Zhuangzi
Zhuangzi
acceptance dying born
The creature born is the creature dying.
mirrors water heaven
Water becomes clear and transparent when in a quiescent stage. How much the more wonderful will be the mind of a sage when poised in quiescence! It is the mirror of heaven and earth, reflecting the ten thousand things.
order results
Good order results spontaneously when things are let alone
acceptance trying purpose
If you have grasped the purpose of life there is no point in trying to make life into something it is not or cannot be.
mean knowledge knowing
Study is to study what cannot be studied. Undertaking means undertaking what cannot be undertaken. Philosophizing is to philosophize about what cannot be philosophized about. Knowing that knowing is unknowable is true perfection.
past men people
The true man of the past waited upon Heaven when dealing with people and did not wait upon people when dealing with Heaven.
past reality doe
Although things seem to be sometimes going up and sometimes descending, sometimes slipping away, nevertheless there is a reality, the same today as in the past. It does not change, for nothing can affect it. Could we not say it is one great harmony? So why shouldn't we ask about it...
creation highest
The knowledge of the ancients reached the highest point-the time before anything existed. This is the highest point. It is exhaustive. There is no adding to it.
men world rejoice
Men of this world all rejoice in others being like themselves, and object to others not being like themselves.
men helping-others perfect
The perfect man of old looked after himself first before looking to help others.
moon skills heaven
Heaven cannot but be high. Earth cannot but be broad. The sun and moon cannot but revolve. All creation cannot but flourish. To do so is their TAO. But it is not from extensive study that this may be known, nor by dialectical skill that his may be made clear. The true sage will have none of these.
men taoism may
Man may rest in the eternal fitness; he may abide in the everlasting; and roam from the beginning to the end of all creation. He may bring his nature to a condition of ONE, he may nourish his strength; he may harmonise his virtue, and so put himself into partnership with God.
loss night men
Joy, anger, sorrow, happiness, find no place in that man's breast; for to him all creation is ONE. And all things being thus united in ONE, his body and limbs are but as dust of the earth, and life and death, beginning, and end, are but as night and day, and cannot destroy his peace. How much less such trifles as gain or loss, misfortune or good fortune?
men understanding rewards
Verily God does not reward man for what he does, but for what he is.