Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Daoism and the DM

Most of the day I tried to write a post about playing The Game and free will. I'm really not happy with the result. But while doing the research I stumbled over this little gem:

"Good order results spontaneously when things are let alone." (Zhuangzi)

This is good advice in general and especially for a DM. Zhuangzi's texts are a wonder to behold, even in the translations. Another example:
Once Zhuangzi 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 Zhuangzi. Suddenly he woke up and there he was, solid and unmistakable Zhuangzi. But he didn't know if he was Zhuangzi who had dreamt he was a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming he was Zhuangzi. Between Zhuangzi and a butterfly there must be some distinction! This is called the Transformation of Things. (2, tr. Burton Watson 1968:49)
I can only recommend to read his works and think about them, if you haven't done so already.

Zhuangzi (source)

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