Your life has a limit but knowledge has none. If you use what is limited to pursue what has no limit, you will be in danger. If you understand this and still strive for knowledge, you will be in danger for certain!~ from Chapter 3, Burton Watson translation ~
Here we find a theme that appears frequently throughout the thought of Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu -- the idea that knowledge is bad. Do both of them think that humanity would be better off if we were each dumber than a doornail?
That's not the point I think either of them is driving at. For me, the passage above goes straight to the heart of religion!
The institution of religion seeks to define the indefinable. It seeks to encapsulate the Grand Mystery into identifiable parameters. It erects boundaries and foments the concept of separation. In short order, people come to see the symbols -- the manifestations -- as reality itself.
And they will fight to the death to protect their artificial version of reality.
Thus, pursuing ultimate knowledge -- that which none of us can ever know -- is quite dangerous.
It is dangerous for each individual because it encourages replacing reality with delusions.
It is dangerous for other people because, if they don't share your brand of delusion, you must malign and ostracize them...or worse.
It is dangerous for society, as a whole, because there will be competing delusions which will serve as the impetus for war, oppression, subjugation and poverty.
It even is dangerous for the whole cosmos because it throws the whole harmony of yin and yang out of whack.
To read more musings about the Zhuangzi, you can visit the index page for this ongoing series.
That's not the point I think either of them is driving at. For me, the passage above goes straight to the heart of religion!
The institution of religion seeks to define the indefinable. It seeks to encapsulate the Grand Mystery into identifiable parameters. It erects boundaries and foments the concept of separation. In short order, people come to see the symbols -- the manifestations -- as reality itself.
And they will fight to the death to protect their artificial version of reality.
Thus, pursuing ultimate knowledge -- that which none of us can ever know -- is quite dangerous.
It is dangerous for each individual because it encourages replacing reality with delusions.
It is dangerous for other people because, if they don't share your brand of delusion, you must malign and ostracize them...or worse.
It is dangerous for society, as a whole, because there will be competing delusions which will serve as the impetus for war, oppression, subjugation and poverty.
It even is dangerous for the whole cosmos because it throws the whole harmony of yin and yang out of whack.
To read more musings about the Zhuangzi, you can visit the index page for this ongoing series.
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