The Empty Boat ~ 03

event type	discourse
date & time	12 Jul 1974 am
location	Lao Tzu balcony, Poona
language	English
audio	Available, duration 1h 24min. Quality: good.
online audio	free download from OshoWorld purchase from Osho.com
video	Not available
online video
see also	timeline : Osho Timeline 1974 first edition : The Empty Boat (1976) other editions, translations and links
online text	find the PDF of this discourse
shorttitle	BOAT03

The sutra

Hui Tzu was prime minister of Liang.

He had what he believed to be inside information

That Chuang Tzu coveted his post,

And was plotting to supplant him.

When Chuang Tzu came to visit Liang

The prime minister sent out police to arrest him,

But although they searched for three days and nights

They could not find him.

Meanwhile, Chuang Tzu presented himself to Hui Tzu

Of his own accord, and said:

"Have you heard about the bird

That lives in the south --

The phoenix that never grows old?

This undying phoenix rises out of the south sea

And flies to the sea of the north,

Never alighting except on certain sacred trees.

He will touch no food

But the most exquisite rare fruit,

And he drinks only from the clearest springs.

Once an owl

Chewing an already half-decayed dead rat

Saw the phoenix fly over. Looking up he screeched with alarm

And clutched the dead rat to himself

In fear and dismay.

Prime minister,

Why are you so frantic,

Clinging to your ministry

And screeching at me in dismay?"

Navigation menu