The book Zhuangzi is an essential text in Daoism. Chapter Eighteen, Perfect Happiness, centers on the question of what do humans value? Can money buy happiness? What must a person do to be happy?
Happiness
This chapter begins with the essential question, “Can one be happy in life?”
“Is perfect happiness to be found on earth, or not? Are there those who can enjoy life, or not? If so, what do they do, what do they affect, what do they avoid, what do they rest in, accept, reject, like, and dislike?”
Human Values
Humanity values wealth, reputation, power, and long life. Many find happiness in fashionable clothes, rich food, leisure activities, music, and beauty. Humanity doesn’t value poverty, a short life, or a hectic lifestyle.
“What the world esteems comprises wealth, rank, old age, and goodness of heart. What it enjoys comprises comfort, rich food, fine clothes, beauty, and music. What it does not esteem comprises poverty, want of position, early death, and evil behavior. What it does not enjoy comprises lack of comfort for the body, lack of rich food for the palate, lack of fine clothes for the back, lack of beauty for the eye, and lack of music for the ear.”
Wealthy
The wealthy rush around all day accumulating wealth. They engage in complex business dealings, long term planning, and questionable schemes. They accumulate more wealth than they could possibly use in their lifetime. They worry if they are making the right decisions.
“Wealthy people who toil and moil, putting together more money than they can possibly use, — from the point of view of our physical frame, is not this going beyond the mark? Officials of rank who turn night into day in their endeavors to compass the best ends; — from the point of view of our physical frame, is not this a divergence?”
Wealth does not bring one true happiness. The rich are too rushed and can’t slow down to enjoy the moment. They are constantly worrying about protecting their possessions. They convince themselves that money will make them happy.
“As to what the world does and the way in which people are happy now, I know not whether such happiness be real happiness or not. The happiness of ordinary persons seems to me to consist in slavishly following the majority, as if they could not help it. Yet they all say they are happy.”
True Happiness
The sage does not accumulate possessions. They find true happiness in the state of effortless action. They follow the natural contours of life and do not force anything. They only take action after much reflection and when it seems natural in the moment. This state of “inaction” brings peace and clarity and helps determine what is right and wrong. It feels as if things get done all by themselves and everything that needs to gets done gets done.
“I make true pleasure to consist in inaction, which the world regards as great pain. Thus it has been said, ‘Perfect happiness is the absence of happiness; perfect renown is the absence of renown’. Now in this sublunary world of ours it is impossible to assign positive and negative absolutely. Nevertheless, in inaction they can be so assigned. Perfect happiness and preservation of life are to be sought for only in inaction. Let us consider. Heaven does nothing; yet it is clear. Earth does nothing; yet it enjoys repose. From the inaction of these two proceed all the modifications of things...Therefore it has been said, ‘Heaven and earth do nothing, yet there is nothing which they do not accomplish.’”
Life and Death
The sage keeps life and death in proper perspective. They mourn the loss of a loved one, but also realize that life and death are part of nature. There was a time before birth and having a body or spirit. One is born, grows, and finally dies. This is the progression of things.
“’Not at all,’ replied Zhuangzi. ‘When she died, I could not help being affected by her death. Soon, however, I remembered that she had already existed in a previous state before birth, without form, or even substance; that while in that unconditioned condition, substance was added to spirit; that this substance then assumed form; and that the next stage was birth. And now, by virtue of a further change, she is dead, passing from one phase to another like the sequence of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. And while she is thus lying asleep in Eternity, for me to go about weeping and wailing would be to proclaim myself ignorant of these natural laws. Therefore I refrain.’”
In fact the dead would not choose to be alive again because they wouldn’t give up the peacefulness of death for the troubles of life.
“’Were I to prevail upon God to allow your body to be born again, and your bones and flesh to be renewed, so that you could return to your parents, to your wife, and to the friends of your youth,—would you be willing?’ At this, the skull opened its eyes wide and knitted its brows and said, ‘How should I cast aside happiness greater than that of a king, and mingle once again in the toils and troubles of mortality?’”
People have different Needs
A sage knows that people have different needs. A bird travels in a flock, likes the forest, eats fish, and hates human noise. Fish swim in the water and eat insects. Humans aren’t birds or fish so they have different needs than them.
“Water, which is life to fishes, is death to man. Being differently constituted, their likes and dislikes are different. Therefore the Sages of the past favored not uniformity of skill or of occupation.”
Individuals have different needs due to their biology, environment, and life experiences. A seed grows differently in water, on the bank of a stream, or on the side of a slope.
“Certain germs, falling upon water, become duckweed. When they reach the junction of the land and the water, they become lichen. Spreading up the bank, they become the dog-tooth violet.”
Interconnectedness
The sage knows that all living things are connected. Roots of a plant need rich soil to grow. Worms eat its roots while butterflies eat its leaves. Birds eat butterflies and animals eat plants. Humans eat all of these but eventually pass away and return to the soil.
“The roots of Crow’s Feet turn into maggots, and their leaves turn into butterflies. Before long, the butterflies are transformed and turn into insects…Jiuyou bugs are born from Mourui bugs, and Mourui bugs are born from Rot Grubs, and Rot Grubs are born from Sheep’s Groom. Sheep’s Groom couples with bamboo that has not sprouted for a long while and produces Green Peace plants. Green Peace plants produce leopards, and leopards produce horses, and horses produce men. Men in time return again to the mysterious workings. So all creatures come out of the mysterious workings and go back into them again.”
Summary
What is happiness? Humanity values wealth, reputation, and power. However, these things do not guarantee happiness and can actually prevent it. Wealth brings a hectic life and worry about protecting possessions. The sage finds happiness in the state of effortless action. They only take action after much reflection when it seems natural in the moment. The sage keeps life and death in proper perspective and realize that they are part of nature. Individuals have different needs due to their biology, but are still connected as part of nature.
Resource
Chuang Tzu, Mystic, Moralist and Social Reformer, Herbert A. Giles, translator. Bernard Quaritch 1889. Classic public domain translation.
