THE BEAUTIFUL BELL-STAND
A woodworker called Ching carved a beautiful bell-stand.
Everyone marvelled at it.
When the king saw it, he asked Ching: ‘What art do you possess, that enables you to carve so beautifully?’
Ching replied:’ I am merely a craftsman.
When I am making a bell-stand, I begin by fasting, in order to still my mind.
When I have fasted for three days, I no longer have any thoughts of praise or congratulations for my work.
When I have fasted for seven days, I forget that I have four limbs and a body; I forget even that I live in a country ruled by a king.
After that I go to the forest high up on the mountain, and examine the nature of trees.
Eventually I find a tree in which I can see the bell-stand already present.
I chop down the tree, and allow my hands to carve out the bell-stand.
So you see I have no art;
I am a craftsman who reveals the art of nature.’
CHUANG TZU
366 readings from Taoism and Confucianism
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