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

8.Life has its distinctions; but in death we are all madeequal. That death should have an origin, but that lifeshould have no origin,--can this be so? What determinesits presence in one place, its absence in another? Heavenhas its fixed order. Earth has yielded up its secrets toman. But where to seek whence am I?Not knowing the hereafter, how can we deny theoperation of Destiny? Not knowing what preceded birth,how can we assert the operation of Destiny? Whenthings turn out as they ought, who shall say that theagency is not ? When things turn out otherwise, whoshall say that it is?