Follow the way

Zhuangzi once told a story of the cook named Ding.

While Ding prepared to slaughter an ox for Lord Wenhui, his skillful act resembled the rhythm of music and the beats of a dance. The lord was amazed, and asked the reason for this. Ding laid down his knife and replied, “What I cherish is not the act of butchering, but the approach.”

“When I butchered an ox for the first time, I only saw an ox. After three years, I no longer saw just an ox, but the structure and joints of the ox. Later, when I slaughter an ox, I comprehend it in my heart without relying on my eyes,” he continued.

“A regular cook changes his knife every month because he hacks at the meat. A superior cook only needs to change his knife once a year because he slices. Look at my knife; it has been in use for 19 years, has butchered thousands of oxen, yet it is as sharp as if it were freshly sharpened yesterday. Following the right way enables people to solve problems at ease,” he said.

What Ding expressed essentially pertains to our approach to living. When one initially encounters society, it appears vast and complex. Without knowing where to start, people tend to haphazardly hack and slash, leading to frequent knife changes.

By understanding the way, harmonizing with nature, and comprehending the principles of the world, as mentioned in the story, one can move with much more ease.

Zhuangzi also recounted the story of a sea bird. Once, a sea bird landed in the capital of the State of Lu. The ruler declared, “Wow, this sea bird is a divine creature! We must venerate it.” Thus, the bird was brought to the ancestral temple for worship. Music was played to delight it, fine wine was offered, and sumptuous feasts were presented.

The sea bird, treated in this manner by the ruler, felt confused and sorrowful. It dared not eat meat or drink wine and, after three days, perished from the torment. This was the care of the bird according to human habits, not in line with the bird’s natural ways of life.

If one truly loves a bird, there should be no wine or meat, but rather allowing the bird to dwell in deep forests and on rivers, peck at mudfish and small fish. A bird should live at ease and freedom, as a bird truly desires.

(The author is a cultural scholar.)

(Translated by Shenzhen Daily)