Zhuangzi’s “Autumn Floods”: People Are Like Water—Formless, Colorless, and Empty of Inherent Nature, at One with Heaven

At noon, while my thoughts were all over the place, I suddenly noticed: hey, I can think about something else. I can think about how fragrant the osmanthus trees are, and I can look at how beautiful the clouds are in the sky. Today there were blue skies and white clouds. Then I found my heavenly little spot by the river. Watching the water—watching the water is so lovely. Then I thought about how so many people of great insight have sat there watching the water.
Then I thought that “You are not a fish, so how do you know that fish are not happy?” does not fit the spirit of Zhuangzi at all. If the other person were fundamentally incapable of feeling the joy of fish, Zhuangzi would not even bother with him, much less tell him about it and then keep debating him when he argued back.

Zhuangzi’s “Autumn Floods”: People Are Like Water—Formless, Colorless, and Empty of Inherent Nature, at One with Heaven
Water is formless, colorless, and empty of inherent nature. Vessels give it shape; colors tint it.
People who are unaware of their attachments use vessels and colors to define themselves, calling themselves green water, river water, seawater, or soda water, and taking pride in it. They identify with their status, professions, and roles.
“Autumn Floods” in the *Zhuangzi* tells of the autumn waters brimming with self-satisfaction, only to realize their own shallowness upon encountering the sea. It is like when we were young: small-town students adept at taking exams, getting into prestigious universities, reading a few books, calling ourselves the elite, and feeling very pleased with ourselves. Only after seeing the wider world did we realize our own shallowness.
Once we become aware of our emptiness of inherent nature, we no longer cling to those colors and shapes. They have nothing to do with who we are, and we no longer impose any definitions or constraints on ourselves. We can evaporate into clouds, condense into snow and drift through the sky, freeze into ice and remain stored in the Tianshan Mountains, or accept being in a muddy pond. It is simply a matter of being at ease wherever we find ourselves.
First, we become more at ease with whatever circumstances arise, without resisting, making a fuss, or clinging.
Second, we become clearer and calmer. Our hearts and minds are at peace, and we are at one with Heaven.
Why do people identify with vessels, colors, and shapes? Existential psychology offers one possible explanation. People whose inner core is too weak need these things to feel that they exist. People with a healthy inner core can exist naturally and unconditionally, as water.