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I enter some mountain forest. I search for a suitable tree. It contains the form required, which is afterwards elaborated. I see the stand in my mind's eye, and then set to work. Otherwise, there is nothing. I bring my own natural capacity into relation with that of the wood. What was suspected to be of supernatural execution in my work was due solely to this.
Source Chuang Tzu, chapter 19, §10 · 📖 Read the full passage
✨ To meditate on today
According to Chuang Tzu, the sculptor K'ing first contemplates the trees of the forest at length, then works in harmony with the nature of the wood: it is this union that makes his work so beautiful. Today, before starting a piece of work, take the time to look carefully at what you have in your hands and let its form guide you.
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