The Book of Chuang Tzu (Penguin) by Chuang Tzu

Author:Chuang Tzu [Tzu, Chuang]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780140455373
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2006-02-15T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 20

The Huge Tree

Chuang Tzu was walking through the heart of the mountains when he saw a huge verdant tree. A woodcutter stopped beside the tree, but did not cut it. When asked why he didn’t he said, ‘It’s no good.’ Chuang Tzu said, ‘Because this tree is not considered useful, it can follow all the years Heaven has given it.’

The Master came out of the mountains and stayed a night at a friend’s house. This man was delighted and told his son to kill a goose and cook it. The son answered, saying, ‘One goose can cackle, the other one can’t. Tell me which one to prepare?’ The father replied, ‘Prepare the one that does not cackle.’

On the next day Chuang Tzu’s followers asked him, ‘Yesterday there was a tree in the heart of the mountains which was able to live all the years Heaven gives because it is no use. Now, at your friend’s house, there is a goose who dies because it is no use. Teacher, what do you think of this?’

Chuang Tzu laughed and said, ‘Personally, I’d find a position between useful and useless. This position between useful and useless might seem a good position, but I tell you it is not, for trouble will pursue you. It would certainly not be so, however, if you were to mount upon the Virtue of the Tao;

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