虚己以游世 – Chinese philosophy and culture

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xū jǐ yǐ yóu shì 虚己以游世

Free One’s Mind to Enjoy the World

消除自身的欲念以悠游于世。出自《庄子·山木》。《庄子》借由市南宜僚与鲁侯的对话指出,人之忧患源自对外物的欲求与对得失的计较。因此,要消除忧患,就要破除对外物的贪欲。无心于外物,才能因循万物的变化,不受外物牵累和伤害。这样一种处世的方式即是“虚己以游世”。

It means to clear mundane desires from one’s mind so as to move freely in the world. This expression comes from Zhuangzi, in which it is proposed by way of a conversation between an official named Shinan Yiliao and the Duke of Lu. It is argued in this conversation that people can trace the origin of their worries to their desire for external objects as well as their concern over gain and loss. Therefore, to rid themselves of worry and concern, people must overcome their greed. Only by freeing oneself from extraneous concerns can one adapt to the vicissitudes of life without being burdened and harmed by anything external. Such an attitude to life is what is meant by freeing one’s mind to enjoy the world.

引例 Citation:

◎市南子曰:“……方舟而济于河,有虚船来触舟,虽有惼(biǎn)心之人不怒。有一人在其上,则呼张歙之;一呼而不闻,再呼而不闻,于是三呼邪,则必以恶声随之。向也不怒而今也怒,向也虚而今也实。人能虚己以游世,其孰能害之!”(《庄子·山木》)

(市南子说:“……并起船来渡河,有没人的空船撞来,即使是性情偏狭火爆的人也不会恼怒。但如果那船上有一个人,就会呼喊着要他将船撑走。如果呼喊一次而不回应,再呼喊还不回应,于是第三次呼喊则必然随之以恶声辱骂。之前不恼怒而现在恼怒,是因为之前是船上没人而现在船上有人。人如果能够消除自身的欲望而悠游于世,那么谁能够伤害他呢!”)

Shinanzi said, “If hit by an empty boat, people who are crossing the river in a boat will not get angry, not even the most ill-tempered among them. But if that boat is manned, then people will shout that it should get out of the way. But if the person in that boat ignores them once or twice, he would get an earful of vicious curses. The reason for such an angry response the second time but not before is because the boat is no longer empty. If one can free his mind of worldly desire to enjoy life carefree, then nobody will be able to inflict harm on him.” (Zhuangzi)

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