Empty You Boat - Chuang-tzu

[Guest guest]

If a man is crossing a river

And an empty boat collides With his own skiff,

Even though he be a bad-tempered man He will not become very angry.

But if he sees a man in the boat, He will shout at him to steer clear. If the shout is not heard, he will shout again, And yet again, and begin cursing.

And all because there is somebody in the boat.

Yet if the boat were empty,

He would not be shouting, and not angry.

If you can empty your own boat Crossing the river of the world, No one Will

oppose you,

No one will seek to harm you.

Chuang-tzu