Next in an occasional series on Daoism
Master Ssu, Master Yü, Master Li, and Master Lai were all four talking together. “Who can look upon nonbeing as his head, on life as his back, and on death as his rump?” they said. “Who knows that life and death, existence and annihilation, are all a single body? I will be his friend!”
The four men looked at each other and smiled. There was no disagreement in their hearts and so the four of them became friends.
All at once Master Yü fell ill. Master Ssu went to ask how he was. “Amazing” said Master Yü. “The Creator is making me all crookedy like this! My back sticks up like a hunchback and my vital organs are on top of me. My chin is hidden in my navel, my shoulders are up above my head, and my pigtail points at the sky. It must be some dislocation of the yin and yang!”
Yet he seemed calm at heart and unconcerned. Dragging himself haltingly to the well, he looked at his reflection and said, “My, my! So the Creator is making me all crookedy like this!”
“Do you resent it?” asked Master Ssu.
“Why no, what would I resent? If the process continues, perhaps in time he’ll transform my left arm into a rooster. In that case I’ll keep watch on the night. Or perhaps in time he’ll transform my right arm into a crossbow pellet and I’ll shoot down an owl for roasting. Or perhaps in time he’ll transform my buttocks into cartwheels. Then, with my spirit for a horse, I’ll climb up and go for a ride. What need will I ever have for a carriage again?
“I received life because the time had come; I will lose it because the order of things passes on. Be content with this time and dwell in this order and then neither sorrow nor joy can touch you. In ancient times this was called the `freeing of the bound.’ There are those who cannot free themselves, because they are bound by things. But nothing can ever win against Heaven – that’s the way it’s always been. What would I have to resent?”
[story from Chuang Tzu: Basic Writings, translated by Burton Watson. “The Great and Venerable Teacher” is the name of the chapter.]Questions
- Are life and death a single body?
- Could you be as untroubled by your decline and demise as Master Yü? Would you want to be?
- What do you imagine your left arm might become?
- Master Yü refers to “the Creator” and “Heaven.” Does this mean Daoists are theists?