2 Zhuangzi 14

A reading from the Book of Zhuangzi, chapter 2.14

《莊子 - Zhuangzi》 - 齊物論: 物化

昔者莊周夢為胡蝶，栩栩然胡蝶也，自喻適志與！
不知周也。
俄然覺，則蘧蘧然周也。
不知周之夢為胡蝶與，胡蝶之夢為周與？
周與胡蝶，則必有分矣。
此之謂物化。

Text source courtesy: http://ctext.org/zhuangzi

Pro-verbs 6

1-5
Dear friend, if you’ve gone into hock with your neighbour
or locked yourself into a deal with a stranger,
If you’ve impulsively promised the shirt off your back
and now find yourself shivering out in the cold,
Friend, don’t waste a minute, get yourself out of that mess.
You’re in that man’s clutches!
Go, put on a long face; act desperate.
Don’t procrastinate—
there’s no time to lose.
Run like a deer from the hunter,
fly like a bird from the trapper!

6-11
You lazy fool, look at an ant.
Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two.
Nobody has to tell it what to do.
All summer it stores up food;
at harvest it stockpiles provisions.
So how long are you going to laze around doing nothing?
How long before you get out of bed?
A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there,
sit back, take it easy—do you know what comes next?
Just this: You can look forward to a dirt-poor life,
poverty your permanent houseguest!

12-15
Riffraff and rascals
talk out of both sides of their mouths.
They wink at each other, they shuffle their feet,
they cross their fingers behind their backs.
Their perverse minds are always cooking up something nasty,
always stirring up trouble.
Catastrophe is just around the corner for them,
a total smashup, their lives ruined beyond repair.

16-19
Here are six things God hates,
and one more that he loathes with a passion:
eyes that are arrogant,
a tongue that lies,
hands that murder the innocent,
a heart that hatches evil plots,
feet that race down a wicked track,
a mouth that lies under oath,
a troublemaker in the family.

20-23
Good friend, follow your father’s good advice;
don’t wander off from your mother’s teachings.
Wrap yourself in them from head to foot;
wear them like a scarf around your neck.
Wherever you walk, they’ll guide you;
whenever you rest, they’ll guard you;
when you wake up, they’ll tell you what’s next.
For sound advice is a beacon,
good teaching is a light,
moral discipline is a life path.

24-35
They’ll protect you from wanton women,
from the seductive talk of some temptress.
Don’t lustfully fantasize on her beauty,
nor be taken in by her bedroom eyes.
You can buy an hour with a whore for a loaf of bread,
but a wanton woman may well eat you alive.
Can you build a fire in your lap
and not burn your pants?
Can you walk barefoot on hot coals
and not get blisters?
It’s the same when you have sex with your neighbour’s wife:
Touch her and you’ll pay for it. No excuses.
Hunger is no excuse
for a thief to steal;
When he’s caught he has to pay it back,
even if he has to put his whole house in hock.
Adultery is a brainless act,
soul-destroying, self-destructive;
Expect a bloody nose, a black eye,
and a reputation ruined for good.
For jealousy detonates rage in a cheated husband;
wild for revenge, he won’t make allowances.
Nothing you say or pay will make it all right;
neither bribes nor reason will satisfy him.

Source

More wonderful person

76 ¶ Of a today ~ coming in over the near and far away, will you translate into action something you recently learnt on how to be a more wonderful person.

77 ¶ Of a today ~ coming in over the near and far away, will you be patient. Even the birds of the air and the fishes of the waters will to you be most grateful.

78 ¶ Of a today ~ coming in over the near and far away, will you share with your beloved a wise saying once spoken to you by a grandparent or some elderly neighbour.

© RmS 2016

2 Zhuangzi 13

A reading from the Book of Zhuangzi, chapter 2.13

《莊子 - Zhuangzi》 - 齊物論: 待而然

罔兩問景曰：
「曩子行，今子止，曩子坐，今子起，何其無特操與？」
景曰：
「吾有待而然者邪！
吾所待又有待而然者邪！
吾待蛇蚹、蜩翼邪！
惡識所以然？
惡識所以不然？」

Text source courtesy: http://ctext.org/zhuangzi

Pro-verbs 5

1-2
Dear friend, pay close attention to this, my wisdom;
listen very closely to the way I see it.
Then you’ll acquire a taste for good sense;
what I tell you will keep you out of trouble.

3-6
The lips of a seductive woman are oh so sweet,
her soft words are oh so smooth.
But it won’t be long before she’s gravel in your mouth,
a pain in your gut, a wound in your heart.
She’s dancing down the primrose path to Death;
she’s headed straight for Hell and taking you with her.
She hasn’t a clue about Real Life,
about who she is or where she’s going.

7-14
So, my friend, listen closely;
don’t treat my words casually.
Keep your distance from such a woman;
absolutely stay out of her neighbourhood.
You don’t want to squander your wonderful life,
to waste your precious life among the hard-hearted.
Why should you allow strangers to take advantage of you?
Why be exploited by those who care nothing for you?
You don’t want to end your life full of regrets,
nothing but sin and bones,
Saying, “Oh, why didn’t I do what they told me?
Why did I reject a disciplined life?
Why didn’t I listen to my mentors,
or take my teachers seriously?
My life is ruined!
I haven’t one blessed thing to show for my life!”

15-16
Do you know the saying, “Drink from your own rain barrel,
draw water from your own spring-fed well”?
It’s true. Otherwise, you may one day come home
and find your barrel empty and your well polluted.

17-20
Your spring water is for you and you only,
not to be passed around among strangers.
Bless your fresh-flowing fountain!
Enjoy the wife you married as a young man!
Lovely as an angel, beautiful as a rose—
don’t ever quit taking delight in her body.
Never take her love for granted!
Why would you trade enduring intimacies
for cheap thrills with a whore?
for dalliance with a promiscuous stranger?

21-23
Mark well that God doesn’t miss a move you make;
he’s aware of every step you take.
The shadow of your sin will overtake you;
you’ll find yourself stumbling all over yourself in the dark.
Death is the reward of an undisciplined life;
your foolish decisions trap you in a dead end.

Source

Worthy heritage

73 ¶ Of a today ~ coming in over the near and far away, will you let your actions be a worthy heritage for tomorrow; for next week, next month, next year, and for the ever coming next centuries.

74 ¶ Of a today ~ coming in over the near and far away, will you observe, listen and learn from Nature. This knowledge will you willingly share in word and way.

75 ¶ Of a today ~ coming in over the near and far away, will you enjoy learning something about another culture; another religion, and atheism in a broad sense.

© RmS 2016

2 Zhuangzi 12

A reading from the Book of Zhuangzi, chapter 2.12

《莊子 - Zhuangzi》 - 齊物論: 萬世之後

瞿鵲子問乎長梧子曰：
「吾聞諸夫子，聖人不從事於務，不就利，不違害，不喜求，不緣道，无謂有謂，有謂无謂，而遊乎塵垢之外。
夫子以為孟浪之言，而我以為妙道之行也。
吾子以為奚若？」
長梧子曰：
「是黃帝之所聽熒也，而丘也何足以知之！
且女亦大早計，見卵而求時夜，見彈而求鴞炙。
予嘗為女妄言之，女以妄聽之，奚？
旁日月，挾宇宙，為其脗合，置其滑涽，以隸相尊。
眾人役役，聖人愚芚，參萬歲而一成純。
萬物盡然，而以是相蘊。
予惡乎知說生之非惑邪！
予惡乎知惡死之非弱喪而不知歸者邪！
麗之姬，艾封人之子也。
晉國之始得之也，涕泣沾襟；及其至於王所，與王同筐床，食芻豢，而後悔其泣也。
予惡乎知夫死者不悔其始之蘄生乎！
夢飲酒者，旦而哭泣；夢哭泣者，旦而田獵。
方其夢也，不知其夢也。
夢之中又占其夢焉，覺而後知其夢也。
且有大覺而後知此其大夢也，而愚者自以為覺，竊竊然知之。
君乎，牧乎，固哉！
丘也，與女皆夢也；予謂女夢，亦夢也。
是其言也，其名為弔詭。
萬世之後，而一遇大聖知其解者，是旦暮遇之也。
既使我與若辯矣，若勝我，我不若勝，若果是也？
我果非也邪？
我勝若，若不吾勝，我果是也？
而果非也邪？其或是也，其或非也邪？
其俱是也，其俱非也邪？
我與若不能相知也，則人固受其黮闇。
吾誰使正之？
使同乎若者正之，既與若同矣，惡能正之！
使同乎我者正之，既同乎我矣，惡能正之！
使異乎我與若者正之，既異乎我與若矣，惡能正之！
使同乎我與若者正之，既同乎我與若矣，惡能正之！
然則我與若與人俱不能相知也，而待彼也邪？
何化聲之相待，若其不相待。
和之以天倪，因之以曼衍，所以窮年也。
謂和之以天倪？
曰：是不是，然不然。
是若果是也，則是之異乎不是也亦無辯；然若果然也，則然之異乎不然也亦無辯。
忘年忘義，振於無竟，故寓諸無竟。」

Text source courtesy: http://ctext.org/zhuangzi

Pro-verbs 4

1-2
Listen, friends, to some fatherly advice;
sit up and take notice so you’ll know how to live.
I’m giving you good counsel;
don’t let it go in one ear and out the other.

3-9
When I was a boy at my father’s knee,
the pride and joy of my mother,
He would sit me down and drill me:
“Take this to heart. Do what I tell you—live!
Sell everything and buy Wisdom!
Forage for Understanding!
Don’t forget one word! Don’t deviate an inch!
Never walk away from Wisdom—she guards your life;
love her—she keeps her eye on you.
Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom!
Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding!
Throw your arms around her—believe me, you won’t regret it;
never let her go—she’ll make your life glorious.
She’ll garland your life with grace,
she’ll festoon your days with beauty.”

10-15
Dear friend, take my advice;
it will add years to your life.
I’m writing out clear directions to Wisdom Way,
I’m drawing a map to Righteous Road.
I don’t want you ending up in blind alleys,
or wasting time making wrong turns.
Hold tight to good advice; don’t relax your grip.
Guard it well—your life is at stake!
Don’t take Wicked Bypass;
don’t so much as set foot on that road.
Stay clear of it; give it a wide berth.
Make a detour and be on your way.

16-17
Evil people are restless
unless they’re making trouble;
They can’t get a good night’s sleep
unless they’ve made life miserable for somebody.
Perversity is their food and drink,
violence their drug of choice.

18-19
The ways of right-living people glow with light;
the longer they live, the brighter they shine.
But the road of wrongdoing gets darker and darker—
travellers can’t see a thing; they fall flat on their faces.

20-22
Dear friend, listen well to my words;
tune your ears to my voice.
Keep my message in plain view at all times.
Concentrate! Learn it by heart!
Those who discover these words live, really live;
body and soul, they’re bursting with health.

23-27
Keep vigilant watch over your heart;
that’s where life starts.
Don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth;
avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip.
Keep your eyes straight ahead;
ignore all sideshow distractions.
Watch your step,
and the road will stretch out smooth before you.
Look neither right nor left;
leave evil in the dust.

Source

A similitude to doing good

70 ¶ Of a today ~ coming in over the near and far away, will you know that your striving towards goodness to be of a similitude to doing good.

71 ¶ Of a today ~ coming in over the near and far away, will you know that to be is to be knowledgeable, honourable, and generous.

72 ¶ Of a today ~ coming in over the near and far away, will you generously give of your knowledge. Of your financial wealth will you spend freely for the health of those long in suffering.

© RmS 2016

2 Zhuangzi 11

A reading from the Book of Zhuangzi, chapter 2.11

《莊子 - Zhuangzi》 - 齊物論: 至人神

齧缺問乎王倪曰：
「子知物之所同是乎？」
曰：「吾惡乎知之！」
「子知子之所不知邪？」
曰：「吾惡乎知之！」
「然則物無知邪？」
曰：「吾惡乎知之！
雖然，嘗試言之。
庸詎知吾所謂知之非不知邪？
庸詎知吾所謂不知之非知邪？
且吾嘗試問乎女：
民溼寢則腰疾偏死，鰌然乎哉？
木處則惴慄恂懼，猨猴然乎哉？
三者孰知正處？
民食芻豢，麋鹿食薦，蝍且甘帶，鴟鴉耆鼠，四者孰知正味？
猨，猵狙以為雌，麋與鹿交，鰌與魚游。
毛嬙、麗姬，人之所美也，魚見之深入，鳥見之高飛，麋鹿見之決驟。
四者孰知天下之正色哉？
自我觀之，仁義之端，是非之塗，樊然殽亂，吾惡能知其辯！」
齧缺曰：
「子不知利害，則至人固不知利害乎？」
王倪曰：
「至人神矣：
大澤焚而不能熱，河、漢沍而不能寒，疾雷破山、風振海而不能驚。
若然者，乘雲氣，騎日月，而遊乎四海之外。
死生无變於己，而況利害之端乎！」

Text source courtesy: http://ctext.org/zhuangzi

Pro-verbs 3

1-2
Good friend, don’t forget all I’ve taught you;
take to heart my commands.
They’ll help you live a long, long time,
a long life lived full and well.

3-4
Don’t lose your grip on Love and Loyalty.
Tie them around your neck;
carve their initials on your heart.
Earn a reputation for living well
in God’s eyes and the eyes of the people.

5-12
Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do,
everywhere you go;
he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health,
your very bones will vibrate with life!
Honour God with everything you own;
give him the first and the best.
Your barns will burst,
your wine vats will brim over.
But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline;
don’t sulk under his loving correction.
It’s the child he loves that God corrects;
a father’s delight is behind all this.

13-18
You’re blessed when you meet Lady Wisdom,
when you make friends with Madame Insight.
She’s worth far more than money in the bank;
her friendship is better than a big salary.
Her value exceeds all the trappings of wealth;
nothing you could wish for holds a candle to her.
With one hand she gives long life,
with the other she confers recognition.
Her manner is beautiful,
her life wonderfully complete.
She’s the very Tree of Life to those who embrace her.

19-20
With Lady Wisdom, God formed Earth;
with Madame Insight, he raised Heaven.
They knew when to signal rivers and springs to the surface,
and dew to descend from the night skies.

21-26
Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking
and Common Sense with your life;
don’t for a minute lose sight of them.
They’ll keep your soul alive and well,
they’ll keep you fit and attractive.
You’ll travel safely,
you’ll neither tire nor trip.
You’ll take afternoon naps without a worry,
you’ll enjoy a good night’s sleep.
No need to panic over alarms or surprises,
or predictions that doomsday’s just around the corner,
Because God will be right there with you;
he’ll keep you safe and sound.

27-29
Never walk away from someone who deserves help;
your hand is God’s hand for that person.
Don’t tell your neighbour “Maybe some other time”
or “Try me tomorrow”
when the money’s right there in your pocket.
Don’t figure ways of taking advantage of your neighbour
when he’s sitting there trusting and unsuspecting.

30-32
Don’t walk around with a chip on your shoulder,
always spoiling for a fight.
Don’t try to be like those who shoulder their way through life.
Why be a bully?
“Why not?” you say. Because God can’t stand twisted souls.
It’s the straightforward who get his respect.

33-35
God’s curse blights the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the righteous.
He gives proud skeptics a cold shoulder,
but if you’re down on your luck, he’s right there to help.
Wise living gets rewarded with honour;
stupid living gets the booby prize.

Source

In depths of soil or in niches in walls

67 ¶ Of a today ~ coming in over the near and far away, will you grow your words of wisdom, and well being in depths of soil or in niches in walls.

68 ¶ Of a today ~ coming in over the near and far away, will you know there are hearts in the world that have been without rain for decades. Rain goodness their way.

69 ¶ Of a today ~ coming in over the near and far away, will you benefit your family, community, country, and the world with your knowledge of goodness.

© RmS 2016

2 Zhuangzi 10

A reading from the Book of Zhuangzi, chapter 2.10

《莊子 - Zhuangzi》 - 齊物論: 天府

夫道未始有封，言未始有常，為是而有畛也。
請言其畛：有左，有右，有倫，有義，有分，有辯，有競，有爭，此之謂八德。
六合之外，聖人存而不論；六合之內，聖人論而不議。
春秋經世，先王之志，聖人議而不辯。
故分也者，有不分也；辯也者，有不辯也。
曰：何也？
聖人懷之，眾人辯之以相示也。
故曰：辯也者，有不見也。夫大道不稱，大辯不言，大仁不仁，大廉不嗛，大勇不忮。
道昭而不道，言辯而不及，仁常而不成，廉清而不信，勇忮而不成。
五者园而幾向方矣。
故知止其所不知，至矣。
孰知不言之辯，不道之道？若有能知，此之謂天府。
注焉而不滿，酌焉而不竭，而不知其所由來，此之謂葆光。 故昔者堯問於舜曰：「我欲伐宗、膾、胥敖，南面而不釋然。
其故何也？」
舜曰：「夫三子者，猶存乎蓬艾之間。
若不釋然，何哉？
昔者十日並出，萬物皆照，而況德之進乎日者乎！」

Text source courtesy: http://ctext.org/zhuangzi

Pro-verbs 2

1-5
Good friend, take to heart what I’m telling you;
collect my counsels and guard them with your life.
Tune your ears to the world of Wisdom;
set your heart on a life of Understanding.
That’s right; if you make Insight your priority,
and won’t take no for an answer,
Searching for it like a prospector panning for gold,
like an adventurer on a treasure hunt,
Believe me, before you know it Fear-of-God will be yours;
you’ll have come upon the Knowledge of God.

6-8
And here’s why: God gives out Wisdom free,
is plainspoken in Knowledge and Understanding.
He’s a rich mine of Common Sense for those who live well,
a personal bodyguard to the candid and sincere.
He keeps his eye on all who live honestly,
and pays special attention to his loyally committed ones.

9-15
So now you can pick out what’s true and fair,
find all the good trails!
Lady Wisdom will be your close friend,
and Brother Knowledge your pleasant companion.
Good Sense will scout ahead for danger,
Insight will keep an eye out for you.
They’ll keep you from making wrong turns,
or following the bad directions
Of those who are lost themselves
and can’t tell a trail from a tumbleweed,
These losers who make a game of evil
and throw parties to celebrate perversity,
Traveling paths that go nowhere,
wandering in a maze of detours and dead ends.

16-19
Wise friends will rescue you from the Temptress;
that smooth-talking Seductress
Who’s faithless to the husband she married years ago,
never gave a second thought to her promises before God.
Her whole way of life is doomed;
every step she takes brings her closer to hell.
No one who joins her company ever comes back,
ever sets foot on the path to real living.

20-22
So; join the company of good men and women,
keep your feet on the tried-and-true paths.
It’s the men who walk straight who will settle this land,
the women with integrity who will last here.
The corrupt will lose their lives;
the dishonest will be gone for good.

Source

Flock your ideas

64 ¶ Of a today ~ coming in over the near and far away, will you let your words be fragrant.

65 ¶ Of a today ~ coming in over the near and far away, will you flock your ideas together as do swallows high in the sky; as butterflies in a garden.

66 ¶ Of a today ~ coming in over the near and far away, will you irrigate the parched world with your refreshing words.

© RmS 2016

2 Zhuangzi 9

A reading from the Book of Zhuangzi, chapter 2.9

《莊子 - Zhuangzi》 - 齊物論: 天地與我並生

天下莫大於秋豪之末，而大山為小；莫壽乎殤子，而彭祖為夭。 天地與我並生，而萬物與我為一。
既已為一矣，且得有言乎？
既已謂之一矣，且得無言乎？
一與言為二，二與一為三。
自此以往，巧歷不能得，而況其凡乎！
故自無適有，以至於三，而況自有適有乎！
無適焉，因是已。

Text source courtesy: http://ctext.org/zhuangzi

Sage and thyme

61 ¶ Of a today ~ coming in over the near and far away, will you send yourself as a teacher of goodness out into your world.

62 ¶ Of a today ~ coming in over the near and far away, will you let your words be like soft Irish summer rain.

63 ¶ Of a today ~ coming in over the near and far away, will you let your words be like sage and thyme.

© RmS 2016

Pro-verbs 1

1-6
These are the wise sayings of Solomon,
David’s son, Israel’s king.
Written down so we’ll know how to live well and right,
to understand what life means and where it’s going;
A manual for living,
for learning what’s right and just and fair;
To teach the inexperienced the ropes
and give our young people a grasp on reality.
There’s something here also for seasoned men and women,
still a thing or two for the experienced to learn.
Fresh wisdom to probe and penetrate,
the rhymes and reasons of wise men and women.

7
Start with God. The first step in learning is bowing down to God;
only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning.

8-19
Pay close attention, friend, to what your father tells you;
never forget what you learned at your mother’s knee.
Wear their counsel like flowers in your hair,
like rings on your fingers.
Dear friend, if bad companions tempt you,
don’t go along with them.
If they say “Let’s go out and raise some hell.
Let’s beat up some old man, mug some old woman.
Let’s pick them clean
and get them ready for their funerals.
We’ll load up on top-quality loot.
We’ll haul it home by the truckload.
Join us for the time of your life!
With us, it’s share and share alike!”
Oh, friend, don’t give them a second look;
don’t listen to them for a minute.
They’re racing to a very bad end,
hurrying to ruin everything they lay hands on.
Nobody robs a bank
with everyone watching,
Yet that’s what these people are doing;
they’re doing themselves in.
When you grab all you can get, that’s what happens:
the more you get, the less you are.

20-21
Lady Wisdom goes out in the street and shouts.
At the town center she makes her speech.
In the middle of the traffic she takes her stand.
At the busiest corner she calls out:

22-24
“Simpletons! How long will you wallow in ignorance?
Cynics! How long will you feed your cynicism?
Idiots! How long will you refuse to learn?
About face! I can revise your life.
Look, I’m ready to pour out my spirit on you;
I’m ready to tell you all I know.
As it is, I’ve called, but you’ve turned a deaf ear;
I’ve reached out to you, but you’ve ignored me.

25-28
“Since you laugh at my counsel
and make a joke of my advice,
How can I take you seriously?
I’ll turn the tables and joke about your troubles!
What if the roof falls in,
and your whole life goes to pieces?
What if catastrophe strikes and there’s nothing
to show for your life but rubble and ashes?
You’ll need me then. You’ll call for me, but don’t expect
an answer.
No matter how hard you look, you won’t find me.

29-33
“Because you hated Knowledge
and had nothing to do with the Fear-of-God,
Because you wouldn’t take my advice
and brushed aside all my offers to train you,
Well, you’ve made your bed; now lie in it;
you wanted your own way; now, how do you like it?
Don’t you see what happens, you simpletons, you idiots?
Carelessness kills; complacency is murder.
First pay attention to me, and then relax.
Now you can take it easy; you’re in good hands.”

Source

One Green Field Ever Blooming

{Four Green Fields} - beautifully sung by Brian Kennedy
{Four Green Fields} - beautifully sung by The Dubliners

2 Zhuangzi 8

A reading from the Book of Zhuangzi, chapter 2.8

《莊子 - Zhuangzi》 - 齊物論: 未知

今且有言於此，不知其與是類乎？
其與是不類乎？類與不類，相與為類，則與彼無以異矣。
雖然，請嘗言之。
有始也者，有未始有始也者，有未始有夫未始有始也者。
有有也者，有無也者，有未始有無也者，有未始有夫未始有無也者。
俄而有無矣，而未知有無之果孰有孰無也。
今我則已有謂矣，而未知吾所謂之其果有謂乎，其果無謂乎？

Text source courtesy: http://ctext.org/zhuangzi