The Way of Heart and Beauty by Deng Ming-Dao

Author:Deng Ming-Dao
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781612834252
Publisher: Hampton Roads Publishing

106 | The relativity of beauty

“Men considered Lady Mao and imperial concubine Li the most beautiful of women,” said Wang Ni, “but fish that saw those women dove away from them, birds soared from them into the sky, and elk scattered and fled. Yet, did any of those four—men, fish, birds, or elk—know what true womanly beauty was?

“As I view it, the principles of benevolence and righteousness similarly appear to be mere statements of right and wrong, thrown together, mixed up, and confused. I cannot begin to discuss them!”

“You don't even know the difference between good and bad,” said Nie Que. “Would it follow that a realized person wouldn't be able to know either?”

“A realized person is divine! The great lakes could be boiling and a realized person would feel no heat. The Yellow and Han rivers could be frozen and a realized person wouldn't feel cold. Violent thunderbolts might cleave mountains, hurricanes might raise the oceans, and a realized person wouldn't be frightened. As such, they mount the clouds, ride on the sun and moon, and wander beyond the four seas. Matters of death and life won't alter them, so why would they bother with the principles of good and bad?”

Zhuangzi, “The Adjustment of Controversies”

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