Zhuangzi laughed and said,
“If I were to say that I would prefer
to be in the intermediate position
between being useful and being useless,
That might seem to be in the right position.
But it is not,
for we will not be able to avoid difficulties.

One who follows the tao is free of difficulties.
He is above praise or condemnation,
moves like a dragon or a snake,
and is transformed with the ongoing changes of the times,
without being fixed upon one thing.

Now high and now low,
he is in harmony with all and with the origin of all things.
He presides over all things while
nothing can preside over him.

How could there then be any difficulties?

Union brings separation;
Becoming, passing away;
Sharp corners, the use of a file;
Honor, disparagement;
Activity, failure;
Knowledge, plotting;
Inability, contempt.

Where is constancy to be found?
Only, my disciples, in the tao and its virtue.”

Zhuangzi by Zhuang Zhou, trans. by Hyunn Höchsmann and Yang Guorong, Book 20 The Tree on the Mountain

Yesterday’s quote featured an old tree that was spared because it was gnarled, knotted, not suitable for lumber. Then there was the goose unable to cackle, that was selected, killed, prepared for the broiler because it was unable to cackle… Apparently there’s no single “rule of thumb”, that get-out-of-Jail-card to avoid suffering and trouble.

Zhuangzi laughs.

Following his example you and I ought to laugh as often, with as much heart as we can muster. Life is a matter of destiny, of fate – there’s simply no “secret” to be utilized for avoiding the hard things. Consider the short list of reciprocal conditions, the unending shuttle between extremes… When I dwell upon these conflicted opposites, a light of understanding grows little by little. In personal life, in life-in-society for the sharp edges, — soon, soon the file will come!

Why be surprised, even taken aback, – this is exactly where we are as a society, as American people!

Can I be pro-America and pro-human, pro-earth?

What do you think?