论道家“无欲”表象下之“大欲”

“Great desire” under “no desire” in Taoism

学界一般认为道家的"无欲"是指减少、乃至消除欲望,实际上道家提倡"无欲"的目的是要通过精神修养来提升思想境界,以实现更大的欲望——消解人生痛苦。此提升过程可分为三步:首先把低层次的物欲上升为更高层次的精神欲求;然后是超越精神欲求对个人的制约,达到"无任何欲求"的层次;最后是把"无任何欲求"本身也彻底忘却。欲望是痛苦和快乐的共同根源,经过逐层的排遣和摆脱,当全部欲望被铲除之时,人生的一切痛苦也随之化解,进入无苦无乐的至乐境界。

Scholars generally believed that “no desire” in Taoism means reducing, or even eliminating the desire. In fact,Taoism advocates “no desire” in order to promote the spiritual state through self-cultivation and to achieve the greaterdesire, that is, eliminating pain in life. This promotion can be divided into three steps. First, the low level of materialismcan be elevated to a higher level of spiritual desire. Then, restrains of spiritual desires on individuals can be transcendedto achieve the level of “no desire at all”. Finally, the “no desire” itself is completely forgotten. Desire is the commonroot of pain and pleasure. By dispensing and eliminating step by step, all desires will be eradicated and all the pain willbe defused. Then comes the realm of ecstacy with no pain or happiness.