The Movements of the Heaven (7)

1 Confucius could not help but complain that he was not able to exert his talent. Someday he complained to Laodan. “For many years I studied the Six Classic Books—The book of Poetry, The Book of Documents, The Book of Etiquettes, The Book of Music, The book of Changes and Spring and Autumn. I am proficient in the theory of them. In the past years, I visited seventy-two officials and discussed with them about the governance of ancestral kings and explained the achievements of governance by Duke of Zhou and Duke of Shao. However, no official adopted them. Alas! So tired! I am aware that it is very difficult to persuade a man to do something and how difficult it is to understand Tao.”

2 Laodan said, “I don’t want to discourage you. It is lucky that nobody adopts your policy, or you are in trouble. You should know that the Six Classic Books are the records of history and the achievements of ancestral king’s governance. They are old stories. What you said to the officials were all these kind of records.”

3 The so-called Traces are the footprints left by walked people. You are trying to persuade people to follow the footprints. You should understand that the footprints are traces left by walking, but the footprints itself can’t represent the route. Route is the way adopted in the light of then requirement and the change of objective environment. For example, there is a dog shit on the path. We have to move our steps to left somewhat to escape. There is a hive on a tree over there. So we have to detour through the lawn.

4 In December, we must wear heavy clothes when go out since it is cold at that time. In summer, we just wear a shirt to play outdoors since it is hot. When the economy flourishes, we make much money every day. Then we dine in the good restaurant when touring. When the economy is depressed, the share we hold decline down to one fourth of the market value. Then it is necessary to reduce expense in cloth and food.

5 Therefore, the objective environment is changing all the time. We have to adjust ourselves according to the changes of location, time, custom and fashion. However, as long as you master Tao that is unchangeable principle, you will have no difficulty in adjustment and succeed in doing everything. It is infeasible for you to study the traces of history and the footprints.”

6 Listening to what Laodan said Confucius felt dejected because he learned that what he has studied for the whole life actually is futile. He stayed indoors to introspect. He wanted to comprehend the principle. After hard introspection for three months, he visited Laodan again to report his learning from introspection.

7 He said, “I got it. We should deal with different things, people, time, situation and location by different means. We can’t do it forcedly in the invariable way. In fact, all things are also following this principle. The bird is oviparous, the mammal is viviparous, the creatures on land breathe with lung and most fishes breathe with gill.

8 Once a coddled kid’s brother or sister is born, he is to receive lesser love and attention; at the beginning, he cries and quarrels, this is the natural phenomenon. Though the actions referred above are different, the developed ways to adjust themselves are the same. The adjustment to different circumstance is Tao. Only Tao in our heart can make us valid everywhere.

9 For many years I put the cart before the horse by only studying the traces of history and forgetting to seek and develop Tao in my heart. So I was lost all the way. That’s why I was refused everywhere.

10 Smiling, Laodan nodded. “Well. You got it.”