Respect for life

Zhang Xiaofeng

It was an extremely long summer afternoon in Indiana [Indiana: a state in the United States, located in Eastern United States. ) by a lake. I was sitting and reading casually at first, and suddenly I noticed that there were some trees by the lake that were scattering some white fibers, big clumps, like cotton, some floating on the grass, and some floating into the lake. I didn't pay much attention at the time and just thought it was caused by the wind.

However, gradually, I found that the situation was simply surprising. Several hours have passed, and the trees are still sending those small clouds unconsciously, as if they are an infinite cloud bank. The whole afternoon, the whole night, the sky was filled with that kind of stuff. The next day the situation was exactly the same. I was surprised and shocked.

In fact, when I was in elementary school, I knew that there was a type of seed that was spread by wind blowing fibers. But that's just knowing the answer to a test question. I really saw it in those days, and what I felt in my heart was a kind of conviction [convinced: convinced. 〕, an indescribable awe. I encountered life almost for the first time—albeit a plant one.

I felt that the cloud-like seeds collided with something strongly in my heart. I couldn't help but be moved by the luxury, extravagance and investment regardless of the cost of life. Perhaps only one seed is enough to grow into a tree after drifting day and night, but the Creator is happy to do such a thrilling feat.

I still think of that soft lake when I am meditating. I don’t know which one of the seeds by the lake has become a small tree. At least, I know that one has grown. That seed once encountered a piece of land, and it became a shadow in the canyon of a passer-by's heart, teaching her how to revere life.

Note: This selection is from "Exquisite Prose·Philosophy·Culture Volume" (Changjiang Literature and Art Publishing House, 1995 edition). Zhang Xiaofeng, Taiwanese writer.

●Related information

1. Introduction to the author

Zhang Xiaofeng was born in Jinhua, Zhejiang in 1941. He arrived in Taipei in 1949 and graduated from the Chinese Department of Soochow University. She is one of Taiwan's famous essayists. He has written many plays, novels and essays. Her creations are permeated with the spirit of Christian faith, her prose is full of her true feelings, and her plays contain the awareness of China's homeland.

2. Appreciation of "Respect for Life"

Zhang Xiaofeng is a female writer known for her delicateness and sensitivity. Many of her essays are often inspired by her daily life, what she sees and hears, and explores some themes about the meaning of life, kindness and beauty in her thoughts, such as "Mother's Feather Clothes" and "Also the Water Mae". wait. This article "Respect for Life" is a short but meaningful piece of this type of work.

The article is written about the author's associations caused by a small experience in Indiana. One summer afternoon, when the author was reading a book by the lake, he accidentally discovered that the trees by the lake were scattering large clumps of cotton-like white fibers. The author, who was immersed in the book, thought it was just blown away by the wind and didn't pay much attention. However, gradually, the cloud-like seeds floating all over the sky endlessly completely diverted the author's attention. They were floating spectacularly, minding their own business. They were supposed to be reading books, but they sat quietly by the lake, unknowingly spending the whole "cannot grow any longer" summer afternoon and the whole night.

Yes, many of us know that "there is a type of seed that is broadcast by fiber." Among the plants we are familiar with, such as willows, seeds are spread in this way.

So, in the season when willows are sprouting catkins, what kind of impression have those snow-like poplar flowers left on your heart? Maybe it's Yang Wanli's constant cutting and confusing thoughts like "Yang Hua is so sentimental that she flies into the boat and falls into the wine"? Or is it as sad as Daiyu's "Wandering is like a human life, empty and lingering, talking about romance"? Or is it the annoyance of the heat caused by the smoke and the wind? Or is it just the frivolous confusion flying around? Sometimes, does the vastness that overwhelms the world unexpectedly make you feel like you have no one to own? ——Of course, it may also arouse beautiful reveries in your heart, such as Han Yu's "To lift the fiber into a clear mirror, it will be wet but infinitely unable to return"; but poplar flowers, these seeds like clouds flying all over the sky, are in our nation The mindset formed by the accumulation of cultural traditions is always not positive.

However, the author felt a different kind of shock in the overwhelming floating. It was "a kind of admiration, an indescribable awe." What we see, whether it is sadness, sadness, or confusion, are actually our own emotions triggered by touching things; what the author sees is the seed itself, which is life. If you don't have an object-oriented mind, what you see is always yourself; but when the author faces such magnificence, he sincerely feels that he "almost encountered life for the first time." Aren’t all the living things that can be seen and the plants, trees, birds and animals among us all life? ——No, the author is not referring to specific objective existence, but the vitality of life itself, the thrilling persistence of life as life.

So, "The cloud-like seeds collided with something strongly in the heart of "me". I couldn't help but be moved by the "luxurious, extravagant, and investment regardless of cost" in life. "Maybe in "Floating day and night, only one seed is enough to grow into a tree." However, this is what the creator has achieved inadvertently, and it is the vigorous beauty of life itself. What struck the author's heart was actually what she faced The heartfelt gratitude to the majestic Creator.

Do you feel this way before? Has it ever touched you in your careless life? Has it been a long time? ——The author uses his unique thoughtfulness to refine and strengthen the most beautiful feelings about life that everyone has. Think about what you already have: Red maples and green catkins, spring catkins and autumn fireflies, no matter how weak things are, they are still a kind of tenacious life!

This is a purely perceptual prose. Simple. However, it is more than just prose. Each of these few hundred words is the living seed of the tree that has become dark in the author's heart. They are silently growing regardless of cost or harvest. Floating. From now on, if you are suddenly and inexplicably moved by the knee-deep grass or the thin wings of a dragonfly, it is because one of the seeds floating in your heart has quietly grown and taught you, How to revere life.

3. Appreciation of "Revere Life"

The earth supports countless lives, but people in this vibrant world often do not feel that they are included. The existence of life within oneself, let alone the rich philosophy hidden under the simple and ordinary form of life.

This article chooses the "life" (of plants) of trees to spread it. The description object is in the form of seeds, which vividly illustrates the "awe-inspiring" persistence, tenacious life consciousness and vitality of the tree.

The author's "awe" of the tree has experienced a progression from shallow to deep. From the outside to the inside, I first discovered that "a tree by the lake was scattering some white fibers, big clumps, like cotton, some floating on the grass, and some floating into the lake", but "there was no such thing at that time. Pay close attention"; then the situation is "simply surprising": "Those trees are still sending those small clouds unconsciously, as if they are a giant cloud bank", and the author's attitude further becomes " "Surprised and shocked."

The following discussion is a key part of elucidating the main idea.

The author feels "impressed" and "awed" because of the seeds' "luxurious, extravagant, no-cost investment" and the persistent spirit of "when they are scattered day and night, only one seed is enough to grow into a tree" "Strongly collided" with the author's heart. It throws out a lot, but only a little can be recovered, and the rate of return is almost zero; it appears extremely small and powerless in the face of the harsh living environment, but it also completes the inheritance of life with its own unique silent persistence. The continuation of the species was achieved. It was truly a "thrilling feat."

At this point in the writing, the word "life" has been parsed out from the commonplace and ordinary. It has a full and thick texture. In addition to being in awe and admiration, people will also trigger rich associations and carefully think about it deep in their hearts. Savor this vast world and all these living beings.

A seed can easily break through a human skull that cannot be opened manually;

In order to obtain water, the tamarisk in the desert has a very developed root system that can stretch several kilometers long;

The green pines in the crevices of the steep cliffs can still brave the wind and frost, fight the severe cold, and remain evergreen all year round.

......

Is it that the essence of life is to constantly make breakthroughs in difficulties, gain new life in desperate situations, and return to eternity after death?

4. Appreciation of "Love Life"

Life is relative to life. The best way to love life is to cherish time and love life. Similarly, "death" is another form of "life" and is the ultimate state of a passionate and abundant life form. If you can fully enjoy all the happiness that life has to offer, will you pay attention to the arrival of death?

——This is the basic level of meaning shown in this article.

We can understand the first level as "regular" life. In this case, there are two attitudes towards life: "extending" and "killing" the "bad days"; Enjoy it slowly and appreciate the wonderful time." But the author went on to argue: Life was originally "incomparably superior", "worthy of praise" and "full of fun", but we ourselves transformed it into "a miserable thing and a cheap thing". It can be seen that the loveliness of life completely depends on our own understanding and attitude towards life. As Seneca said: "A confused person's life is boring and restless, but he pins all his hopes on the afterlife."

The second level supplements the explanation of the "special" state of life: death. But the author has the "secret" to turn death into life, which is to cherish life and love life, because "only those who are happy with life can truly not feel the pain of death" and because "the joy of life depends on how much we care about life." Depends”. Finally, the author said with deep feeling that he is confident that he can "enjoy twice as much life as others". Even though he has entered the twilight years of his life, because he "quickly seizes time to retain the fleeting days", "by virtue of Make effective use of time to make up for the hasty passage of time", so your last days will be more "rich and fulfilling"!

This article is a philosopher's quotation, simple and profound; because it was translated from nearly five hundred years ago The former French is somewhat difficult to read. But maybe increasing the difficulty of reading a little bit can help people get rid of impetuousness, correct their attitude, and thus better understand and appreciate life?