Osho Rajineesh: The Empty Boat Chapter 3 (audio)

The Empty Boat

Talks given 11 July 1974 am in Buddha Hall

HUI TZU WAS PRIME MINISTER OF LIANG.
HE HAD WHAT HE BELIEVED TO BE INSIDE INFORMATION
THAT CHUANG TZU COVETED HIS POST,
AND WAS PLOTTING TO SUPPLANT HIM.
WHEN CHUANG TZU CAME TO VISIT LIANG
THE PRIME MINISTER SENT OUT POLICE TO ARREST HIM,
BUT ALTHOUGH THEY SEARCHED FOR THREE DAYS AND NIGHTS THEY COULD NOT FIND HIM.
MEANWHILE, CHUANG TZU PRESENTED HIMSELF TO HUI TZU
OF HIS OWN ACCORD, AND SAID:
”HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THE BIRD
THAT LIVES IN THE SOUTH –

THE PHOENIX THAT NEVER GROWS OLD?
”THIS UNDYING PHOENIX RISES OUT OF THE SOUTH SEA
AND FLIES TO THE SEA OF THE NORTH,
NEVER ALIGHTING EXCEPT ON CERTAIN SACRED TREES.
HE WILL TOUCH NO FOOD
BUT THE MOST EXQUISITE RARE FRUIT,
AND HE DRINKS ONLY FROM THE CLEAREST SPRINGS.
”ONCE AN OWL
CHEWING AN ALREADY HALF-DECAYED DEAD RAT
SAW THE PHOENIX FLY OVER. ”LOOKING UP HE SCREECHED WITH ALARM AND CLUTCHED THE DEAD RAT TO HIMSELF
IN FEAR AND DISMAY.
”PRIME MINISTER,
WHY ARE YOU SO FRANTIC,
CLINGING TO YOUR MINISTRY
AND SCREECHING AT ME IN DISMAY?”