Chuang Tzu with his bamboo polewas fishing in the Pu river. The prince of Chu sent two vice-chancellorswith a formal document:We hereby appoint you prime minister. Chuang Tzu held his bamboo pole…
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The fruit of heaven
There was once a woman who had heard of the Fruit of Heaven. She coveted it. She asked a certain dervish, whom we shall call Sabar: ‘How can I find this fruit,…
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The six curses
“It is necessary,” argued Discontent, “to cling to reputation. If all pleasures are to be denied to the body and one’s energies to be concentrated upon health with a view to the…
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What is meant by society
Shao Chih asked T’ai Kung Tiao, saying, “What is meant by society?” “Society,” replied T’ai Kung Tiao, “is an agreement of a certain number of families and individuals to abide by certain…
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On declining power
Lieh Tzŭ was poor. His face wore a hungry look. A visitor one day mentioned this to Tzŭ Yang, Prime Minister of Chêng, saying, “Lieh Tzŭ is a scholar who has attained…
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Autumn floods
Argument:—Greatness and smallness always relative—Time and space infinite—Abstract dimensions do not exist—Their expression is concrete—Terms are not absolute—Like causes produce unlike effects—In the unconditioned alone can the absolute exist—The only absolute is Tao—Illustrations.…
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How to govern
Yang Tzŭ Chü went to see Lao Tzŭ, and said, “Suppose a man were ardent and courageous, acquainted with the order and principles of things, and untiring in the pursuit of Tao—would he be…
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Man among men
A certain artisan was travelling to the Ch’i State. On reaching Ch’ü-yüan, he saw a sacred li tree (a worthless species of oak), large enough to hide an ox behind it, a hundred spans…
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Nourishment of the soul
Argument:—Life too short—Wisdom unattainable—Accommodation to circumstances—Liberty paramount—Death a release—The soul immortal. Prince Hui’s cook was cutting up a bullock. Every blow of his hand, every heave of his shoulders, every tread of…
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Exercise of faculties
Argument:—Tao unattainable by mundane arts—To be reached through repose—The world’s infancy—The reign of peace—Government sets in—Tao declines—The true Sages of old—Their purity of aim. Those who exercise their faculties in mere worldly studies, hoping thereby…