This concise Taoist parable reveals how Duke Wen of Tsin won the loyalty of two rival states simply by abandoning a siege to preserve absolute honesty and good faith with his own…
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Chuang Tzu: The virtue of God and effortless action
This brief philosophical dialogue between the legendary sage-rulers Yao and Shun captures the precise transition from conscious human benevolence to the effortless, all-embracing flow of natural law. Of old, Shun asked Yao,…
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The bell-stand of Chuang Tse: The art of Wu Wei
This classic Taoist parable reveals how a master woodcarver achieves a state of spiritual concentration, letting his own Heaven-given faculties align seamlessly with nature to fashion a work of art so perfect…
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Taoist poems: Verses on impermanence and inner peace
This selection of classical allegorical poems captures the shifting landscapes of the human condition, inviting readers to embrace the simple, enduring joy found in natural stillness. Anchored by Chuang Tzu’s legendary butterfly…
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The law of reversal: Why true rest demands hard work
This profound Taoist teaching examines the inseparable harmony between effort and ease through a dialogue involving an elderly follower of Lao Tzu and Confucius. By contrasting standard analytical logic—which separates activity from…
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Nobody in the boat
The Taoists have a famous teaching about an empty boat (read the story ‘The Empty boat’ in this website) that rams into your boat in the middle of a river. While you…
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Words
The disciples were absorbed in a discussion of Lao-tzu’s dictum: “Those who know do not say; Those who say do not know.” When the Master entered, they asked him exactly what the words meant.…
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The farmer’s horse
There is a (Taoist) story of a farmer whose horse ran away. That evening, the neighbours gathered to commiserate with him since this was such bad luck. He said, “May be.” The…