Horizontal Dynamics of the Mind ~ Zhuangzi
Shang Tang, on this matter, asked his subordinate named Ji, got the following reply:
“In the far north, its shape like a human bald head, there is a deep-sea situated in the wasteland where no grass grows, named Tianchi.
There is a kind of fish. Its size is thousands of miles. No one can know how long it is. Its name is Kun. The word Kun means tiny.
This little big fish turned into a bird. Its name is Peng. Its back is like Mount Tai, and its wings spread out like clouds hanging from the sky, touching the horizon.
The Peng bird rose up and flew, flapping its wings and relying on the whirlwind airflow, soaring to an altitude of 90,000 miles high in the sky, passing through the clouds, shading the blue sky, and then flew south, intending to fly to the southern sea.
A little grey finch ridiculed it and said: ‘Where is it going to fly? I jumped up and flew up, but I fell down a few feet high and hovered between horseweed and wormwood. This was the farthest place I could fly. And where is it going to fly to? ‘“
This is the difference between small and big.
Therefore, in the same way, those who are talented and competent in an official position, have outstanding conduct in a township, and whose morals conform to the requirements of the king of a country and win the trust of the people of a country. They are very proud of themselves, actually, look at themselves just like the insight of a little grey finch.
Song Rongzi sneered at them. Moreover, people in the world praised him, he would not be more encouraging because of it, and people in the world criticize him, and he would not be more depressed because of it.
He clearly knows the dividing line between internal and external. The spirit of autonomy is internal, honor and criticism are external, and only the spirit of autonomy is important and valuable.
He was in the world and he didn’t pursue fame and fortune in the world. Even so, he still failed to reach the highest level.
Liezi can travel by riding on the wind, it is so light and beautiful, and he will not return until 15 days later.
Liezi did not desperately pursue the happiness of the world. Although he is free from the labor of walking, he still has to depend on the wind.
If a person can follow the law of nature, adapt to the changes of all things in the universe, and travel in an endless realm, what else does he need to rely on?
Therefore, a person who has high morals, transcends the world, and conforms to nature has no self-interest, has no prejudice to make meritorious deeds, and does not seek fame.
Originally published at http://poeticmindfulness.wordpress.com on October 11, 2020.
