Master Keng Sang heard this, but he turned his face to the south and was certainly not pleased. His followers were perplexed by this. Master Keng Sang said, ‘My followers, why do you think this is strange? When the life-giving breath of spring emerges, the plants begin to come to life, and then in autumn they produce their multitudes of fruits. Do spring and autumn do this of their own volition? They just follow Heaven’s Tao. I have heard that the perfect man lives without effort within the confines of his house, leaving the different peoples to their own wild and unthinking ways. Now these busybodies of Wei Lei in their arrogant ways want to present their offerings to me and make me one of their leaders, as if I were really some kind of standard for others! This is why I am annoyed, because I remember the words of Lao Tzu.’
His followers said, ‘Surely not. In ditches eight to sixteen feet wide the big fishes can’t turn around, but the minnows and eels can. On a hill just six or seven feet high the big animals don’t have space to hide themselves, but the cunning fox finds it perfect. Honour should be shown to the worthy and offices given to those who are capable, with preference shown to the good and thoughtful. In the past Yao and Shun behaved like this, so why shouldn’t the people of Wei Lei! Master, let them do this!’
Master Keng Sang said, ‘Come here my little ones! If a creature large enough to swallow a carriage whole leaves its mountain, it cannot avoid the dangers of being trapped in the net. If a fish great enough to swallow a boat whole is left stranded by the loss of water, it can fall prey even to the ants. This is why birds and creatures don’t care how high they go to escape, nor do fish and turtles care how deep they go to escape. In the same way, those people who wish to preserve their bodies and lives are concerned only with how to hide away, and don’t mind how remote their place of hiding is.
‘Regarding the two masters you mentioned, what was so great about them as to be worthy of special mention? Their nit-picking philosophies make them like people who go around poking holes in walls and fences and sowing wild seeds in these places. They are like balding men contemplating combing their hair, or like a cook who counts each grain of rice before cooking! They take painstaking care, but to what end? They are useless to the world! If people of worth are elevated, there will be chaos as people fight to be promoted. If you choose people on the basis of their knowledge, then the people will try to steal this from each other. None of this makes the people any better. Indeed, what happens is that the people become more ambitious for gain. A son will kill his father for it and a minister will kill his ruler. People will steal in broad daylight and break down walls in the middle of the day. I say to you, the roots of all this great trouble will be found to have begun with Yao and Shun, and the consequences of this will remain for a thousand generations. A thousand generations later you will still have men who will eat each other!’
Nan Jung Chu sat upright on his mat looking perplexed and said, ‘How can someone as old as I am study to achieve the state of which you speak?’
Master Keng Sang said, ‘Keep your body in unity, hold on to life, don’t become too anxious. Do this for three years and you can achieve the state of which I have spoken.’
Nan Jung Chu said, ‘The eyes are a part of the body, I have never considered them to be anything other, but a blind person can’t see through his eyes. Ears are a part of the body, I have never considered them to be anything other, but a deaf person can’t hear through his ears. The heart is a part of the body, I have never considered it to be anything other, but the madman can’t experience feelings with his. The body is also part of the body, but my soul seems separated from it, because I try to find my self, but why can’t I find it? Now you say to me, “Keep your body in unity, hold on to life, do not become too anxious.” Despite all my attempts to understand your Tao, this goes in one ear and out the other.’
Master Keng Sang said, ‘That’s all I can say. There is a saying, mud daubers are incapable of changing into caterpillars. The fowl of Yueh cannot hatch goose eggs, but those of Lu can. It is not that the virtue of one kind of hen is better than that of another. That one can and the other cannot is to do with their size, big and small. My talents are limited and cannot effect a change in you, Master. So, Sir, why don’t you go south and see Lao Tzu?’
Nan Jung Chu gathered his provisions and set off, and after seven days and seven nights he arrived at the home of Lao Tzu.
‘Have you come from Chu?’ said Lao Tzu, and Nan Jung Chu replied, ‘I have.’
‘So, Sir, why have you brought this great crowd of other people with you?’ Nan Jung Chu spun round and looked behind him in astonishment.
‘Sir, don’t you understand what I am saying?’ said Lao Tzu.
Nan Jung Chu hung his head in shame and then looked up, sighed and said, ‘Now I can’t remember what to say in response and have therefore also forgotten what I was going to ask.’
‘What are you saying?’ said Lao Tzu.
‘Do I have any understanding?’ said Nan Jung Chu. ‘People will call me a fool. Do I understand? This just upsets me. If
