The Empty Boat ~ 08
event type | discourse |
date & time | 17 Jul 1974 am |
location | Lao Tzu balcony, Poona |
language | English |
audio | Available, duration 1h 26min. Quality: inferior (under revision). |
online audio | |
video | Not available |
online video | |
see also |
|
online text | find the PDF of this discourse |
shorttitle | BOAT08 |
- notes
- synopsis
- Reader of the sutras/questions: Sw Ananda Teertha.
- The sutra
- Hui Tzu said to Chuang Tzu:
- "All your teaching is centered on what has no use."
- Chuang tzu replied:
- "If you have no appreciation for what has no use
- You cannot begin to talk about what can be used.
- The earth, for example, is broad and vast,
- But of all this expanse a man uses only a few inches
- Upon which he happens to be standing at the time.
- "Now suppose you suddenly take away
- All that he is not actually using,
- So that all around his feet a gulf yawns,
- And he stands in the void
- With nowhere solid except under each foot,
- How long will he be able to use what he is using?"
- Hui Tzu said:
- "It would cease to serve any purpose."
- Chuang Tzu concluded:
- "This shows the absolute necessity
- Of what is supposed to have no use."
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