[MD] The Nature of the Ten Thousand Things

[Andre Broersen]

John:
In the time of Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu, the Chinese--particularly the
Taoists--employed a phrase intended to designate all the noteworthy
objects, substances and creatures in Creation:  "The ten Thousand
Things."... .

"Ten Thousand Things" is no childish synonym for "lots and lots of
things": it is a phrase that implies horizontal limits to man's
comprehension; it is a phrase that implies that these horizontal
limits should be self-imposed, and that Tao must be sought through
vertical, transrational leaps; it is a phrase that implies that one
cannot seek while forever counting; it is a phrase that implies that
Tao will finally be found in the *nature* and not in the * number* of
things.

Andre:
Lovely quote John. Thank you!