Friday, July 1, 2011

Chapter 31, Part G - Chuang Tzu

"As for the four evils which I spoke of, to be fond of plunging into great undertakings, altering and departing from the old accepted ways, hoping thereby to enhance your merit and fame - this is called avidity. To insist that you know it all, that everything be done your way, snatching from others and appropriating for your own use - this is called avarice. To see your errors but refuse to change, to listen to remonstrance but go on behaving worse than before - this is called obstinacy. When men agree with you, to commend them; when they disagree with you, to refuse to see any goodness in them even when it is there - this is called bigotry.

"These are the four evils. If you do away with the eight faults and avoid committing the four evils, then and only then will you become capable of being taught!"
~ Burton Watson translation via Terebess Asia Online ~
Go here to read the introductory post to the chapters of the Book of Chuang Tzu.

1 comment:

  1. Ouch! Wow, Chuang Tzu hit me with a couple of those arrows. Good stuff. Keep it coming.

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