Tzu Li went to see Tzu Lai who was dying. Leaning against…
“Tzu Li went to see Tzu Lai who was dying. Leaning against the door, he said, 'Great is the Creator! What will he make of you now? Will he make you into a rat's liver? Will he make you into an insect's leg?' Tzu-Lai replied, 'The universe gave me my body so I may be carried, my life so I may work, my old age so I may repose, and my death so I may rest. To regard life as good is the way to regard death as good. . . . If I regard the universe as a great furnace and creation as a master foundryman, why should anywhere I go not be all right?'”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The dialogue uses vivid metaphors to illustrate acceptance of life's stages and the universality of existence, urging equanimity toward fate.
In simple terms: Accept life and death as natural parts of the universe.
Key Takeaway
Embrace life’s flow.
Themes
philosophy
acceptance
impermanence
Mood
contemplative
calm
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal loss
- career transitions
- health challenges
Key Concepts
Taoism
metaphor
cosmic perspective
Questions to Reflect On
- How can one cultivate calm when facing inevitable change?
- What practices help view life as a continuous process?
A Different Perspective
The metaphorical language may be obscure for modern readers, limiting practical application.