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Mengzi wrote of three things in which the superior man delights: first, that his mother and father are both alive and he lives in peace with his siblings; second, that when he looks upon heaven and the world, he feels no shame; and third, that he can get the most talented individuals under his training and discipline.
If there are superior men, there must be ordinary men. If there are the delights of superior men, there must be those of ordinary men. And surely ordinary men are equally entitled to the right to enjoy their delights as superior men. The three delights discussed by Mengzi are for only those superior men who aim to lead lives that contribute to world peace. They are too noble and abstract for others. Those who would be lucky enough to have peace in their own lives will find them difficult to appreciate.
With mutual funds and stocks plummeting in the markets, many ordinary people have lost their sense of purpose. There are thoughts of suicide, depression isolates them from other people, and the idea of divorce enters the mind. The world, however, keeps turning regardless of what happens to money. A person needs reasons for happiness, especially in times like these.
The first delight of the average citizen should be the pleasure of exploring beautiful places. A person may appreciate such pleasure while watching the sun setting behind the mountain range that runs like the backbone of the Korean peninsula from Muryangsujeon, the main worship hall of Buseok Temple in North Jeolla Province. Or such pleasure can come from gazing out to sea in the south coast, or from witnessing the beauty of the snow-covered pines of Cheoneun Temple in Mt. Jiri. Being in the presence of such sublime scenes can clear away the worldly grime.
The second is the joy of spending time with friends. Having a close one with whom to share both the love for and emptiness of life can make life delightful. The person who takes away the sorrows from deep down in the heart is a good friend.
The third joy is good food. With beautiful scenery and good friends, a person must have good cuisine to make the joy complete. To be able to enjoy mouth-watering dishes with good friends is a blessing, such as the pork hock dish I recently enjoyed with a group of acquaintances: tasting the clean flavors of delicious food can console the souls of many ordinary people. Why shouldn't we pursue the three delights of average folk rather than the difficult ones of superior men?
The column was contributed by Cho Yong-heon, a professor at the Graduate School of Oriental Studies at Wonkwang University.
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