Lieh Tzu
I REJOICE in Lieh Tzu — he is one of the most perfect expressions for the inexpressible.
Truth cannot be expressed: that inexpressibility is intrinsic to truth. Thousands and thousands of people have tried to express it — very few have succeeded even in giving a reflection of it. Lieh Tzu is one of those very few; he is rare.
So the first thing to be understood about Lieh Tzu: he is not a theoretician, he will not give you any theory; he will simply give you parables.
Lieh Tzu is not a theologian either; he does not talk about God. He TALKS GOD, but he does not talk about God. Whatsoever he says comes from the source, but he does not TALK ABOUT the source let it be very clear to you. There are two types of people: one who talks about God, he is the theologian; one who talks God, he is the mystic. Lieh Tzu is a mystic. The man who talks about God has not known God. otherwise why should he ‘talk about’? The ‘about’ shows his ignorance. When a man talks God he has experienced. Then God is not a theory to be proved, disproved no; then God is his very life: to be lived.
– Tao: The Pathless Path, Vol 1, Chapter #1
Lieh Tzu was one of the masters of the school of Lao Tzu, one of the enlightened disciples of Lao Tzu. And Lieh Tzu was not an ordinary master, not concerned with your small problems, your actions, not concerned with small teachings. Lieh Tzu was concerned only with the ultimate. He had many disciples.
– The Grass Grows By Itself, Chapter #2
I say to you that when Lieh Tzu says ‘I know’, he knows. And his ‘I know’ means exactly the same as when the Upanishads say ‘I don’t know’. His ‘I know’ means exactly the same. It means exactly the same as when Socrates says ‘I don’t know a thing’. By saying ‘I don’t know a thing’ Socrates is denying the ‘I’. But by saying ‘I know’ as a simple fact, as an ordinary fact, with no claim, Lieh Tzu is doing a far greater miracle because — listen to it — sometimes a pretender can pretend and say ‘I don’t know’ in the hope that you will think that he knows. Because the Upanishads say so and Socrates says so, a pretender can say ‘I don’t know’ and hope that you will think that he is a knower, that he is another Socrates. Mind is very cunning. So remember one thing: if a mind is simple, humble, and simply states the fact, then that is the truth — whatsoever the fact.
– Tao: The Pathless Path, Vol 2, Chapter #11
THE BOOK OF LIEH TZU. Lao Tzu I mentioned, Chuang Tzu I mentioned; Lieh Tzu I forgot, and he is the very culmination of both Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu. Lieh Tzu is the third generation. Lao Tzu was the master, Chuang Tzu was the disciple. Lieh Tzu was the disciple of a disciple, perhaps that is why I forgot him. But his book is immensely beautiful and has to be included in the list.
– Books I Have Loved, Chapter #2