Not to be severedfrom his/her primal sourceis the characteristic of the heavenly man/woman;not to be severed from his/her true nature,that of the spirit-like man/woman;not to be severed from the truth,that of the perfect man/woman. To regard heaven as the primal source,virtue as the root and the taoas the gate,and recognizing the implications of changeand…
Under the heaven the schools of particular knowledge are numerous. The advocates of each school believe in the effectiveness of their approaches and that nothing can be added to them. Where can we find now what was known as the wisdom of the tao in the past? We must reply, “it is everywhere.” Where…
Reflection upon the lines quoted from Book 32 of the Zhuangzi proved to be a dive into the deep end of a pool of rumination on epistemology. But those who are ignorantrely only on what they seeand take it to be what is common to all men. What do I mean when I write…
The attempt to produce equality with what is not equal will only result in inequality. The attempt to make certain with what is not certain will not go beyond uncertainty. One who relies only on seeing with his eyes will be led only by what he sees. It is spirit that leads to certainty….
“The goodness of service does not imply that it is the same on all occasions. Serving parents to provide contentment does not prescribe how it is to be done; in festivities enjoyment does not depend on the dishes that are used; in mourning as an expression of grief the rituals are insignificant. Rites determine…
The vain take pleasure in every good opinion they hear about themselves (abstracted entirely from the point of view of utility, and just as much removed from truth or falsity), just as they suffer from every bad opinion. This is because they submit – they feel submissive – to both good and bad opinions…
Wu Yue said, “The small man seeks wealth. The superior man seeks renown. They differ in the way they frame their mind and transform their nature. However, as they both cast away what they possess in pursuit of what they lack, they are alike. Hence it is said, ‘Do not be a small man;…
Zizhang said,“In the past Jie and Zhou reveled in being sovereignand possessed all the wealth in the world.If you now say to a grasping man, ‘Your conductis like that of Jie and Zhou,’ he will look contriteand will object to the charge,for even the smallest men despise them. Confucius and Mo Di, on the…
The Penumbrae asked the Shadow, “A moment ago you were looking down and now you are looking up; a moment ago you were sitting down but now, you are standing up; a moment ago you were walking, but now you have stopped. Why is this?” The Shadow replied, “Honored Sirs, why…
But without the words which flow daily as from a cup and without our nature being aligned with heaven, what could be made of these characteristics? Things are divided into various genera and develop successively into distinct physical forms. They begin and end In an unbroken circle; But how this occurs we cannot fathom….
