The hearing that is only in the ears is one thing. The hearing of the understanding is another. But the hearing of the spirit is not limited to any one faculty to the ear, or to the mind.
ZhuangziRead
We possess our body by chance and we are already pleased with it. If our physical bodies went through ten thousand transformations without end, how incomparable would this joy be! Therefore the sage roams freely in the realm in which nothing can escape, but all endures.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Our bodies are temporary and constantly changing, yet we find joy in our existence and freedom in understanding life’s transient nature.
This quote from Zhuangzi reflects on the impermanence of our physical bodies and the joy that can be found in accepting this transience. It suggests that true wisdom lies in recognizing the fleeting nature of existence and embracing it rather than clinging to the physical form, allowing the sage to navigate life with freedom and acceptance in a realm where all things endure through transformation.
Themes
TransienceJoyWisdomFreedomTransformationAcceptance
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about embracing change and finding joy in life’s transitions.
More from Zhuangzi
All quotes →Either in conflict with others or in harmony with them, we go through life like a runaway horse, unable to stop.
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When people do not ignore what they should ignore, but ignore what they should not ignore, this is known as ignorance.
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The true man of the past waited upon Heaven when dealing with people and did not wait upon people when dealing with Heaven.
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The mind remains undetermined in the great Void. Here the highest knowledge is unbounded. That which gives things their thusness cannot be delimited by things. So when we speak of 'limits', we remain confined to limited things. The limit of the unlimited is called 'fullness.' The limitlessness of the limited is called 'emptiness.' Tao is the source of both. But it is itself neither fullness nor emptiness
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All the fish needs is to get lost in the water. All man needs is to get lost in Tao.
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