Chuang Tzu: Drawing the Perfect Circle


"Chu’i the draftsman
could draw more perfect circles
freehand than with a compass.

His fingers brought forth
spontaneous forms from nowhere.
His mind was meanwhile free and
without concern with what he was doing.

No application was needed
his mind was perfectly simple
and knew no obstacle.

So, when the shoe fits,
the foot is forgotten.
When the belt fits,
the belly is forgotten.
And when the heart is right,
for and against are forgotten.

No drives, no compulsions,
no needs, no attractions;
when your affairs are under control
you are a free man.

Easy is right.
Begin right and you are easy -
continue easy and you are right.
The right way to go easy
is to forget
the right way
and forget that
the going is easy.

~Chuang Tzu