he grieved but his grief was not heartfelt; he wore mourning but without howling. Yet although wanting in these three points, he is considered the best mourner in the State of Lu. Surely this is the name and not the reality. I am astonished at it."
"Mêng Sun," said Confucius, "did all that was required. He has made an advance towards wisdom.
- Towards Tao, wherein there is no weeping nor gnashing of teeth.
He could not do less;
- Than mourn outwardly, for fear of committing a breach of social etiquette, in harmony if not in accordance with which the true Sage passes his life.
while all the time actually doing less.
- As seen from the absence of those signs which prove inward grief.
"Mêng Sun knows not whence we come nor whither we go. He knows not whether the end will come early or late. Passing into life as a man, he quietly awaits his passage into the unknown. What should the dead know of the living, or the living know of the dead? Even you and I may be in a dream from which we have not yet awaked.
"Then again, he adapts himself physically,
- To the ceremonial of the body.
while avoiding injury to his higher self.
- Keeping his soul free from the disturbance of passion.
