The Simple Way, Part 70

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

A high-ranking minister of the district lord arrived at the community with a military guard and called Zhouzi to an audience with his lord.

Speaking before his lord, a minister stood and asked, “Tell us then, what is it you teach? And to what school do you belong? For the Emperor has embraced Taoism and all must follow his lead.”

“We teach Tao in all things manifest. But to which school this belongs, I rightly don’t know. Yet we bow to them all, since Tao is in all,” answered Zhouzi.

“Are you not followers of Buddhism of the school they call Ch’an?” asked the minister accusingly.

“No Buddhist would claim us, nor do we wish to belong,” answered Zhouzi. And seeing that the minister wore the Taoist hat, he added, “Yet since we honor the Tao expressed in all things, perhaps the Taoists will own us and in peace we’ll abide.”

“Though you seek not to belong,” replied the minister. “Return to your community while further inquiry is made; but know that other communities have already been completely dispersed.”

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