The hearing that is only in the ears is one thing. The hearing of the understanding is another. But the hearing of the spirit is not limited to any one faculty to the ear, or to the mind.
ZhuangziRead
During our dreams we do not know we are dreaming. We may even dream of interpreting a dream. Only on waking do we know it was a dream. Only after the great awakening will we realize that this is the great dream.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the nature of dreams and reality, suggesting that true understanding comes only after a profound awakening.
Zhuangzi's quote suggests that while we are engulfed in our experiences, particularly dreams, we often lack awareness of their true nature. It challenges our perceptions of reality and encourages us to seek deeper understanding, implying that just like dreams, our waking life may also be an illusion until we achieve a greater level of awareness or awakening.
Themes
DreamsRealityAwakeningPhilosophyAwareness
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used during a philosophical discussion about the nature of reality.
More from Zhuangzi
All quotes →Either in conflict with others or in harmony with them, we go through life like a runaway horse, unable to stop.
ZhuangziRead
When people do not ignore what they should ignore, but ignore what they should not ignore, this is known as ignorance.
ZhuangziRead
The true man of the past waited upon Heaven when dealing with people and did not wait upon people when dealing with Heaven.
ZhuangziRead
The mind remains undetermined in the great Void. Here the highest knowledge is unbounded. That which gives things their thusness cannot be delimited by things. So when we speak of 'limits', we remain confined to limited things. The limit of the unlimited is called 'fullness.' The limitlessness of the limited is called 'emptiness.' Tao is the source of both. But it is itself neither fullness nor emptiness
ZhuangziRead
All the fish needs is to get lost in the water. All man needs is to get lost in Tao.
ZhuangziRead
Similar quotes
What makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well.
Antoine De Saint-ExuperyRead
Nearly all the evils in the Church have arisen from bishops desiring power more than light. They want authority, not outlook.
John RuskinRead
Let us remember that a traitor may betray himself and do good that he does not intend. It can be so, sometimes.
J. R. R. TolkienRead
And fantasy it was, for we were not strong, only aggressive; we were not free, merely licensed; we were not compassionate, we were polite; not good, but well behaved. We courted death in order to call ourselves brave, and hid like thieves from life. We substituted good grammar for intellect; we switched habits to simulate maturity; we rearranged lies and called it truth, seeing in the new pattern of an old idea the Revelation and the Word.
Toni MorrisonRead
Coffee is a way of stealing time that should by rights belong to your older self.
Terry PratchettRead
Nevertheless, the central affirmation of the Reformation stands: through no merit of ours, but by his mercy, WE HAVE BEEN RESTORED to a right relationship with God through the life, death, and resurrection of his beloved Son. This is the Good News, the gospel of Grace
Brennan ManningRead