Thorough Comprehension of Life (13)

1 Sun Xiu never enjoyed success in his career. He often complained about the heaven and other people. To him, it seems nothing was right.

2 Someday he came to Master Bian Tzu’s house to air his grievances. He said, “When I went into retreat in the village, I was remarked to be lazy in study and make no progress.

3 When the society was in turmoil, I kept myself far from it, abiding by the principle of leaving the dangerous country. However, I was remarked to be a coward.

4 I made an effort to do farming but happened to meet bad weather. And consequently, my harvest was poor.

5 I wanted to work for my country whereas nobody knows and promotes me.

6 What’s wrong on earth? What I do must have offended the heaven in some ways so that the misfortune always befalls me.”

7 Master Bian Tzu didn’t approve the cynic’s ideas. He told Sun Xiu, “A man of perfect practice has no-self and being flexibility. There is no worldly trivia in his heart. He is free and leisurely, seeking and doing nothing.

8 He does his best to respond devotedly to what happening to him; however, he gives it up immediately if it has been over.

9 He educates his children, students and juniors at full steam but he doesn’t look them as his own belongings. He never tries to dominate their future and to affect their decisions.

10 Today, you speak of a lot of profound and splendid theories and sport your knowledge everywhere, which amazed and upset the listeners. You flatter yourself that you are of loftiness and probity to make other feel shameful and eclipsed. Pretending to be sage, you want people to know you well. You have done these deeds but still live so long a time and keep your body intact without being beaten to all bruise and blood, and even to the disabled, you should thank the heaven for its mercy. What do you complain about?”

11 Sun Xiu was taught a lesson, feeling vapid. He left with a touch of his nose.

12 Master Bian Tzu went back to his room from the living room. Reminding of what he had said to Sun Xiu, he felt regretful and signed to the sky.

13 One of his disciples saw him signing with unknown reason. He wondered the reason. Therefore, he asked, “Sir, why do you sit alone here and sign?”

14 Master Bian Tzu replied, “Just now Sun Xiu visited me. I told him about the virtue of a man of perfect practice, such as ‘working without taking credit and guiding without dominating’. I warned him off sporting his knowledge because it will cause disaster of being killed. Is what I said proper? Does it scare him? Do I make the same mistakes as Su Xiu made? I regretted telling so much to him.”

15 The disciple tried to console his teacher. He said, “No. If Su Xiu’s words and deeds are right and your remark is wrong, then the wrong one can’t confuse the right one, as we know. If he is wrong and what you said is right, then he should reflect on and correct himself. If he feels uncomfortable, it should be so. You did nothing wrong.”

16 As his teacher after all, Master Bian Tzu didn’t think it was as simple as that. He said, “We all heard the story about the duke Lu breeding the bird. The duke treated the bird as a distinguished guest. In consequence, he tortured the bird to death. His mistake was that he didn’t breed bird in terms of bird’s living habit. He treated it with the best food and drink, the most respectful etiquette and the wonderful music. However, the bird couldn’t stand them and died.

17 This guy, Sun Xiu, is no more than a guy who is of limited knowledge and ignorance. I told him about the virtue of a man of perfect practice, which is like driving carriage to receive rat or playing music of Dell and Drum for a crow. He surely felt scary!”