Approaching Chu, Chuang Tzu came across a bare skull, whitened, but still retaining its shape. Chuang Tzu hit the skull with a whip and turned to him with questions:
“Did a reckless thirst for life, or an ax on the block when you served a defeated kingdom, bring you to this, teacher?” Did bad deeds that disgraced your father and mother, wife and children, or the pangs of hunger and cold brought you to this? Has death brought you to this, after many years of life? - Having said this, Chuang Tzu went to bed, putting the skull under his head.
At midnight the Skull appeared to him in a dream and said:
“You chatted like a sophist.” In your words is the burden of torment of a living person. After death they are gone. Do you want to listen to the dead?
“Yes,” replied Chuang Tzu.
“For the dead,” said the skull, “there is no king above, no servants below, and for him there is no change of seasons.” It calmly follows the annual cycles of heaven and earth. Even a king facing the south does not have such happiness.
Not believing him, Chuang Tzu asked:
“Do you want me to tell the Masters of Fate to revive you to life, give you flesh and blood, return your father and mother, wife and children, neighbors and friends?”
The skull peered at him, frowned sternly and replied:
- Who would want to exchange royal happiness for human torment!
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru