Tree on Hill (6)

1 Chuang Tzu sought to live in a simple and plain life strictly, he pursued after little enjoyment of material. Hence, from his appearance, people thought he was slovenly.

2 Someday, he wore a gown of improper size, on which there were some patches. A hemp thread was used to replace the broken lace of his shoes.

3 When he came up to the King of Wei, seeing Chuang Tzu’s appearance, the king remarked from the bottom of his heart, “how do you look so tired and weaker like a wet rag."

4 Chuang Tzu refuted, “I am really poor somewhat, so I have no gorgeous clothes to wear. However, my spirit is nice and my mentality is fine. Nothing troubles me.

5 If a man always thinks over worldly trivia, remembering fame, success, power and cause, and is always ambitious to everything, then he will become exhausted physically and mentally.

6 Clothes are out of size and mended; toes exposed in the hole of shoe and have no money to buy a new one, I agree, it is poor, but definitely, it is not exhausted. Unluckiness, being born in the wrong times and improper environment make people destitute.

7 In the forest, where the trees are big and straight, the monkeys are agile when climbing branches and vines. The men of good Kongfu, such as Houyi and Pengmeng, are worse than them in the ability of climbing.

8 However, if the monkeys grow in the short shrubs full of thorn, they have to be careful in walking. They are still agile but the environment restricts their agility.

9 Now, I stay in the environment where the governance is bad and the economic situation is poor. Is it possible to let me dress well?

10 Doesn’t too prominence and flaunt will cause trouble? Who knows? Bigan’s heart was dug out by King of Zhou, which was a bloody case. Shouldn’t I be imprudent in it?"