Time’s Lens
More of Zhuangzi. Clearly it is natural to project upon the past our ideals, our concept of an idyllic condition of society, of a way-of-life realized by human beings in contrast to the flawed, and often wrecked behavior that we observe day to day in the present. We “see” outlines of a figure, embellished by a patina of time. Level headed judgment recognizes the unreality of such a projection.
And yet, and yet I need to conjure with my imagination a detailed representation of a possibility which seduces, which may be approached, even if never achieved. Shall we allow the provocation of these words to work within us?
The True men of old
knew nothing of the love of life
or of the hatred of death.
Entrance into life occasioned them no joy;
the exit from it awakened no resistance.
Composedly they went and came.
They did not forget what their beginning had been,
and they did not inquire into what their end would be.
They accepted (their life) and rejoiced in it;
they forgot (all fear of death), and returned (to their state before life).
Thus there was in them what is called the want of any mind to resist the Tao,
and of all attempts by means of the Human to assist the Heavenly.
Such were they who are called the True men.
***
…he who tries to share his joys with others
is not a sagely man;
he who manifests affection
is not benevolent;
he who observes times and seasons (to regulate his conduct)
is not a man of wisdom;
he to whom profit and injury are not the same
is not a superior man;
he who acts for the sake of the name of doing so,
and loses his (proper) self is not the (right) scholar
–Zhuangzi, The Great and Most Honored Master trans. by James Legge
2 thoughts on “Time’s Lens”
So what is wrong with yearning for a world that never existed except in our imaginations? Why can’t we rewrite history to fit our current narrative of a time and place that never was? Let’s all Make America Great Again, ’cause it sure was better back then. Let’s pretend that racism, famine, world war, subjugation of women and minorities, rampant disease, and so much more, was not of greater prevalence in our recent history. Heck, polio and smallpox were just invented by liberals to scare everyone. The world was so much better when everyone knew their place and white people were just inherently “better and smarter”. Let’s pack a lunch, pile into our ’57 Chevy and go back in time. C’mon, everyone!!!
This manner of confusion might be recognized as a mental disorder, a condition of mind that has become a danger to society. This type of imperious conservatism could be regarded as a 21st century plague. …a plague for which we have no treatment.
Still, upon reflection I wonder if all this is not inevitable, the next phase of the dissolution of our empire. Are not such extreme, overweening measures to burn down the present to install a past that never was, the death throes of an order that never was benign, pro-individual sanctity, — as we were taught?