The Truth, The Whole Truth, And Nothing But The Truth

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Before I begin this article, let me first inform you that this article is going to be slightly different from the few articles that I have already written, or most of the many articles that I plan to write in the future. How so? Well, the written articles (or most of the unwritten, but planned articles) all describe true events that I have experienced. The events are described from my point of view, depicted according to my memories and expressed through words of my choice which portray my feelings at the time of the event as I see fit. In other words, the events in my articles are, unless stated otherwise, true.

However, this article differs from the rest in the sense that I will be describing three stories in this article. I introduce these three stories through this blog in the hope that the readers of this blog (or at least some of the readers) will benefit after reading these stories that you may not have heard before. Thus, I shall now write this article, basked in the soft glow of Christmas lights, with a peaceful state of mind that compliments this serene night of Christmas Eve, and accompanied by my fully supportive and harmonious family.


1.
The first story revolves around a letter, written by the famous French philosopher Voltaire. In 1726, Voltaire made a clever remark to the Chevalier de Rohan, a nobleman. He resented Voltaire for making him look like a fool, and had him sent to the Bastille. This letter was written while Voltaire was still in the Bastille, and it was addressed to the Minister for the Department of Paris.

The Bastille, April, 1726.
M. de Voltaire ventures humbly to point out that an attempt has been made to assassinate him by the brave Chevalier de Rohan (assisted by six cutthroats, behind whom the Chevalier courageously placed himself); and that ever since, M. de Voltaire has tried to repair, not his own honor, but that of the Chevalier—which has proved too difficult…M. de Voltaire demands permission to dine at the table of the Governor of the Bastille and to see his friends. He demands, still more urgently, permission to set out for England. If any doubt is felt as to the reality of his departure for that country, an escort can be sent with him to Calais.

Voltaire was later released from the Bastille and exiled to England.

And so it still is today—some people who make an effort to tell the truth are often victims of attempted “assassination”, usually by people who, like the Chevalier de Rohan, place themselves (courageously, of course) behind a protective barrier of some sort.

2.
The second story concerns Confucius and the child that became his teacher—Xiang Tuo.

One day, Confucius was riding in his chariot when he came upon a group of children playing on the road. As the chariot drew nearer, all the children except one ran to the side of the road. The child still on the road, Xiang Tuo, stood firmly facing the chariot. Confucius called out to Xiang Tuo to move aside for them to pass, but Xiang Tuo would not budge. Confucius got out of his chariot.
“Why will you not allow us to pass?” Confucius asked Xiang Tuo.
“There is a castle here. How can a chariot pass?” Xiang Tuo replied.
“Where is the castle?” Confucius asked.
“Right here under my feet!” Xiang Tuo said.
Confucius looked at the ground, and he saw a castle made out of sand and stone that the children had built.
“What if my chariot passes anyway?” asked Confucius.
“Have you seen a castle give way to a chariot?” was Xiang Tuo’s reply.
Confucius, astounded by the child’s intelligence, went round the “castle” to get to the other side.

Even though Xiang Tuo was a child, Confucius acknowledged that he was able to learn from the child, and Confucius openly declared Xiang Tuo as his teacher.

3.
The last story I shall write about today involves another famous Chinese philosopher—Zhuang Zi.

One day, Zhuang Zi went to see Hui Zi, who was appointed Minister of the State of Liang. Someone suggested to Hui Zi that Zhuang Zi might harbor some ulterior motive in coming. Hui Zi started to worry, and he sent his men to arrest Zhuang Zi. Zhuang Zi was then brought before Hui Zi.
“Why have you come to see me?” asked Hui Zi.
“I have actually come to tell you a story,” said Zhuang Zi. “Have you heard of the Young Phoenix? It arises in the South and flies to the North, and it never rests on anything except the begonia tree, and never drinks from anything except from springs of the sweetest water. Once, it passed over an owl which was devouring a rotten rat. Alarmed and afraid that the Young Phoenix was going to steal away its meal, the owl began squawking loudly, unaware that the Young Phoenix had no interest whatsoever in the rotten rat. Now, are you like this owl?” Zhuang Zi finished his story with a question.

Some people are just like the owl, afraid that people will scheme and plot to snatch away what is in their hands…But they fail to realize that what they have in their clutches is just a rotten, smelly dead rat.


So ends my short summary of three simple stories with three different protagonists—the Western philosopher Voltaire, and Confucius and Zhuang Zi from the East.

In my opinion, all of these stories bring out some uncomplicated lessons to be learned. As in the case of Voltaire, there are many people who avoid the truth by attempting “assassination” on the people who dare to speak the (sometimes ugly) truth. Chevalier de Rohan is also similar to these modern day “assassinators” in the sense that these people tend to place themselves (courageously, of course) behind barriers to protect themselves. For example, anonymity has been used both in the past and in the present as a barrier to protect oneself while courageously insulting another. Furthermore, some people suffer a somewhat tragic fate even though they try to “repair the honor” of their own “assassinator”, just like Voltaire who was exiled, and later banished from France.

As for the second story, I don’t think much really needs to be said. Confucius, an older and respected man, was willing to acknowledge a child as his teacher. He was not ashamed or embarrassed, but he treated the child politely after he saw that what the child pointed out was based on nothing but logic, common sense, and the simple truth. His actions, I think, should be considered a lesson for people who treat children as beings who know nothing, who deserve no politeness whatsoever, and who can be insulted mercilessly just for telling the truth.

As for the third story, it relates closely to people who worry themselves over nothing. These people fail to notice that what they possess is nothing but a rotting corpse to others, and they tend to appear as dogs who bark madly to defend a bone, just like the owl who squawked loudly to defend a dead rat. Now, are you like this owl?