February 5, 2005

  • The Joy of Fishes
    by Chuang Tzu (250 B.C.)

    Chuang Tzu and Hui Tzu
    Were crossing Hao river
    By the dam.

    Chuang said:
    "See how free
    The fishes leap and dart:
    That is their happiness,"

    Hui replied:
    "Since you are not a fish
    How do you know
    What makes fishes happy?"

    Chuang said:
    "Since you are not I
    How can you possibly know
    That I do not know
    What makes fishes happy?"

    Hui argued:
    "If I, not being you,
    Cannot know what you know
    It follows that you
    Not being a fish
    Cannot know what they know."

    Chuang said:
    "Wait a minute!
    Let us get back
    To the orginal question.
    What you asked me was
    'How do you know
    What makes fishes happy?'
    From the terms of your question
    You evidently know I know
    What makes fishes happy.

    "I know the joy of fishes
    In the river
    Through my own joy, as I go walking
    Along the same river."

    Translation by Thomas Merton The Way of Chuang Tzu, New Directions Books, 1965 


    *note: Thomas Merton was a Trappist monk and mystic.  I've read quite a bit of his work-over 70 books. While studying Chinese and embracing Taosit precepts in my 20s, I understood his joy in doing the same.
     

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