“Once upon a time, Zhuangzi dreamed that he was a butterfly, flying about enjoying itself. It did not know that it was Zhuangzi. Suddenly he awoke, and veritably was Zhuangzi again. He did not know whether it was Zhuangzi dreaming that he was a butterfly, or whether it was the butterfly dreaming that it was Zhuangzi. Between Zhuangzi and the butterfly there must be some distinction!” - The Complete Works of Zhuangzi - Free and Easy Wandering, Section Two: Discussion On Making All Things Equal
Zhuangzi
didn't know where he was; it was as if he had just risen. He opened
his eyes to darkness. He felt that he was trapped inside something.
Then suddenly, a shaft of light. It pierced the tight umbra like a
butterfly sword, but then again Zhuangzi wouldn't know. He was
outside of his time inside this confining structure. With much
difficulty, Zhuangzi pushed himself from his natural prison.
Something wonderful had happened! He stretched his antennae skywards,
basking in the midday sun. He contemplated his situation. I...
am a butterfly. He unfolded his
wings, allowing them to warm in the glorious glow. He had meditated
upon his dream a lot throughout his afterlife, and it appeared that
he had been born again. He knew then what he must do. With a slight
struggle, Zhuangzi pulled his legs out from the inside of his
sanctuary, and crawled from the mould he had made with his thin,
slender body. His proboscis extended slowly, testing the warm air; it
was summer, but not as he remembered it. He felt that the temperature
was right, however, and took off. It was difficult at first, he knew,
but he managed to flutter to a nearby leaf, its soothing humid
surface warming his feet. The taste of his childhood came back to
him. He looked back at what he had left behind, his chrysalis rocking
slowly in the breeze. Zhuangzi silently thanked it with a silent
observation, and flew away once more.
Zhuangzi
saw a lot of things he didn't recognise. Much of what he saw did not
belong in nature, the ugly cuboid structures daring to defy the
powers above. Yet Zhuangzi was at peace, at one with himself and the
world.
As
quickly as a butterfly wing-beat, the temperature dropped. He could
feel his wings getting weaker. I need warmth!
He had only just begun his reincarnation as a butterfly – he had
forgotten that it could be taken away just as swiftly-
Once
again, there was darkness. But also, there was warmth! Zhuangzi felt
an peculier ecstasy of fear and safety. It was like being in the chrysalis,
but without that certainty of security. The walls of this new prison
felt softer than that as he explored, but Zhuangzi had to be careful of his wings.
Then, as if it was a gift from the Three Pure Ones themselves, the
confines of his cage unfurled, letting in the sight of the pure
jade-green colour of nature. Zhuangzi could see two humans; they
appeared to be children. I am not of them any more...
Zhuangzi was thankful that the child had learnt the virtue of mercy.
They were both dressed strangely, but Zhuangzi could see that the
teachings of his time were still remembered in these strange times.
As if the child had heard his thoughts, he swiftly raised his hand up
into the air, letting Zhuangzi fly free. It was at this moment, in
the summer air, that Zhuangzi realised; humans and nature are one.
Just like being at peace was being at one with the world, despite the
ying and yang,
they were indivisible.
There
was no distinction between Zhuangzi and the butterfly. Zhuangzi was
the butterfly.
>-S->
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