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
There are no greater adversaries than yin and yang, because nothing in Heaven or on Earth escapes them. But it is not yin and yang that do this, it is your heart that makes it so.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the duality of life represented by yin and yang, emphasizing that our perceptions shape our experiences.
Zhuangzi's quote can be interpreted as a reminder that the fundamental oppositions in life, symbolized by yin and yang, reflect not just external realities but also the internal workings of our hearts and minds. It suggests that our emotional and psychological state influences how we perceive and interact with the world around us, thereby shaping our experiences and challenges.
Themes
YinYangHeartPerceptionDualityLife
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used during a discussion on mindfulness and self-awareness.
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
ZhuangziRead
All the fish needs is to get lost in the water. All man needs is to get lost in Tao.
ZhuangziRead
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