding mosquitoes and dragons is the courage of a fisherman; walking on land without avoiding lions and tigers is the courage of a hunter; holding a white blade in front of you and treating death as life is the courage of a martyr; knowing that poverty has its destiny, He who knows the time and is not afraid in the face of great difficulties is the courage of a saint! Zhongyou, please sit down. My destiny is determined by God! ’ After a while, a man in pin armor came over and apologized to Confucius: ‘I’m very sorry, sir! We thought it was Yanghu, so we surrounded it. Now I understand that I misidentified you sir, we will retreat immediately! ’ Confucius can be said to be the most virtuous person who understands changes in situation! "
It is only self-interest, who is noble and who is inferior
The disciple asked again: "Master said, look at it from the perspective of Tao. Neither noble nor humble, neither big nor small. So is there a certain standard of right and wrong? In other words, sir, do you know that there is a universally recognized truth for all things? Zhuangzi said, "How do I know?" "Then do you know the reason why you don't know?" Zhuangzi said, "How do I know?" "So everything is unknowable?" Zhuangzi said, "How do I know?" Even so, I might as well try to talk about it. How do I know whether my so-called knowledge is ignorance? How do I know that what I mean by not knowing is not knowing? Let me try to ask you a few questions: People will suffer from back pain if they sleep on wet ground. Will this happen to loaches? People are frightened when they are in a tree. Would an ape be like this? Who knows the truth about these three? Humans like to eat vegetables and meat, deer eat grass, centipedes like snakes, owls like rats, who knows the true taste of the four human beings, beasts, insects and birds? The sniper loves the female ape, the mi loves having sex with the deer, and the loach loves swimming with the fish. People think Mao Qiang and Li Ji are beautiful; but when fish see them, they dive deep into the water, when birds see them, they fly high in the sky, and when elk see them, they flee far away into the wild. Who knows the true beauty of these four? In my opinion, the end of benevolence and righteousness, the path of right and wrong, may be beneficial to me or harmful to the other person. Each benefit has its own standard. How can I figure out the difference? ”
The disciple asked: “If you don’t know the benefits and harms, then don’t the Great Ones also know the benefits and harms?” Zhuangzi said: "The great man is amazing!" The swamps are burning but not hot, the rivers are frozen but not cold, the thunder is breaking the mountains and the wind is shaking the sea but it is not. People like this ride on the clouds, the sun and the moon, and travel across the four seas. They are indifferent to life and death, let alone the interests and dangers. "
Trying to argue, but in vain
The disciple asked: "Can debate determine right and wrong? Zhuangzi replied: "Suppose I argue with you and you defeat me, then you are indeed true and I must be false?" If I defeat you, I must be, and you must be no? Do we have a yes and a no? Or is it both, or neither? You and I can't judge, because everyone has their own opinions and doesn't understand. So who should we ask to correct it? Ask someone who agrees with you to judge. Since they agree with you, how can you judge? I ask people who agree with me to make a decision. Since they are the same as me, how can they make a decision? Please let people whose opinions are different from mine and yours come to judge. Since we are both different from you and me, how can we judge who is right and wrong between you and me? Please ask someone who has the same opinions as you and me to make a decision. Since we are both the same, how can we make a decision? So neither you nor I can determine who is right and who is wrong, so who can we rely on to decide? "
The disciple was deeply confused and troubled, and asked: "Then how should we deal with the issue of right and wrong? Zhuangzi said: "Everything has two sides." From that aspect, everything is that, and from this aspect, everything is this. It is not clear when looking at the problem from the other side, but it is very clear when looking at the problem from this side. Therefore, the other comes from this, and this exists because of the other, and they coexist with each other. Since this is the case, then only when you are alive can you die, and only when you are dead can you be alive; before you can do it, you can't do it; if you can't do it, you can do it; cause is because it is wrong, and cause is not because it is right. Therefore, the sage does not adhere to the path of right and wrong, but illuminates the way of heaven. This is also that, and that is also this. There is also right and wrong there, and here there is right and wrong. Do they really exist? Is there really no each other? If they are empty of each other, right and wrong are two illusions, and they are not in opposition to each other but coincide with each other, then the Tao exists within them. This is called Daoshu. Holding the Dao pivot and standing in the ring, it responds to infinity. Yes is also infinite, no is also infinite. In Tao terms, there is no definite right between right and wrong. If you follow it with the clarity of nature and don't stick to your own opinions, there will be no right and wrong. Heaven and earth are one finger, and all things are one horse. It's okay, it's okay, it's okay, it's okay. A road becomes a path when it is followed, and things become famous when they are called. Things are as they are, and things are as they are. Nothing is not possible, nothing is impossible. Therefore, thick and thin, ugly and beautiful, straight and oblique, all are one. Its division means success; its success means destruction. All things without success or destruction will be reunited and become one. Only broad-minded people know and understand as one! ”
At this time, there is only immunity from punishment
One day, Zhuangzi and his disciples were walking through the high mountains. It was autumn and winter, thousands of trees were withered, withered grass was everywhere, and yellow leaves were rolling in. , the crow wails. Zhuangzi covers his head with a broken hat, wraps himself in old clothes, and wears rotten hemp straw sandals. He walks on the rugged mountain road, facing the bleak autumn wind, looking at the bleak sunset, and can't help but look up to the sky and roar, singing loudly: "Feng Xi" Feng Xi, what a decline in virtue!
The next life cannot be waited for, and the past life cannot be pursued.
If there is a way in the world, how can a saint be achieved?
There is no way in the world. Tao: How can a saint be born!
At this time, only punishment is spared!
Blessings are light on the feathers, no one knows about them;
Misfortunes are more important than the earth. , Don't know how to avoid it.
It's almost time to approach others with virtue. The yang confuses the yang, which does not harm my walking.
My walking is crooked, which does not harm my feet.
The greatest happiness has no joy, the greatest reputation has no reputation
The disciples were puzzled and asked: "Sir, you have always been optimistic and generous, why are you singing and lamenting today?" Zhuangzi said: "The world has its own destiny. Is there a way to keep your whole body healthy? In today’s troubled times, what is right and what is not evil? Where can you live and where can you escape without danger? It’s reasonable, what’s the point of hating?” The disciple said: "What people in the world respect is wealth, longevity, and beauty; what they like is physical safety, good food, beauty, beautiful clothes, and music; what they despise is poverty, illness, and ugliness; what they like is suffering. Yes, the body cannot be comfortable, the mouth cannot be ignorant, the body cannot be beautiful, the eyes cannot be lustful, and the ears cannot be good at music. Isn’t the above the principle of avoiding the likes and dislikes of ordinary people and maintaining good health?”
Zhuangzi said: "If you can't get what you want, you will be worried and afraid. Your attitude toward life will be stupid. Think of those who are greedy for wealth. They work hard and accumulate a lot of wealth but cannot use it up. Their support The way of the body is to know the outside but not the inside; thinking about those who seek blame, day and night, thinking about good and bad. The way to cultivate the body is to know the sparse but not know the secret. Human life is born with worries, and those who live long will be dizzy and long-term. Why worry about not dying? The way to maintain health is to know the distance but not the near. "Sir, what you mean is that wealth, longevity, etc. are all external things, and they are not enough to truly maintain health."
Zhuangzi nodded and said: "A martyr is a person who is praised by the world, but he is not enough to save himself. Do you think a martyr should be called good or should not be called good? If you think it is good, you cannot save yourself. If you don't think well, you can save others. The ancients said: If you don't listen to your loyal advice, you should keep silent and don't fight. Wu Zixu fought hard and was killed by the king of Wu. If he didn't fight, Wu Zixu would not be known as a loyal minister. "What kind of deeds can be considered good?"
The disciple seemed to have realized something: "Master, is it true that fame can harm one's health, and pursuing a good reputation is not a way to maintain one's health?"
Zhuangzi did not comment. Can you continue: "I don't know if the things we do and enjoy in the world today are really happy or not? I think the worldly pleasures are just chasing after the fashion, swarming forward like being whipped. Sheep are complacent and don’t know what to ask for, and they all think they are happy. I don’t know if it is true happiness. However, I regard inaction and tranquility as true happiness, but the world does not think so and thinks it is great suffering.”
The disciple said: "I understand. The teacher believes that there is no happiness in the world, and there is no reputation in the world."
Zhuangzi said: "Yes, yes! Only when there is no happiness can we achieve the highest happiness, and only by doing nothing can we save our lives. The world The result of right and wrong is not determined, but doing nothing can determine right and wrong. Only doing nothing can save life. Why do you think: the sky is self-purifying without doing anything, and the earth is self-organized by doing nothing. Metamorphosis. The cannons are in a trance, and they don’t know where they come from. All things are born from inaction. Therefore, the world is inactive and everything is done. Who can realize the benefits of inaction?
Use nothing but great use
Zhuangzi and his disciples walked to the foot of a mountain and saw a big tree with luxuriant branches and leaves standing beside a large stream, which was particularly conspicuous. But look at this tree: it is a hundred feet thick, thousands of feet high, pointing straight into the sky; its crown is as wide as a giant umbrella, and it can cover more than ten acres of land. Zhuangzi couldn't help but ask the woodcutter: "Excuse me, master, how come such a big tree has never been cut down? Why has it grown alone for thousands of years?" The woodcutter seemed to be dismissive of the tree and said, "What's the point of this?" Odd? This tree is a useless wood. If used to make boats, it will sink in the water; if used to make coffins, it will rot quickly; if used to make utensils, it will be damaged; If the liquid does not dry out, it will be easily eaten by insects. This is a wood that cannot be used for timber. That is why it has such a long life."
Hearing this. Zhuangzi said to his disciples: "This tree has been able to live its whole life because it has no material. Isn't it a useless thing, doing nothing but doing something for itself?" The disciples suddenly realized and nodded. Zhuangzi also said: "Trees are useless. They do not seek to achieve anything and avoid being attacked by axes. White-breasted oxen, arrogant pigs, and people with hemorrhoids are considered unlucky by wizards, so they will not be thrown into the river to worship the river god." A crippled person will not be recruited by the army, so he can live his whole life with a crippled body. How much more can a crippled person with moral integrity and talents be spared from disaster? Zhuangzi became more and more excited as he talked, and concluded: "Mountain trees are self-defeating; cinnamon is self-destructive, so it can be cut; lacquer can be used, so everyone knows its usefulness." , but I don’t know the use of useless things.”
One dragon and one snake, changing with the times
The master and the disciple left the mountain and stayed at the home of Zhuangzi’s old friend. The master was very happy and ordered his son to kill the fake to entertain him.
The son asked: "One fake can sing and the other cannot. Which one should I kill?" The master said: