Chuang Tzu's Dream



Once Chuang Tzu dreamt he was a butterfly, a butterfly flitting and fluttering around,
happy with himself and doing as he pleased. He didn't know he was Chuang Tzu. Suddenly
he woke up and there he was, solid and unmistakable Chuang Tzu. But he didn't know if he
was Chuang Tzu who had dreamt he was a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming he was Chuang
Tzu. Between Chuang Tzu and a butterfly there must be some distinction! This is called the
Transformation of Things.

From Chuang Tzu, Book Two (circa 300 BCE)



Chuang Tzu And The Butterfly
 
      Chuang Tzu in dream became a butterfly,
And the butterfly became Chuang Tzu at waking.
Which was the real—the butterfly or the man ?
Who can tell the end of the endless changes of things?
The water that flows into the depth of the distant sea
Returns anon to the shallows of a transparent stream.
The man, raising melons outside the green gate of the city,
Was once the Prince of the East Hill.
So must rank and riches vanish.
You know it, still you toil and toil,—what for?

Li Po (701-762 CE)