Zhuangzi Speaks, The Music of Nature, Translated by Brian Bruya

Born: 369 BCE Died: 286 BCE Zhaungzi, also known as Chuang Tzu was an ancient Chinese philosopher. He is considered to be the chief interpreter of Taoism and is also known for his skeptical philosophy.

My Favourite quote and one very often considered the most quoted is this:" I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly dreaming I am a man."

Zhuangzi
The Butterfly Dream

Our latest book read is Zhuangzi Speaks: The Music of Nature. This little book (comic book actually) is revered by Tao people everywhere. It is interesting, it reminds me of Aesop's Fables with little "morals" left after each story. I have a couple of favourites, one not being the decision of what is and isn't useless, I found that one trite. (Hui Shi's Giant Gourd) 

There are many lessons of nature and human nature to be learned from these stories, although they seem a little immature, this is likely just the translation itself. 
As mentioned above , The Butterfly Dream is my favourite, being able to discern from what angle we see things is very important, or then again, is it? Either way, his being the butterfly or the butterfly being him is good. 
As I read more through the book, I found I was intrigued by a few more stories: Being chosen to be thrown into the river as a sacrifice based on beauty...the beautiful woman is considered auspicious, yet in reality, how can this be when she will be sacrificed in such a way? But then again...when your body dies, your spirit and thoughts continue, thus Dao/Tao is reached, over and over again...she never really dies then, does she? 
The principals of man can be used for both good and evil. If one follows them in either path, one is still following them...should there therefore be no principals at all? 
I found this book interesting, amusing and at times very frustrating. Even though so many people follow these ideals, I do not think that making up little stories to cover up wrong doings makes them right, and yet this seems to be the theme in many of these stories. 
Makes me think rather hard about Tao and my belief in it as a way of life. Following nature is a "normal" state for man and beast, but when you use it for your own...as a ladder for success over others, I do not agree. 
Zhuangzi presents the meaning of the Dao into a few different elements, mainly being "the Way" which to me would also mean the path or road to enlightenment. As he speaks in these fables, the path seems clear that in order for life to be smooth and unending, the Way must be followed. 
Zhuangzi seems to see good and bad in all things, usefulness and uselessness, it is how we look at these differences that make or break the ideal. If something is too big to fit in a boat, it must ford through the waters, large enough to do it; however, if something is too small, it would surely be swept away by the waters, thus making it mandatory to take the boat. Either way, the other side of the river is reached. 
I believe that the way this was written/translated makes it easy for every one to understand what is being said, even when it appears to be going around in circles. 
I like the use of Confucius as a teacher in some of the stories/tales. I find the Dao much more involved with the inner thinking of man/woman, more to do with painstakingly looking at ourselves from many angles and referring back to the Way to compare. Confucius is much more about every day living, doing things in order to make the Way more understandable, easier to live within yourself. 
While Zhuangzi keeps to the thoughts of Wu Wei, the Non-doing of things. Natural things occur in a non doing way, plants grow, without doing anything. They are not in control of their whereabouts, (selves?) , if not in control, it is without effort that they grow.