Zhuangzi - The Sage of Uncertainty

In this video, we talk about one of the most central texts and figures in Daoism.
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This video uses footage provided by: www.naturestockvideos.com/
Sources/Further Reading:
Komjathy, Louis (2013). "The Daoist Tradition: An Introduction". Bloomsbury Academic.
Lao Tzu (2013). "Tao Te Ching - A New Translation. Translated by William Scott Wilson. Shambala Publications. Hackett Publishing Co, Inc.
Zhuangzi (2008). "Zhuangzi - The Essential Texts: With Translations from Traditional Commentaries". Translated by Brook Ziporyn.
#Zhuangzi #Daoism #Philosophy

[@scamdemicpoliticalvirus1123]

“Happiness is the absence of the striving for happiness.” Zhua

[@azazelmaxwell7842]

Ternkya jersies. Ineededthatun

[@cool-as-cucumber]

By that logic no American can ever be happy.

[@jwf2125]

I believe that but I despair of ever learning how.

[@charlesdavis7087]

I'm quite happy not to be happy all the time.

[@jwf2125]

@@charlesdavis7087 Wish I could say same.

[@TheSamuiman]

"Coarse rice to eat, water to drink, my bended arm for a pillow - therein is happiness. Wealth and rank attained through immoral means are nothing but drifting clouds." ― Confucius ---

[@dhh488]

That's such a great quote, thanks.

[@aurelienyonrac]

Jesus could have said the same thing lol Well he did when he sent his disciples.

[@TheSamuiman]

@@EricDMMiller ??? ?????????????????

[@jiayilim1986]

@@EricDMMiller define "actual" physical comfort. Comfort is actual enough if it is comfort.

[@sieltan5618]

"attained through immoral means" confucius really can't just let things stand without adding a moral to them huh

[@billwheeler3687]

I read the Zgyangzi ("Chuang Tzu") as a teenager. My reaction was the same as yours: "How can you not love this guy?"

[@lennon_richardson]

I’m very impressed that you read, and enjoyed!, this as a teen. Very impressive.

[@billwheeler3687]

@@lennon_richardson : Thank you. I'll be three score and ten later this year.

[@james2578]

people love different things, that's how.

[@user-pz8nt4pv1r]

Did you read it in original language ?

[@billwheeler3687]

@@user-pz8nt4pv1r No, I read Burton Watson's translation.

[@natezhuang9608]

Always love to learn about Zhuangzi. Because according to my dad, he is my ancestor.

[@DystopianApocalypse]

Radddd

[@GD-tn3ez]

He is my cat. And he knows that I know that he knows…ya know?

[@t0xcn253]

Incredible! I hope that Heaven and Earth assist you in making him proud.

[@aubreylear]

I heard he was a myth. your dad, that is.

[@juanlu3958]

@@aubreylear .............

[@zanka53]

Wait a high quality, informative channel with a calm demeanor covering topics I'm genuinely interested in? KZbin ain't working right

[@soulance8342]

Or perhaps, now is simply the time for us to find this channel, when we are ready, when it is ready. Right on time.

[@james2578]

no your mind isn't.

[@neireannach]

He reminds me of Diogenes when he tells Alexander to stand out of his sun

[@nklinef]

“If I were not Alexander, I would be Diogenes”

[@potandpoliticswithmr.broph1420]

was just looking to see if anyone had brought up Diogenes yet.lol

[@alwayswinning7282]

@@nklinef Chad move

[@Aldnon]

Ah sheizzz... Somebody already mention Diogenes before me...

[@user-ze7tl2dw4i]

Diogenes is ascetic, whereas Zhuangzi had a home supposedly. Zhuangzi would likely not have many material possessions, for his philosophy undermines the concept of property, but Zhuangzi didn't draw such hard lines that if you were practicing you wouldn't have many possessions.

[@arttrashuberalles7223]

I think Zhuang Zi, Diogenes, and Camus would have some of the most insightful and entertaining discussions in philosophy had they ever had the chance to meet and speak. Ah to be a fly on the wall at a meeting like that....

[@Arms.Enthusiast]

Such is the happiness of a fly

[@bierdlll]

Zhuang Zi got no time for words or concepts.

[@keithalcock7173]

What a real Buzz!

[@alecbruyns4490]

Perhaps they would all smile at each other, and remain silent, nothing needing to be said.

[@weiwujiang6884]

@@alecbruyns4490 haha, that’s Huineng’s way who practiced Buddhism

[@SoulAudeo]

The more I learn about eastern philosophy, the more I feel like it came from someone I know, not to toot my own horn, but most of this stuff resonates w me so deeply, I’ve always looked at the world in similar ways…it’s nice to hear it from someone else that’s all

[@thecomprehensionhub4612]

Very similar expirence for me, from philosophy to music, it all sounds familiar.

[@prakharprabhat585]

Eastern civilizations tried to go beyond material success and found eternal spiritual happiness and there is also comfort and peace with spiritual success.

[@SomeRandomGuy777x]

someone you know, or someone that is you, déjà vu?

[@SoulAudeo]

@@SomeRandomGuy777x lol, someone familiar that’s for sure

[@patrykrak8905]

Same here. While I am reading or listening to this kind of texts I feel like something Inside me is responding.

[@oredaze]

You summarize this so well, great job. Also I find it that daoism is the closest humans have gotten to understanding the world. Really profound insight these people had to come up with that so long ago.

[@amranxtv3261]

Did you watch Ibn Arabi & The Unity of Being on this channel?

[@cosmicllama6910]

I think the closeness with nature and time to meditate before we all became loud and industrialized, helped a lot. People can't meditate today like they did back then. Too much noise and busywork.

[@keenanarthur8381]

Daoism is one of my favorite traditions, along with some specific Śākta/Śaiva and Buddhist tantric traditions, Sikhism, and Paganism. Also, there's a (audio)book called "Daoism Explained: From the Dream of the Butterfly to the Fishnet Allegory," in which Hans Georg-Moeller offers a different translation of the butterfly story mentioned in the video, with different implications, specifically refuting translations in which the dream is remembered upon waking.

[@limitlesssky3050]

It was not directly stated whether the dream is remembered or not, only the narrator said that the narrator is not sure whether Zhuang Zhi is dreaming of being butterfly or the butterfly dreaming of becoming Zhuang Zhi, but since the narrator is Zhuang Zhi himself, logic says he kinda needs to remember it to write it down, no?

[@jalepezo]

Hans has a youtube channel: and yes, he is a eastern philosophy scholar living in the East, so it adds to the depth of his interpretations

[@acyutanandadas1326]

'Nothing is good or bad but thinking makes it so' Saint Shakespeare

[@henripepels815]

Heraclitus' - according to Fritjof Capra the Greek Daoïst - fragment 102: "To God all things are fair and good and just, but men hold some things wrong and some right."

[@acyutanandadas1326]

@@henripepels815 Nice--See Isopanisad invocation ''purnamadah...'' and verse one' ''isavasya idam sarvam''

[@Cranb]

I’ve just discovered your channel, and I’ve really enjoyed the level of detail and research you’ve put into these different cultures, practices and religions. Especially the amount of information not generally known by an anglophonic audience. Thanks, man!

[@user-bl3is9cx2r]

The Chinese Communist Party cracks down on Chinese people's freedom of belief, distorting and cracking down on Buddhism and Taoism. In China, the prerequisite for you to be a religious person or a believer is to praise the Communist Party. Chinese traditional culture is in danger now, I am very sad for this

[@user-bl3is9cx2r]

Even a century-old church in Tianjin, one of China's cities, has been converted into a coffee shop, I feel so distressed

[@ts-wo6pp]

@@user-bl3is9cx2r why are you saying century old like that's particularly old

[@sajadahmad1471]

I fell in love ,with your art of explaining things and the ocean of knowledge you posses ,on that very day when my friend recommended me this channel. THANKS FOR ENLIGHTENING ME. ❤️ from KASHMIR.

[@TerribleShmeltingAccident]

Ditto.

[@sidekick8983]

Bikul, zab channel

[@Marewig]

"For those of us who don't know Chinese and thus can never fully grasp the word play and very creative uses of language that he employs in this book..." Even if you know Chinese, it doesn't help much. Classical Chinese is a completely different beast with all its literary allusions and references. I'll just take the more convenient path of reading a scholar's fully annotated English translation.

[@aeoteroa818]

so like reading shakespeare in a way?

[@Marewig]

@@aeoteroa818 Nah, Shakespeare is still pretty easy to parse if you watch it live, and with actors using a more Shakesperian pronunciation than RP. It's at _most_ as comprehensible as the original Mabinogion is to modern English readers.

[@k.vfrancisfrancis4125]

For more grasping knowledge of Buddhism is ideal for it's the soul

[@stabbysean4895]

Classical Chinese is fairly comprehensive but requires study

[@limitlesssky3050]

@@aeoteroa818 it's different. There were modern Chinese movement at the end of Qing Dynasty. Literally a whole group of scholars decided that learning ancient Chinese is a waste of time that can be used to learn other things, so they stopped using it in their daily life. Because of the Opium war and the downfall of the Qing Dynasty, many many Chinese of the late 19th and early 20th century blamed everything from the Chinese culture to their language as a downfall of their civilization.

[@TerribleShmeltingAccident]

What an overwhelmingly positive comment section, refreshing!

[@prax9918]

Agreed

[@atomusbliss]

check out the documentary COBRA GYPSIES. check out that comment section!

[@summerkagan6049]

Your choice of art to illustrate your lecture reminds me how beautiful chinese art can be.

[@bettyledesma937]

Indeed...Truly Wu Wei 🙃

[@locuus7]

chang po tuan's understanding reality is another great book of daoism. Sufism and Taoism: A Comparative Study of Key Philosophical Concepts by Izutsu, another great book that compares ibn arabi with Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu.

[@LetsTalkReligion]

Yes, very interesting book!

[@Marewig]

Thanks for the book recommendation!

[@andrewgeary9749]

I would say the Leihzi is the closest book in daoism I have read. Made up of parables,anecdotes, dialogues and musing. Understanding reality is from the period it is well on the path to religion from ancient philosophy

[@locuus7]

@@andrewgeary9749 I haven't read Liezi. Will give it a look. When I read Understanding Reality I found it a profound alchemical text at the time, thus the mention

[@andrewgeary9749]

@@locuus7 it's all important for understanding the current state of Daoism and how it went from antiquity into the modern era, and familiarity with Understanding Reality is definitely important. Even though it's not a majority religion in modern China like the folk religion, the symbology and worldview share a lot of terminology and references and it's a great aid in learning the culture.

[@Hollylivengood]

Great explanation of Zhuangzi. I love Brook Ziporyn's translation because there are whole paragraphs of footnotes explaining Chinese phrases, and even their older jokes that you have to understand to get what he says.

[@limitlesssky3050]

Even Chinese needs footnotes to understand what the heck he's saying

[@Hollylivengood]

@@limitlesssky3050 That is somewhat comforting. i thought I was just stupid.

[@westsidesmitty1]

I have Mair and treasure Cleary's trans. of the Inner Chapters. Thanks for the recommendation of Ziporyn! I love to spread them all out before me and read the same section from each (helps my aging memory, as well).

[@judoshrew]

I feel like to regard Zhuangzi as anti-intellectual is to miss so much of the point of Zhuangzi. He is someone concerned with greater understanding and trying to make sense of something as slippery as the Dao, and so it is important to understand what you do not know and what cannot truly be known. He is mad at scholars, particularly the Confucian ones who are concerned with what is hard and white, the principles of Yang, trying to define nobility and greatness, when their obsessions blind them and make them unable to see the greater picture. His humor mocks, but there is a greater purpose to it. Humor itself conveys understanding, yet it is somehow beyond words. We do not laugh at every joke, and yet, when we understand we laugh. When you cannot convey the Dao through something as unreliable as words, you have to find other avenues beyond words themselves. These jokes convey understanding, which can help the understanding of Dao. They are beyond words, and that is what makes the Zhuangzi such a unique and interesting text.

[@gongfutaijimy]

Daoism as anti-intellectualism is one of the most common completely incorrect interpretations.

[@andrewblake2254]

@@gongfutaijimy Well its both at the same time. Is that not the point of his contradictions?

[@limitlesssky3050]

Zhuang Zhi is anti intellectual, yet he is a great intellectual himself. Zhuang Zhi is anti language, yet he is a great scholar himself, Zhuang Zhi is anti teacher, yet he has a great many disciples. Zhuang Zhi is anti certainty, yet he is certain of his own Tao. That is Zhuang Zhi. You may call it hypocritical, but he is what he is.

[@bettyledesma937]

@@limitlesssky3050 I AM that I am 🙃🙋

[@dhdhebeb1780]

@@limitlesssky3050 certain of his own Tao...Not, not-Tao, not non certain yet not non not certain-not certain non-certain of on in about, etc non not not non him He self non it not he not self not true not non not non I-not-I-non I-not-I-non-not non-not-grab-non-numb-not-not if-not-not if-not-not not-if if-it-not it-non-self nonitnonself not-unimaginable-tell-silence non-not-grab-non-numb-not-not non-utterance non-thronic nonnotnonnotNotNonNonNot non-etcnot-etcnon-etcetc etc-not etcnonnotetcnonnotnotnotnonetcisisetc etc-if-non-not-[ ] I-not-I-non-not non-not-grab-non-numb-not-not non-utterance Not Butterfly disaster

[@gerard.bailey]

I always found Chiaotzu to be a poetic character, so powerful and a selfless death.

[@divyaprakash3688]

Discovered your channel yesterday...the content and your way of presenting it is awesome❤️

[@ej8530]

This channel is brilliant! To be so balanced is such an amazing part of your channel. Happy to see the growth too!

[@tomalexander2710]

Fantastic, been looking forward to this!

[@jacobmoody2335]

I absolutely love this channel and everything I've learned the last few weeks. This is a true font of knowledge

[@peterballauthor]

Fascinating how much you clearly understand and convey all these different philosophies and faiths with such equanimity.

[@jackjhmc820]

As a Chinese beginning to study zhuangzi, I got to say this video is explained pretty well.

[@pedrofranc9342]

discovered your channel looking into sufism and now this... I've been reading a lot about daoism and mysticism in general lately; and i garantee you, this is one of the best videos i've seen about it, congrats. You probably know him already, but Alan Watt's talks are not to be missed for the ones in love with the subject. Regards from Brazil!

[@garypuckettmuse]

I jump for joy whenever anyone says Alan Watts. And, just imagine, there was hardly anything translated to English from Chinese, Japanese, Sanskrit, etc. when he got into all that. He was a true scholar and great thinker. Underappreciated because he refused to play the academic game and frankly I think the public-figure religious and spiritual "knowns" of today dare not mention him as he make everyone look so wan and bland by comparison. Peace to you in Brazil, from the US>

[@harperho9158]

Your voice and the content of this video really make me feel calm and peaceful. Thanks.

[@westsidesmitty1]

How fortunate that as a child I heard of Chuang Tzu (the sacred butterfly scroll of Chuang Chou!) in an episode of tv's Kung Fu series in the early 70's. A seed was planted in my young boy mind. Though I now practice the Theravada lineage, I love Ch'an Buddhism for its pleasing mixture of Mahayana and the native Taoism when the former was brought to China. I have enjoyed Mair's translation, but treasure Cleary's translation of the ''Inner Chapters''. The indelible impression of Chuang Tzu's personality (as it appears consistently through the Inner Chapters) leads me to conclude that he was, indeed, an historical figure. So much has been lost due to war, disaster, and fanaticism, that it is a miracle to be celebrated that these precious writings have survived. Had I my life to live over, I would have studied Classical Chinese! But alas, ''Life is short, while art is long''! I also celebrate the blessing of this wonderful channel!

[@ABOUCAY]

Always lnstructive, by the way i really like your readings of poetry and sacred text, hope for more of those to come :)

[@pra.cent20]

Zhuangzi’s oneness with Dao is very similar to Monotheistic school of thought or Adavaitvaad in Hinduism, expressed by the quote "aham brahmashmi", i.e. i am one with cosmos

[@1ACL]

Not really. It's not theistic at all.

[@hkumar7340]

"Advaita" means "nondual" -- no two. It is NOT monotheistic; it is wrong even to call it monistic. The Advaita school says, in sum, that all the twos we observe in life -- good and bad, right and wrong -- are at a lower level of reality. The truth supreme is that there is NO TWO. Na nirodho, na cha-utpattir, Na baddho, na cha saadhakah. Na mumukshur, na vai muktah, Ity-eshaa paramaarthataa.

[@dhdhebeb1780]

Two Ones Anyways, that ain't it man

[@arkadipmondal5402]

Stupid... Zhaungzhi is far better with rhetorics

[@Purwapada]

@@1ACL It is neither theistic nor atheistic. Nor is it not theistic nor not atheistic

[@zahidiirfan7006]

Whenever I watch your video I feel like I'm witnessing it for real

[@PJ-ns6um]

"The arrogant must cling to words, afraid to go beyond them to experience which might affront their stance." -A Course in Miracles

[@terencewinters2154]

She certainly multiplied them .

[@mininaortiz]

I learn so much and appreciate your teaching style tremendously. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@DANTHETUBEMAN]

Some times the information age is working

[@dr.gaosclassroom]

If you would like to know more about Zhuangzi, please check my videos on his thoughts and how reading Zhuangzi helped me to get out of depression, reduce anxiety, etc. kzbin.info/aero/PL8piymOUzJSDIb3TaBFusPPBhVbagWfiU

[@lennon_richardson]

Even most native Chinese speakers are unable to grasps the nuances of Zhuang Zi because it is written in very old Chinese. Many of the characters used then have changed in meaning, or composition, or have fallen completely out of use. Reading Zhuang Zi is similar to (or perhaps even more difficult than) a common native English speaker reading Shakespeare’s old English. Most of us can hack our way through it and understand the major themes and plot, but we will certainly miss many of the finer details. We will also probably draw different conclusions than those the author intended.

[@wxhalex3026]

can confirm. in fact, english version was a far easier reading experience for me :D.

[@garypuckettmuse]

I think the version he recommends has extensive, maybe exhaustive footnotes addressing some of this. And, frankly, when the stories are coming across this well, not sure so much has been lost . . .

[@papawestra2880]

Keep doing what you love, you attracted me with it. Much love for this channel.

[@charlesdavis7087]

It was charming to see you so animated... and I love it when you smile. It seemed that Zhuangzi intentionally wanted to confound many of our "certainties". And, you helped me see that he did a rather good job of it! I will read the other recommended Taoist texts. Thanks. in the Flow.

[@solo_majolo639]

*me hearing this guy's voice for the first time* Oh SWEET! Skallagrim has a new channel!

[@nicholaswulf4563]

He really does sound like Skall

[@daltsu3498]

Hadn't noticed but now I can't unhear

[@h.sandor6245]

Thank you for making this video! I almost forgot the Zhuangzi fishing story, it was my favourite when I was in high school!

[@French-Kiss24]

Thank you. This book makes complete sense to me, I appreciate the depth of your exploration. I am ordering it right now.

[@twatts1523]

The music accompanying your narration put me into a trance. So peaceful and soul soothing.

[@dismith73]

8:10 'a oneness that encapsulates all things and hides beneath an appearance of multiplicity'

[@hafezreader6919]

One cannot thank enough when he is given something that he wanted but did not know. Thanks.

[@iyadal-najjar3512]

it is great to know that uncertainty does not hide nihilism but the true certain truth. I want to say it is nice to see someone whose uncertainty led him to certainty rather than nihilism. I have to read his book.

[@jamesthewarrior936]

Thank you so much for sharing this 💜 Makes me think, when the student is ready the teacher shall appear. This legend is exactly who I needed to hear at this time. Namastè 🙏🌍💚

[@user-hy9nh4yk3p]

From India: First deserve; then desire. One is allowed to want God and also, the Guru - to guide one - to mergence. Only these wishes, allowed. One waits - the devotee is trained, thus - in the beginning - in etiquette And then - the guide comes - to us. This inner journey - takes on a new beauty and effort. May it be so. Good luck.

[@karlb_5064]

I’m half way through Zhuangzi Basic Writings. This video helped me understand what’s in the book. Thanks!

[@faisalhussain4022]

I love this channel. Well researched, unbiased story telling is simply brilliant.

[@vladdyydaddy]

What a badass in every sense of the word

[@Digitographer88]

Another gem from this wonderful teacher...

[@vivalapalestine7235]

Your videos on the different sects of Islam really educated me on the general teachings of these many great ideas throughout history I heard about most of them but never really dug that deep into it I’m a German from Bavaria and my wife is a Palestinian Christian from Bethlehem I teach middle eastern / near eastern history and also one Intro to Islamic history class My wife is a writer and is getting her degree in philosophy We both love your videos Keep it up 👍 I’m very likely to be a PATREON soon

[@gordonwalter4293]

Extremely coherent and clear communication. Thank you.

[@horrifyinggelatinousblob]

Liked hearing the Guqin music in the background. Nice touch

[@henripepels815]

My favorite text in all the history of wisdom literature. The end of chapter seven/the Inner Chapters - the story of emperor Hundun - is my favorite text in the Zhuangzi, in a nutshell it tells the whole story. Second best: the story about the death of Zhuangzi's wife. It's so magnificent. Buy it en read it. And read it again. And again.

[@dr.gaosclassroom]

You are right. The way Zhuangzi's way of regarding life and death, about happiness, are so enlightening!!

[@billiverschoore2466]

Awe-d... thank you for sharing with us your fluid inner-standing 🙏🏾 You/your Soul's work has arrived at these shores at a good time, young pada-one 🌊 💚 🙏🏾 🙏🏾 🙏🏾 🤣

[@hkumar7340]

This is an excellent introduction to the incomparable master Zhuangzi. Keep up the good work!!

[@kevinmcdonald6560]

seriously needs to do a list of art used, some of these are absolute gems

[@ograzebrook]

That was an impressive analysis, thank you

[@Cleisthenes2]

This is helping me work out what people mean when they say Zen/Chan has been profoundly influenced by Daoism.

[@gangadharhiremath7306]

I never know or knew of a person who is more knowledgeable and lovable person than you.🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@hdrake1000]

You do such a good job on your videos. I run across yours all the time. I do what you call a friendly study of religions. You are quite the scholar. Thank you.

[@joeajmi4586]

You have a pleasant quizzical delivery based on an in depth knowledge. Glad you exist. Keep going through the tapestry of world religion, they all have a common thread and ultimately lead towards oneness from many viewpoints of culture throughout the history of our time as humans here.

[@aurelienyonrac]

Opposites are against each other. So they touch. So they have something in commons. It's a cool place to see from. The points of view are shared The points of view are divided. Like a cake or a tart, points of view have to be divided to be shared. And in sharing your peace of pies you divide.

[@DrFartfire]

Yaaaaaaayyyyy my fave ancient philosopher!

[@user-vk5ws3jl1l]

The ultimate purpose of all life is to gloryfing the one existence. The deeper and more we realise this, the more tranquility and inner peace we expiernce.

[@desiresdestined]

Fuck yeah I am glad my phone listens to me coz this is what I needed to watch. I love your videos, well researched & nicely produced. Coming back for more keep going sir ❤️

[@mystickahayag]

Thank you so much for this work. Zhuangzi is one of my gurus.

[@raginald7mars408]

.. as a German Biologist - you do not have to name and label anything - the self deception starts right there. It is the attitude of amazement, wonder, - deep curiosity - what is this - what is the composition - what forces are acting - the Art of any Science...deep admiration, gratitude - I am blessed to be here and be part of it - each second so precious! No matter what happens. Even being a Solshenyzyn in the worst GULAG. I study, learn - give my experiences to others.

[@LameBushido]

Loved this, thank you. The way of the way of the way of the way... Would you ever do a video on hermeticism and Islam? When I first learned about their relationship with each other, I was so puzzled. Would be great to hear an academics perspective.

[@dionysianapollomarx]

I understood this better than when we got to this part in a class I took on East Asia, cool video... Edit: BETTER THAN WHEN (from BETTER WHEN SORRY)

[@heaven-earth108]

its amazing to see how many islamic/arabic names are among your sponsores 🙏🏼💪🏼

[@brightmal]

I love this take on philosophy. I consider myself a Christian, but much of my personal take on theology veers away from traditional views. A pastor I respect once said words to the effect that with God being God, and humans being limited, 99% of what we think we know about God must, logically, be completely wrong. That being said, I think it is a part of our nature, for many at least, to attempt to gain a greater understanding of reality, while understanding that we can never end that journey.

[@dr.gaosclassroom]

Absolutely, God takes many forms to show his love for us. Zhuangzi might be one of his voices!

[@sanjaymourya6838]

You are almost a poet... 😊 And everything you speak is poetry...😊😊😊

[@aaronmarchand999]

I used to live at a daoist temple. One extremely important thing you seem to be missing: the importance of qigong and the training involved to consciously tap into all of this. It's not about intellectual understanding at all. "By trying to grasp the truth with words they are only straying further away from it" That sentence pretty much sums it up haha (no offense or anything, it's just striking that your understanding of Zhuangzi's writing seems to embody exactly what he is sort of making fun of and trying to point away from/ "shake" people out of)

[@aaronmarchand999]

@@peterkhew7414 Good luck with that. Without struggle all you will gain is an egotistical false sense of superiority. What zhuangzi doesn't mention in that example is all the training and struggle and trial and error he went through to become a master butcher in the first place. If he started out by trying to "go with the flow" and "cut with the grain," he never would have actually learned how to truly go with the flow. ...Actually now that I've looked up the story, I was wrong, he does allude to the process involved in attaining that kind of mastery (maybe not exactly what you're referring to, but it's a good illustration none the less): "When I first began cutting up oxen, all I could see was the ox itself. After three years I no longer saw the whole ox. And now - now I go at it by spirit and don’t look with my eyes."... He's talking about many years of training that went into his ability. Years. Not just going with the flow right from the beginning. “A good cook changes his knife once a year - because he cuts. A mediocre cook changes his knife once a month - because he hacks." Stages leading up to mastery. The point is not to skip these stages, because again all it will gain you is an egotistical false sense of superiority, in exactly the same way as a butcher with no experience can claim that they "go with the flow" and are therefore superior to the master butcher, but in reality they have no experience or wisdom whatsoever.

[@aaronmarchand999]

@@peterkhew7414 Speak for yourself, you have no idea what I do or do not understand. I'm just pointing out something that you are obviously missing

[@aaronmarchand999]

@@peterkhew7414 I would suggest this: go up to the most beautiful girl you can find walking on the street, and try to stop her and say hello and give her a compliment. And watch what happens to your so-called flow

[@aaronmarchand999]

@Peter Khew I doubt you'll see this now that you deleted your comments, but a word of advice if you do: follow the "ox herding pictures." Technically it comes from zen buddhism, but in reality there are no clear "territorial boundaries" separating one religion from another in china, so it all comes from the same pool of chinese wisdom. Again: Ox herding pictures. Everything is there, ie the way to real understanding. Everything else is just imagination and intellectual titillation

[@iankenney6602]

This was excellent! Thank you for helping me better understand myself .

[@isabellegiorgis2975]

I think he also said about not mourning his wife ( he was found by his disciples playing music and singing after her passing) that mourning her death would be like mourning the time before she was born, a world in which she did not exist.

[@QualeQualeson]

Good stuff. I get really excited when I'm exposed to material that has already resonated with my personal take on reality, and this is such material. I'm already familiar with the zen element, but this Dunning-Kruger like thing is a first for me in religion. We are all noobs in the eyes of the Lord. I'm getting that book right away.

[@benotafraidpod]

What an interesting and funny individual, this Zhuanzi. ꙮ

[@guillermorobledo2842]

I think I get it... He understood the world but gave up his will and ego while retaining his humanity. He became as water, running wherever the flow is/was meant to go.

[@azlanameer4912]

Blessings upon you by all sages sufis rishies hermits whom you re tell. And best wishes from your viewers!!!

[@dokskwyr4353]

I'd like to learn a lot more about Mozi (d. 391 BCE), his teachings, writings, and how he came to be in conflict with Confucius.

[@mathaifenn]

You have a patron called "BE NOT AFRAID" how cute.

[@user-ik8dz9et5l]

Thank you for another great video!

[@gordonbryce]

Succinctly presented and reminded me of my first contact with Taoism. many years ago. Happy New Year 2022!

[@iyadal-najjar3512]

I am downloading his book while typing this comment. Zhuangzi (2008). "Zhuangzi - The Essential Texts: With Translations from Traditional Commentaries". Translated by Brook Ziporyn.

[@iqbalchowdhury7130]

Good luck

[@eons8941]

Where do you download from I mean the book

[@iyadal-najjar3512]

@@eons8941 pdf drive website

[@moniqueburchell1488]

Beautifully presented. Thank you!

[@ace1234LIVE]

Really well done and articulated!

[@infinitysumitter5357]

'How can you not love this guy’ That master sage muni (whatever you call) won my heart (though done by others too). What a fascinating person and writting

[@gavinbuckner5659]

wow, awesome break down. will have to read the first 7 chapters

[@barca29np]

Great video as always. Would loved it if you could do a video on Bektashi/alevism Or, about the mystical origins of gnawa music from North West Africa. Keep up the good work, we appreciate your effort and time peace be with you and your family

[@LetsTalkReligion]

I did a documentary on the Alevis back in April, but took it down due to the environment in the comment section. Will do another one later on! And Gnawa music is something I would love to cover soon :) It will probably show up in my larger video on Sufi music. Thank you for the well-wishes, all the best to your family as well!

[@barca29np]

@@LetsTalkReligion yeah. It's a shame but it seems that some wahabis and salafis and other radicals of that nature have found your videos. You do no harm at all and in truth i wish there were more neutral academics like you active. With that being said the great majority of your viewers just prefer to learn and not judge, not like some of these hypocrites. In general, you're helping to break stereotypes about Islam both those of those ignorant westerners and of hard-line extremists that follow ideologies like wahabism salafism and Khomeinism. Thanks.

[@barca29np]

@patjoni what do you mean?

[@barca29np]

@patjoni i see. I still consider it to be Islamic but it clearly has other influences, just like many other movements within Islam. To me really as long as you believe that muhammad rassullah alih Salam was the last prophet of al haqq you're a Muslim. I think they basically view the most important thing as just praising God, and the one ness of al haqq, though of course it's more complex. Though i personally wouldn't drink myself, i can respect that they aren't judgemental of those who do, because even if you don't like something you shouldn't judge those who do, they're very respectful which is good and they're not puritanical at all. At the end of the day, though I'd never become bektashi i respect them both in terms of Islam and as people, even if you don't believe in al haqq or not, we all come from his light like ibn arabi said. Peace be upon you for your commentary. I think the personal stuff is personal for s reason you know i don't drink i don't smoke but hey I'm not al haqq in all his glory I'm not going to make anyone not do it even though I'd never do it, al haqq gave us free will I'm not going to tell anyone what to do. The most important thing is respect and love for those around you be them whoever they are

[@barca29np]

@patjoni very true may peace be upon u and your loved ones have a good new year bro

[@jasonanders7003]

Great presentation. Thank you.

[@Scam_Likely.]

after reading the Zhuangzi and Bao Jianyan's Neither Lord Nor Subject i couldnt help but notice how a lot of early Daoists tended towards a sort of anarchist worldview.

[@dr.gaosclassroom]

You are right. Zhuangzi is certainly more radical than Laozi who acknowledged a ruler, although should not interfere with people's lives much, is nonetheless necessary.

[@thedocside9083]

girls, tell the truth, he's hot ? that hot smart thing. Anyway.. pronunciation is so on point! Delivery, so good and explanations attainable and graspable for anyone who wants to listen. You sir are a Gee. Love your videos, big thank you!

[@PJ-ns6um]

"Ought not the philosopher rise above the belief in grammer?" -Nietzsche

[@YogiMcCaw]

Love to hear more about the" historical" Lao Zi, and understand why you think he may be a composite of different philosophers, and not an actual person. Perhaps for a future vid? If it is anything like your video on the historical Jesus, it would be fascinating.

[@mikeq5807]

Great presentation. I know little about Chuangzi. Most of my research has gone into the translation of the Dao De Jing, of Laozi. I see the Dao as certainly transcending words, as stated in poem 1. However, I do see Dao as within the grasp of understanding.

[@bajraktar2592]

A video on "bektashism (in albania)" would be great. Keep up the good work!

[@zundee4182]

Listening to you in your time of voice is almost going into a trance like state.😂. Wonderful videos, and they reflect a huge amount of work and deep understanding.🙏🏼

[@pchabanowich]

Water doesn't strive - it tumbles to its ultimate source. Ultimately, we tumble into our heart.

[@LEbZo95]

My dude the art in your series on Daoism is always phenomenal. How can we explore further? any movement names or keywords you can suggest?

[@garypuckettmuse]

Isn't it? The artwork on the Daoism video stopped me cold!

[@L3onking]

He understood that transcending obligation brings happiness. We don't "need" anything since we have everything.