The Three Principle Texts of Daoism translated by ... - Bad Request

who had come from the Ch'u. State spoke to Lieh Tzuabout it, saying: “How comes it, Sir, that you and NankuoTzu are enemies?"“Nan-kuo Tzu," replied the Master, “has theappearance of fullness, but his mind is a blank. His earsdo not hear, his eyes do not see, his mouth does notspeak, his mind is devoid of knowledge, his body freefrom agitation. What would be the object of visitinghim? However, we will try, and you shall accompany methere to see." Accordingly, forty of the disciples wentwith him to call on Nan-kuo Tzu, who turned out to be arepulsive-looking creature with whom they could makeno contact.He only gazed blankly at Lieh Tzu. Mind and bodyseemed not to belong together, and his guests could findno means of approach.The soul had subjugated the body. The mind being voidof sense-impressions, the countenance remainedmotionless. Hence it seemed as if there were no cooperationbetween the two. How could they respond toexternal stimuli?Suddenly, Nan-kuo Tzu singled out the hindermost rowof Lieh Tzu's disciples, and began to talk to them quitepleasantly and simply, though in the tone of a superior.Fraternizing with the hindmost row, he recognized nodistinctions of rank or standing; meeting a sympatheticinfluence, and responding thereto, he did not allow his