Zhuangzi, though the author of "The Happy Excursion," clearly understood that all things depend on one another. There is no absolute freedom in the world. Even with wings, one cannot freely travel in all directions; even transformed into a fish, one cannot roam the boundless sea without limits; even in another form, one cannot truly fly across the vast sky at will. Everything is interconnected, and all beings coexist. We live in others’ worlds, and others exist within ours.
If mountains had no support, they could not stretch into continuous ranges; if water had no support, it could not gather into oceans; if dust had no support, it could not settle into earth; if flowers had no support, they could not bloom even for a brief moment. The natural world is boundless, while human perception is limited. The mysteries of nature go far beyond our understanding, and what we follow are only the basic laws of mutual generation and restriction among all things.
People often say that heroes are destined to be lonely, yet even so, they find comfort in wind, rain, and vast landscapes, because nature itself offers companionship and support.
With a nation comes the family. History moves forward like an endless river, and times constantly change. The world has been transformed. Since ancient times, those who win the hearts of the people win the world. Rulers rely on the people to achieve their ambitions, and even after death, their legacy may remain. The rise and fall of history depend on public support and human hearts. The prosperity and decline of a nation are always tied to the will of its people.
From birth, humans depend on their parents; in adulthood, they rely on society for roles and opportunities; in old age, they depend on their children. If only one person remained in the world, life would lose its dependence and meaning.
Dependence is also a warm emotion. Relying on parents brings security, relying on friends relieves loneliness, and being relied upon by others gives a sense of value and purpose.
As the saying goes, "The carriage depends on the axle; the lips and teeth are interdependent." All things are connected and coexist. Interdependence is a law of nature. It sustains not only survival but also the warmth and happiness of life.
