无身即贵身与无身以为天下——《老子》第十三章通诠

"Wushen" is Exactly "Guishen" and Managing Social Affairs by "Wushen":An Overall Interpretation of Chapter 13 of Laozi

“身”是贯串《老子》第十三章的一个关键字。章首的两个命题应句读为“宠,辱若惊;贵,大患若身”,后一命题是以“身”之为祸患来例证“贵”之为祸患。紧接着,老子转出无身即贵身的思想。无身之“身”特指贪欲,贵身之“身”则指生命。从群己关系看,贪欲的扩张(此即“有身”),结果是人我两损;只有少私寡欲(此即“无身”),才能人我两利。易言之,无身始能绝患,绝患便是贵身。章末,老子又开显出无身以为天下的境界,作为执政的准入门槛。他认为,人君若能把“为身”看得比“为天下”还重,就不会把天下当成满足自身贪欲的工具,这样才会乐意将自己的身心投入到公共事务中来。此时,天下皆蒙其利而不受其害,如此方可托之以天下。这种道家式的内圣外王思想非常可贵,且颇具现代意蕴。理顺这些思想,将有助于我们打消老子究竟主张无身还是贵身、为身还是为天下、利他还是利己等疑惑,并理解老子的辩证智慧与公共关怀,从而避免一些误解和歪曲。

"Shen (body)" is a key word in Chapter 13 of Laozi. The two propositions at the beginning of this chapter should be punctuated as “Chong Ruruojing (宠,辱若惊);Gui Dahuanruoshen (贵,大患若身)”, while the latter illustrates that "Gui (贵)" is a disaster just as "Shen". Then Laozi indicates that "Wushen (无身)" is exactly "Guishen (贵身)". The "Shen" in "Wushen" refers in particular to greed, while the "shen" in "Guishen" refers to life. From the viewpoint of interpersonal relation, when an individual chases greed (this is exactly "Youshen有身"), both he and others will suffer a loss. However, if he reduces self-interest (this is exactly "Wushen"), both parties will form reciprocal relations. In other words, only "Wushen" leads to no disaster, and keeping away from disasters is just "Guishen". At last, Laozi advocates the spiritual realm of managing social affairs by "Wushen", which serves as an access threshold of official career. Laozi is convicted that if a monarch prefers "Shen" to the country, he will not regard the country as a tool of satisfying his greed. As a result, he will be glad to devote himself to the country. In this circumstance, people are granted favors and no harm, thus can entrust the country to this monarch. This Taoist thought of "Neisheng Waiwang (内圣外王)" is extremely valuable and abounds with modern connotation. Once we understand these thoughts, it will help us step out of such bewilderment: which does Laozi actually advocate,"Wushen" or "Guishen","Weishen" or "Wei Tianxia", being altruistic or being egoistic? In addition, we will be able to understand Laozi s dialectical wisdom and public concern, thus avoiding some misconceptions or distortion.