Once upon a time, I, Chuang Chou, dreamt I was a butterfly, fluttering hither and thither, to all intents and purposes a butterfly. I was conscious only of my happiness as a butterfly, unaware that I was Chou. Soon I awaked, and there I was, veritably myself again. Now I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly, dreaming I am a man. Between a man and a butterfly there is necessarily a distinction. The transition is called the transformation of material things.
More from Chuang Chou
How do I know that enjoying life is not a delusion? How do I know that in hating death we are not like people who got lost in early childhood and do not know t…
Permalink to quote #2 Right is not right; so is not so. If right were really right it would differ so clearly from not right that there would be no need for argument. If so were rea…
Permalink to quote #3 Forget the years, forget distinctions. Leap into the boundless and make it your home!
Permalink to quote #4