When It Is Time

Death is not an unusual event. It will happen to everyone alive today, so it is not really something to grieve over. Actually, grief is something for the survivors; we will miss the one who is departed.

There is a story about Chuang Tsu, the superlative Chinese philosopher, who lived after the time of Confucius (which was not his real name) and Lao Tsu. Chuang Tsu’s wife had died and professional mourners had been hired, which is a Chinese custom. When Chuang Tsu came home from the funeral, he started to beat a drum and sing in a loud voice. When some friends stopped by to cheer him up but instead heard drumming and singing, they were horrified. Facing the great philosopher, they asked him how he could be so cheerful. He answered, “When is was time to come, she arrived. And when it was time to go, she left. Do you want me to believe that I don’t know that?”

Whether or not the friends understood, I don’t know. The story can also be taken as a comment on Karma.