The Tao of Dark Sages - Chapter 4, Part 2

The Tao of Dark Sages
by Scott Bradley

Sue-tzu, you speak so often of Chuang-tzu and Lao-tzu. Are these teachers your greatest inspiration?

I find wonderful inspiration in the Tao Te Ching and the Book of Chuang-tzu. These are the work of sages that left barely traceable foot prints; men who knew the virtue of anonymity.

Indeed, there is some question whether Lao Tzu existed at all. Yet he is reported to have said: “As to the sage, no one will know whether he existed or not!”

They were free thinkers, attached to no philosophy or religion, though many have attempted to attach themselves to them. They are men to whom we can build no altars, offer no devotion. And their purported writings are not only theirs, but also the work of many others entirely unknown.

And let us remember that these books are not holy writ. There is no need to parse their verses in the original Chinese. Or seine their words for their deepest meaning. It is the ‘perfume’ of their message that speaks to us, not the exactitude of the words.

Yes, I would recommend you all to spend much time with these wonderful books. But remember that they may well be as full of foolishness as they are of wisdom. But wisdom is such a rare, rare thing! How can we not mine such a rich vein as dwells in these ancient books?

If you're interested in reading more from this series by Scott Bradley, go here.