From The Maxims Of Seng Tsan

[poliphilo]

The wise let things be
But the foolish are restless.
In truth all things are worthy of love,
But the foolish pick and choose.
They create illusions and fall madly in love with them.
How ridiculous this is.

The ignorant are torn by desire
But the wise have no likes and dislikes.
Good and evil, right and wrong, the lovely and unlovely:
All are illusions, conjuring tricks, insubstantial pageants.
Reach for them and there’s nothing.
Gain and loss, right and wrong:
Clear your mind of such nonsense.

Comments

[baritonejeff.livejournal.com]

Fascinating, but I still don't get "freedom" from his words. What I hear him proposing is, in it's way, as tyrannical as what he's opposing.

The Chesterton quote is amazingly perceptive. Thanks!