Chuang Tzu Quotes on Space (2 Quotes)

Prince Wen Hui's cook was cutting up an ox.... The ox fell apart with a whisper. The bright cleaver murmured like a gentle wind. Rhythm Timing Like a sacred dance.... Prince Wen Hui Good work Your method is faultless The cook Method What I follow is Tao beyond all methods When I first began to cut up oxen I would see before me the whole ox all in one mass. After three years I no longer saw this mass. I saw the distinctions. But now I see nothing with the eye. My whole being apprehends. My senses are idle. The spirit free to work without plan follows its own instinct guided by natural line, by the secret opening, the hidden space, my cleaver finds its own way... Then I withdraw the blade, I stand still and let the joy of the work sink in. I clean the blade and put it away. Prince Wan Hui This is it My cook has shown me how I ought to live my own life.

Three Friends There were three friends Discussing life. One said 'Can we live together and know nothing of it Work together and produce nothing Can people fly around in space and still forget to exist World without end' The three friends looked at each other and burst out laughing. They had no explanation. Thus they were better friends than before. Then one friend died. Confucius sent a disciple to help the other two Chant the traditional funeral ritual. His disciple found that one of them had composed a song. While the other played the lute, They sang 'Hey, Sung Hu Where'd you go You have gone Where you were before. And we are here Damn it We are here' Then the disciple of Confucius burst in on them and exclaimed 'May I inquire where in the funeral ritual it allows you to sing so irreverently in the presence of the departed' The two friends looked at each other, smiled, and said 'Well trained in liturgy, but the poor fellow doesn't understand life and death'