“A beautiful woman who is pleasing to men is good only for frightening fish when she falls into the water.”
A comment on pragmatism I suppose, also a comment on perception. We may find this woman beautiful, but the fish merely find her frightening. What good is this woman if all she does is scare the fish away that we are trying to catch? There is another message here though. A reverse message of perception.
Sure, that which we find beautiful may be repugnant or scary to others. However, the reverse is true; that which we find repugnant or scary is considered beautiful to others. Knowing this truth, understanding the difference in perception, we can see and appreciate so much more beauty if we simply learn to alter our perception. Take in the great beauty of the world, it is quite a wonderment.
I think it is really a statement about grasping at inherent existence and how that plays into what it means to be happy in the Buddhist sense v. in the deluded existence sense. I think it’s meant to make us see the ridiculousness of ego-clinging and how it can cause suffering for everyone involved.
I think u guys over analysed it, but great point nevertheless. I think what it is trying to say is simply that woman who are only pretty are useless. As a chinese i can see from our culture that woman are expected to embody more qualities that just being pleasing to the eyes, it wish to instill the idea that vanity is bad. Then again i havent read the chinese version so ya.
Thanks for your input, good points.