An Analysis Of Zhuangzi 's Thought

Zhuangzi’s thought of "forgetting desires" is beyond the general meaning of "forget". It means to forget purposely. Since benevolence and righteousness belongs to our judgment, we will have no perception to argue with if they are forgotten. Since rites and melody are confined by common customs, we will be no longer concerned with fame and reputation if they are forgotten. Without righteousness or rites, we will never pursue what we see or hear, and at the same time, our eyes and ears will be free from endless knowledge. To forget without looking for its order or reason helps us to forget the behavior itself. When we reach a state of vain quiet, we achieve Zhuangzi’s realm of "forgetting desires".However, to remove one’s knowledge does not mean transcendence as many scholars explain. It is to rethink one’s prejudice. When we stop thinking and judging, we reach the "inner world" called "Dao". According to Zhuangzi’s theory, only "qi" is empty, and only if our mind is empty can we stop thinking, and only stoping can we deal with the world.Without real man, there is no real knowledge because only he grasps the truth. He gives up his prejudication, and cares for the thing itself. Since only people can discover the use of things, things can only possess their use from people. So do what we are expected, and forget the thing together with its use. If we have to resort to "use", it is called "the use of the useless".Our spirit is the root of leisure. Care no about fame or benefit, right or wrong, good or evil, thus nothing will bother you. We have no idea about what will happy tomorrow, and we may be unable to comprehend each other. So comply with what is happening and leave aside its reason in order for self-adaption. Since Zhuangzhou dreamed the butterfly, it means to dissolve with the creation and forget the difference between people and things. So the highest level of "forgetting desires" is to pass away with creation.