Paraphrased: When Chuang Tzu was about to die, his disciples began planning a splendid funeral. However some disciples expressed concern that given a particular arrangement, birds and kites would eat his remains. Chuang Tzu replied, "Well, above ground I shall be eaten by crows and kites, below it by ants and worms. What do you have against birds?

Zhuangzi

Categorized in : Bird Funeral Crow

The effect of life in society is to complicate and confuse our existence, making us forget who we really are by causing us to become obsessed with what we are not.

existence obsessed forget

Do not struggle. Go with the flow of things, and you will find yourself at one with the mysterious unity of the Universe.

inspirational-life struggle spiritual

Do not seek fame. Do not make plans. Do not be absorbed by activities. Do not think that you know. Be aware of all that is and dwell in the infinite. Wander where there is no path. Be all that heaven gave you, but act as though you have received nothing. Be empty, that is all.

life heaven thinking

A petty thief is put in jail. A great brigand becomes a ruler of... by Zhuangzi

A petty thief is put in jail. A great brigand becomes a ruler of a Nation.

thieves petty jail

Look at this window: it is nothing but a hole in the wall, but because of it the whole room is full of light. So when the faculties are empty, the heart is full of light.

wall wisdom heart

The perfect man uses his mind as a mirror. It grasps nothing. It regrets nothing. It receives but does not keep.

regret mirrors men

Perfect happiness is the absence of striving for happiness. by Zhuangzi

Perfect happiness is the absence of striving for happiness.

perfect happy happiness

Your preciousness lies in your essence; it cannot be lost by anyt... by Zhuangzi

Your preciousness lies in your essence; it cannot be lost by anything that happens.

essence lost lying

Once upon a time, I dreamt I was a butterfly, fluttering hither and thither, to all intents and purposes a butterfly. I was conscious only of my happiness as a butterfly, unaware that I was myself. Soon I awaked, and there I was, veritably myself again. Now I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly, dreaming I am a man.

butterfly dream men

When an archer shoots for enjoyment, he has all his skill; when he shoots for a brass buckle, he gets nervous; when he shoots for a prize of gold, he begins to see two targets.

archer skills two

Let your mind wander in the pure and simple. Be one with the infinite. Let all things take their course.

infinite simple mind

Words exist because of meaning; once you’ve gotten the meaning, y... by Zhuangzi

Words exist because of meaning; once you’ve gotten the meaning, you can forget the words.

forget

When I look at what the world does and where people nowadays believe they can find happiness, I am not sure that that is true happiness. The happiness of these ordinary people seems to consist in slavishly imitating the majority, as if this were their only choice. And yet they all believe they are happy. I cannot decide whether that is happiness or not. Is there such a thing as happiness?

happiness believe people

Goods and possessions are no gain in his eyes. He stays far from wealth and honor. Long life is no ground for joy, nor early death for sorrow. Success is not for him to be pround of, failure is no shame. Had he all the world's power he would not hold it as his own. If he conquered everything he would not take it to himself. His glory is in knowing that all things come together in One and life and death are equal.

failure eye life

When the shoe fits, the foot is forgotten. When the belt fits, the belly is forgotten. When the heart is right, "for" and "against" are forgotten. No drives, no compulsions, no needs, no attractions: Then your affairs are under control. You are a free man.

shoes heart men

Rewards and punishments are the lowest form of education. by Zhuangzi

Rewards and punishments are the lowest form of education.

education teacher inspirational

A frog in a well cannot conceive of the ocean. by Zhuangzi

A frog in a well cannot conceive of the ocean.

frogs wells ocean

Flow with whatever may happen and let your mind be free. Stay centered by accepting whatever you are doing. This is the ultimate.

encouraging spiritual motivational

Birth is not a beginning; death is not an end. There is existence without limitation; there is continuity without a starting point.

starting birth ends

In a river mist, if another boat knocks against yours, you might yell at the other fellow to stay clear. But if you notice then, that it's an empty boat, adrift with nobody aboard, you stop yelling. When you discover that all the others are drifting boats, there's no one to yell at. And when you find out you are an empty boat, there's no one to yell.

adrift yelling rivers