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Yan Hui (a disciple of Confucius) went to see Zhong Ni (Confucius) and asked his permission to take a hiatus. "Where are you going?" "To the state of Wei." "What for? Hui replied: "The news reports that the prince of Wei is acting like a spoiled brat. He's taking advantage of his position and can't see the mistakes he's making. He thinks nothing at all of his people dying, and their bodies litter the countryside like weeds in a swamp. The people can't do anything about it. I remember something you once said, Master: 'If a country is in order, leave it. If a country is in turmoil, go to it.' The doctor's offices are filled with sick people. If you can share with me your thoughts about this, I'd like to come up with a way to reform all or at least some of what's going on there." Zhong Ni said: "Ha, ha! It seems dangerous to go there just to get your ear chopped off! The Way isn't about wanting to fit all the pieces together. Try to fit all the pieces together, and you'll just find more pieces lying around. The more they multiply, the more upset you'll get. When you're upset you'll be worried and sad. With so much worrying, then there's no way to help anyone. Before the ideals of society took over, an achieved person worked first on getting all the parts within himself attuned before trying to attune all the parts in others. If there's still something not dealt with in yourself, how would you have the time to go around trying to fix the cruelty of others! In addition, do you know how virtue is wasted and how knowledge is expressed? Virtue is wasted on trying to become famous, and knowledge is expressed in disputes. One who tries to become famous steps on others, and one who wants to show off their knowledge uses it as a weapon in debates. Both of those are terrible methods, and neither will get you anywhere. If you already think you have substantial virtue and solid beliefs, you haven't even begun to consider the essence of other people. If you can give up on competing for fame, then you wouldn't be trying to take over a precious place in other people's hearts. Being chastised by having rules and regulations about benevolence and righteousness pointed out is the type of violent method that people have already had to deal with, but if you show the evilness in that then you'd just appear to be trying to make yourself look better than they are. Then your approach would be like calling people weeds which needed to be sorted through. If you sort through people like that, people will revolt against it. It seems pretty dangerous to approach people like that. "Besides, the prince might not have any preference for those who are worthy, nor may he hate those who are unworthy. What would be the use in asking him to change his ways? If you spend too much time pondering over how to instruct him, the prince would inevitably take advantage of your lack of preparedness. Then your eyes would start to burn, your expression would go dumb, your mouth would drop open, your shape would go limp, and your mind for the time being would take in everything he said. This would be like using fire to fight fire or using water to try to stop a flood. Then you'd just be increasing what was already there. Start out that way and it'd never end. On the other hand, if you gave a hint that you didn't believe in the profound words he was saying, that would put you in serious trouble, and you'd probably end up being killed right there in front of such a violent person! "Keep in mind that Jie (a tyrant) killed Guan Long Feng (his minister), and Zhou (a tyrant) killed Prince Bi Gan (his minister). Everyone had warned those ministers ahead of time that they should remain subservient and not raise a ruckus, but they let the rulers push them down so low that the rulers thought nothing of squashing them. They were that desperate to keep their titles. "As for some other ancient rulers - Yao attacked the states of Cong, Zhi and Xu Ao; Yu attacked You Hu. Those states were laid to waste, bodies were tortured and killed, their warfare continued, and yet there was no end to their thirst for material gain. Haven't you heard of their obsession with fame and possessions? The desire to become rich and famous is something even a wise person couldn't overcome, much less you! "Okay, since you must have had something in mind to begin with, give me the gist of it." Yan Hui said: "What if I were to remain level-headed and open, devoting serious effort and being single-minded in my purpose? How about that?" "Huh? What are you thinking? That man (the prince) creatively puts on a showy display of greatness, but you can't be sure from all those theatrics what's really in his spirit. Ordinary people won't disobey him because he makes mandates on their feelings and controls what's in their hearts. A person like that is gradually diminishing their own virtue, while having a strong belief their virtue is great! He'll hold on to that belief and refuse to change, shutting himself off from any advice coming from others while not finding anything to criticize within himself. How could he find any use for you!" "Okay then. I could keep centered within myself, but be so adaptable on the outside that I'd appear to be like him. Keeping what I know to be right to myself, I could follow on the tails of the actions of the heavens. Since I'd simply be following the actions of the heavens, I know the emperor would look on me like a child of the heavens. Then how could my words be taken as seeking approval from others or seeking their disapproval? Being this way, people would call me childish, as though I was merely a follower of the heavens. Being adaptable on the outside, I'd simply be a follower of the people. Offering sacrifices, kneeling in submission, bowing down, and beating my chest with my fist - these are the rituals performed by respectful people. All people do that, so why would I dare to act otherwise? By conducting myself in this way, people wouldn't be able to find fault with me, and in that way I'd be seen as a follower of the people. Being successful at appearing to be like him (the prince), I would thus be seen as a follower of the respected ancients. My words would echo what they taught and be substantial for that reason. I'd be citing what the ancients believed, not what I myself believe. In that way I'd be echoing what's true and correct, not acting from my own self-interest. If I'm just citing what the ancients said in the past, then would that do?" Zhong Ni replied: "Huh? What are you thinking? For the most part you're right, although your methods are a little shaky, but you'd manage to get away without being accused of any crime. Even though someone might stop and listen to you, how would that really get anyone to make any drastic changes! You'd still sound a bit like a preacher." Yan Hui said: "I don't know what else to try. I'm asking for your suggestions." Zhong Ni replied: "Go on a fast, then I'll tell you what I think. Do you think it's easy to come up with a plan of action? If you think it's easy, then you're not in tune with the heavens." Yan Hui said: "My household is poor. I don't remember having a drink of wine or a bite of meat in several months. Can that be considered fasting?" "That's the kind of fasting one does for religious rituals, not the fasting of the heart/mind." Hui asked: "Can I ask what's the fasting of the heart/mind?" Zhong Ni replied: "Unify your frame of mind. Give up listening with your ears, but listen with your heart. Give up listening with your heart, but listen with the vital essence of your spirit! Listening stops at the ears. The heart stops at making calculations. In the essence of the spirit is openness that's waiting to receive all things. Pondering Dao accumulates more openness. In that openness is the fasting of the heart." Yan Hui said: "I haven't yet gotten a grip on just what I'm supposed to be doing, or who I really am. If I've gotten to the point of having no sense of who I am, would that be called openness?" The Master said: "You've got it. Now we're speaking the same language! You can go about traveling in his realm and not be affected by fame. If you make any headway, then speak naturally. If you don't make headway, then stop. With no need to physically or mentally escape the situation, realizing that all environments are the same and you have no alternative than to be where you are, then you'd almost be done. To walk without leaving tracks is easy, but it's difficult to walk without touching the ground. It's easy to be a fake if you're trying to act like everyone else, but it's difficult to be a fake if your actions arise naturally. We've all heard about things that have wings and can fly. We haven't heard about things that don't have wings and can fly. We've all heard about people who are smart that are considered to be knowledgeable. We haven't heard about those who are ignorant that are considered to be knowledgeable. "Look for each of the places where there's a blockage. An empty room lets in the most brightness. It's good fortune to stop, stop. Someone who can't find a moment to stop - that's called sitting at a gallop (body still; mind racing). To allow what you see and hear free access to come inside, but to keep your mind and knowledge out of it - supernatural beings would be drawn to that place and even more so would human beings. This is the way all living things adapt. That's the position taken by Yu and Shun, and the path taken by Fu Xi and Ji Qu to the end. How much more scattered most people allow themselves to get!" When Zi Gao (the Duke of She in the state of Chu) was about to depart on a mission to the state of Qi, he asked Zhong Ni (Confucius): "This is a really important bridge the king is sending me to build (between our nations), and Qi is waiting for me as an emissary. I must show the utmost respect and not be impatient. Even ordinary people can't be pushed to do something, let alone princes and dukes! I'm really scared. Master, you once told me this about bridging the gap of different cultures: 'Dealing with ordinary affairs can appear small or large. Few who don't follow Dao will enjoy success. If affairs are unsuccessful, then it would certainly bring a series of troubles from the way people would react. If affairs are successful, then it would certainly upset the balance of nature. To evade trouble whether there's success or failure - only someone with virtue can do that.' I eat whatever is handy, have no skill at cooking, and so my kitchen doesn't get overheated. This morning I received my instructions, and by the evening I was drinking ice water to cool off - I'm feeling so hot inside! I haven't even found out the details of what I'm supposed to do yet, but I'm already feeling like my nature is topsy-turvy. If I'm not successful in this mission, certainly I'll have a series of troubles from the way people will react. I'm already getting the worst of it in both ways. As a minister of the state, I'm completely inadequate for this task. Master, do you have any words of advice?" Zhong Ni said: "There are two universal mandates in this world. One of them is fate and the other is duty. A child's love for their parents is fated, and it can't be driven from their heart. A subject's service to his ruler is duty, because if he didn't follow along and tried to oppose the ruler, there'd be no place in the whole world he could escape. These are called universal mandates. To be of service to your parents, despite their position, and to be comfortable with that is the utmost in filial piety. To be of service to your ruler, despite the tasks requested of you, and to be comfortable with that is the most complete loyalty. To be of service to your own heart, despite the fact that joy or sorrow have overcome you and realizing that they are part of fate and that neither of them will last for long, is the attainment of virtue. One who acts as a subject or child to others would certainly not be out to get anything for themselves. Being so involved in the needs of others and forgetting about oneself, when would there be any spare time for thinking about whether you're enjoying life and dreading death! My dear friend, that's the way to proceed! "Please let me tell you something I heard: Ordinarily those in intimate relationships must blend with each other's beliefs. If they're physically apart from each other then they must use words to express their friendship, and those words usually have to be passed on by someone. To pass on words that might express the delight or the anger of one of the parties is the most difficult thing in the world to do. To properly express joyful tidings requires exaggerated compliments. Passing on angry words requires much venom. Ordinarily these exaggerations can get pretty ridiculous. If they're ridiculous enough then no one would believe they're true, and the messenger would be doomed. Therefore, it's said in the Fa Yan ("Book of Rules"): 'Pass on what has been actually said, not with exaggerated words, then most likely you'll remain whole (not suffer amputation or death).' "Another thing to remember: A skillful and strong fighter (martial artist) starts out openly showing his moves then will usually end up being more deceptive. The longer the fight lasts, the more unexpected moves he uses. One who's at a party drinking liquor starts out in control of himself then will usually end up getting out of control. The more they drink, the more they laugh like lunatics. Ordinary affairs are much the same. What begins with sincerity often ends up in rudeness. They begin simply enough, but they usually eventually become much more complex. One who speaks can cause a stormy sea (disturbance), and one who acts on it can lose sight of reality. Disturbances can easily cause one to take actions. Losing sight of reality can easily cause one to be in danger. Therefore, anger can arise for no apparent reason other than as a reaction to harsh and biased words. "An animal doesn't choose which sound to make when it dies. Its last exhalation is so suddenly expelled that feelings of terror arise in both the hunter and the hunted. If you push someone too much, then they won't respond from their heart, and not even know they're doing that. If they don't even know they're doing that, who knows where it'll end up? Therefore, it's said in the Fa Yan: 'Without making demands; without pushing for success - that's when the most beneficial outcome will result.' Making demands and pushing for success would be dangerous in this matter. A fine settlement takes time. A bad settlement is irreparable. You can't be too cautious! "For the time being let things ride and follow your heart. Figure that you probably won't necessarily get fulfillment yourself, but look for what would appease both sides. Then you'll know you've finished with it. How would you be affected by reporting back what happened on the mission? Nothing other than the fact that what happened was caused by destiny. You're the one who makes it more difficult than that." Yan He (a scholar from the state of Lu) was about to become tutor of the eldest son of Duke Ling in the state of Wei, so he asked of Qu Bo Yu (a minister of the state of Wei): "This is a man whose natural disposition is to kill. If I allow him to proceed without suggesting a better method, then that would be dangerous to my state. If I insist on showing him a better method, then that would be dangerous to my own well-being. He's smart enough to recognize other people's faults, but not smart enough to recognize his own faults. In a situation like this, what can I do?" Qi Bo Yu responded: "Good question! Be on guard, be cautious, and get your own motivations in order! As to your outer appearance, there's nothing better than compliance. As to your inner feelings, there's nothing better than peacefulness. Even if you do all that, there are still a couple of things you have to be careful about. Just because you're conforming on the outside, don't let that affect what's in your heart. Just because you're feeling peaceful inside, don't let that affect how you act on the outside. If you get so involved in conforming to what's around you that you let it affect your heart, you'll lose your balance, your blood will run cold, you'll fall apart, and you'll lose consciousness. If you get so involved in the peace within your heart that you show it on the outside, you'll hear everything as though it was music to your ears, seek fame, act seductively, and become a spoiled brat. "If the prince acts like an innocent child, then you also act like an innocent child with him. If he starts exploring ways to overcome his limits, then you also act like you're exploring ways to overcome limits. If he acts without being concerned for his own safety, then you also act without concern for your own safety. If you get to that point, you can reach into the place within him that's without faults. "Haven't you heard the story of the praying mantis? It got so mad that it stretched out its arm trying to stop a speeding car. It didn't know that it didn't have the ability to do that, but got carried away with thinking it could be good at doing anything. Be on guard, be cautious! One who thinks they're good at tearing down what has already built up momentum will be offensive, and will soon come to an end. "Haven't you heard the story of the guy who raised and tamed tigers? He didn't dare give them living animals for food, since by killing them their viciousness would increase. He didn't dare give them whole carcasses of animals, since by tearing them apart their viciousness would increase. By determining the times when they'd be hungry or full, he could keep the violence in their hearts calmed down. Tigers are a different species than people, and they have to be coaxed by their trainer in order to become docile. Therefore, what was once a killer can be turned into the opposite. "There was a man who loved his horse. He filled up baskets with its excrement, and filled up large shells with its urine. A mosquito or horsefly landed near the horse's tail, and the guy tried to slap it away. The horse was startled by the slap on his rump and pulled on its bit, thus smashing the guy's head to the ground and crushing his chest with its hoof. If paying attention to something gets too extreme, then love gets lost. Isn't there always a reason for caution?" A master carpenter named Shi (Stone Face), on his way to the state of Qi, arrived at the town of Qu Yuan where he saw an oak tree that served as a local shrine. It was so big that an ox standing behind it wouldn't be visible, and it measured a hundred spans around. It was as tall as the mountains in the background. Its branches extended out for eighty feet, and at least ten of the branches were large enough to be used to build the side of a boat. Sightseers were packed together as if in a marketplace. The distinguished carpenter paid it no mind and just kept going without pausing. When his assistant had his fill of gazing at it, he ran to catch up with carpenter Shi and said: "I've been carrying this heavy ax around and following you, Master, and we haven't yet seen such great building material until now. Why, sir, were you not even willing to look at it, but just kept walking on?" "Stop it! Don't say another word! The wood of that tree is defective. Use it to make a boat, and it would sink. Use it to make coffins, and they'd quickly rot. Use it to make tools, and they'd quickly fall apart. Use it to make any kind of door and the knotholes would let in moisture. Use it to make a fence post and it'd be infested with worms. That wood isn't good for anything, and is completely useless. That's why it's been able to grow so old." When carpenter Shi returned home, the oak used as a shrine appeared to him in a dream and said: "With what else would you choose to compare me? Would you compare me with trees that have intricately fine grains? Or with the peach, pear, tangerine, grapefruit - on which the fruit hang down like gourds? When their fruit ripens, they're stripped and left naked. The large branches are broken, and the small branches are torn to shreds. They have a painful life, and thus they don't live out their natural life span but come to a premature end in the middle of their time. Just by the nature of what they are they're open to the assaults of the vulgar world. Of living things, nothing seems to escape that. I'd been trying to find out how to be useless for a long time, and although I almost died, now I've figured it out, and it's been a big help to me. If I'd made myself to be of any use whatsoever, how could I have managed to grow this huge? Since you and I are connected just like everything else, what's the point in estimating something by its appearance? Yet a defective person like you who's nearly dead has the nerve to point out defects in a tree?" Carpenter Shi woke up and related the story in his dream. His assistant asked: "If it was so intent on being useless, then why does it continue to be a shrine?" "Shush! Don't say another word! It's only resting there. By acting like it doesn't know what it is, any cruelty toward it is averted. If it didn't allow itself to be treated like a shrine, there'd be many who'd want to chop it down! It provides a place where many different kinds of people can feel protected, but if it was judged by how it could be used in a more conventional way, it wouldn't have gotten this far!" When Nan Bo Zi Qi (Exalted Count of Southern Darkness) was traveling in the hills of Shang (Busy Metropolis), he saw a large and unusual tree. A group of a thousand chariots could be hidden under the cover of its shade. Zi Qi said: "What kind of tree is this? It must be very strange timber!" He turned his face up and looked at its thin branches which were so bent and twisted that they couldn't be used as rafters and beams. He bent down and looked at the tree's roots which were so gnarled and knotty that they couldn't be used to make coffins. He touched one of the leaves to his tongue, and it stung his mouth and left a sore. He smelled it then became like a mad man and had a hangover for more than three days. Zi Qi said: "This tree really is incapable of providing anything useful. That's how it's been able to grow so large. Aha! A holy person would be just as incapable!" In the state of Song there's an area called Jing Shi, where there are catalpas, cypress and mulberry trees. Those trees that have grown so large that you can't get both hands around their trunks are cut down by people who want to make posts to tie up their monkeys. Those that are three or four spans around are chopped down by people to make decorations for their palatial homes. Those seven or eight spans around are chopped down by officials and rich merchants to make sides for their family altars. Therefore, they don't live out their natural life span, but come to a premature end by the use of axes and hatchets in the middle of their growth. That's the trouble with having material value. Therefore, when preparing for a sacrificial offering, oxen with white foreheads, pigs with turned up snouts, and people who are suffering from diarrhea can't be used in the River Sacrifices. This is something all respected shamans know about, as it's considered to bring bad luck. On the other hand, these are the things a holy man considers to be very lucky. There was a deformed man called Shu (Dislocated). His chin was hidden in his bellybutton, his shoulders were higher than the top of his head, the top of his spine was like a finger pointing to the sky, his five vital organs protruded to the outside, and both of his thigh bones were forced up next to his ribs. By mending and washing clothes he was able to make enough to feed himself. By beating the husk off rice and sorting it, he was able to make enough to feed ten people. When the emperor sent out officials to round up an army from the civilian population, he was excused when he exposed his deformed body. When the emperor sent out officials to round up a group of laborers, he was excused because he constantly got sick and didn't have any stamina. When the emperor sent out officials to distribute food to the ill and sickly, he received three times as much as anyone else as well as ten bundles of firewood. If a person who's been denied a normally formed body from birth can still find a way to feed himself and live out his natural life span, then so too should someone who's been denied Virtue! When Kong Zi (Confucius) traveled to the state of Chu, Jie Yu (Car Accident Victim), the madman of Chu, walked up to his outer gate and said: "Phoenix! Phoenix! (a bird of good omen) How much Virtue has declined! We can't wait for the future to sort it out, and we can't chase after the past. When the world has Dao, Sages rest on their laurels. When the world doesn't have Dao, Sages come to life. In this day and age, one can only expect to escape punishment. Good fortune is as light as a feather, but no one knows how to carry it. Misfortune is as heavy as dirt, but no one knows how to avoid it. Stop! Stop evaluating people by their Virtue! Danger! It's dangerous to draw a line in the sand and rush over to your side! Enchanted by the light. So enchanted by the light it's a wonder we haven't harmed our paths. My own path may seem distastefully crooked, but at least I haven't harmed my feet!" By their own nature, mountain trees are cut down. By its own nature, cooking oil is used up in a frying pan. A cinnamon tree is edible, so it's cut down. Varnish is useful, so the trees that produce it are tapped. Everyone knows the usefulness of the useful, but no one knows the usefulness of the useless. | 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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