Fable (2)

1 Huizi and Chuang Tzu were close friends. They often studied together and discussed problems.

2 One day, Chuang Tzu told Huizi, “Confucius made great efforts to practice. He tried his best to introspect himself three times everyday, self-examined his thought and conduct at any time. So, when he was sixty, his procedure of practice witnessed sixty changes, including the great ones and the petty ones.

3 At the beginning he regarded some ideas as right and rational ones, but through meditation and practice, he found the shortcoming so gave them up finally. By this way, he kept studying and introspecting. Sometime his fellows were confused somewhat and wondered if they should believe what he said now or not.

4 They were afraid that Confucius himself would negate the ideas after some time liking the past other ideas, if they accepted them now.”

5 Huizi replied, “Yes! Confucius himself perhaps found the obsession. Hence, he didn’t speak of anything and express his ideas later as possible as he could. Thus, he needn’t correct them in the future.”

6 Chuang Tzu said, “Confucius held that the real great wisdom is from nature that endows human with life. So, our ideas should comply with nature, nevertheless, common people have forgotten it. The private interest is a top priority to them, according to which they judge what right and wrong are and what they like and dislike. When they exceed others in situation, their persuasion might be accepted in word but not in mind.

7 It is said that man has to lower his head when he standing under his supervisor’s eave. The convincement and obedience under this condition are built on sand and changeable. To convince others really, you have to speak of unprejudiced word so as to reach the nature realm. Namely, all views are coordinated and compromised to reach consensus under the concept that all things are from the same source with the attitude of no-self and being flexibility. Only through that way, the convincement and obedience can stand for good.

8 Huizi! I fairly admire Confucius for his ideas. I think that I can’t outdo him.”

9 Taking a look at Chuang Tzu, Huizi smiled understandingly and left.