Chapter 24 6. If for the sake of freedom

Zhuangzi's pursuit is truth and freedom. This is the value of life and the value of life. Like a horse. Zhuangzi said that a horse has hooves that can walk on frost and snow, and its hair can protect against wind and cold.Eat grass when you are hungry, drink water when you are thirsty, and have fun on the grassland when you are happy.This is the true temperament of the horse (the true nature of this horse)! This kind of life is real and free. But a Bole came and said he knew how to tame a horse, shoed it and put on a rein, and one-third of the horse died.Then he trained it to stand at attention, take a break, walk in unison, follow the orders and prohibitions, and obey them, half of the horse died.

Why? Neither real nor free. Therefore, even if the horse wins the Olympic champion, it is not happy. Zhuangzi said that this is "Bole's crime". So, how should we live? Capricious. The so-called "willfulness" is to inherit the talent and let nature take its course.For example, an eagle should fly in the sky; a fish should swim in the water.This is truth, which is freedom.To be true and free is to be happy.Therefore, the tortoise rolling in the mud and the pig grunting in the pen are all happy.On the contrary, if they are allowed to live a good life stipulated by human beings, it will be painful.

Just say pigs. Zhuangzi said that there was a pig who was honorably chosen as a sacrificial sacrifice. Such pigs are usually treated very high. However, the pig is very depressed. So an official in charge of sacrifice came to the pigsty in a well-dressed manner to do ideological work for the pigs. The official said, pig, pig, why are you afraid of death?From today, I will feed you well for three months.Before slaughtering, I will fast for ten days and fast for three days.When you die, I will spread white thatch under your body.Your front shoulders and hind legs will be solemnly placed on the best plate, and there are carved flowers on it, what do you think?

Pigs don't talk. Of course I don't talk, because it's not very good. That's right, if you really think about the pig, you should leave it in the pen to eat the dross! That's what it wants. Zhuangzi said that one should be true and free in life, and all pigs understand this truth.It's a pity that many people, for the so-called prosperity and wealth, distort their nature and do things they don't want to do.They don't think about it, the so-called "wealth and honor in life, mourning and glory after death", isn't it just that the body is covered with white thatch, and the front shoulders and hind legs are placed in flower plates?What is there to pursue?

Are these people inferior to pigs? And birds. Zhuangzi said that a sea bird flew to the state of Lu, and the ruler of the state of Lu held a banquet and played music, for fear of neglecting it.What was the outcome?The bird would not eat or drink, and died of fright after three days. Excuse me, is this a love bird, or a harm to it? Of course it is harming it, because this is not its life.Therefore, a pheasant would rather walk ten steps to eat a mouthful of food, and walk a hundred steps to drink a mouthful of water, rather than be locked in a cage and be a chicken king. If it is for freedom, the straw sandals walk the mountain road.

In fact, the question is not whether suffering is suffering or not, but whether it is true or not, freedom or freedom.Therefore, although it is wrong to force others to live a hard life, it is also wrong to force them to live a so-called good life. Yes.Do unto others, do not impose on others. Do not do to others what you desire. Of course, Zhuangzi never said these two sentences.The previous sentence was said by Confucius.The last sentence, no one said it explicitly.But from Zhuangzi and Zhuangzi School, we can logically deduce such a conclusion.In fact, when they scoffed at secular pursuits, they must have thought about two questions: what is the most precious in the world, and what is the most valuable.

What is the most precious? life. What is the most valuable? free. The most precious thing for man is life, and the value of life lies in freedom.Therefore, everyone should live truly and freely.This is the attitude towards life of Zhuangzi and Zhuangzi School, and it is also a precious legacy left by them. The question is, is it possible? If not, what should be done?

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