The Simple Way, Part 12

The Simple Way
The Life & Teachings of Zhouzi
by Scott Bradley

One who followed the teachings of the wandering sage Chen Jen visited the community and though he, too, was a wanderer, tarried long. Coming upon him in the garden, Zhouzi asked, “Have you then lost your wandering ways?”

The sage laughed and said, “Master, so it would seem. But even now I was thinking to wander again. For it was only to understand your teaching in the light of Chen Jen’s that I have tarried so long, and that I have accomplished as best as might be.”

“And what have you discovered? How do they differ or are they one and the same?” asked Zhouzi.

“Though the words are different, truly, the end is the same. My Master taught no-fixed-identity as a path to Unity. You teach Unity and no-self follows therefrom. What a wonderful reality, how vast and all-embracing! Whatever way we approach it, it is one and the same!”

“‘Thankfulness arises’ as your Master has said!” replied Zhouzi. “And ‘only the nameless can roam in the Nameless’ likewise rings true. For though the Mysterious Vastness embraces all, only the identity-free can wander therein.”

If you're interested in reading more from this series by Scott Bradley, go here. To check out more of Scott's writings, please visit TRT's shadow blog and look in the Table of Contents in the left sidebar.