consultkvm.blogg.se - The parables of chuang tzu

The story of a man named Chuang-Tzu dreaming that he was a butterfly, and then awakening to wonder whether he is actually a butterfly dreaming that it is Chuang-Tzu, can be understood in this Taoist philosophical context by walking through the 2 chapters of the book which precede it.

Action - We generate our xíng (behaviour, walking) and follow-through with our choice.

We make a shì-fēi (this-not-that) judgement.

Judgement - We choose which is the right decision and which is the wrong one.

Discovery - We make effort to biàn (recognise, distinguish, or discover) different paths we can take or choices we can make.

Typically, Tao guidance emerges out of a three-step process.

Taos can be social or natural, and they offer us practical guidance on what to do and how to do it. Life is seen as a constant process of being faced with different Taos, and having to choose the ‘right’ one. Most discussions about ethics, choice, and behaviour in Classical Taoism are discussions about which path to take in life. The word Tao (or Dao) literally means path or way. “Fish interact in water humans interact in Taos” - Chuang Tzu The context in which this (very) short story appears in the book offers many clues to understanding the parable and the radical openness which it recommends. It’s found in the second chapter of The Book of Chuang Tzu, a collection of stories, anecdotes, and parables centred around, and likely written by, the pivotal figure in Classical Philosophical Taoism. The ‘Butterfly Dream’ is a famous philosophical parable from around 300 BC.

This is called ‘things change.’” - Chuang-Tzu He doesn’t know if Chuang-Tzu dreamt being a butterfly or a butterfly is dreaming being Chuang-Tzu - though there must be a difference. Suddenly awakening, he then is rooted in Chuang-Tzu. “Once before, Chuang-Tzu dreamt of being a butterfly, gaily butterflying and himself embodied in this sense of purpose! He knew nothing of Chuang-Tzu.