Chapter 22: Such a person, alive, is a disgrace

Such a person, alive, is a disgrace.

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Such a person, alive, is a disgrace.

Liu Guozong

All the stars in the sky have their own positions. Some positions are larger, some are smaller; some are farther from Earth, some are nearer; some are dark, some are bright. But no matter what position they are in, they all want people to see their light.

People on Earth are like the stars in the sky; as long as you are human, you all hope that the light of your life can be appreciated by more people. There is no one who forever willingly remains lonely.

Someone might say: Isn't the founder of Daoism, Laozi, telling people to practice 'non‑action'? The so‑called 'non‑action' means telling people not to do anything, to sit in place and wait for death. Just as Yu Qiuyu saw in India by the Ganges those people 'waiting to die by the Ganges': they have completely despaired of this world, they do nothing, they think of nothing, and they entrust their lives to the dirty Ganges water! In Yu Qiuyu's words, such a person, alive, is a disgrace; dead, is a tragedy.

However, Laozi's 'non‑action' does not mean waiting for death; he also has further words to say 'non‑not‑doing'. The meaning of 'non‑not‑doing' is that as long as one is alive, one must act. No matter what position you are in, whether you are doing big things or small things; as long as it benefits humanity, you must 'non‑not‑do'. You must be like the stars in the sky, never setting, each day giving light to humanity. Laozi's whole life was spent in 'non‑not‑doing'. He constantly strove, constantly advanced, never discouraged, finally achieving in old age, accomplishing in old age — writing his scholarly work Laozi; founding his school — Daoism.

As long as it is a star, it must give light to humanity; as long as it is a person, one must do beneficial things for the world. 'A person who merely sits idly, daydreaming about things they cannot obtain, is useless,' this is the 'absolute truth'.

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