Tang then inquired about perfect charity.
"Perfect charity," said Chuang Tzŭ, "does not admit of love for the individual."
- It embraces all men equally. To love one person would imply at least the possibility of hating another. See also p. 167, where Lao Tzŭ refutes the doctrine of universal love.
"Without such love," replied Tang, "it appears to me there would be no such thing as affection, and without affection no filial piety. Does perfect charity not admit of filial piety?"
"Not so," said Chuang Tzŭ. "Perfect charity is the more extensive term. Consequently, it was unnecessary to mention filial piety. It was not that filial piety was omitted. It was merely not particularised.
"A man who travels southwards to Ying,
- Capital of the Ch'u State.
cannot see Mount Ming in the north. Why? Because he is too far off.
"Therefore it has been said that it is easy to be respectfully filial, but difficult to be affectionately filial.
- The artificial is easier than the natural.
But even that is easier than to become unconscious of one's natural obligations, which is in turn easier than to cause others to be unconscious of the operations thereof.
- I.e. to be filial without letting others be conscious of the fact.
