BrainTeasers: Wang Yijia - Farewell to the modern "Addiction"disease ~ Zhuangzi's philosophy(人文講堂)

Wang Yijia is previously a Chinese physician but after a few months, he devoted his time to research Zhuangzi's philosophy.

【人文講堂】20171022 - 告別現代「癮」疾～莊子的醒世哲學 - 王溢嘉

This talk show part of the 人文講堂 from CCTV. is about "addiction" disease that has plagued people in this world. It is getting more and more serious and new types of addiction are on the rise. This show is using Zhuangzi's philosophy to solve our "addiction problem" in our society.

• Now in society, there are more and more "addicted" people. People are more easily addicted. In additional to traditional addiction to smoking, alcohol, and drugs, there are new forms of addictions like handphone(cannot leave the phone), Internet(Unable to get away from the Internet), television(watching shows, drama and TV programs non-stop) and shopping(unable to curb the desire to buy an item, like shoes, bags, etc).


• All these addictions are related to physiological and psychological dependence. Traditional addiction has more reliance on physiological dependence. New forms of addictions are more related to psychological dependence.


• The main reasons are related to emptiness, loss, anxiety, and boredom, relying on and awaiting happiness from external influences and changes. Initially, people would get some form of happiness and uplifting in moods but only lasts for a short while, so they fall back to these activities on and on.


• What has these to do with Zhuangzi? A lot of people believe that Zhuangzi's philosophy is passive and inaction. He feels this is a big misunderstanding. He prefers to call Zhuangzi's philosophy to be awakening philosophy as it can provide us a lot of mind changing views. Zhuangzi believes that the ideal state of life is no expectation, awaiting and reliance on external influences or people to bring joy or changes.


• What can we rely on to do that? RELY ON YOURSELF. Rely on changing your beliefs and practices to change your life and obtain happiness. So people with addiction can try using Zhuangzi's philosophy to get rid of their addictions and be a free and unfettered person.


• Firstly, Zhuangzi redefines what is "happiness." What is happiness? Many people would think happiness is having a feast, travel to other countries or received six months bonus, believing that happiness comes from external influences. Zhuangzi states that happiness is a form of inner feeling. Zhuangzi's 'Mending the Inborn Nature' chapter(外篇.缮性), 得志者，非轩冕之谓也，谓其无以益其乐而已矣。(缮性篇) means happiness does not mean prosperity or fortune but naturally developed, not needing any additional thing. That is happiness, is feeling inside. True happiness comes from within. External influences only let our inner feelings become more distinct only. If you are gloomy(郁郁寡欢), even if you have a delicious feast, it will still taste dull.

Zhuangzi saw the fishes swimming in the river below the bridge and said, "the fishes are swimming freely. They are happy." (子非鱼，安知鱼之乐？ (秋水篇)).

Huishi said, "How do you know the fishes are happy since you are not a fish?"
Zhuangzi replied,"You are not me. How do you know I don't know the fishes are happy?"
Huishi said, "I am not you, so I don't know you. But you are not a fish, so you cannot know if the fishes are happy or not."

Many people thought that this story is about the complexity of philosophical speculation but he felt that this is also a story about happiness. He tells us Zhuangzi has a joyful heart. Due to the reflection of his joyful heart, he felt that those fishes are as happy as him. A heartfelt happy person sees happiness in everything. Any scenes can be the source of this happiness. Therefore, instead of pursuing happiness from external influences, you should develop your inner feelings sensibility to happiness.

• Next, Zhuangzi teaches us how we handle desires. Zhuangzi defines desire as two categories, natural and civilization desires. Natural desires are food, sex, sleep, security, love, and adventure. These are instinctive demands and not many. Zhuangzi 'Free and Easy Wandering' chapter (内篇.逍遥游) said when the mouse is thirsty, it went to the river to have a drink and gets full easily (偃鼠饮河，不过满腹。(逍遥游篇)). It is the same as we went to the restaurant to eat our fill. Regardless of how you eat, you will stop. But civilization desires are different. Civilization desires are fame, fortune, power, materialistic possessions. They are like a bottomless pit, its appetite will get bigger and bigger.


• Zhuangzi's 'Keng-sang C'hu' chapter (杂篇.庚桑楚) said civilization desires will affect our willpower and binds our hearts(勃志也，谬心也。(庚桑楚篇)). A perverted shopaholic is a good example. Psychology studies have shown these excessive desires are substitutes for unsatisfied natural desires. Such as love or family bonds unable to be satisfied, children and spouse all neglected him, so he disguised his feelings and spending money to substitute for his desires. This is running away from reality, covering up the problem. Similar to Internet addiction who became addicted due to unable to satisfy their natural desire. So, the way to extricate oneself is to be true to yourself. Look at what you need, what you desire.


• Next, Zhuangzi wanted us to be master of technology, not slave to technology. If Jobs was to introduce iPhone 6 to Zhuangzi, will Zhuangzi buy it? To answer this question, there is a need to look for the answer in Zhuangzi's book. In Zhuangzi's 'Let It Be, Leave It Alone' chapter (外篇.在宥), when using external things, do not be enslaved by it and dominate everything(物而不物，故能物物。(在宥篇)). This reflects that Zhuangzi does not reject technology but wants to be the master of technology, not slave. Zhuangzi 's 'Heaven and Earth' chapter(外篇.天地篇) states that when using machinery, it is easy for us to acquire scheming mind(机心), then will lose the purity state of mind(有机事者必有机心，则纯白不备，神生不定。(天地篇)). The mental state will also be unstable. Nobel Prize winner, Heisenberg, like Zhuangzi. He stated the above statement from Zhuangzi is the best portrayal of our current technological society. As technology progress too fast, constantly producing new upgrade products, giving us a hard time to adapt, so causing anxiety for us. Based on this statement, I believe that if Zhuangzi lives in our current society, he likely would have a tablet and a mobile phone. These would provide a lot of convenience to him when he tours around the world without any worries. However, he would not be blinded by Jobs, to upgrade his mobile phone every half a year. He would feel that as long as the mobile phone serves its purpose, he would not be string along by Jobs. He wants to be the master of technology, not slave. We need to have our own opinion. Do not envy others. Be happy being yourself. Many people who are not satisfied with themselves, feel depressed. Wants to be like others whose lives are better off. But those are fool's talk, not possible to achieve, so they got more depressed. So they seek relief from all the sources of addiction.


• Zhuangzi 'Autumn Floods' chapter (外篇.秋水) states that kui (a beast with one leg) envy the centipede with so many legs. But the centipede envy the snake whom can move faster and the snake envy the wind that can travel very far with a blow(夔怜蚿，蚿怜蛇，蛇怜风，…(秋水篇)). Many scientists envy Einstein but Einstein does not want to be Einstein at all. During an interview, if he can start all over again, he wants to be a plumber. As the saying losing one ability after failing to imitate another(邯郸学步) and to mimic someone's idiosyncrasies but make a fool of oneself(东施效颦), these idioms all came from Zhuangzi. He teaches us not to be envious of others and not mimic others. We must learn to adapt(自适其适), know yourself, affirm yourself, like yourself and happy to be yourself. Then do not wait or rely on a benefactor to appear.


• A lot of people believed they are unsuccessful is due to under-achieving (怀才不遇) or not met their benefactor. Just like a fine steed met Bole(伯乐, famous horse trainer). "Bole" is the benefactor of the fine steed. However, Zhuangzi said "Bole" is the fine steed's executioner. Why? In 'Horses' Hoofs' chapter(外篇.马蹄), the fine steeds need to be tuned by Bole by  shaving the hair, skive off the hoofs but half of the horses died after this process. Since this tuning defies the nature of the horses, causing half of the horses died. He thought of the story of Faye Wong. When she made her first appearance, her record company, her "Bole" packaged her nicely, with heavy makeup, changed her name and sang the songs company has provided her. Initially, the response is fair but Faye Wong felt she was manipulated by others, like a robot, no unique character, so she left the company and changed back her name and wrote her songs and used her style of singing. No more dancing or saying too much. A lot of artists felt that this is a taboo in the industry but Faye Wong proved them wrong by not entertaining but showing true temperament. Her singing is a form of art, not just singing. Thus, she established her status in the music industry. I am not saying not accepting help from benefactors or agents but not relying or too much expectation from them. Especially when their conditions defies your nature, then you must have your own opinions, walk your path.


• Zhuangzi wanted us to break the rigid view on central and borders. In the common view, the center is the capital and the borders are the villages. Many people think that living in the center represents success and prosperity while feeling dejected and lowly staying in the borders. Many people became unhappy due to this reason. In Zhuangzi's 'Heaven and Earth' chapter(杂篇.天下) states that the center of the world' is at the north of Yan(Hebei) and south of Yue(Jiangnan)(天之中央，燕之北 、越之南是也。(天下篇)). This is what we normally believe that the center of the world is at central plains. But exactly the opposite. Why did he say that? This is to break away the rigid view on center and borders. Taipei(台北) is deemed as the center of the world for many people but compared to New York or Paris, it becomes the border instead. Earth is round, every point can be the center. More importantly, the center consists of people, not places. King Arthur stayed at the village when he was young and was unhappy. His teacher Merlin the magician told him from where he stands, looking afar, there is no end. So the place where you are in the universe center. Arthur remembered his teacher's teaching and carved a niche for himself. All people and events all revolved around him. Everywhere he goes, that is the universe center. Merlin's teaching to Arthur is what Zhuangzi's hope of us.


• Zhuangzi wants us to change our mindset when we look at gains and losses. Zhaowen was an ancient qin master. But Zhuangzi in 'Discussion on Making All Things Equal' chapter(内篇.齐物论) states that as long as Zhaowen plays a tune, then there will be complete and loss parts(有成与亏，故昭氏之鼓琴也。(齐物论)). It is because no matter how skilled he is, he is unable to show all the perfect musical notes. He surely will miss some. So what does this mean? It means that as long as you are successful, then you would have gains and losses. Example like gaining wealth but lost health. Lost authority but gain love. Some people see all. Some people only see losses. In the 'Autumn Floods' chapter, when we use a long period to see gains and losses, becomes a cycle (消息盈虚，终则有始。秋水篇). Today's gains maybe tomorrow's loss. A loss may turn out to be a gain(塞翁失马焉知非福).


• Next, we should learn to be benevolent to time. Legend says that Peng Zu (彭祖) lived 800 years but Zhuangzi mentioned in 'Discussion on making all things equal' chapter, (莫寿乎殇子，而彭祖为夭。齐物论篇), a stillborn baby has a long life and but Peng Zu, who lived 800 years old, is short-lived. This is to break the common mindset and rigid view of longevity and the length of time. In 'Discussion on making all things equal' chapter, it has a lot of different views like Buddhism's view on benevolence. We not only need to deal with time, people and matter with differing views, we also need to be benevolent to time. Time is time regardless of the difference between rich or poor. The best time of the day is morning(一日之计在于晨), money is unable to buy back your youth(千金难买少年时). These maxim phrases are to let us treasure the morning and youth time. But this has lead to many middle-aged or entering middle age people to be unhappy due to this as they felt they lost the most precious time of their life. Therefore, there is a need to break such views, be benevolent to time, understand that morning and night time both precious and old age and youth is still charming. Then you can treat every day as a good day. Every matter is good.


• Lastly, Zhuangzi teaches us the natural regime. Zhuangzi 'Hsu Wu-kei' chapter(徐无鬼篇) states not use humans methods to disrupt nature(不以人入天。徐无鬼). Taiwan has a famous artist Liu Qiwei(刘其伟). He has a spectacular life. He explored Borneo and Africa. At age 81, he organized a trip to Papua New Guinea. He passed away at 91. Someone asked him how he maintained his health. He said like animals, sleep when tired, eat when hungry, eat whatever is available. This is in line with nature. He does not mean to eat timely three times a day is bad, but we do not need to be bind by such saying. Don't worry when slightly going against the regulations. Learn to relax a bit. In summary, Zhuangzi is asking us we must advocate our own lives, enjoy ourselves. Do not expect external influence or people to bring happiness and changes. Then you can get rid of modern addiction and be a carefree person.

要快乐 想改变，
你才是你在等待和依靠的人。
Want Happiness and thinking of changing?
You are who you are waiting for and to rely on.