In the kingdom of Lu there lived a man with one leg, his name was Shushan-Fingerless. One day he hobbled over to Confucius to talk to him.
“You were careless before,” said Confucius. - After the misfortune that befell you, why would you seek a meeting with me?
“I was not careful and treated myself lightly, which is why I lost my leg,” answered Bespaly. “However, everything valuable that was in my leg is still present in me today, which is why I am most concerned about keeping myself safe.” There is nothing in the world that is not under heaven and on earth. I treated you, teacher, as Heaven and Earth. How was I to know that you would treat me with such hostility?
“I was rude to you, dear one,” said Confucius. - Why don’t you come into my house? Allow me to instruct you in what I happened to know myself.
When Fingerless left, Confucius said:
- My students, be diligent. This Fingerless One lost his leg as punishment, but even now he still devotes his life to teaching in order to correct previous mistakes. What can we say about the one who keeps his virtue intact?
And Fingerless said to Lao Dan (Lao Tzu):
— Confucius strives for perfection, but has not yet achieved what he wants, right? Why did he need to come to you and ask you for instructions? (According to legend, Confucius in his youth met with the patriarch of the Taoist tradition and asked him about ancient rituals. Note by V.V. Malyavin). Apparently, he still wants to gain fame as an amazing and extraordinary person. He does not know that a person who has achieved perfection views such glory as fetters and shackles.
“Why not make him understand that death and life are like one stream, and the possible and the impossible are like beads on one thread?” Is it really impossible to free him from his bonds and shackles? - asked Lao Dan.
— How can one who has suffered the punishment of Heaven be made free? - answered Bespaliy.
(It is generally accepted that the “heavenly punishment” for Confucius was his interest in worldly affairs).
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru