Zhuangzhu was a Chinese philosopher who lived in or around the 4th Century BC.

Virtually nothing is known about his life, but he is held to have written the text that bears his name, the Zhuangzi, which is one of the primary foundational texts of the Chinese set of philosophies, traditions and religions known as Taoism.

Taoism emphasizes living in harmony with the "Tao", the way or path to which we are called.

This piece, one of the stories included in the Zhuangzi, is a tiny little thought experiment.

If I might dream to be something else, how might I know that I am not now dreaming of my present reality?

It asks the question: how do we know what’s real? This question has taxed the minds of philosophers for thousands of years.

We can see in modern technological philosophy too, like the simulation theory, which suggests that technology is progressing so rapidly, and technolgy produces life-life simulations, and simulations are increasingly more and more life-like, that there must be a strong likelihood that were are currently living in some simulation created by some technology that exists outside of what we consider as real.

Anyway, enough of that crazy talk, if it is crazy talk.

For me, the one thing that jumps out here is the encouragement to really look around, to touch, to feel, to see, to taste, everything that’s around us, because if anything is truly real and vital, what is around us must be as close as it gets.

The Butterfly Dream, by Zhuangzhu

“Once upon a time, I, Zhuangzhu*, dreamt I was a butterfly, fluttering hither and thither, to all intents and purposes a butterfly.*

I was conscious only of my happiness as a butterfly, unaware that I was Zhuangzi. Soon I awakened, and there I was, veritably myself again.

Now I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly, dreaming I am a man.

You can read the poem here

For a related poem, you might find "The Mayo Tao" by Derek Mahon of interest.

You can find that in Episode 88 (on Spotify here).

For a detailed outline of the mission and purpose behind this podcast, please check out Episode 100, "Why Poems for the Speed of Life?", in your podcast player or ⁠⁠⁠⁠click here to listen on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Music Credit:

Once Upon a Time by Alex-Productions | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://onsound.eu/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  | Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com