Zhuang Zi on Way of Nature
A man without toes went to see KongZi (孔子), who criticized him and said, “You were careless, and the damage [to your feet] has already been done, it is too late to seek help now.” The man replied, “I was ignorant and acted recklessly, and so lost my feet. But I come today, because there is something more precious than my two feet that I’m bound to preserve. The heavens encompass all things, the earth bears all things. I thought you were like heaven and earth, who knew that you’re narrow-minded like this!”
天无不覆，地无不载，吾以夫子为天地，安知夫子之犹若是也？
The heavens encompass all things, the earth bears all things.
May you be as heaven and earth, not small and narrow-minded.
According to Zhuang Zi, life and death, health and sickness, riches and poverty, fame and ignominy, all are and change according to the Way of Nature, which is One. Narrow and small minds love one thing and despise another, and discriminate between things that are the same by nature. Therefore, man ought not to judge “right” or “wrong”, “good” or “evil”, but accept all with equanimity and magnanimity. The vast majority of mankind are ignorant of the Way of Nature. The sages make the same mistake, because they seek to make a show of wisdom and a name for themselves.
By a kind of providence, I was seated next to a disabled man with withered limbs on a recent overseas flight. I have to admit I was a little uncomfortable when I first saw him and during part of the flight. It so happened that I brought this book with me, and this story instantly changed my outlook on deformity and disability. By the end of the flight, I was thankful that I met the man.
References:
- Zhuang Zi. “Inner Chapters.” Chinese Text Project. Accessed April 16, 2018. https://ctext.org/zhuangzi/inner-chapters.