View Full Version : The Turtle
GvacNoMore
03-09-2008, 09:40 AM
Upon hearing that Chuang Tzu was widely regarded as the wisest man in the land, the king of the State of Ch'u wanted to enlist his services. He dispatched two envoys with a letter that stated: "I hereby appoint you my chancellor." The envoys delivered the message to Chuang Tzu as he stood knee-deep in the Pu river, fishing with a bamboo pole.
Still holding his pole and looking speculatively at the river, Chuang Tzu said:
"I believe there is a sacred turtle, offered and canonized three thousand years ago, which is worshipped by the king. Wrapped in silk it lies in a precious shrine on an altar in the temple.
What do you think?
If you were a turtle, would you prefer to lose your life and leave your dead shell to be an object of worship shrouded in incense for three thousand years?
Or would you prefer to live as a plain turtle that drags its tail in the mud?"
The envoys replied:
"If I was a turtle I'd prefer to stay alive and drag my tail in the mud."
"Precisely", Chuang Tzu replied. "Now go home, and leave me here to drag my tail in the mud!"
TheMojoPin
03-09-2008, 09:45 AM
http://www.submarine-history.com/NOVAturtle.gif
sailor
03-09-2008, 10:25 AM
<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CMNry4PE93Y"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CMNry4PE93Y" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
That is the subtle way of the Universe.
Snoogans
03-09-2008, 10:27 AM
I think Shang Tsung said it best when he said
FINISH HIM
I think Shang Tsung said it best when he said
FINISH HIM
If people are not afraid to die, what is the use of threatening them with the punishment of death?
sailor
03-09-2008, 10:36 AM
If people are not afraid to die, what is the use of threatening them with the punishment of death?
revenge.
revenge.
It is always true that one who take charge of killing is killed in turn.
GvacNoMore
03-09-2008, 10:40 AM
Those who know don't speak.
Those who speak don't know.
Another Chuang Tzu classic -
"The purpose of a net is to catch fish. When the fish are caught, the net is forgotten.
The purpose of a trap is to catch rabbits. When the rabbits are caught, the trap is forgotten.
The purpose of words is to convey ideas. When the ideas are grasped, the words are forgotten.
Where can I find a man who has forgotten words? He is the one I would like to talk to."
TheMojoPin
03-09-2008, 10:44 AM
I prefer Taoism. It's less heavyhanded.
I prefer Taoism. It's less heavyhanded.
My words only have one source, the subtle truth of the universe.
GvacNoMore
03-09-2008, 10:46 AM
I prefer Taoism. It's less heavyhanded.
Uhhh...Chuang Tzu is one of the best known Taoists, right alongside Lao Tzu.
TheMojoPin
03-09-2008, 10:51 AM
Uhhh...Chuang Tzu is one of the best known Taoists, right alongside Lao Tzu.
Ehhhhhhhhh...I'm on the side of the debate that thinks it's really a stretch to include him and his supposed writings as explicitly "Taoist." Even if so, he's definitely the least Taoist of the major Taoist thinkers, by far. For a guy that's supposedly the "intellectual/spiritual" heir to Lao Tzu, the heart of his work really sidetracks most classic Taoist thinking and barely touches on it.
GvacNoMore
03-09-2008, 10:56 AM
Ehhhhhhhhh...I'm on the side of the debate that thinks it's really a stretch to include him and his supposed writings as explicitly "Taoist." Even if so, he's definitely the least Taoist of the major Taoist thinkers, by far. For a guy that's supposedly the "intellectual/spiritual" heir to Lao Tzu, the heart of his work really sidetracks most classic Taoist thinking and barely touches on it.
I disagree. I think the anti-Confucianism and the importance of 'wei wu wei' in Chuang Tzu's writings firmly implants him as one of the foremost Taoist thinkers.
TheMojoPin
03-09-2008, 11:04 AM
I disagree. I think the anti-Confucianism and the importance of 'wei wu wei' in Chuang Tzu's writings firmly implants him as one of the foremost Taoist thinkers.
If he's foremost, that makes most of the other thinkers that are not Lao Tzu (and much of his thoughts, too) to be the exception, and that seems wacky.
SatCam
03-09-2008, 01:24 PM
linger longer
linger longer
Do that which is not done by doing.
Death Metal Moe
03-09-2008, 01:41 PM
He who smelt it dealt it.
He who smelt it dealt it.
P. U.
Know that you possess the strong masculine principle, yet abide by the meek, feminine principle.
Seriously, who did that?
DiabloSammich
03-09-2008, 01:53 PM
The true enemy is not the one who is defeated, but the one who defeats others.
Those who want to conquer the world and make it conform to their own desires will never have success, for the sovereignity of the world is a subtle thing.
wax on, wax off
or in ESD's case, just whack anywhere you feel like
DiabloSammich
03-09-2008, 01:57 PM
The sound comes not from the loud, but from those with closed mouths and open minds.
wax on, wax off
or in ESD's case, just whack anywhere you feel like
Understand other people's lives by means of your own life.
DiabloSammich
03-09-2008, 02:01 PM
Peace is absorbed through the soul and released into all beings in the form of love.
If you hold fast to something it will surely be taken away from you.
angrymissy
03-09-2008, 02:08 PM
He who smelt it dealt it.
He who denied it, supplied it.
He who denied it, supplied it.
Only when one is sick of this sickness can one cease to be sick.
DiabloSammich
03-09-2008, 02:21 PM
Only when one is sick of this sickness can one cease to be sick.
Are you still making yours up?
Are you still making yours up?
The ultimate straightness appears crooked.
sailor
03-09-2008, 02:31 PM
The ultimate straightness appears crooked.
is that why gvac seems so gay?
is that why gvac seems so gay?
He who is most endeared most to something must pay dearest for it.
DiabloSammich
03-09-2008, 02:34 PM
He who is most endeared must to something must pay dearest for it.
Okay, you're not even trying anymore.
Okay, you're not even trying anymore.
Give birth to and nourish all things without desiring to possess them.
cougarjake13
03-09-2008, 03:40 PM
try not, do or do not, there is no try
Ritalin
03-09-2008, 03:55 PM
Hi there, excuse me? I'm here for the sales convention?
Hi there, excuse me? I'm here for the sales convention?
The strategist who has achieved excellence says: dare not to be the host, but rather the guest.
Friday
03-09-2008, 04:12 PM
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/03/images/060317_two_headed_big.jpg
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/03/images/060317_two_headed_big.jpg
Return to the true self to embrace only the one, unadorned nature.
SatCam
03-09-2008, 05:59 PM
turtle turtle
http://images.salon.com/ent/movies/review/2002/08/02/master_disguise/story.jpg
GvacNoMore
03-09-2008, 07:45 PM
That which acts on all and meddles in none is heaven.
Thus, is it the subtle essence that gives life to things, and with its virtue nurses them, grows them, fosters them, shelters them, comforts them, nourishes them and embraces them.
tonypop
03-11-2008, 06:06 AM
Everybody Wang Chung tonight.
A student and his master were walking on a bridge over a stream and the student asked "Teacher, what is true happiness?" The master stopped, pointed to a fish in the water and said "See that fish darting about between the rocks, swimming, hiding, eating? That fish is truly happy."
They walked a bit further and the student said "Master, you are not a fish. How could you know what makes a fish truly happy?"
The teacher replied "You are not me. How do you know I don't know what makes a fish truly happy?"
A student and his master were walking on a bridge over a stream and the student asked "Teacher, what is true happiness?" The master stopped, pointed to a fish in the water and said "See that fish darting about between the rocks, swimming, hiding, eating? That fish is truly happy."
They walked a bit further and the student said "Master, you are not a fish. How could you know what makes a fish truly happy?"
The teacher replied "You are not me. How do you know I don't know what makes a fish truly happy?"
Maybe it was his wife Bernice.
http://timstvshowcase.com/fish.jpg
When a hideous man becomes a father
And a son is born to him
In the middle of the night
He trembles and lights a lamp
And runs to look in anguish
On that child's face
To see whom he resembles
Where the fountains of passion lie deep
The heavenly springs are soon dry
As I was told, one who knows how to tend his life with simple normalcy,
does not meet wild animals on the road or know the touch of weapons during war.
led37zep
04-02-2008, 06:25 PM
I'm looking for an APT in turtle bay...does that count?
I'm looking for an APT in turtle bay...does that count?
He who regards his intellectual knowledge as ignorance has deep insight.
spankyfrank
04-02-2008, 06:30 PM
When you've seen beyond yourself
Then you may find peace of mind is waiting there
And the time will come when you see we're all one
And life goes on within you and without you
outlawfrank
04-02-2008, 06:34 PM
crowded elevator smell different to midget
crowded elevator smell different to midget
Being able to overcome difficulties, one can break through all limitations.
The friendship of wise men is tasteless as water. The friendship of fools is sweet as wine.
cougarjake13
04-02-2008, 06:43 PM
when the turtle head is poking, dont poke the turtle
outlawfrank
04-02-2008, 06:44 PM
The wise adapt themselves to circumstances, as water moulds itself to the pitcher.
There are three treasures which I embrace and follow closely:
the first is to be kind;
the second is to be simple;
the third is to not put one's own importance first in the world.
when the turtle head is poking, dont poke the turtle
March forward to where there is no obstacle.
outlawfrank
04-02-2008, 06:49 PM
There are three treasures which I embrace and follow closely:
the first is to be kind;
the second is to be simple;
the third is to not put one's own importance first in the world.
My three treasures:
First is always remain calm, always cool
Second is always suppress my ego, i'm in no hurry
Third is always have a six pack of PBR in the fridge
Of all the waters in the world, the ocean is the greatest.
All the rivers pour into it day and night; yet it is never filled.
It gives back its waters day and night; yet it is never emptied.
In dry seasons it is not lowered.
In floodtime it does not rise.
Greater that all the other waters!
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