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Yao tried to turn over rulership of the world to Xu You (a hermit), but Xu You wouldn't accept it. After that he tried to turn it over to Zi Zhou Zhi Fu (Senior Official of a Township). Zi Zhou Zhi Fu said: "It'd be appropriate for you make me the emperor. However, I'm suffering from a serious physical ailment, and at the moment I'm so involved in trying to cure myself that I wouldn't have the time to devote to governing the whole world." One's position in the world could make one important, but not if it would cause harm to one's own life. How much more so would that apply to dealing with other things in life? Only one who isn't concerned about their position in the world can be entrusted with the world. Shun tried to turn over rulership of the world to Zi Zhou Zhi Bo (Secondary Official of a Township). Zi Zhou Zhi Bo said: "I'm suffering from a serious physical ailment, and at the moment I'm so involved in trying to cure myself that I wouldn't have the time to devote to governing the whole world." So, the world could be used as a personal tool, but not in exchange for one's own life. In this way one who's connected with Dao is quite different from the rest of humanity. Shun turned over rulership of the world to Shan Juan (Good Resume). Shan Juan said: "I'm established in the middle of universal time and space, clothing my body with furs and animal skins on winter days and with cotton and hemp during the summer. In the spring my muscles are strong enough to plow the fields and cultivate them. In the autumn my body is able to harvest the crops and relax while eating them. At sunrise I get up, and at sunset I rest. I wander freely and unfettered throughout the land and my heart expresses self-contentment. Why would I be concerned with my position in the world? It makes me sad that you don't know me at all." After he refused the offer, he took off to some remote mountains where no one would know how to find him. Shun tried to turn over rulership of the world to a friendly farmer from Shi Hu. The farmer from Jiangsu said: "You have such a good record for tending to the behavior of the people. Your power supersedes that of any scholar or soldier!" Sensing that Shun's virtue wasn't yet perfected, the farmer and his wife packed up their possessions and took off carrying them on their backs towards the seashore and didn't return to their home for the rest of their lives. When the Great King Dan Fu lived in Bin, the Di tribes attacked them. He tried placating them with gifts of animal skins and fine silks, but they refused them. He tried placating them with gifts of dogs and horses, but they refused them. He tried placating them with gifts of precious pearls and jade, but they didn't accept them. The people of the Di tribe were only interested in gaining more land. The Great King Dan Fu said: "To live with older brothers and fathers while sending the younger brothers and sons off to be killed is something I couldn't bear. Aren't all of us simply making an effort to live together as best we can? There'd really be no difference whether you become subservient to the Di tribes or to me. I've also heard it said that one shouldn't end up doing harm to those you're trying to nourish." With that he took up his walking stick and left town. The rest of the people joined up with each other and followed him. He then set up a new country for them at the foot of Mount Qi. It can be said that Great King Dan Fu had great respect for life. One who has great respect for life may accumulate treasures and riches, but not in an effort to nourish a wounded body; may experience poverty and humility, but not in an effort to avoid work. Nowadays those people who hold high official positions and show respect for the nobility have all suffered important losses and see benefits in taking the loss of their lives lightly. How could this not be a delusion? For three successive generations the people of Yue assassinated their ruler. Prince Sou became worried about this so he fled to a cinnabar cave. Since the country was then without a ruler, the people went in search of Prince Sou and followed his tracks to the cinnabar cave. Prince Sou refused to come out of the cave, so the people flushed him out with the noxious smoke from burning mugwort and forced him into the elaborate royal chariot they'd brought along. After Prince Sou reluctantly got into the chariot he looked up at the sky and wailed: "To be a ruler! To be a ruler! Am I the only one who can't avoid this?" Prince Sou didn't hate the idea of being a ruler, but he hated the dread attached to being a ruler. As for someone like Prince Sou, it can be said that he didn't have any intention of allowing the state to harm his body, and it was for this reason that the people wanted to grab him and make him their ruler. The states of Han and Wei were in a dispute over some territory. Master Huazi (possibly an adviser in Han) went to see Marquis Zhao Xi (an official in Han) who had a seriously worried expression on his face. Master Huazi said: "Supposing there was an old document about how to become ruler of the world, and the document contained this engraving: 'Seize it with your left hand and you'll lose the use of your right hand. Seize it with your right hand and you'll lose the use of your left hand. Whoever follows this will definitely obtain the whole world.' Would you agree to seize it?" Marquis Zhao Xi said: "No, I wouldn't." Master Huazi said: "Excellent! It's apparent to you that your two arms are more important than the world, and your body is more important than your two arms. Han is merely a small part of the world, and the territory you're disputing over is merely a small part of Han. Yet you're willing to stress your body and risk your life worrying and fretting over something you might not be able to get." Marquis Xi said: "Very well said! I've got a crowd of people as advisers, but I've never had it explained to me in this way before." Master Huazi can be said to recognize what's unimportant and what's important. The ruler of Lu heard that Yan He (a scholar from the state of Lu) was a person who had achieved Dao, so he sent a messenger to bring him precious gifts as a means of introduction. Yan He had a rickety gate outside his house, wore clothing made of coarse hemp cloth and fed his oxen himself. When the ruler of Lu's messenger arrived, Yan He answered the door himself. The messenger said: "Is this the home of Yan He?" Yan He politely said: "Yes, this is Yan He's home." As the messenger started handing over the precious gifts, Yan He politely said: "I'm afraid you might have gotten your instructions wrong and then you'll be blamed for making a mistake, so you should re-check them." The messenger went back to recheck his instructions, and when he returned looking for Yan He again, he couldn't find him. By that, it would seem that Yan He really loathed the idea of wealth and rank. Therefore it's been said: "Genuine Dao is used to set things right in the body. What's left over as surplus is used for behavior in the state and family. What's discarded as trash is used to set things right in the rest of the world." From this we can see that the achievements of emperors and kings is discarded as trash in the affairs of a sage. Those things are contrary to maintaining a whole body and a healthy life. Nowadays those who are in positions of authority subject themselves to numerous physical dangers and life threatening situations by sacrificing themselves for things. Isn't that sad? When a sage is forced to take action in the world, he has to inspect his place in the situation before determining which action to take. Supposing there was a person around today who was using the Marquis of Sui's pearl as a pellet to shoot down a sparrow 10,000 feet in the sky. Everyone would have a good laugh at him. Why is that? Because he's using something important to try to capture something he wants that's unimportant. As for life - wouldn't that be more special and important even to Marquis of Sui (than a pearl)? Master Liezi was living in poverty and his face showed signs of starvation. A guest of Master Yang (the chief minister) of Zheng (the state where Liezi spent his life) mentioned the situation to Master Yang, saying: "Lie Yu Kou (Liezi) is an accomplished scholar of Dao, yet he's living in poverty in your state. Are you allowing this to happen because you don't like scholars?" Master Yang of Zheng ordered one of his officials to go take Liezi some grain. When Master Liezi saw the messenger, he was very friendly to him but refused to accept the grain. After the messenger had left, Master Liezi went back into his house. His wife looked at him, beat her breast, and said: "I'd heard that women who were married to a man who had attained Dao would all have plenty of time for leisure and enjoyments. But look at us now - we're starving. The minister has decided to recognize you as a master and send you food, but you've refused to accept it. How could you refuse what destiny sent?" Master Liezi laughed and said to her: "The minister doesn't know me at all. He just listened to what someone else said about me and decided to send me the grain. He could just as easily listen to someone tell him I'm guilty of a crime and react in a different way to their words about me. That's why I refused to accept the grain." After a while, the people actually did rise up in a rebellion and killed Master Yang. When King Zhao was ousted from the throne in Chu, Yue the butcher went along with him and followed King Zhao out of the state. When King Zhao returned to the throne of Chu (approx. one year later), he wanted to reward Yue the butcher for his loyalty. Yue the butcher said to tell him: "When the Great King lost his state, I also lost my position as butcher. When he regained his state, I then regained my position as butcher. I've already regained my position and salary, so what more of a reward could be given!" The King said: "Make him accept the reward!" Yue the butcher said to tell him: "When the Great King lost his state it wasn't due to any fault of mine so there was no reason for me to accept punishment for anything. When the Great King regained his state it wasn't due to any effort of mine so there's no reason to accept any rewards." The King said: "Bring him here to meet with me!" Yue the butcher said to tell him: "The laws of the state of Chu require that a person must have received a handsome reward for some great achievement in order to have an audience with the King. Not only didn't I have the intelligence to know how to preserve the state, but I also wasn't brave enough to take a chance of dying defending it against the invaders. When the Wu armies attacked Ying (capital city of Chu) I hovered in fear and tried to avoid the invaders. That's why I decided to follow after the Great King. Now the Great King wants to violate the laws and rescind previous mandates by seeing me. That would go totally against the way the rest of the world perceives me." The king called for his Minister of War, Zi Qi, and said: "Yue the butcher lives a modest and humble life, yet he expressed a very high sense of righteousness. Go and invite him to accept a position as an adviser holding the Three Banners (the highest positions available under the king)." Yue the butcher said: "I know that a position with Three Banners is much more valuable than being a butcher in a shop, and that a salary of ten thousand measures of grain would make me wealthier than what I earn as a butcher, yet how could I be so greedy for position and wealth that I'd be a party to my ruler carrying out such a rash decision? I wouldn't dare to agree to such a thing. I'd much prefer returning to my butcher shop." He persisted in refusing to accept any rewards. Yuan Xian lived in the state of Lu. The walls of his house were made of thatch and clumps of sod from which weeds were growing. The rickety door didn't close properly and a branch from a mulberry tree was used to hold it shut. A couple of clay jars with the bottoms broken out served as windows with some old rags stuffed in them to keep out the cold. The roof leaked so badly that the floor was always wet, but he sat there on a basket strumming his zither. Zi Gong rode up in a carriage pulled by a team of large horses with a purple interior and a white exterior. The carriage was so large that it couldn't fit down the narrow lane, so he set off on foot to visit Yuan Xian. Yuan Xian, wearing a threadbare cap and stretched out sandals, leaned on a gnarled cane as he shoved open the door. Zi Gong said: "Oh my! Why are you so defective?" Yuan Xian replied: "I've heard it said that one who isn't wealthy is said to be poor, and that one who isn't able to put into practice what they've learned is said to be defective. Now I may be poor, but I'm not defective." Zi Gong took a step back and looked embarrassed. Yuan Xian laughed and said: "To hope to behave in conformity with others, to befriend only those I feel are my social equals, to learn what I believe is expected of me by other people, to teach in order to elevate my standing, to deceptively preach about benevolence and righteousness, and to adorn myself with the trappings of a magnificent carriage pulled by a team of horses - those are things I could never bring myself to do." Zeng Zi lived in the state of Wei. His coarse hempen robe was worn and tattered, his complexion was puffy and splotched, and his hands and feet were covered in callouses. He hadn't had a fire on which to cook his food for three days, and hadn't had a new piece of clothing in ten years. When he straightened his cap the chin band tore off, when he put his hands on his hips his elbows stuck out of the holes in his robe, and when he laced up his sandals his heels poked out the back. He'd shuffle along in his loose sandals singing "Shang Song" ("Odes of Sacrifice of Shang", ancient ritual hymns). The sound of his voice filled the heavens and earth as though it was erupting from bells and stone chimes. He didn't allow the emperor to make him his servant nor the princes and dukes to become his friends. Thus, those who nourish their ambitions forget about their bodies. Those who nourish their bodies forget about material gains. Those who embody Dao forget about their minds. Kong Zi (Confucius) said to Yan Hui: "Hui, come over here. Your family is poor and you all live in humble surroundings. Why don't you go and seek a position as an official?" Yan Hui replied: "I don't want to be an official. I have about ten acres of land outside the city which is enough to provide us with trees and grains (for food). I have just over an acre of land inside the city which is enough to provide me with silk and hemp (for clothing). I have drums and musical instruments which are enough to provide me with entertainment. I have a master who teaches me about Dao which is enough to bring me happiness. I really have no desire to become an official." The concern on Kong Zi's face changed into an expression of tenderness and he said: "Your intentions are wonderful! I've heard it said: 'One who's content with what they have doesn't go out expending their energy on gaining material possessions. One who's self-satisfied isn't afraid of losing anything. One who's reached an appreciation of what's inside of them doesn't feel ashamed if they don't have a lofty position in life.' I've recited that from memory for a long time, but now you've shown me what it really means, and I think I've finally gotten it." Prince Mou of Zhong Shan said to Zhan Zi: "My body is resting here above the river and ocean, but my mind is dwelling under the eaves of the buildings in Wei. What can I do about this?" Zhan Zi said: "See the importance of being alive. If you see the importance of living then the idea of gaining material stuff will be insignificant." Prince Mou of Zhong Shan said: "Yeah, yeah, I know about all that. But I still can't conquer my feelings." Zhan Zi said: "If you can't conquer your feelings then pay heed to them. Is a spirit without a dark side? One who can't conquer their feelings but doesn't have the strength to check them out suffers a very heavy injury. A person who suffers that kind of injury isn't the type who could live very long." Mou of Wei commanded ten thousand chariots, and when he went to hide in the caves of the mountains he was annoyed that he no longer wore the robes of a scholar. Although he hadn't really connected to Dao, he could be said to have at least gotten the gist of it. When Kong Zi (Confucius) was detained between the states of Chen and Cai, he went for seven days without any cooked food. He drank a broth made from weeds that contained no grains, his complexion became extremely pale and worn, and yet he sang along with his zither in his room. While Yan Hui was sorting through edible plants for a meal, Zi Lu and Zi Gong (other disciples of Confucius) were talking amongst themselves: "Our master has again been chased out of Lu, all traces of his presence have been erased from Wei, he was attacked under a drum tree in Song, he was thrown into poverty in Shang and Zhou, and now he's been surrounded and detained between Chen and Cai. If someone were to kill him they wouldn't be found guilty of a crime, and if someone were to assault him they wouldn't be arrested. Yet he's in there singing and playing his instruments without sensing a reason to be quiet. How could a gentleman be so lacking in shame to do such a thing?" Yan Hui didn't respond but went in to tell Kong Zi what they'd said. Kong Zi pushed away his musical instruments, sighed deeply, and said: "It's because they've been so spoiled that they're such petty people. Tell them to come in here to see me and I'll speak to them about it." Zi Lu and Zi Gong entered the room, and Zi Lu said: "How can you allow yourself to go through all this hardship?" Kong Zi said: "What kind of talk is this? As long as a gentleman is moving forward with his connection to Dao, then it can be said he's getting somewhere. If he's impoverished with Dao, then it can be said he's really losing out. Now for someone like me who embraces the benevolence and righteousness of Dao to come upon such disasters and hard times does make me a little sad, but how could anyone say I'm really losing out? So, I might have to tighten my belt little, but I'm not losing out on Dao. I might have come upon a series of disasters, but that wouldn't make me lose my virtue. Nature's chill has already passed, and the frost and snow have already fallen, so I can appreciate the lushness of the pines and cypress. To be stuck here in the mountain pass between Chen and Cai is actually my good fortune!" Kong Zi then picked up his discarded musical instruments and started singing. Zi Lu grabbed a stick and danced. Zi Gong said: "I didn't realize how high the heavens extend while the earth is here below." Those in ancient times who obtained Dao were happy whether they were lacking or connected. Their happiness wasn't due to being lacking or connected, but realizing that Dao and virtue come from both circumstances. Then being lacking or connected can be seen as following the same order as hot to cold and wind to rain. Therefore, Xu You (a hermit) was able to amuse himself on the sunny banks of the Ying River, and Gong Bo (Earl of Kung) was satisfied on Mount Gong Shou. Shun tried to pass down rulership of the world to his friend from the north, Wu Ze (Non-Judgmental). Wu Ze said: "How odd that a person should develop this kind of behavior! He was living in the middle of the crop fields then traveled to the gates of Yao (accepting Yao's offer of the throne). As if that wasn't enough, he now wants to humiliate me by prevailing on me to do the same thing. I'd be ashamed to meet with him at all." With that he threw himself into the depths of the Qing Ling River. When Tang was planning an attack on Jie, he tried to bring Bian Sui (Impetuous Follower) into the scheme. Bian Sui said: "That's none of my business." Tang said: "Who can I get to help?" "I don't have a clue." Tang then tried to bring Mao Guang (Dim Bulb) into the scheme. Mao Guang said: "That's none of my business." Tang said: "Who can I get to help?" "I don't have a clue." Tang said: "How about Yi Yin?" "He's supposed to have the strength of a sword and the endurance of a bull, but other than that I don't know anything about him." Tang went ahead and joined with Yi Yin in his attack on Jie. After he overthrew Jie he tried to resign his throne to Bian Sui. Bian Sui refused, saying: "When you planned to attack Jie you wanted me in on the scheme with you, so you must have thought me to be a traitor. Now that you've defeated Jie and want to turn over the throne to me you must think I'm greedy. We live in troubled times and a person without Dao has again come to try to prevail upon me to act in a humiliating way. I can't bear to listen to this any more." He then threw himself into the Zhou River and drowned. Tang then tried to turn over the throne to Mao Guang, saying: "The wise plan it, the military accomplishes it, and the benevolent preside over it - that's the way it's been done throughout history. I wonder if you'll step up now and take over?" Mao Guang refused, saying: "To overthrow the ruler goes against righteousness. To kill people goes against benevolence. After other people have lashed out against oppression, for me to enjoy benefits from that would be dishonest. I've heard it said: 'If someone is without righteousness, don't accept their promotions and accolades. If the whole generation is without Dao, don't set foot on their land.' There's less and less I can find any respect for! I can't bear to watch any more of this." With that he placed a huge stone on his back and sunk to the bottom of the Lu River. In olden times during the rise of the Zhou Dynasty there were two noblemen living in the state of Gu Zhu named Bo Yi and Shu Qi. During a conversation one of the men said to the other: "I've heard there's a man in the west who appears to have gotten Dao. Let's go and try to meet with him." By the time they reached the south side of Mount Qi, King Wen had heard about their visit, and told his younger brother, Dan, to go see them. He made a solemn contract with them, saying: "Your salary will be increased to the grade of second class officials, and you will immediately be sent to the front ranks." He sealed the deal by dripping the blood of an ox on the document and burying it. The two men (Bo Yi and Shu Qi) looked at each other and laughed, saying: "Ha, ha! How strange! This is quite contrary to what we refer to as Dao. In the old days when Shen Nong had charge of the world, sacrifices were performed as a means to show respect, not as a way to request favors. He was faithful and trustworthy in his governing of the people and he never asked for anything in return. When he put things in order they stayed orderly, and when he cured problems through governing they stayed cured. He didn't play tricks on people to become successful himself, nor did he make others feel lowly to appear higher himself, nor did he meet disasters with thoughts of bringing benefits to himself. "Nowadays when the Zhou see disorder in the Yin (aka Shang Dynasty) they rush to take over. They plan conspiracies with those in high positions and offer bribes to those in lower positions. They infiltrate the troops and offer them amnesty. They drip sacrificial blood to make oaths of faithfulness. They announce their accomplishments to attract the allegiance of the masses. They slaughter with their weapons so as to gain more and more. What they're doing is forcefully exchanging disorder for tyranny. "We've heard that if the noblemen in ancient times encountered spells of peace and prosperity they didn't shirk their official responsibilities. And if troubled times came along they weren't careless about tending to their own survival. Now that the world is in such darkness and virtue has declined to such a low level in Zhou, rather than allow ourselves to be soiled by the situation in Zhou it would be better to avoid the whole mess and keep ourselves purified." The two noblemen went north to the mountains of Shou Yang where they eventually died of starvation. It would seem that although Bo Yi and Shu Qi reached a level of rank and position and were careless about what they had the ability to attain, they then realized they mustn't depend on those things. Their high sense of integrity allowed them to stop what they were doing. They realized that they were happy to follow their ambitions, but not in the climate of the present situation. That was the height of integrity those two noblemen possessed. | Zhuangzi Translation | Glossary/Index A to N | Glossary/Index P to Z | ZZ Links | ZZ Books | | Return Home | Laozi's Dao De Jing | Your Dao De Jing | Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu) | Links | Meditation | Dao (Tao) is Open Forum | Book List | Other Stuff | |
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