The book Zhuangzi is an essential text in Daoism. Chapter Twenty Six, Contingencies, rejects the human values of wealth, power, excess, and fame.
“Ill-regulated virtue ends in reputation. Ill-regulated reputation ends in notoriety. Scheming leads to confusion. Knowledge begets contentions. Obstinacy produces stupidity. Organised government is for the general good of all.”
Wealth
The sage rejects things that humanity values such as wealth. They see that external things do not bring happiness. Instead they focus on the internal and reaching a state of emptiness.
“The heart feels as though suspended between heaven and earth. So in the struggle between peace and unrest, the friction between good and evil, much fire is evolved which consumes the inner harmony of man. But the mind is unable to resist fire. It is destroyed, and with it Dao comes to an end.”
Power
The sage rejects power and leadership. They are content with their daily life.
“To take a rod and line, and go to a pool, and catch small fry is a very different thing from catching big fish. And by means of a little show of ability to secure some small billet is a very different thing from really pushing one’s way to the front.”
Excess
The sage rejects accumulating possessions and excess. They live life sticking to the necessities.
“Yesterday, as I was coming along, I heard a voice calling me. I looked round, and in the cart-rut I saw a stickleback. ‘And what do you want, stickleback?’ said I. ‘I am a denizen of the eastern ocean,’ replied the stickleback. ‘Pray, Sir, a pint of water to save my life.’ ‘Yes,’ said I. ‘I am just going south to visit the princes of Wu and Yue. I will bring you some from the west river. Will that do?’ At this the stickleback flushed with anger and said, ‘I am out of my element. I have nowhere to go. A pint of water would save me. But to talk to me like this, — you might as well put me in a dried-fish shop at once.’”
Fame
The sage rejects fame and does not value reputation. They remain humble and do not assume that they know what is right. They always reflect before taking action which makes success much more likely.
“Yet this is the common way of all, to lure people by fame, to bind them by ties of gratification. Better than extolling Yao and cursing Jie is oblivion of both, keeping one’s praises to oneself. These things react injuriously on self; the agitation of movement results in deflection. The true Sage is a passive agent. If he succeeds, he simply feels that he was provided by no effort of his own with the energy necessary to success.”
Knowledge
The sage knows the limit of human knowledge and does not feel the need to accumulate it. Instead they work towards emptiness and the unity of all things.
“Truly wisdom has its limits; spirituality, that which it cannot reach. In spite of the highest wisdom, there are countless snares to be avoided; If a fish has not to fear nets, there are always pelicans. Get rid of small wisdom, and great wisdom will shine upon you.”
Emptiness
The state of emptiness is seeing the connection of all things. The sage stays focused on the Way.
“All sentient beings depend upon breath. If this does not reach them in sufficient quantity, it is not the fault of God. God supplies it day and night without cease, but man stops the passage. Man has for himself a spacious domain. His mind may roam to heaven.”
This allows the sage to live in the world without becoming encumbered by it. The sage goes with the flow and does not force action. They accept the world for what it is.
“Only the perfect man can transcend the limits of the human and yet not withdraw from the world, live in accord with mankind and yet suffer no injury himself...Wherefore it has been said, ‘The perfect man leaves no trace behind.’”
In emptiness there is no agitation, trouble, or worry.
“Repose gives health to the sick. Rubbing the eyelids removes the wrinkles of old age. Quiet will dispel anxieties. These remedies however are the resource only of those who need them. Others who are free from such ills pay no attention thereto.”
In emptiness, one forgets skills, techniques, and human knowledge.
“The [purpose] of a fish-trap is the fish. When the fish is caught, the trap may be ignored. The [purpose] of a rabbit-snare is the rabbit. When the rabbit is caught the snare may be ignored. The [purpose] of language is an idea to be expressed. When the idea is expressed, the language may be ignored. But where shall I find a man to ignore language, with whom I may be able to converse?”
Summary
The sage rejects the human values of wealth, power, excess, and fame. They see that these external things do not bring happiness. They work towards emptiness and the connection of all things. This allows them to live the world without being bothered by it. They only act if necessary and after much reflection.
Resource
Chuang Tzu, Mystic, Moralist and Social Reformer, Herbert A. Giles, translator. Bernard Quaritch 1889. Classic public domain translation.
