Chuang Tzu
“When the Tao (combines the principles of yin and yang and shows a thumbs-up behavior that is
in harmony with nature) is obscured by pettiness (lack of worth) and the words are obscured by
elaboration (process of developing), then we end up having the ‘this is, this is not’ … If we want
to confound what they call right and confirm what they call wrong, we need to shed light (cast a
shadow) on both of them.” (pg. 12)
“‘that’ and ‘this’ are born from each other” (pg. 12)
Comparison of life and death
Comparison with possible and impossible
The sage (a profoundly wise person) doesn’t compare a ‘this’ to a ‘that’, instead he discards the
light of Heaven (paradise, nirvana: importance) upon such issues. (Text add on pg. 12)
“When ‘this’ and ‘that’ do not stand against each other, this is called the pivot (central point) of
the Tao.” (pg. 12)
“Everything has what is necessary.” (pg. 13)
“the great and the insecure, the cunning and the odd: all these are alike to the Tao.” (pg. 13)
“In their difference is their completeness; in their completeness is their difference.” (pg. 13)
“Through the Tao they are all seen as one, regardless of their completeness or difference…” (pg.
13)
“It was when judgements were made that the Tao was damaged…and because the Tao was
damaged, love became complete.” (pg. 14)
“Is anything complete or damaged?” (There is neither) (pg. 14)
(No one has reached completeness) A band assembly and a judging spectator. A flute player who
plays his instrument alone is incomplete. (pg. 14)
“There is what is, and there is what is not, and it is not easy to say whether what is not, is not; or
whether what is, is. (pg. 15)
“As life is one, what need is there for words?” (pg. 15)
“When something is divided, something is not divided; when there is disagreement there are
things not disagreed about.” (pg. 16)
“The sage encompasses everything, while ordinary people just argue about things.” This is why I
say that disagreement means you do not understand at all.” (pg. 16) (When there is disagreement
about anything; there is ignorance about the meaning of good and bad.)
Argument necessarily utilizes words. (pg. 16)
Chuang Tzu
The wise man “brings all things together in harmony, he rejects difference and confusion and
ignores status and power.” … “to him all life is one and united. All life is simply what it is, and
all appear to him to be doing what they rightly should.” (pg. 18-19)
(Suggestion) “Forget about life, forget about worrying about right and wrong. Plunge into the
unknown and the endless and find your place there.” (pg. 20)
The outline and the shadow, the transformation of things (pg. 20)
Plagiarized-google: Chuang-Tzu emphasizes the relativity of all ideas and conventions that are
the basis of judgements and distinctions, he puts Tao as a solution to the problems of the human
condition.
If you one is prepared to face birth and death in the same manner, then one doesn’t experience
sorrow nor joy. (pg. 24)
“Your mind must become one, do not try to understand with your ears but with your heart.” (pg.
29)
“Your mind must become one, do not try to understand with your ears but with your heart.”
“Any exaggeration is false.” (pg. 31)
“Convey what each side wishes to say but leave out the exaggerations.” (pg. 31)
“Do not wander from the original charge you are given.” (pg. 31) To go beyond what is asked is
to be excessive.” (pg. 31)
“Accept what happens as it occurs in order to find your true place, follow the middle way.” (pg.
32)
A ‘useful’ tree has perfected “The art of usefulness” in order to survive (pg. 34) “By this it
protects itself from harm from those who do not realize it is useless, for were it not an altar, it
would run the risk of being chopped down.”
“The future cannot be awaited, nor the past reclaimed. When the whole world has the Tao, the
sage can succeed. When the whole world has lost the Tao, the sage can only just survive.” (pg.
35)
“When the whole world has the Tao, the sage can succeed. When the whole world has lost the
Tao, the sage can only just survive.” (pg. 35)
“Why not help him to see that death and birth are one thing and that right and wrong are one
thing…” (pg. 41)
“He must indeed be a man of perfect character; whose Virtue is without shape!” (pg. 42)
“Perfect Character” (pg. 42): “Confucius replied, ‘Death, birth, existence and trouble, auspicious
and inauspicious signs, wealth, poverty, value and worthlessness, glory and blame, hunger and
thirst, cold and hot-all these are the way the world goes and the result of destiny.” (pg. 43)
Chuang Tzu
“Day and night follow each other, but there is no way of knowing where they come from. Don’t
allow this to disrupt your innate (natural) balance, don’t allow this to perturb your mind.” If you
can balance and enjoy them, have mastery over them and revel in this, if you can do this day in
and day out without a break and bring all things together, then this brings forth a heart prepared
for changes and this is perfect character.” (pg. 43)
“…Virtue is the result of true balance. Virtue has no shape or form, yet nothing can be without
it,’ said Confucius.” (pg. 43)
“The Way gives him a face and Heaven provides a shape. He does not allow either the good or
the bad to have any effect on him.” (pg. 44)