Chuang Tzu
c. 369-286 BCE 83 years
aka: Zhuang Zi, Zhuangzi
Traditional: 莊子; Simplified: 庄子
c. 369-286 BCE 83 years
aka: Zhuang Zi, Zhuangzi
Traditional: 莊子; Simplified: 庄子
semi-legendary Chinese Daoist
born and died in Henan Province, China, near where
the capital of that time, Luoyang, was located.
followed Laozi in history
told stories and fables relating Daoist themes--these
writings are simply called the Zhuangzi in China.
sometimes titled the Inner Chapters, and the Outer
Chapters. supposedly collected and written down by
succeeding generations of Daoists.
Osho has 2 books using Chuang Tzu's stories as
jumping off points--The Empty Boat, and When the
Shoe Fits.
born and died in Henan Province, China, near where
the capital of that time, Luoyang, was located.
followed Laozi in history
told stories and fables relating Daoist themes--these
writings are simply called the Zhuangzi in China.
sometimes titled the Inner Chapters, and the Outer
Chapters. supposedly collected and written down by
succeeding generations of Daoists.
Osho has 2 books using Chuang Tzu's stories as
jumping off points--The Empty Boat, and When the
Shoe Fits.
| A Chuang Tzu story: What is this three in the morning? It is about a monkey trainer who went to his monkeys and told them: "As regards your chestnuts, you are going to have three measures in the morning, and four in the afternoon." On hearing this all the monkeys became angry. So the keeper said: "All right then, I will change it to four measures in the morning, and three in the afternoon." The animals were satisfied with this arrangement. The two arrangements were the same – the number of chestnuts did not change, but in one case the monkeys were displeased, and in the other case they were satisfied. The keeper was willing to change his personal arrangement in order to meet objective conditions. He lost nothing by it. The truly wise man, considering both sides of the question without partiality, sees them both in the light of Tao. This is called following two courses at once. The law of the three in the morning. Chuang Tzu loved this story very much. He often repeated it. It is beautiful, with many layers of meaning. Obviously very simple but still very deeply indicative of the human mind. The first thing to be understood is that the human mind is monkeyish... --Osho The Empty Boat, ch. 5 |
| oshobob The Living Workshop |
| People in Osho's Talks |
| A Zhuangzi story-- video read in English translation: |