Free and Unrestrained(逍遙自得)
During the Western Jin dynasty in China,
there was a famous minister and renowned writer named Pan An, who was also said
to be one of the most handsome men in Chinese history. He wrote an article
during a low point in his life and also wrote a preface for it.
The preface roughly translates as follows:
During the Han dynasty, there was a
minister named Sima An. His political career was highly successful; he joined
the inner circle of the central government four times.
After reading this account, I couldn't help
but sigh.
Sima An's success in his official career
was due to his ability and cunning, and his life story is recorded in history.
I wonder how future historians will judge
me. I seem to be the opposite of Sima An: my career has been full of hardships.
However, I don't think this is due to a
lack of ability, but rather because I am inherently clumsy and ignorant of the
ways of officialdom. I neither can nor am willing to flatter or fawn over
others for the sake of promotion.
In my youth, I had a dream: I believed that
intellectuals should dedicate their abilities and time to improving society and
the lives of its people. I have always striven to be a person of outstanding
character and integrity.
Based on my talent and reputation, I was
recommended for a position in central government at the age of twenty.
Time flies, and over thirty years have
passed in the blink of an eye. My political career has been anything but
smooth.
I have changed position eight times, but
only three of these could be considered promotions; I was dismissed twice
during this period.
A friend once said that, although I am
talented, I am not good at utilising my talents. Ultimately, however, I believe
it is my clumsy nature — my unwillingness to lie for power and status — that
has made my political path so arduous.
Enough. I shouldn't cling to this perilous
path of officialdom any longer.
My mother is old and frail. I should return
to her side as soon as possible to care for her wholeheartedly.
I should learn to be content and return to
my hometown.
I want to build a house surrounded by
trees.
How will I earn a living? I could fish in
the pond, grow my own fruit and vegetables, and raise and milk sheep to sell
the milk at the market. I could spend every day with my family, enjoying the
simple pleasures of family life. I think this free, unrestrained life is truly
what I yearn for.
Just thinking about it fills me with peace
and contentment.
This idiom translates directly as 'free and
unrestrained'.
Dear friend, what inspiration or thoughts have
you gained from this story?
How long has it been since you felt truly
free? Would you describe yourself as lucky or unlucky?
I hope this story gives you some new
insights.
逍遙自得(Free and Unrestrained)
中國的西晉王朝有一個著名的大臣，他也是一個著名的文學家，他還是中國歷史上最著名的美男子之一，他的名字叫做潘安，他曾經在他的人生的低潮期寫過一篇文章，他為了這篇文章寫了一篇序，
這篇序的大概意思如下。
中國的漢王朝有一個名字叫做司馬安的大臣，他的從政經歷非常的豐富，他曾經四度進入漢王朝的中央政府內的核心階層。
我看到這段記載後我忍不住嘆氣。
司馬安憑藉他的能力與手段所以官運亨通，他的人生故事被載入史冊。
我不知道後世的歷史家們會如何評價我，我彷彿是司馬安的一個反面，我的仕途充滿坎坷。
但我想這或許並非因為我能力不足，而是因為我天生就是個不懂官場門道的笨拙之人，我不會也不願意去為了升職而去巴結與奉承別人。
我年輕的時候有一個夢想，我認為一個知識份子應該要為了讓社會與人民有著更好的生活所以奉獻出自己的能力與時間，我也一直激勵自己要成為一個品德卓越且信守承諾的人。
憑藉著我的才學和名聲，我在二十歲時就被推薦進入中央政府擔任官員。
時間過得真快，轉眼已經三十多年過去，這些年來我的從政生涯卻始終起伏不定。
我的職位變動了八次，但真正算得上升遷的只有三次，其間還經歷了兩次被免職。
一位朋友曾說我雖有才華卻不善於利用。但我覺得，歸根結底，是我這種不願為了得到權力與地位而說假話的笨拙性格，讓我從政之路充滿艱辛。
算了吧，我不應再執著於這條艱險的仕途了。
我的母親年事已高，體弱多病。我應當早點轉換生活的重心，回到她的身邊盡心奉養她。
我應該學會知足，是時候該返回我的故鄉了。
我要在故鄉建一所房子，在四周種滿樹木。
我該如何生活呢？我可以在池塘邊釣魚，自己種植蔬菜瓜果，還可以養羊擠奶，拿去市場換取家用。我能與家人朝夕相伴，盡享天倫之樂。我想，這種自由自在、不受拘束的生活，才是我內心真正渴望的。
光是想到這樣的日子，就讓人感到無比安寧與愜意。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是自由自在且不受拘束。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有怎樣的啟發或有怎樣的想法呢。
你有多久沒有感覺到自由自在且不受拘束?你認為自己是一個好運氣或是壞運氣的人呢
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為晉-潘岳-閒居賦
https://zh.wikisource.org/zh-hant/%E9%96%91%E5%B1%85%E8%B3%A6