Liezi was another great sage slightly before Zhuangzi. His writings are rich in parables, analogies and simile. He illustrated Tao in a slightly different way from Zhuangzi. His writings were contained in 8 chapters. He was a native of the state of Zheng鄭國 during the Spring and Autumn Period. For 40 years, he lived in a small town with no acquaintance. Once he was a a student of a Taoist master known as Hu Qiu Zi壺丘子 but later he followed another two great Taoists Lao shang and Bo Gao Zi and completely mastered their teachings and techniques. Nine years later, it was said he could ride with the wind. His ideas and teachings were organized in eight chapters. He was a real great Taoist sage and was much praised by Zhuangzi.
"There is a Creative Principle which is itself uncreated; there is a Principle of Change which is itself unchanging. The Uncreated is able to create life; the Unchanging is able to effect change. That which is produced cannot but continue producing; that which is transformed cannot but continue transforming. Hence there is constant production and constant transformation. Hence constant production and constant transformation at no time stop.”
“There are the born and the Unborn; there are the changing and Unchanging. The Unborn gives birth of the born, and the Unchanging change the changing...The born and the changing, shape and color, wisdom and strength, decrease and growth, all come out of themselves”
"有生不生,有化不化,不生者能生生,不化者能化化,生者不能不生, 化者不能不化,故常生常化, 常生常化者,無時不生,無時不化。"
Content: John Ho
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