This morning, as I was trying to rescue a mayfly from my dog's water bowl, I was trying to get the creature to cooperate with me so that I could help to dry its wings. It had a lot of spunk and fight in it still, which was, of course, a good sign. And surely, little voices in my head wondered if the mayfly even considered everything I was doing for it. Whether it would have any appreciation for me or my help.
Of course, that is completely irrelevant, besides being totally anthropocentric. But it made me think about how we humans, as social animals, crave friendship. Sometimes, we do good things for others in order to build friendships or positive relationships, or good karma or what have you. But the Daodejing repeatedly points out that virtue for the sake of credit or merit is empty. (The Book also says that it's better than nothing, but still misses the point.) Daodejing points out that the Way provides unlimited life for all, without any need for merit. And that the Sage does what she can to be more like the Way.
The little mayfly may not make it. But at least it did not die a violent death or a death encased in fear. And I'm not going to crush it to put it out of its misery. I've never experienced a violent death. And while they say that killing something that is dying would put it out of its misery, I haven't met anyone yet who has experienced a quick but violent death to tell me that it is not equally or perhaps more miserable. All I know is that pain hurts.
My intention was to rescue the mayfly in order that it might, as Zhuangzi says, live out the years (or hours) that the Way gave it. Maybe I am misguided. But I noticed it struggling in my dog's water bowl and needed to change the water anyway.
Of course, that is completely irrelevant, besides being totally anthropocentric. But it made me think about how we humans, as social animals, crave friendship. Sometimes, we do good things for others in order to build friendships or positive relationships, or good karma or what have you. But the Daodejing repeatedly points out that virtue for the sake of credit or merit is empty. (The Book also says that it's better than nothing, but still misses the point.) Daodejing points out that the Way provides unlimited life for all, without any need for merit. And that the Sage does what she can to be more like the Way.
The little mayfly may not make it. But at least it did not die a violent death or a death encased in fear. And I'm not going to crush it to put it out of its misery. I've never experienced a violent death. And while they say that killing something that is dying would put it out of its misery, I haven't met anyone yet who has experienced a quick but violent death to tell me that it is not equally or perhaps more miserable. All I know is that pain hurts.
My intention was to rescue the mayfly in order that it might, as Zhuangzi says, live out the years (or hours) that the Way gave it. Maybe I am misguided. But I noticed it struggling in my dog's water bowl and needed to change the water anyway.
