The Wisdom of the Tao by Deng Ming-Dao

Author:Deng Ming-Dao
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781612834238
Publisher: Hampton Roads Publishing Company, Inc.

67 Self-Possessed

While he was practicing archery with a friend named Ba'hun Wuren, Liezi placed a cup of water on his elbow, drew a bow to its limit, and shot an arrow into the center of a distant target. He immediately shot twice more, one arrow swiftly following the other as if on a line, and they both struck touching the first one. Liezi lowered his bow with a smug look.

Ba'hun Wuren said: “You shot well. But this is not true archery. Suppose you were to climb a high mountain and stand at the edge of a cliff. Could you still shoot well?”

So the two of them climbed a high mountain. At the summit, Ba'hun Wuren walked to the edge of an abyss hundreds of fathoms deep, turned his back, and put half of his foot over the edge. He motioned to Liezi to join him, but Liezi collapsed on the ground drenched in sweat.

Ba'hun Wuren said: “Great archers can shoot whether they are faced with the blinding blue sky above, yawning hell below, or attackers on every side. Their spirit and energy will not change. But you are frightened of what your good eyes show you! How will you ever hit a bull's-eye if you're in real danger?” (L)

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