“Here is a master smith casting his metal.If the metal were to leap up and say,‘I want to be made into Moye!”*he would think it is wrong. If I, after having already received the human form,were to say, ‘I must become a man, I must become a man!’the creator would certainly think it is…
Having transcended all life, he was clear as the morning.Having become as clear as the morning, he was able to see the One.Having seen the One, he was able to set aside past and present.Having set aside past and present, he was able to enter where there is neither life…
Tao has reality and manifestation but does nothing and has no form. It may be imparted by cannot be grasped. It may be attained but cannot be seen. It has its root and ground of existence in itself. Before there was heaven and earth It existed from eternity. From it came the powers of…
There is the great mass of nature –it supports my body. I struggle with my life; old age brings relief and death rest. What makes my life good also makes my death good. A boat may be hidden in a ravine, or a fishing net in a lake, and you…
A few more lines from Zhuang Zhou constructing a three dimensional model of what is possible within the Taoist course of practice. A “true” man or woman approaches what is possible for the individual in their place and time. Sometimes I have a restful night of sleep without haunting of dreams. But not often,…
What is meant by “the true man”? The true man of ancient times did not protest against poverty, did not boast of plenty and did not calculate the effects. If he made mistakes he did not regret, and if he was successful he did not become complacent Being like this he could ascend the…
“What do you mean by virtue not being manifested?” “Nothing is so level than still waters –this can be a paradigm. There is inner preservation and no outer movement. Virtue is the perfect cultivation of harmony. Even though this is not manifested in the person, things cannot be without it.“ Zhuangzi by Zhuang Zhou,…
Duke Âi said,‘What is meant by saying that his powers were complete?’ Confucius replied,‘Death and life,preservation and ruin,failure and success,poverty and wealth,superiority and inferiority,blame and praise,hunger and thirst,cold and heat; these are the changes of circumstances, the operation of our appointed lot.Day and night they succeed to one another before us,but there is no…
When Confucius went to Chû, Jieyû, the madman of Chû, as he was wandering about, passed by his gate, called out, ‘Oh Phoenix, Oh Phoenix, how is your virtue degenerated! The future is not to be waited for; the past is not to be sought again! When good order (Tao) prevails in the world,…
A (master) mechanic, called Shih,on his way to Khî, came to Khü yüan,where he saw an oak tree,which was used as the altar for the spirits of the land. It was so largethat an ox standing behind itcould not be seen.It measured a hundred spans round,and rose up eighty cubits on the hillbefore it…
