Gong Wenxuan saw the right master and said in surprise, "Who is this?"How come there is only one foot?Was it born like this, or was it artificially like this?After thinking about it, it suddenly dawned on him, and he said to himself: "I was born like this, and it is not human to be like this." Born with only one foot, the human form is given by heaven. So knowing is innate, not artificial. ”
The pheasant in the water took ten steps to peck at a mouthful of food, and a hundred steps to get a mouthful of water, but it did not pray to be kept in a cage. Although it is kept in a cage and has a vigorous demeanor, it is not comfortable.
The beginning of "Zhuangzi and the Master of Health" reads: "The fate of the governor is the scripture, that is, to obey the way of nature." Zhuangzi's so-called health preservation does not refer to the physical level, but to the spiritual level. Breaking through the shackles of external appearance and following the way of nature is what Zhuangzi called "the master of health".
Then, when Gong Wenxuan saw that the right master only had one foot, he was surprised at first, and then realized that he was born. What is born is natural, that is, the "natural human form", as it is. Perhaps, the right master has violated the criminal law in the past and was beheaded, which is a man-made disaster, but the mutilation of the body did not make the right master choose to retire, but accepted it calmly, if he did not accept it calmly, he would not appear in the temple.
So,The essence of health care is to nourish the spirit, not just the body.
The pheasants in the water are worried about their survival, but they don't want to be locked in a cage. Being kept in captivity, there is no shortage of food and drink, but if you lose your freedom, your spirit will be sleepy.
The body is not unimportant, on the contrary, it is.
It's just that what Zhuangzi wants to express is that people should get rid of external constraints, pursue spiritual freedom, follow the way of nature, and calmly accept the life that seems unhappy to outsiders. Start planning my 2024 (fable from "Zhuangzi Health Master").
*Internet. (Recommended reading: Zhuangzi's Fables: Ku Ding Explains the Ox.