They stumbled upon a hermit, at least a hundred years old.

他們偶然發現了一位至少有一百歲的隱士。

The man was gathering some grain that farmers had dropped, and he was singing while doing so.

這個人正在收集農民掉落的穀物，他一邊收集一邊唱歌。

One of the students, a young man named Zekun, was confused.

其中一位名叫 Zekun 的年輕學生感到很困惑。

He couldn't comprehend why the old hermit was so happy, as he must've been very poor and alone, having to scour for harvest scraps.

他不明白老隱士為什麼這麼高興，因為他一定很窮，而且孤苦伶仃，只能靠撿拾殘羹剩飯度日。

Zekun walked over to the hermit and showed compassion for his sad fate.

Zekun 走到隱士身邊，對他的悲慘命運表示同情。

But the old man smiled and said, "Why do you feel sorry for me?

老人卻笑著說：「你為什麼要同情我？

Am I that pathetic in your eyes?"

在你眼裡，我就那麼可憐嗎？」

"Well, sir," Zekun said, "I assumed you didn't work hard in your younger years and didn't care about success and status, and so you couldn't find a wife and have children to look after you.

Zekun 說：「先生，我想你年輕時沒有努力工作，也不在乎成功和地位，所以找不到老婆，生不出孩子來照顧你。

You're all alone.

你孤身一人。

How could you laugh and sing?"

你怎麼能又笑又唱？」

"Listen, young man," the hermit said.

「聽著，年輕人」隱士說，

"I laugh and sing because I feel happy.

「我笑著唱歌，因為我感到快樂。

If I had worked hard in my younger years, competing with others, I wouldn't have gotten so old and healthy.

如果我在年輕時努力工作，與他人競爭，我就不會變得如此年老和健康。

And not having a wife and children?

沒有妻子和孩子？

That's great.

好極了。

I don't have to worry about their lives either.

我也不用擔心他們的生活。

It's peaceful.

這裡很寧靜。

Why shouldn't I laugh and sing?"

我為什麼不能歡歌笑語？」

This story is from a Taoist scripture called Li Tzu.

這個故事出自道教經書《李子》。

It shows a typical Taoist way of thinking, namely that there's always gain in what we perceive as loss.

這顯示了一種典型的道家思維方式，即在我們認為失去的東西中總會有得到的東西。

Even though the elderly man is not conventionally well-off, he's quite the archetypical loser in today's language, he's well aware of his many blessings in disguise.

儘管這位老人並不是傳統意義上的富翁，用現在的話說，他是一個典型的失敗者，但他深知自己有很多不幸。

But for most people, it's probably challenging to have this attitude.

但對大多數人來說，持這種態度可能具有挑戰性。

We're easily swayed by societal standards and concerned with other people's opinions.

我們很容易被社會標準所左右，也很在意別人的看法。

This is where Taoist philosophy becomes especially valuable.

這就是道家哲學變得尤為寶貴的地方。

It contains the wisdom to worry less, not just about what other people think, but about almost anything.

它蘊含著減少憂慮的智慧，不僅是減少對他人看法的憂慮，而且減少對幾乎任何事情的憂慮。

Isn't that something we need today?

這不正是我們今天所需要的嗎？

Just look around.

環顧四周。

Distractions are everywhere, and times are changing rapidly.

干擾因素無處不在，時代也在快速變化。

Life is stressful, with many suffering from burnout and depression and others on the verge.

生活壓力很大，很多人都患上了職業倦怠和抑鬱症，還有一些人瀕臨崩潰邊緣。

This video shares three insights from ancient Taoist sages to help you care less in an overly serious world.

這部影片分享了古代道家聖賢的三點啟示，幫助你在這個過於嚴肅的世界裡減少憂慮。

If you want to support EINZELGANGER, consider joining my Patreon page, which allows access to ad-free videos and free merch.

如果你想支持 EINZELGANGER，請考慮加入我的 Patreon 頁面，它讓你能觀看無廣告影片和免費商品。

Thank you, and I hope you'll enjoy this video.

謝謝，希望你們會喜歡這部影片。

The Taoist sage Zhuangzi observed long ago how people are hung up on things like fame, wealth and status.

道家聖人莊子很早就觀察到人們是如何迷戀名利和地位的。

In his time, people pursued luxuries such as expensive food and fine clothes, and traveled to far places to enjoy the sights.

在他的時代，人們追求奢侈，如昂貴的食物和精美的衣服，並前往遙遠的地方欣賞風景。

Today, we see nothing has changed.

今天，我們看到一切都沒有改變。

Moreover, our modern-day media constantly pressures us to live a high life.

此外，現代媒體不斷向我們施壓，要求我們過上高尚的生活。

Our tendency to seek out that new shiny thing, whether luxury or experience, is being exploited.

我們追求閃亮新事物（無論是奢侈品還是體驗）的傾向正在被利用。

The more lavish, the better.

越豪華越好。

Society teaches us to have great careers, big houses, nice cars.

社會教導我們要有偉大的事業、大房子和好車。

We get raised under the imperative to be successful and, if possible, wealthy.

我們從小就被教育要成功，如果可能的話，要富有。

Material success, status and achievement are the metrics by which we decide people's worth.

物質上的成功、地位和成就是我們衡量人們價值的標準。

It's what the world honors, argues Zhuangzi.

莊子認為，這是世人所尊崇的。

"If they do not get these things, they're very sorrowful and go on to be troubled with fears," he said.

他說：「如果他們沒有得到這些東西，他們就會非常悲傷，並繼續被恐懼所困擾。」

Once you commit yourself to pursuing all these celebrated external things, it seems to be never enough.

一旦你致力於追求所有這些被人稱道的外在事物，似乎永遠都不夠。

Once you get a nice car, you will likely want a better one.

一旦你有了一輛好車，你很可能會想要一輛更好的。

Once you have your dream house, things get old quickly.

一旦擁有了夢想中的房子，一切都會變得很快。

The luxury no longer feels that special.

豪華的感覺不再那麼特別。

The euphoric happiness, generated by this once so much desired but pricey house, fades into normalcy.

這棟曾經如此令人嚮往但價格不菲的房子所帶來的愉悅感逐漸消失，變得平淡無奇。

But despite not feeling much happier in the long run, you still have to make your mortgage payment.

不過，儘管從長遠來看，你並不覺得自己有多幸福，但你還是得還房貸。

Over time, you become trapped, a slave to your possessions.

久而久之，你就會陷入困境，成為財產的奴隸。

From Zhuangzi's viewpoint, this is a stressful mode of living.

在莊子看來，這是一種充滿壓力的生活模式。

People living like this wear themselves out.

這樣生活的人會把自己累垮的。

"This is a stupid way to treat the body," he stated.

他說：「這種對待身體的方式很愚蠢。」

And isn't he correct, looking at the rates of burnout, anxiety and depression in modern-day societies?

看看現代社會中的職業倦怠、焦慮和憂鬱率，他說得沒錯吧？

In pursuit of riches, we are wearing ourselves out.

在追求財富的過程中，我們把自己累垮了。

In the quest for fame on social media, we're exploiting ourselves.

在社交媒體上追求名利的同時，我們也在利用自己。

We're doing it because we think it makes us happy.

我們這麼做是因為我們認為這能讓我們快樂。

Many do it so other people hold them in high esteem.

許多人這樣做是為了讓其他人對他們高看一眼。

Others do it to belong, but they're nothing more than cogs in the consumerist machine.

還有一些人這樣做是為了歸屬感，但他們不過是消費主義機器上的齒輪而已。

A never-ending pursuit of stuff and fame that never satisfies, rarely leading to lasting happiness.

對物質和名利永無止境的追求，永遠不會讓人滿足，也很少能帶來持久的幸福。

Something ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus also realized, as he saw many of the things we pursue nowadays as unnecessary and vain.

古希臘哲學家伊壁鳩魯也意識到了這一點，他認為我們現在追求的許多東西都是不必要的、虛榮的。

At the same time, Zhuangzi observed that people look down on poverty, bad reputation and what we would call irrelevance today.

與此同時，莊子觀察到人們看不起貧窮、壞名聲和我們今天所說的無關緊要。

Nobody wants to be a nobody.

沒有人願意默默無聞。

You don't want to be a loser, do you?

你不想成為失敗者吧？

Losers are the modern-day untouchables.

失敗者是現代的賤民。

These people don't have the finest clothes, don't eat oysters and caviar, and don't get to see the many fabulous sights of the world.

這些人沒有最好的衣服，吃不到牡蠣和魚子醬，也看不到世界上許多美妙的風景。

They are to be met with contempt and avoidance.

他們應該受到蔑視和迴避。

But Zhuangzi said we can't judge right and wrong by the world's standards.

但莊子說，我們不能以世俗的標準來判斷是非。

He proposes doing nothing, as doing nothing leads to perfect enjoyment.

他建議什麼也不做，因為什麼也不做就能得到完美的享受。

"Heaven does nothing, and thence comes its serenity;

「上天什麼也不做，所以才有了它的寧靜。

Earth does nothing, and thence comes its rest."

地球什麼也不做，於是它休息了。」

He stated.

他說。

We could ask ourselves, do all these external things truly make us happy?

我們可以捫心自問，這些外在的東西真的能讓我們快樂嗎？

Or can happiness be found in the simplest things?

還是說，幸福可以從最簡單的事情中找到？

Isn't the mere cessation of trying to pursue happiness when happiness arises?

當幸福來臨的時候，不就是停止努力追求幸福嗎？

The reason we're unhappy seems to be that we try too hard to be happy, and we do so following a dead-end path.

我們之所以不快樂，似乎是因為我們太努力去追求幸福，結果卻走入了死衚衕。

How about we stop striving and let enjoyment unfold?

不如我們停止奮鬥，讓享受來得更猛烈些吧？

Our achievement society scares us into being useful, self-exploiting members of the capitalist system.

我們的成就社會嚇唬我們成為資本主義體系中有用的、自我剝削的成員。

We're expected to be good for something, to participate in the rat race, and to be successful in what we do so we can respect ourselves and gain the respect of others.

我們被期望成為優秀的人，參與老鼠賽跑，在我們所做的事情上取得成功，這樣我們才能尊重自己，贏得他人的尊重。

From the Taoist point of view, we're all playing a silly game.

從道家的角度來看，我們都在玩一個愚蠢的遊戲。

We adopt specific beliefs, mark them as the truth, and act accordingly, taking it all very seriously.

我們接受特定的信仰，將其視為真理，並據此行事，非常認真地對待這一切。

Hence, we care greatly about walking in line and what people think about us.

所以我們非常在意排隊和別人對我們的看法。

People generally fear being disliked and seen as odd, worthless, or inadequate, whatever that means.

人們一般都害怕被人討厭，害怕被視為怪人、無用或不稱職，不管這意味著什麼。

Most people spend their lives conforming to what society values.

大多數人一生都在迎合社會的價值觀。

Having many friends, having a good job, starting a family, and being a useful member of society.

有很多朋友，有一份好工作，成家立業，成為對社會有用的人。

I'm a hard-working, God-fearing, freedom-loving American, and I'm proud of it.

我是一個勤奮工作、敬畏上帝、熱愛自由的美國人，我為此感到自豪。

Of course, if you earned your rank in the game, there's no shame in looking down on those who didn't.

當然，如果你在比賽中獲得了自己的等級，那麼看不起那些沒有獲得等級的人也沒什麼丟人的。

But as Zhuangzi said, we can't judge right and wrong by the world's standards.

但正如莊子所說，我們不能以世俗的標準來判斷是非。

The majority may agree on something, but that doesn't mean it's a universal truth.

大多數人可能會同意某件事情，但這並不意味著它就是普遍真理。

Taoist sages generally love crushing conventional beliefs.

道教聖人一般都喜歡粉碎傳統信仰。

For example, suppose everyone thinks that being unambitious is bad.

例如，假設每個人都認為不思進取是不好的。

As Zhuangzi might argue, because of this, people fret greatly about not being seen as unambitious.

莊子可能會說，正因為如此，人們才會非常擔心自己會被視為胸無大志。

So, they chase promotions, flaunt their career ambitions, and spend hours discussing their new roles and future plans, just to prove to others that they're driven and worthy of admiration.

他們追逐晉升，炫耀自己的職業抱負，花上幾個小時討論自己的新角色和未來計劃，只為向別人證明自己有幹勁，值得欽佩。

People who lack such aspirations are generally frowned upon, and for many, that's frightening.

缺乏這種抱負的人通常會被人不屑一顧，這對許多人來說是可怕的。

But the Taoist sages challenge us to look beyond societal conditioning.

但是，道家先賢挑戰我們要超越社會條件。

In this case, we could ask ourselves, is being unambitious truly bad?

在這種情況下，我們可以捫心自問，胸無大志真的不好嗎？

Is following your ambition really worth the daily stress?

追求理想真的值得每天承受壓力嗎？

What if we choose not to be ambitious, or even refuse to be cogs in the machine?

如果我們選擇不求上進，甚至拒絕成為機器上的齒輪呢？

How about we become like the elderly hermit, turning our backs on societal expectations?

要不，我們也像那位隱士老人一樣，背棄社會的期望？

Would we be worse off or not?

我們的情況會更糟嗎？

What comes to mind is the story of the useless tree, one of the most profound parables that turns the world upside down in a Taoist fashion.

我想到的是無用之樹的故事，這是一個最深刻的寓言，以道家的方式顛覆了世界。

Carpenter Shi and his apprentice once passed a massive oak standing by the village shrine.

木匠 Shi 和他的徒弟曾經路過村裡祠堂旁的一棵巨大的橡樹。

The oak's branches could easily shelter hundreds of oxen during rainfall.

降雨時，橡樹的枝條可以輕鬆地為數百頭牛遮風擋雨。

Around the oak gathered dozens of people, amazed by its size and beauty.

橡樹周圍聚集了幾十個人，他們對橡樹的巨大和美麗感到驚奇。

The apprentice said, "Wow, I've never seen such a beautiful tree, but you don't even care to look at it."

徒弟說：「哇，我從沒見過這麼漂亮的樹，可你連看都懶得看一眼。

Why is that?

為什麼？」

"Are you kidding me?" said the carpenter.

「你在開玩笑嗎？」木匠說，

"This tree is worthless.

「這棵樹一文不值。

Can't you see how crooked it is?

你沒看到它有多歪嗎？

Make boats of it and they'll sink.

用它做船，它們就會沉沒。

Make closets or doors and they'll rot instantly.

做衣櫃或門，它們會立刻腐爛。

It's useless."

這棵樹一點都沒用。」

That night, the carpenter dreamed the crooked tree spoke to him.

那天晚上，木匠夢見那棵彎曲的樹對他說話。

"Listen, buddy," the tree said.

「聽著，兄弟」樹說，

"I heard you talk.

「我聽到你說的話，

You think I'm worthless.

你覺得我一文不值，

And that's true to an extent.

這在一定程度上是對的。

Just look at the apple and orange trees, they're useful.

看看蘋果樹和橘子樹就知道了，它們很有用。

They bring about fruits, which is why people love them.

它們能帶來果實，這就是人們喜愛它們的原因。

But look at their existence, they're being exploited.

但看看他們的生存狀況，他們正在被剝削。

When their fruits are ripe, they're subjected to abuse.

當它們的果實成熟時，它們就會受到虐待。

Their big branches are broken off, they're pulled and jerked around.

它們的大樹枝被折斷，它們被拉扯，被抽打。

And when they don't produce anymore, they're cut down.

當它們不再生產時，就會被砍掉。

Do you see how their utility makes their lives miserable?

你看到他們的實用性是如何讓他們的生活變得悲慘的嗎？

They can't even live out the full years heaven intended for them.

他們甚至無法活出上天為他們安排的完整歲月。

I, on the other hand, am of no use, and being useless turned out to be of great use to me.

而我卻毫無用處，無用之用反而對我大有裨益。

If I had been useful, would I've grown this big?

如果我有用，我會長這麼大嗎？

I owe my long life to being useless."

我的長壽得益於我的無用。」

As we see in the story, uselessness, which is generally seen as a bad trait, especially in our achievement society, was a benefit for the tree.

正如我們在故事中看到的那樣，"無用 "通常被視為一種不好的品格，尤其是在我們的成就社會中，但對這棵樹來說，"無用 "卻是一種好處。

It reminds us of the old hermit, whose unfortunate life, by societal standards, hid a blessing in disguise.

這讓我們想起了老隱士，從社會標準來看，他不幸的一生卻隱藏著不幸中的萬幸。

There's always some gain in loss.

有失必有得。

The trick is to discover it.

訣竅在於發現它。

Pei-kung-tzu and Simenzi, long separated friends, met again one day.

白公子和西門子這對闊別已久的朋友，有一天又見面了。

Pei-kung-tzu was astonished at how different their lives turned out.

白公子驚詫於他們的生活竟如此不同。

His old friend became wealthy, successful, and respected.

他的老朋友變得富有、成功和受人尊敬。

But he turned out very poor, and most people didn't like or trust him.

但他的結果很糟糕，大多數人都不喜歡他，也不信任他。

Pei-kung-tzu complained, and I quote,

白公子抱怨道，我引述如下。

"When we both took office in government, you were promoted, and I was dismissed.

「我們倆在政府任職時，你被提拔，我被解職。

When we both farmed, even the earth cooperated with you, not with me.

當我們一起耕種時，連大地都與你合作，而不是與我合作。

When we traded together, you made profits, and I lost.

我們一起交易時，你賺了，我賠了。

This is really unfair."

這真的很不公平。」

End quote.

引用完畢。

He continued complaining about wearing old clothing, eating food usually given to pigs, living in a broken shack, and being unable to afford a cart.

他繼續抱怨穿著舊衣服，吃著通常給豬吃的食物，住在破棚子裡，買不起小車。

In contrast, his old friend ate the best foods, lived in a giant mansion, and traveled in a luxurious vehicle.

相比之下，他的老朋友吃的是最好的食物，住的是巨大的豪宅，坐的是豪華的汽車。

Didn't they both have the same background and education?

他們的背景和教育不是一樣嗎？

Why did their fates deviate so much?

為什麼他們的命運會出現如此大的偏差？

When Pei-kung-tzu confronted his old friend with his perceived unfairness, Simenzi exploded, telling him that his success in life stems from being more virtuous and, therefore, more worthy in the eyes of others.

當白公子向他的老朋友質問他所感受到的不公平時，西門子爆發了，他告訴白公子，他人生的成功源於他更有德行，所以在別人眼中更有價值。

Of course, Pei-kung-tzu felt depressed after this slap in the face, and sought consolation from the village sage.

當然，白公子被打了這一巴掌後，心情很鬱悶，便向鄉賢尋求安慰。

The sage asked why Simenzi insulted his old friend, who explained that Pei-kung-tzu simply couldn't stand that he was less worthy than himself.

聖人問司馬遷為什麼要侮辱自己的老朋友，司馬遷解釋說，白公子就是看不慣他不如自己。

But the sage corrected him, explaining that worthiness cannot be measured by social or political success.

但聖人糾正了他，解釋說社會或政治上的成功並不能衡量是否有價值。

He had simply more luck in life.

他在生活中的運氣簡直好得沒話說。

I quote,

我引述如下，

"You are successful in society not because you are particularly wise or virtuous, but because you have luck in everything you do.

「你在社會上取得成功，並不是因為你有特別的智慧或品德，而是因為你所做的一切都很幸運。

On the other hand, Pei-kung-tzu's failure to be recognized is not due to stupidity or lack of virtue.

另一方面，白公子不被認可並非因為愚蠢或缺乏美德。

It's because he does not have luck in everything he does."

因為他做任何事都不走運。」

End quote.

引用完畢。

When Pei-kung-tzu heard what the sage said to his old friend, he felt okay with the situation.

白公子聽了聖人對老朋友說的話，覺得還不錯。

He no longer let his lack of luck be a reason for unhappiness.

他不再讓運氣不佳成為不快樂的理由。

The story shows that embracing fate and finding contentment, whether rich or poor, successful or not, leads to inner peace.

這個故事告訴我們，無論貧富、成功與否，擁抱命運，找到滿足感，就能獲得內心的平靜。

We often can't do much about how things work out around us, but we can cultivate our attitudes toward these things.

我們往往無法改變身邊的事情，但我們可以培養自己對這些事情的態度。

Usually, our best bet is to let things go their natural course and focus on how we navigate through them, instead of trying to control them.

通常，我們最好的辦法是順其自然，專注於如何駕馭它們，而不是試圖控制它們。

Is there a more relaxing attitude in a fast-paced, stressful world than letting all these attachments and must-haves slide and take life however it comes?

在這個快節奏、充滿壓力的世界裡，還有比放下這些執念和必備品，隨遇而安更輕鬆的態度嗎？

Who's more successful?

誰更成功？

The wealthy person waking up dissatisfied every morning, always chasing more?

每天早上醒來都不滿意，總是在追逐更多東西的富人？

Or the poor, waking up content, happy with whatever the heavens give him?

還是一覺醒來就心滿意足，對上天賜予他的一切感到幸福的窮人？