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The way to purity… is to guard the spirit, this alone, guard it and never lose it, and you will become one with spirit, one with its pure essence, which communicates and mingles with the Heavenly Order.

Chuang Tzu

Become One With Spirit

Theme: Meditation and Contemplation

Pure Spirit reaches in the four directions, flows now this way, now that—There is no place it does not extend to. Above, it brushes Heaven; below, it coils on the earth. It transforms and nurses the ten thousand things, but no one can make out its form. Its name is called One-with-Heaven.The way to purity and wisdom is to guard the spirit, this alone, guard it and never lose it, and you will become one with spirit, one with its pure essence, which communicates and mingles with the Heavenly Order.

Chuang Tzu

Chuang Tzu, also known as Zhuang Zhou or Zhuangzi, was a luminous presence in an era of transformative thought. He lived around 350 BC, a time of remarkable intellectual ferment in China. As a Taoist philosopher, he embraced a worldview that emphasized balance, the rhythm of nature, and the pursuit of a deeply personal understanding of the universe. His teachings centered on the Tao, a profound concept that represented the underlying order and essence of the cosmos. Unraveling the mystery of the Tao was not about conquering or controlling it, but rather about aligning oneself with its fluid, natural ebb and flow.

Over the millennia, Chuang Tzu's wisdom has been distilled into a collection of sayings, passed down from generation to generation. These teachings, written with a depth and eloquence that resonates across the ages, offer a profound and transformative exploration of existence and our place within it. They invite us to question conventional wisdom, to see the world from different perspectives, and to embrace the inherent uncertainties of life. In their enchanting simplicity and their profound depth, Chuang Tzu's words hold a mirror to our deepest selves, asking us to reflect on who we are and how we relate to the world around us.

These timeless teachings of Chuang Tzu have found resonance far beyond the Taoist tradition. They have become one of the fundamental sources for Zen Buddhism, a spiritual path that shares Taoism's emphasis on mindfulness, simplicity, and the pursuit of enlightenment through direct experience. In this way, Chuang Tzu's legacy reaches across the centuries, touching lives and shaping philosophies far beyond the borders of his own time and place. His wisdom continues to illuminate the path for those seeking understanding, inviting us all to engage deeply with the mysteries of existence and our place within the cosmos.

Taoism

Wilson, Andrew, editor. World Scripture - a Comparative Anthology of Sacred Texts. Paragon House, 1991, p. 602 [Chuang Tzu 15].

Chuang Tzu


Theme: Meditation and Contemplation

Short Commentary About This Chuang Tzu Quote 

The passage from Chuang Tzu (Zhuangzi) is a profound reflection on the ubiquity and omnipresence of the “Pure Spirit” or the divine energy that permeates the universe. It suggests an inherent interconnectedness of all things, aligning with the core principles of Taoism [Daoism]. The Pure Spirit is everywhere—reaching in all directions, brushing Heaven, coiling on Earth, nurturing all creatures. It is an invisible, formless energy that is inextricably linked with Heaven, and the aspiration is to become “One-with-Heaven.” This idea of unity and harmonization with the cosmos is a central tenet in many spiritual philosophies, including meditation practices.

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The concept of guarding the spirit to achieve unity with its pure essence directly resonates with the practice of meditation. Meditation is fundamentally about cultivating a deep awareness of oneself and one’s inner spirit. By quieting the mind, individuals are able to connect with their innermost essence, which is akin to the “Pure Spirit” Chuang Tzu (Zhuangzi) speaks of. Through persistent and focused practice, individuals can learn to guard their spirit, maintaining its purity and wisdom. As one becomes more attuned to their inner spirit, they start to perceive the interconnection of all beings, fostering a sense of unity with the cosmos.

Chuang Tzu’s words also convey the transformative nature of this spiritual journey. As meditation deepens the connection with the inner spirit, it can lead to significant personal transformation. It becomes a path to purity, wisdom, and enlightenment, paralleling Chuang Tzu’s teaching of becoming “One-with-Heaven.” This transformative journey is not just about personal growth, but also about aligning oneself with the “Heavenly Order,” the divine, natural order of the universe. This alignment facilitates a deeper understanding and acceptance of life’s dynamics, resulting in inner peace and equanimity. Thus, Chuang Tzu’s passage and meditation both underscore the quest for spiritual growth and harmony with the universe.

Chuang Tzu (4th Century BC)

Born in the 4th Century BC, Chuang Tzu* like Lao Tzu, is one of the principal sages of Taoism. Taoism is best known through its doctrine of wu wei (which literally means “pure effectiveness”, in that, “action in the mode of wu wei is action in which friction—in interpersonal relationships, in intrapsychic conflict, and in relation to nature—is reduced to the minimum”). However, of interest to the current essay is the nondualism (and its inherent immanence and transcendence) that was expressed by Taoist sages such as Chuang Tzu. As stated by Aldous Huxley, “In the Taoist formulations of the Perennial Philosophy there is an insistence, no less forcible than in the Upanishads, the Gita and the writings of Shankara, upon the universal immanence of the transcendent spiritual Ground of all existence.”

—Aldous Huxley (1970, p. 7); Huston Smith (1991, p. 200). [*Changed name spelling from Chang Tzu to Chuang Tzu.—AD]

 

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