Of Fish, Bamboo and Non-duality

For some reason my mind has turned to fish. Fish are mentioned many times in the stories of Chuang Tzu. Chuang Tzu was a Chinese man of times gone by and was admired very much by the Catholic monk Thomas Merton, a man I admire very much. 

Fish - a Japanese woodprint

Merton says in his introduction to his very own translation of some of Chuang Tzu stories that he is not seeking to draw Christian rabbits from Chuang Tzu's hat but just loves the man for who he is - or was. Merton then goes on to say:-

In any event the "way" of Chuang Tzu is mysterious because it is so simple that it can get along without being a way at all. Least of all is it a "way out." Chuang Tzu would have agreed with St John of the Cross that you enter upon this kind of way when you leave all ways and, in some sense, get lost.

A Christian rabbit?

So if you do not wish to get lost, turn away now. 

Getting back to fish, one of the stories found in Merton's delightful translations of Chuang Tzu is entitled "Man is born in Tao" and it opens like this:-

Fishes are born in water

Man is born in Tao

In my own fashion these words remind me of an old zen master, who when asked what was the meaning of enlightenment, just pointed to some nearby bushes, "See that bamboo? How short it is. See that bamboo? How long it is." 

A dog appreciates the differing sizes of bamboo

Each to their own, and the lesson seems far from the ideas of "non-duality" prevalent in some western quarters, where notions of pantheism obscure the idea; where all becomes "one", a mush of nothingness - and even nihilism. So far from the actual, of seeing the pure individuality of each and everything, each in its suchness.

Anyway, fish. And Chuang Tzu. The final words of the little story already alluded to are:-

All the fish needs is to get lost in water. 

All man needs is to get lost in Tao.

Here, once again, I find grace and acceptance. The catalyst of genuine transformation.

Moving on, more fish. Crossing the Hao river Chuang Tzu says:-

See how free

The fishes leap and dart;

That is their happiness.

Chuang Tzu's companion queries as to how he can possibly know that the fishes are happy and a convoluted argument ensues. Finally:-

I know the joy of fishes in the river

Through my own joy, as I go walking

Along the same river

How can we know the fishes are happy?

In yet another fishy story, Chuang Tzu draws further conclusions:-

Water is for fish 

And air for men. 

Natures differ, and needs with them.

Hence the wise men of old 

Did not lay down 

One measure for all.

One measure for all?

One measure for all? What is all this talk of "man" and "men". What about the women? But no matter, I must not digress.

One final story, or at least, a few words from it:-

The purpose of a fish trap is to catch fish, and when the fish are caught, the trap is forgotten.........the purpose of words is to convey ideas. When the ideas are grasped, the words are forgotten. Where can I find a man who has forgotten words? He is the one I would like to talk to.

Well, enough - perhaps - of fish. I recommend Thomas Merton's little book on Chuang Tzu, a book he once said was his favorite of all he had written. Again, seek out his "Study of Chuang Tzu" which serves as the introduction. It has the potential to yield great fruit.