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

after him, but could not overtake him; so he returnedand told Hu Tzu that the fugitive had disappeared.“I showed myself to him just now," said Hu Tzu, “as Taoappeared before time was. I was to him as a great blank,existing of itself. He knew not who I was. His face fell.He became confused. And so he fled."Upon this Lieh Tzu stood convinced that he had not yetacquired any real knowledge, and at once set to work inearnest, passing three years without leaving the house.He helped his wife to cook the family dinner, and fed hispigs just like human beings. He discarded the artificialand reverted to the natural. He became merely a shape.Amidst confusion he was unconfounded. And so hecontinued to the end.notes[1] His tutor.[2] The hens here stand for the letter of the doctrine; the cocks, for its spirit; and theeggs, for a real knowledge of it.[3] i.e. three phases of Tao.