Catching Insects
Chuang Tzu once passed through a forest, where he saw a man whose back bent almost double. Despite this disability the man was catching cicade insects with a sticky pole, as easily as though he were grabbing them with his hand. Chuang Tzu exclaimed: “What skill you have! How have you acquired it?”
The man replied:”For six months I practised balancing two balls on top of each other on the end of a pole.
Then for another sixe months I practised balancing three balls on top of each other on the end of a pole.
Then for another six months I practised balancing four balls on top of each other on the end of the pole. Then for another six months I practised balancing five balls on top of each other on the end of the pole. By now I was satisfied that I had the ability to catch cicadas as easily as if I were grabbing them with my hand. But still I was not ready. I spent a further six months learning to hold my body as still as if it were a tree trunk. And I spent a further six months learning to concentrate my mind, so I should be aware of nothing but cicadas. I was now confident that I could not fail.’
Chuang Tzu thanked the man, and left. He frequently repeated the man’s words to others, and concluded: ‘If the mind and the body are directed to a single object, then that object will be attained.’
TAOISM AND CONFUCIANISM
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