Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Chapter 23, Part 11A - Chuang Tzu

If you step on a stranger's foot in the market place, you apologize at length for your carelessness. If you step on your older brother's foot, you give him an affectionate pat, and if you step on your parent's foot, you know you are already forgiven.

So it is said, Perfect ritual makes no distinction of persons; perfect righteousness takes no account of things; perfect knowledge does not scheme; perfect benevolence knows no affection; perfect trust dispenses with gold.

Wipe out the delusions of the will, undo the snares of the heart, rid yourself of the entanglements to virtue; open up the roadblocks in the Way.

Eminence and wealth, recognition and authority, fame and profit - these six are the delusions of the will.

Appearances and carriage, complexion and features, temperament and attitude - these six are the snares of the heart.

Loathing and desire, joy and anger, grief and happiness - these six are the entanglements of virtue.

Rejecting and accepting, taking and giving, knowledge and ability - these six are the roadblocks of the Way.


When these four sixes no longer seethe within the breast, then you will achieve uprightness; being upright, you will be still; being still, you will be enlightened; being enlightened, you will be empty; and being empty, you will do nothing, and yet there will be nothing that is not done.
~ Burton Watson translation via Terebess Asia Online ~
Go here to read the introductory post to the chapters of the Book of Chuang Tzu.

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