Liu Haichan was a 10th c. CE philosopher who is remembered now as a Taoist ‘immortal’ and a patriarch of Taoism, but before he entered the path, he passed the highest level of the Imperial Examinations, and became involved in political affairs, serving first as a minister and then rising to the post of Prime Minister of the Emperor Abaoji.
When he was at the peak of his worldly glory, it is said that a Taoist monk came before him and asked for ten eggs and ten coins, the cash coins with a square hold in the middle. Liu Haichan gave the monk what he asked for, and then watched in astonishment as the monk began to balance them in a tower, an egg on top of a coin, with a coin on that egg, and then another egg, and so on.
“That is very dangerous!” Liu Haichan said.
The monk smiled and replied, “The position of a Prime Minister is much more dangerous.”
And that day, Liu Haichan resigned his post, and began to follow the Taoist path.
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Much gratitude Pir Nawab.
What a mesmerizing way of setting up a moment. It resonates with me because I habituallly underestimate the challenge of what I’m doing, and reading this tale is such a vivid reminder.
Thank you, dear Howard! I think at times we all are misled by our minds into striving after something that really has little meaning.