| dc.description.abstract | Zhuangzi’s theory of Suffering/Happiness roots in his understanding and contemplation for all kinds of suffering and happiness in life, with which he confronts the pain and agony caused by disasters and wrongdoings that turn into intense Negative Emotions and imprison individuals, who have difficulty transforming the Negative Emotions into Positive ones. The bitterness of reality comes from the confinement and enslavement brought by mundane judgments. Because of pouring in the sentiments of suffering or happiness, men ignore the importance of transforming emotions; thus they create misperceptions for reality and trap themselves within those feelings.
As far as the pattern of occurring and developing of humans’ suffering and happiness are concerned, Zhuangzi’s theory of Suffering/Happiness contains two emphases. First, the suffering and happiness sensed by men are subjective shapeshiftings of consciousness. They are intertwined. Second, although most of the suffering and happiness in life are triggered by objective entities, the consciousness that embodies them may embrace the change of feelings and reach spiritual contentment through transforming and yielding itself to the nature of matters. The two emphases are interrelated. Suffering and happiness are subjective variations of emotion resulting from the same object. In my opinion, Zhuangzi’s theory of Suffering/Happiness contains significant meaning for how men may accommodate their own suffering and happiness. Interpreting the theory within a modern context via Zhuangzi’s philosophy helps the individual reverse the way they approach suffering and happiness – from react passively to accommodate actively. Turning suffering into happiness signifies the social function of Zhuangzi’s theory of Suffering/Happiness that attains the integrated harmony with individual balance of emotions and inner tranquility.
To sum up, Zhuangzi’s theory of Suffering/Happiness encourages humans to blend themselves with Tao, discarding forms and social classes, and by yielding to the nature of matters and the Nature restore their Real Emotions, with which they should then convert their emotions and experience Tao. In that way, one may turn suffering into happiness, and approach the reality differently. If the individual submits to his true nature, he may embody the greatest value of life and experience the ecstasy of Real Emotions.
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