The Frog And The Turtle II
A Zhuangzi parable.
Long-time friends and readers will recognize The Frog of the Old Well and the Turtle of the Eastern Ocean. This is a Zhuangzi parable, and like so many, has multiple interpretations. Zhuangzi (Master Zhuang) was a philosopher who lived in the 4th century BCE and is credited with authoring The Zhuangzi, a book that stands next to The Daodejing as a foundational text of Daoism. In my previous article, I used the story to put words to my own experience, as the frog confronted by the wider world he had forgotten and neglected.
Today I suggest a new context from which to view this story. Imagine a relative as the frog, because a mere work acquaintance or a friend lacks the connection one cannot easily slough off. Imagine this relative has a nature which is miserly and fearful. He abuses those that care for him, supremely confident in his control and right. He never questions his world view. We are the turtle.
Duke Tzu Mou leaned forward, sighed heavily, looked to Heaven, smiled and said, ‘Dear Sir, have you not heard of the frog in the broken down old well? He said to the turtle of the Eastern Ocean, “I have a great time! I lean onto the well wall, or I go down in the well, stepping along the broken bricks. When I enter the water, I float with it supporting my chin, feet up; on the mud, I dig my feet in. I look about me at the larvae, crabs and tadpoles and there is none that is as good as I. To have complete control of the waters of the gorge and not to wish to move but to enjoy the old well, this is great! Dear Sir, why don’t you come down and see me sometime?”
‘The turtle of the Eastern Ocean tried, but before he had put his left foot into the well, his right knee was stuck. At this he paused, shuffled out backwards and then began to speak about the ocean. “A distance of a thousand miles doesn’t come close to describing its length, nor a depth of a thousand leagues describe its deepness. In the time of Yu, nine years in every ten there were floods, but this did not raise the ocean an inch. In the time of Tang, seven years in every eight there were droughts, but this did not lower the ocean shore an inch. Nothing changes these waters, neither in the shorter term nor in the long term; they neither recede nor advance, grow larger nor smaller. This is the great happiness of the Eastern Ocean.” When the frog in the broken down old well heard this, he was utterly amazed and astonished; he was utterly astonished, dumbfounded, and at a loss.’
“For someone whose understanding cannot handle such knowledge… it is like a mosquito trying to carry a mountain on its back… This is plainly impossible. All they are capable of is claiming some short-term reward.”
In our scenario, what do you think the frog does with this revelation? You guessed right, he rejects it, even angrily lashing out at the turtle. He finds excuses and justifications to blame the turtle, twisting and omitting facts so his imaginary world can remain intact. He will say and do anything to keep his world small.
I feel sorry for this frog, sitting in his old well, thinking he is master of his world and all within it. The reality is, his old well is but a stopover for the turtle who happens by, or the tadpoles who grow up and leave for better wells and brighter futures. The frog’s little world will only become smaller, drier, and lonelier, bereft of sincere contact. Lacking in love, because if there is one thing in this world that cannot be taken, it is love. Love must be given freely, and when it is lost, gone forever.
I recall the words Zhuangzi accredited to Laozi — “Holding power, a man is frightened when he has it and worried lest he should lose it. And these people go on forever without ever stopping to see what it is all about. These are the damned.”
Someday the frog will find his world so small that he cannot easily deny the wider world outside or refuse to accept that everyone that could have cared for him has gone away. That will be a bad day for the frog. I care not for his suffering, remembering that my task is to give my love and care to those the frog neglects. This frog earned his bad days after a life inflicting pain on others. May you recognize the frogs in your life and spare your efforts for yourself and those worthy of your time.
Thank for sharing. From phycology and Behavioral Economics’s way to explain that we all have cognitive bias . And it’s really neat that thousand years ago Zhuangzi can use frog and turtle story tell people . He’s a such great story teller . And still inspired us today that keep mind open don’t be a 🐸.. There is more possibility in your life and the world is bigger than you thought so keep learning . Meet more turtles 🐢 .
What a great parable! The frog suffers. Sometimes, the frogs tire of their suffering, and an inner urge will have them leave their well, like Plato's Cave. Other times, the well gets destroyed, throwing the frogs into a greater vastness. In the end, all frogs will croak:)