‘If a drunk falls out of his carriage, even if the carriage is going very fast, he will not die. He is just the same as others, bone and joints, but he is not injured, for his spirit is united. Since he does not realize he was travelling, he has no idea that he has fallen out, so neither life nor death, alarm nor fear can affect him, and he just bumps into things without any anxiety or injury.
‘If it is possible to stay united through being drunk on wine, just imagine how much more together one could be if united with Heaven! The sage retreats to the serenity of Heaven, as a result nothing causes him harm. Even someone who is out for revenge does not break his opponent’s sword. Nor does someone get cross with a tile that just fell on him, no matter how upset he is. Instead, we should recognize that everything under Heaven is united. Thus it is possible to get rid of chaos, violence and warfare and of the rigours of punishment and execution, for this is the Tao.
‘Do not hearken to the Heavenly in humanity, but listen to the Heavenly in Heaven, for paying attention to Heaven’s Virtue is life-giving, while attending to humanity damages life. Do not cast aside the Heavenly, and do not ignore the human aspect: then the people will draw closer to the realization of Truth!’
Confucius was travelling to Chu and he went through the heart of a forest, where he saw a hunchback trapping cicadas, using a sticky pole with such ease that it seemed as if he used his hands. ‘Sir, what skill!’ said Confucius. ‘Do you have the Tao?’
‘Indeed, I have the Tao. The first five to six months I learned how to balance two balls on top of each other on a pole, and when they did not fall, I knew I could catch a few cicadas. Next I practised with three balls, and when they did not fall, I knew I could catch one cicada in ten. Next I practised with five balls, and when they did not fall, I knew I could catch cicadas very easily. I brace my body as if it were a straight tree trunk and stick out my arms like a pole. Never mind how vast Heaven or Earth are, or the vast numbers of the multitudes of living beings, I concentrate my knowledge on catching cicadas. Never tiring, never leaning, never being aware of any of the vast number of living beings, except cicadas. Following this method, how could I fail?’
Confucius turned and said to his followers, ‘His will undivided and his spirit energized, that is how I would describe this hunchbacked gentleman!’
Yen Yuan commented on Confucius, saying, ‘I was crossing the gorge at Chang Shan and the boatman guided the boat with real verve. I said to him, “Can one study how to guide a boat?” He said, “Indeed. Someone who can swim well will have no trouble. If someone can dive under water, he may not have seen a boat before but he will know what to do.” I asked him what this meant, but he could not say, so I am asking you: what do his words mean?’
‘A good swimmer learns quickly,’ said Confucius, ‘because he knows how to ignore the water. Someone who can swim under the water may indeed have never seen a boat, but he regards the waters as though they were dry land, and the overturning of a boat as nothing more serious than a waggon turning over. So he too learns quickly. All forms of life can be overturning or sliding downwards right in front of his eyes, but he is not affected, nor does it disturb his inner calm, so there is nothing bad that can disturb him! In an archery competition, you shoot as skilfully as possible, hoping to win. If you compete to win decorated buckles, you are concerned with your aim. If you compete for gold, it can make you very nervous. Your skills are the same in all these cases, but because one of these is more significant than the others, this puts external pressure on you. To pay too much attention to such external things makes you thoughtless about the internal things.’
Tien Kai Chih went to see Duke Wei of Chou, and the Duke asked him, ‘I hear Chu Hsien is studying life. As Chu Hsien’s companion, what have you heard of this, Sir?’
Tien Kai Chih replied, ‘I just sweep the courtyard and guard the gate, so how could I have heard anything about it?’
‘Master Tien, don’t be so modest,’ said Duke Wei. ‘I want to hear more.’
‘Well,’ said Kai Chih, ‘I have heard the Master say, “Someone who sustains life is definitely like a shepherd who watches for the stragglers and brings them into line.” ’
‘What does this mean?’ said Duke Wei.
‘In Lu they had Shan Po, who dwelt in the caves, drank nothing but water and was not interested in profit like the rest of the people,’ said Tien Kai Chih, ‘and for seventy years he lived like this and had the complexion of a girl. Then, sadly, he encountered a fierce tiger which killed and ate him. You have Chang Yi, who knocked on all the doors of the wealthy and powerful, never missing an opportunity to visit. He continued like this for forty years, then caught a fever, became sick and soon died. Po took care of what was internal and a tiger devoured his externals, while Yu took care of his external image and
