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

Chapter 4. Death The EqualiserYANG CHU said:“That in which all beings differ is life, that in whichthey are all alike is death.“During life there is the difference of intelligence anddullness, honour and meanness, but in death there is theequality of rottenness and putrefaction. Neither can beprevented. Although intelligence and dullness, honourand meanness exist, no human power can affect them,just as rottenness and putrefaction cannot be prevented.Human beings cannot make life and death, intelligenceand stupidity, honourableness and meanness, what theyare, for all beings live and die equally, are equally wiseand stupid, honourable and mean.“Some die at the age of ten, some at one hundred. Thewise and benevolent die as the cruel and imbecile.“In life they are known as Yao and Shun [1] ; dead they areso many bones which cannot be distinguished. But if wehasten to enjoy our life, we have no time to trouble aboutwhat comes after death."notes[1] Yao and Shun, the two model emperors of antiquity.