How to Run away from One's Shadow
In a Japanese book (a collection of various stories) written 800 years ago, there is a story about Confucius, a great teacher and philosopher who lived in the warring States period of China 2500 years ago.
When Confucius and his disciples were playing music on the bank of a river, an old man came by boat. When the music ended, the old man asked one of Confucius' disciples who the leader was: "Is he a king, a minister, or any exalted personage?" The disciple answered, "It is our master traveling the world to teach kings, ministers, and people about politics, philosophy, courtesy, ethics, etc."
Then, the old man said, "Oh, what a waste of life! It is like a man running around trying to flee from his own shadow. If you want to flee from your own shadow, you should sit in a shady area."
As the old man left the place, getting on board, the disciple went back to Confucius and told him what the old man had said. Then, Confucius said, "He is a great man. Go and summon him back." But, there was no sight of the boat and the old man.
Confucius was known, of course, as a representative Confucianist, in Japan from old days. His teaching was well known and studied in Japan, since Analects of Confucius was imported into Japan around the 4th century. His Confucianism respected culture and religion of older Chinese dynasties. Confucius thought that as old dynasties had gone and whole China got into the warring States period, ancient courtesy and ethics were lost as with the music for rites and festivals.
I think that this story about Confucius and the old man was created in Japan 800 years ago when Buddhism was popular among Japanese noble people, ruling samurais, and ordinary people.
Confucius taught how men should live decently. Buddha taught how men should abandon their life gracefully. It may be wiser to leave unclean society and find oneself for a man to get true satisfaction and achieve true salvation of his soul, since human world cannot be the Pure Land.
Yet, Christ Jesus said that the Kingdom of God could come to those who heard words of the God and acted accordingly.
In this context, it is interesting to think what stories should have been created if Christianity had reached Japan 800 years ago.
Nonetheless, it is also interesting to think that a man cannot run away from his shadow (sins) even if he could improve the unclean society (which forces him to commit sins).
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Mark 10 King James Version
25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
Mark 10 King James Version
25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.