"Where Can I Find a Man Who Has Forgotten Words?" by Chuang Tzu
“The purpose of a fish trap
is to catch fish,
and when the fish are caught
the trap is forgotten.
The purpose of a rabbit snare
is to catch rabbits.
"Where is the Tao?" by Derek Lin in Chuang Tzu Stories
One day, a scholar by the name of Donguozi asked Chuang Tzu: “That which we call the Tao — where is it?”
The two of them were outside, and Chuang Tzu said: “Everywhere. There is no place where the Tao isn’t.”
Donguozi didn’t quite understand this, so he asked: “Can you be more specific and point it out for me?”
Chuang Tzu looked around and saw ants crawling underfoot, so he pointed to them: “The Tao is among these ants.”
This surprised Donguozi. He asked: “Why such a lowly place?”
"For Síle by Wei Wu Wei
When the beetle sees, it is I that am looking,
When the nightingale sings, it is I that am singing,
When the lion roars, it is I that am roaring.
But when I look for myself, I can see nothing --
for no thing is there to be seen.
"Flight from the Shadow" by Chuang Tzu
There was a man
who was so disturbed
by the sight of his own shadow
and so displeased
with his own footsteps,
that he determined to get rid of both.
"The Empty Boat" by Chuang Tzu
Who can free himself of achievement and fame
Then descend and be lost
Amidst the masses of men?
He will flow like Tao, unseen…
He will go about like life itself,
With no name and no home.
"When the Shoe Fits" by Chuang Tzu
Chu’i the draftsman
could draw more perfect circles freehand
than with a compass.
His fingers brought forth
spontaneous forms from nowhere.