Nowadays we live in a global village. Thanks to the highly developed transportation and new media technology we can become neighbors with anybody in the world, communicate and satisfy our needs. However, the relationships between different individuals, groups, countries, and with nature have become worse. Even at this very moment, there are wars and conflicts between different philosophies resulting in confrontations and hostilities toward each other. People neglect diversity and seek only profit and indulgence. People undertake reckless developments and destroy nature. Some people even commit suicides, easily fall for drugs and give up on their lives. Human dignity and values have lost their true meaning. To a certain extent, it is true that people are trying to retrieve humanity through rationality and justice. Various peace themed global events, cultural interactions, and efforts to protect our planet are some examples.
Unfortunately these approaches are rooted from western utilitarianism and rationalism which are based on the premise of human’s sensible rationality. Limitations occur since decisions are made only based on the interest of majority and economy. In the name of sensibility we suppress others and for the common good we destroy our valuable nature.
Therefore now is the time that peaceful coexistence needs to be pursued than any other time in the past. How can we solve this dilemma this human race is facing and make a truly peaceful coexisting world? I believe that with a thorough understanding of Zhuangzi’s, an ancient Eastern philosopher’s, “dao-way” and by learning and practicing the notion of “In-shi”, we can achieve this kind of world.
In fact, this idea is more common and spread out than we realize. Compared to the passive learning the kids had to go through in the past, these days more and more parents tend to consider their children’s nature and interests and let them have more freedom. Companies and governments tend to generate strategies that are more fit to individuals’ characteristics and their environment. This phenomena can be viewed pursuing the notion of “In-shi” in which all creation should be in their natural state of being, pertaining their natural characteristics and logic, without any “fixed/artificial” principles. In short, by preserving the natural state and retrieving the “In-shi", we can return to the unadulterated state of being since the beginning. This will be the truly meaningful way of realizing the value of reading “Zhaungzi” and acquiring its core principles. Key Words