One of the secret keys of the Tao says: “What is beautiful in you should be hidden and never shown. When the truth is hidden in the heart, it sprouts like a grain thrown into the ground. Do not remove it from the outside. If you take the grain out for everyone to see, it will die uselessly.”
It so happened that Chuang Tzu became very famous, and the emperor invited him to head the cabinet of ministers. Lao Tzu became angry:
“You’re doing something wrong, otherwise why would the emperor be interested in you?” Apparently you turned out to be useful in some way. Perhaps you did not understand something in my teaching. Now you won't find peace.
Once Chuang Tzu was fishing in the river. The Chu ruler sent two dignitaries to him with a message that said: “I want to place the burden of state affairs on you.”
Chuang Tzu, continuing to fish, said:
“I heard that in Chu there is a sacred turtle that died three thousand years ago. The rulers of Chu keep it, wrapped in shrouds and hidden in a casket in the temple of their ancestors.
“Yes, that’s true,” answered the dignitaries.
“What would this turtle prefer, to be dead and have its bones honored, or to be alive and drag its tail through the mud?”
Both dignitaries replied:
“I’d rather be alive and drag my tail through the mud.”
Then Chuang Tzu said:
- Go away! I also prefer to drag my tail through the mud.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru