truly great video in every way. analysis, scripting, delivery, its all great. youre doing this right. thanks.
@barneylinet6602 Жыл бұрын
I believe that Chuang Tzu is one of the broad foundation stones upon which the edifice of Zen stands. What joy it is to read his words, and then forget them, and understand. A mighty tree, indeed.
@anthonypl113 жыл бұрын
Great tangents regarding the views of modern society on the degree of philosophy. I was searching for this story of the useless tree because of Alan Watts but I didn't find it . Now thanks to you i know it now ⭐⭐⭐⭐.
@benjaminridgway89273 жыл бұрын
Very nice commentary. I like the distinction you make between 用 and 為. You're right that once some has been 用 it is usually exhausted/destroyed in the service of achieving ulterior aim (utility), where as for something to 為 "serve as" or "serve in the capacity of," means that the intrinsic nature of that thing does not change. A tree as a temple guardian is still a tree, a tree as a shade-provider is still a tree, and a tree as bird-habitat is still a tree. And the tree could not really carry out any of those roles if its intrinsic value and material integrity were not maintained. Great job!
@varanbby37382 жыл бұрын
I am a Chinese. This introduction is wonderful
@WillTheSage3 жыл бұрын
Nice! Been waiting for this one great work :)
@Melki2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the eye opening video
@maxweber10693 жыл бұрын
You make really good videos. I genuinely appreciate them and they are much higher quality than I would expect looking at the views. I wish there was a platform out there for content creators like you, since youtube has a smaller audience for these kinds of videos. Anyways one last question: are you Chinese? I would make such an assumption due to some of your chinese-related videos. Hope you do well in college (looking at these videos I would assume you are doing pretty well)!
@IanWithyBerry2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the kind words! I am not Chinese. I just have a lot of interest in Chinese thought!
@tienshan9819 Жыл бұрын
Coming back to this almost a year later. First, still a great video. Second, I wonder if there is too stark a dichotomy drawn between utility to others versus utility to oneself? Or, in general, to the notion of utility itself (as after all, the tree is still useful to itself)?
@Doubleagentaron2 жыл бұрын
Awesome channel
@ifuknowwhatimean70833 жыл бұрын
I thought, the tree is a metaphor for an enlightened being, or of the ‘absolute’ view, or of the enlightenment itself Enjoyed the video, great work!
@HarmanjitSinghB2 жыл бұрын
Love your content. Can't wait to take you out on lunch and discuss, if ever in NYC, hmu.
@StreetN1ckel3 жыл бұрын
Please keep doing what you're doing
@OVXX666 Жыл бұрын
i'll forward this to my mum the next time she calls me "冇用“
@greenspringvalley2 жыл бұрын
I heard this story elsewhere and it's really good for people who grew up in places like mining towns where whatever sense of intrinsic value that people may have tends to be criticized. On a side note, lately I've been appreciating old theater devices like soliloquies or how Anne Hall would go into surreal scenes where you barely notice the transition, but it admits that it's theater....and the part where the tree came to him in a dream could actually be a part of a one act play because what the tree says is scene worthy, and the entire story could make an excellent one act play.
@philipkim97792 жыл бұрын
Thank you.
@lambdacalculus35053 жыл бұрын
Fantastic video as always :)
@deacudaniel1635 Жыл бұрын
So Zhuangzi was the first who made the "they can't use you if you're useless" meme.
@ineverlickyoghurtlid39032 жыл бұрын
20:19 my translation would be “"Be secretive (on this)! Don't talk about it! it just casually dwells itself in the shrine, and those who don't understand its true value have already criticize it (like you). were it not served as a sacred tree, I am afraid it has already been chopped down. What's more, the approach it took to conserve itself is mysterious, if you judge it with moral standards, it will be far from the point. " In our world with everyone objectifying and objectified, the tree is actually helpless. it is not sacred, it is just a survivor of human everlasting objectification of the world. to conserve your "vitality" and protect yourself from the utility, you have to employ an unusual approach, which goes far beyond the norms of society.
@RedSntDK3 жыл бұрын
Time to get some face tattoos so I can get into heaven 😂
@tienshan98192 жыл бұрын
Does Zhuangzi discuss the fact that subjects (trees, people or otherwise) may have an inherent desire to be useful?
@ineverlickyoghurtlid39032 жыл бұрын
No. I am Chinese, i read this book many times and have never find such things.
@tienshan98192 жыл бұрын
@@ineverlickyoghurtlid3903 Thank you!
@ineverlickyoghurtlid39032 жыл бұрын
Great video! as a devoted Chinese reader of Zhuangzi here are some thoughts:1. 13:53 "奈何哉其相物也”, means“why should we objectify each other” , we subconsciously seek the utility of others(and ourselves) when we objectify them(and also ourselves). 2. 13:53 散” literally means “scattered”, as a tree in scatter form has no big hunk and thus is useless 。“散木” may be paraphrased as “useless tree”, however “散人” is more a metaphor, and may be paraphrased as “a person without a well-developed mind or thought”. the person cannot enjoy longevity as the tree because he has some utility to the society(carpenter), which is proof of this stupidity. you can contact me if you have an interest related to Zhuangzi, I will be more than glad to discuss it. your perspective on Zhuangzi is very interesting.
@sekarmaltum16952 жыл бұрын
so if you see a twisted and messy tree.. there is a kami living in it? 🤔neat
@SnakeAndTurtleQigong Жыл бұрын
🙏💙☯️
@jkville18992 жыл бұрын
far from being useless, the tree continues to increasingly provide what is needed more than what is desired, oxygen
@dr.gaosclassroom Жыл бұрын
What a wonderful video!! 🤩🤩😍Thank you for sharing this. It is very interesting you focus on the concept of "scattered or diffused". However, I disagree to label Zhuangzi's view as relativism. I think it might be appropriate to label his view as perspectivism because, according to Zhuangzi, whether a tree or anything in that matter, depends on which perspective one is taking!! As you shown quite clearly in this video, whether one is useful to one's family or friends is from the points of view of the family or friends. Being useful to others might be harmful to oneself. A meaningful life is a balance act between being useful to one's family, friends, loved one, or society at large, and being healthy for oneself. I have made a video on perspectivism of Zhuangzi's view in a video. Here is the link for your reference: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qHOze4mYeKujo68