Chuang Tzu Story - The Turtle

Discussion in 'Spiritual Stories' started by garry420, Jan 21, 2016.

  1. garry420

    garry420 Well-Known Member

    Chuang Tzu with his bamboo pole
    was fishing in the Pu river

    The prince of Chu sent two vice-chancellors
    with a formal document:
    We hereby appoint you prime minister

    Chuang Tzu held his bamboo pole still.
    Watching the Pu river, he said:
    “I am told there is a sacred tortoise offered
    and canonized three thousand years ago,
    venerated by the prince, wrapped in silk,
    in a precious shrine on an altar
    in the temple.
    What do you think?
    Is it better to give up one’s life
    and leave a sacred shell
    as an object of cult
    in a cloud of incense
    for three thousand years,
    or to live as a plain turtle
    dragging its tail in the mud?”

    “For the turtle”, said the vice-chancellor,
    “better to live and drag its tail in the mud!”

    “Go home!”, said Chuang Tzu.
    “Leave me here
    to drag my tail in the mud.”
     

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