Zhuangzi
Zhuangzi
acceptance dying born
The creature born is the creature dying.
life doors dying
Tzu Li went to see Tzu Lai who was dying. Leaning against the door, he said, 'Great is the Creator! What will he make of you now? Will he make you into a rat's liver? Will he make you into an insect's leg?' Tzu-Lai replied, 'The universe gave me my body so I may be carried, my life so I may work, my old age so I may repose, and my death so I may rest. To regard life as good is the way to regard death as good. . . . If I regard the universe as a great furnace and creation as a master foundryman, why should anywhere I go not be all right?'
spiritual dying birth
Birth is not the beginning, Death is not the end.
chinese-philosopher dreamed dreamt flitting man
I dreamed I was a butterfly, flitting around in the sky; then I awoke. Now I wonder: Am I a man who dreamt of being a butterfly, or am I a butterfly dreaming that I am a man?
chinese-philosopher knowledge shut
Cherish that which is within you, and shut off that which is without; for much knowledge is a curse.
man
Where can I find a man who has forgotten words so I can have a word with him?
absence happiness
Happiness is the absence of the striving for happiness.
dream memories real
My most interesting memory is of my first real dream. I was a caterpillar, wriggling around in the earth, just the way a caterpillar would. Following my caterpillar whims, completely unaware of anyone.
reality deception fool
Only fools imagine they are already awake. How clearly they understand everything! How easily they distinguish this deception from that reality!
dream wake-up might
When you're dreaming, you don't know it's a dream. You might even interpret a dream in your dream - and then wake up and realize it was all a dream. Perhaps a great awakening will reveal this to be a dream as well.
life men breathe
The true man breathes with his heels.
men useful-things futility
All men know the utility of useful things; but they do not know the utility of futility.
confused skills differences
In an archery contest, when the stakes are earthenware tiles a contestant shoots with skill. When the stakes are belt buckles he becomes hesitant, and if the stakes are pure gold he becomes nervous and confused. There is no difference as to his skil.
men fool self-knowledge
A man who knows he is a fool is not a great fool.