Friday, March 20, 2009

Chuang Tzu and the Turtle

Source: Taoism
Translated by: Unknown

It happened that the emperor was in need of a good counsellor and, as he had heard so much about the wisdom of the Taoist, Chuang Tzu, he ordered that he be brought to the palace.

The emperor’s soldiers hunted far and wide and they finally found Chuang Tzu sitting in the shade of an old tree. They explained the emperor’s command and the old sage smiled and asked:

“There was a turtle who was sitting in a mud pool when he was captured and taken to the palace to be sacrificed there. It was, of course, a great honour but don’t you suppose he might have been happier in his pool of mud?”

“Of course.” The soldiers answered.

“Then leave me be in my pool of mud and be gone.”

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