harmony with nature

  • The Analects – Chapter 10.18

    When the pheasants sensed a change in human expression, they immediately took flight; after circling in the air, they settled again. Confucius, observing this, remarked, “Ah, the female pheasant on the mountain ridge – how timely she is! How perfectly she understands the right moment!” Hearing this, Zilu bowed respectfully toward the bird. It…

  • The Snakeman

    A man living in East Prefecture was a snake-tamer by profession. At one point, he reared two green snakes, the bigger one he called Big Green, and ‘the smaller one, Second Green. The latter had several red spots on its forehead and was particularly clever. It weaved about and danced just the way the…

  • [Journey to the West]The Blessed Land and Cave Heaven

    In Journey to the West, the place where Sun Wukong practices is described as: “The Blessed Land of the Mountain of Flowers and Fruits, where the Cave Heaven hides the Water Curtain.”

  • Dao De Jing – Chapter 23

    Abstaining from speech marks him who is obeying the spontaneity of his nature. A violent wind does not last for a whole morning; a sudden rain does not last for the whole day. To whom is it that these (two) things are owing? To Heaven and Earth. If Heaven and Earth cannot make such…