Chuang and earlier Zen living

**Know the difference between enjoying and engaging with the Universe and humanity** Don't look for the Universal in humans, but listen to the universal in the universe, for paying attention to the beauties and wonders of the Universe is life-giving, while attending to humanity damages life. So basically what is human in not worthy of our attention - except kindness - whilst the magnificence of the Universe is what to notice and enjoy.

**How we get our world view all wrong** The whole world is incapable of judging either right or wrong **How to get our world view right** Actionless action can judge both right and wrong **Life as a mystery - simply and profoundly accept this truth**  All life is mysterious and emerges from actionless action Destiny has its particular structure which you can neither add to nor subtract from. **Helping people the wrong way or trying to persuade them to think like you** The problem is trying to feed a bird on what you eat rather than what a bird needs Do not try to make people conform **Death is just part of the mysterious process** Humans eventually sink back to what was in the beginning. All the multitudes of life arise from the mystery of beginning ans return there.

**View that one cannot train people to change**  A frog in a well cannot discuss the ocean [therefore first we need to show the "frogs" the ocean. But can frogs ever come to understand ocean?] How do we do that in a modern situation, to those who suffer poverty of spirit, to those with the arrogance of power, etc? A narrow-minded scholar cannot discuss the Tao. [Therefore don't engage in discussion with them. eg. The Entrepreneurial professor at the Hunter Centre. They only see from their narrow perspective. The expert's mind sees few options. The beginner's mind sees all.] **Accept humility that we are insignificant in the big picture of the Universe** We receive the life-breath from the universe, but we are just a little stone or tree set on a great hill compared to this world and beyond. How can we be so arrogant when we are so insignifcant? **All liviing things, all living species are equally important, actually equally trivial, don't harm them** When spea...

When knowledge and calm nurture each other, harmony and order emerge as from innate nature. The Tao is order. When someone tries to correct others it destroys everyone's innate nature. Follow the path of simplicity and silence. The people had knowledge but they did not use it; all this was perfect Oneness. Ruling by decrees and grand plans, they polluted the purity of nature and destroyed simpicity. The Tao was abaondoned and Good sutbstituted. As a result innate nature was abandoned. Heart linked with knowledge but were unable to give the world peace. Pomp and ceremony were added to this knowledge. This displaced simplicity resulting in the people being confused and disobedient. Perceiving this we can see how the world has lost the Tao. How can the world come to appreciate the Tao? Even if the wise do not retreat to the forests, their virtue is still hidden, whether they like it or not. When the times are not favourable for the wise, and it is not possible for them to do great thi...

To live amongst the wilds and lakes; to dwell in isolated places; actionless action; he leaves this generation be, and is in no hurry. To lose everything and yet to have all; to drift calmly and endlessly; this is the Tao of Heaven and Earth. Calm, detachment, silence, quiet, emptiness and actionless action, these are what maintain Heaven and Earth, the Tao and Virtue. The sage rests, truly rests, and is at ease. He ignores knowledge and nostalgia, following only the pattern of Heaven.So he risks no disaster from Heaven, nor complications from things, no accusation from anyone. In life he floats; at death he rests. He does not consider and plot, nor design for the future. He shines but is not seen. His spirit is pure and without blemish. Empty, selfless, calm and detached, he is in harmony with Heaven's Virtue. For the heart to be without sadness and happiness, is to have perfected Virtue. To be one and changeless, this is to have perfected stillness; to encounter no opposition is ...

 Is there some hidden cause that makes things as they are, whether they wish or not? Or is it just that everything moves and turns beause it has no choice? Who, [or what], doing nothing, brings all this joyful excess into being? Who, doing nothing, creates all trhis activity? Perfect nobility disregards the honours of state. Perfect fulfilment ignores fame and glory. Alone of all, the Tao never alters. The efforts and works of one age cannot, without great contortions, be made to fit another age.  Fame is something sought by all, but don't go for too much of it. Someone who believes wealth is the most important thing cannot give up their income; someone who seeks pre-eminence cannot give up the hunt for fame; those who love power cannot hand it over to others. Those who cling to things like these are usually fearful. Benevolence and righteousness, when forced upon you, disturb your heart and produce great distress. Why do you exert yourself so much, banging a big drum? Fame an...

NOT: telling lies backbiting, slander talk that may bring about hatred, enmity, disunity, and disharmony harsh, rude, impolite, malicious and abusive language idle, useless, and foolish babble or gossip speaking carelessly IS speak the truth use words tht are friendly and benevolent, words that are pleasant and gentle words that are meaningful and useful speak at the right time and the right place If one cannot say anything useful one should keep noble silence.