Sacred Books of the East Vol. 40 - Taoism Vol. 2

'Life is the follower of death, and death is the predecessor of life; but who knows the Arranger (of this connexion between them){fr. 3}? The life is due to the collecting of the breath. When that is collected, there is life; when it is dispersed, there is death. Since death and life thus attend on each other, why should I account (either of) them an evil? 'Therefore all things go through one and the same experience. (Life) is accounted beautiful because it is spirit-like and wonderful, and death is accounted ugly because of its foetor and putridity. But the foetid and putrid is transformed again into the spirit-like and wonderful, and the spirit-like and wonderful is transformed again into the foetid and {fn. 1. See the Tâo Teh King, chaps. 38 and 48.} {fn. 2. This sentence is metaphorical of the Tâo, whose spell is broken by the intrusion of Knowledge.} {fn. 3. This 'Arranger' is the Tâo.} {p. 60} putrid. Hence it is said, "All under the sky there is one breath of life, and therefore the sages prized that unity{fr. 1},"' Knowledge{fr. 2} said to Hwang-Tî{fr. 2}, 'I asked Dumb Inaction{fr. 2}, and he did not answer me. Not only did he not answer me, but he did not know how to answer me. I asked Heedless Blurter, and while he wanted to tell me, he yet did not do so. Not only did he not tell me, but while he wanted to tell me, he forgot all about my questions. Now I have asked you, and you knew (all about them);--why (do you say that) you are not near doing so?' Hwang-Tî replied, 'Dumb Inaction{fr. 2} was truly right, because he did not know the thing. Heedless Blurter{fr. 2} was nearly right, because he forgot it. I and you are not nearly right, because we know it.' Heedless Blurter{fr. 2} heard of (all this), and considered that Hwang-Tî{fr. 2} knew how to express himself (on the subject).