'Zhuangzi's Freedom', Canvas 70x100 cm / 28x40″

'Zhuangzi's Freedom', Canvas 70x100 cm / 28x40″

£72.57

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When the shoe fits, the foot is forgotten. When the belt fits, the belly is forgotten. When the heart is right, "for" and "against" are forgotten. No drives, no compulsions, no needs, no attractions: Then your affairs are under control. You are a free man.

― Zhuangzi

That's a wonderfully insightful and practical analogy for inner harmony and freedom! It uses everyday experiences to illustrate a profound state of being.

The first two lines, "When the shoe fits, the foot is forgotten. When the belt fits, the belly is forgotten," beautifully demonstrate how things fade into the background when they are perfectly aligned and comfortable. We don't constantly focus on a well-fitting shoe or belt because they serve their purpose without causing any discomfort or friction.

Similarly, "When the heart is right, 'for' and 'against' are forgotten" suggests that inner peace and alignment transcend the dualistic nature of the mind. When our inner state is balanced and harmonious, the constant mental chatter of likes and dislikes, judgments and opinions, subsides.

The list that follows – "No drives, no compulsions, no needs, no attractions" – paints a picture of true inner freedom. It describes a state where we are no longer dictated by unconscious urges, ingrained habits, or the constant pull of desires and aversions. This doesn't necessarily mean a complete absence of preferences, but rather a liberation from being controlled by them.

The concluding statements, "Then your affairs are under control. You are a free man," highlight the natural consequence of this inner harmony. When we are not driven by internal conflicts and external attractions, we can act with clarity and intention, and our lives become more aligned with our true will. This inner mastery is the essence of true freedom.

'Zhuangzi's Freedom', Canvas 70x100 cm / 28x40″

'Zhuangzi's Freedom', Canvas 70x100 cm / 28x40″

When the shoe fits, the foot is forgotten. When the belt fits, the belly is forgotten. When the heart is right, "for" and "against" are forgotten. No drives, no compulsions, no needs, no attractions: Then your affairs are under control. You are a free man.

― Zhuangzi

'Zhuangzi's Freedom', Canvas 70x100 cm / 28x40″

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