How to understand what Zhuangzi said: "Tao is drowned in shit"? Is Zhuangzi teasing Dongguozi?

The book "Zhuangzi" once recorded an interesting conversation between Zhuangzi and Dongguozi. Probably, Dongguozi asked Zhuangzi, but Zhuangzi said that there are ants, bricks and tiles on the roadside, and shit. Drowning, Dong Guozi was speechless in the end.

At first glance, some friends may think that Zhuangzi is teasing Dongguozi. In fact, Zhuangzi is showing Dongguozi the ubiquitous nature of "Tao", and at the same time hinting that Dongguozi must get rid of preconceptions. If you look at things from a preconception perspective, you can often discover new horizons.

Zhuangzi is one of the sages of Taoism, and his name is often followed by Laozi. The "Tao" proposed by Taoist Laozi was further "enriched" by Taoist Zhuangzi, and Zhuangzi also used him as either sly or eccentric. The fables and situational dialogues that break through ordinary people's thinking more vividly display the ubiquitous characteristics of Taoism's "Tao" in front of the world, which is very admirable.

In fact, what Yan Xiaoer admires most about Zhuangzi's "Tao is drowning in shit" is not just because Zhuangzi vividly demonstrated that Tao is "everywhere" just by saying "Tao is drowning in shit". " characteristics, but also because Zhuangzi used "shidong" to break the world's preconceived "noble illusions" about "Tao", and then also broke people's distinction between "good and evil" of all things in the world, sideways showing "the unkindness of heaven and earth". ", treating all things as a cud dog" is another characteristic that makes people suddenly realize it and have to sigh for its wisdom. 1. An interesting story in "Zhuangzi": Dong Guozi asked about "Tao", and Zhuangzi replied "Tao is drowned in shit"

The saying "Tao is drowned in shit" appears in the book "Zhuangzi" "Zhibei You" contains such an interesting conversation:

Dong Guozi asked Zhuangzi: "Where is the 'Tao' you are talking about?"

Zhuangzi replied: " It's everywhere."

Then Dong Guozi continued: "You have to tell me the specific location."

Zhuangzi replied: "In the ants."

< p>After hearing this, Dong Guozi said: "How can it be in such a humble thing."

Zhuangzi then said: "Then it is in the bricks and tiles on the roadside."

Dong Guozi said in surprise: "Why are you becoming more and more humble?".

Zhuangzi continued: "Then it is in shit."

After that, Dong Guozi was speechless.

Is Zhuangzi teasing Dongguozi? Not teasing, but encouraging. Zhuangzi told Dongguozi in very vivid words that in addition to "the Tao can be Tao, it is not Tao", the characteristics of "Tao" are also innate and exist in all things. Therefore, whether it is an ant or a road, The waste bricks lying around, and even the shit in it, all have the "Tao" that makes all things the way they are.

Coincidentally, Zhuangzi once said in "The Great Master": "The Tao of husbands has feelings and faith, and is inactive and invisible... It comes from its own roots. There was no heaven and earth, and it has been fixed since ancient times." In fact, this Zhuangzi is telling us very directly that Tao creates heaven and earth and makes ghosts, gods and God appear and function. It has no beginning and no end, exists all the time, and is everywhere. We can experience it, but it is an invisible and inactive existence. . Comparison shows that Zhuangzi's statement is relatively abstract, while "Tao is drowned in shit" is actually very down-to-earth and thought-provoking. 2. "The Tao is drowned in shit" and the destruction of "high and low"

In fact, in Yan Xiaoer's view, if you just see that "Tao" is nowhere to be found in "The Tao is drowned in shit" Without the characteristics, it would be a pity for Zhuangzi's good thought.

In this dialogue between Dongguo and Zhuangzi, the examples Zhuangzi gave became more and more "humble", which is worth thinking about.

Why do you say that? We know that whether it is Laozi or Zhuangzi, such great sages have spent their whole lives experiencing and understanding Tao, and the Taoist school is developed from the core concept of "Tao", so it will let the world's preconceptions The idea that "Tao" is precious and "above all" is a value judgment.

But the transcendence of Taoist thought is that the entire core system of Taoism has always been based on breaking through the secular evaluation of good and bad.

"Taoism" can only act forcefully and naturally, and there is no real sense of who is "precious" and who is "despicable". Here, there is "Tao" in jewelry and gold, and bricks are like shit. There is Tao in it, and it doesn’t matter whether it’s precious or lowly. This is the inclusive nature of “Tao” and the emanation point of the “detached” nature of Taoist thought.

3. Inspiration: Breaking through the preconceptions of the world, we can see a different world from an objective perspective

In fact, the greatest inspiration or help given to Yan Xiaoer by Taoist thought is that it all converges into "Tao is in Shit Drunk" "These four words are not an exaggeration, because "Tao is drowning in shit" shows me a perspective that breaks stereotypes. Here, under such a transcendent perspective, many problems are no longer problems, and people also It will be much more relaxing and enjoyable.

In other words, when we ordinary people look at the people or things around us, we will first make a value judgment of high and low. Because of this preconceived "judgment", we often miss a lot of things, and it is even easy to Become a character in the play who is "a fan of the authorities".

Why can bystanders know clearly? Because he is not in the play and is not bound by the value judgments in the play, Zhuangzi's "Tao is drowning in shit" provides us with not only the knowledge point of Taoist philosophy that "Tao is everywhere", but also shows us A kind of objectivity and "big vision" under the moral evaluation that breaks through the secular prejudice.

As for those of us who are ups and downs in the fame and fortune market, sometimes what we lack is not the right time, right place, right people, but just an objective and unique perspective that "does not judge books by their appearance" and "does not take preconceptions." To learn this, it is enough to understand the connotation of Zhuangzi's "Tao is drowned in shit".

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