The 128 most classic philosophical essays in the world

Chapter 26 Meditation on Death
[China] Zhou Zuoren

Perhaps we have to find some leisure and joy in this allowed time, in this ordinary situation, which is supreme happiness.

In the fourth century, the Greek world-weary poet Baradas wrote a little poem:

(Pollalais, anthrope-Palladas)

"You are too garrulous, man, to sleep underground soon;
"Shut up, and think of death while you live."

These are very interesting words.Regarding the issue of death, I have meditated on it when I have nothing to do (but I don’t sit under a tree, most of the time I am in the car), but I can’t think of anything. This may be because I am a "happy poet".But in fact, I must worship death, just like Cao Mu Guanjun, but I can't feel the mystery of death, so I don't feel the need to think about ten days and ten nights, and I can't talk about metaphysics.

There are various reasons why people in the world are afraid of death. "From a fool's perspective" can be divided into three items.It is true that suffering is worse than death.More than ten years ago, there was a distant aunt who was very poor. At the end of December, she wanted to drown herself in the river (the river in our country does not freeze through winter), but after throwing it in, she came up immediately, saying that it was because the water was too cold. up.It's unknown if some people want to laugh at her as an idiot, but this is a real human feeling.If someone can really guarantee that, as a biologist said, it is very pleasant to be killed by a fierce beast, I think many people must go to the mountains to devote themselves to feeding hungry tigers.It's a pity that this level cannot be guaranteed, and some people who have no attachment to other items have to hesitate a little because of this.

Concern about the family is probably the least of the reasons for fear of death, because there is a cure for it.If one day in the future, the social system is slightly improved, in addition to the practice of restraint of good seeds, everyone, regardless of age, can do what they can and get what they need. All daily necessities, food, housing, medical education, and medical education will be provided by the public. This is even better. If the enjoyment of life is obtained by personal efforts, then this kind of worry can be eliminated, and even Yemeng must be much safer.But what I'm talking about is just fantasy, and I don't know if it will be realized hundreds of thousands of years later, and it may not be realized in the end, so it will end up being too far away to save the near fire, which is of no use.The surer way is to try to make a fortune, which can also relieve this worry.Seeking to get rich in order to die in peace is a very elegant and vulgar thing, but getting rich is not easy, it is not something we can all do, and the rich people in the world will not die when they have money, so this is quite dangerous and also.

Happiness in this world is naturally very coveted, but it seems that only young men and women can feel it deeply, like those of us who are close to "not confused", who have tasted the music of mortals.In addition, I have no ambition to be an emperor, so I don't feel that there is any happiness that I can't bear.My happiness now is just to drink a cup of tea and read some new books in my spare time (although recently, because the government saves for us, I only have the money to buy tea), whether he is talking about insects and birds singing, or memorizing the thoughts of sages, ancient and modern The engravings and drawings are enough to make me feel the joy of life.However, when friends come to chat, they put down the book, not to mention the order of the "selfless goddess" (Atropos)?We see many beggars on the road who no longer have the joy of life, but are struggling to live. It can be seen that happiness is not necessarily the main reason for fear of death;Speaking of them, they really have nothing to worry about, and they can "come and go freely", but in reality they can't, if not for the reasons mentioned above, it must be because they are afraid that the river water will be colder than the bone-piercing north wind.

What is your opinion on the issue of "immortality"?Because I was a sailor for five or six years when I was a teenager, my mind was somewhat influenced by materialism, and I always felt that I couldn't afford the concept of "immortality", although I really like to listen to ridiculous myths.Even according to the fairy tales, I don't like the life of immortality at all.Living in a cold house on the jade steps of the Jinmen Gate, eating lentil liver and phoenix breasts like spiced beef, loafing about every day, not playing chess in pine trees, or hanging out with golden boys and jade girls, it may not be very interesting, and it will always be like this, moreover It's monotonous and sleepy.I also heard people say that the time of the fairy family is different from that of ordinary people. The poem says "Seven days in the middle of the mountain, and a thousand years in the world", so the 60 years at the bottom of Lanke Mountain are only half an hour at the side of chess. How can the days be too long? What about feeling?But from my point of view, an immortal living for 200 million years is only worth 200 spring and autumn years in the human world. Such a waste of time is of no benefit to real life, and it is not worth all the effort to obtain him; , All of a sudden, he will be laughed at by a 50-year-old ordinary man.A better one is the way of the Western Phoenix (Phoinix), live for 500 years, then shed off and turn into a young wind. This kind of reincarnation is very interesting, but unfortunately they are the only one, and others cannot imitate it.Probably we can only find some leisure and joy in this allowed time, in this ordinary situation, which is the supreme happiness; as for the question of "what happens after death?" We ordinary people don't care about becoming immortals and ghosts, so naturally we have no interest in it.

Heart mark notes
Life and death matter, and the most difficult temptation for human beings to get rid of may be the desire for life and the meditation of death.And life and death are so closely linked that one cannot forget to talk about death when talking about life.

Death can prompt human beings to think seriously about the meaning and value of life.A person who never thinks about death cannot really understand life, nor can he gain a deep understanding.It is impossible for any writer or philosopher not to face the ruthless fact of "death" when thinking about problems, and sometimes this is even the basis and inspiration of thinking.

Life, of course, is not just about appreciating the life and death of others and oneself, let alone waiting passively for the arrival of death.Just like the unyielding soul in the kingdom of death described by Tang Tao, "I am not afraid of death", but I am more "attached to life"; as long as the God of life "continues to give life to human beings", "I will be attached to life" .

(End of this chapter)