the dregs of wisdom story.

A story by the Taoist master Chaung-Tzu (adapted from multiple translations.) It goes something like this...

During times of peace the self-important Duke Huan, known for his prowess on the battlefield, sharp sword, and quick anger used to come to the main courtyard where the artisans would work. He had a platform with a fancy chair put at one end of the yard and he would sit there reading books of philosophy while the craftsmen went about their work.

One day, the old wheelwright Pian, set his chisel and hammer aside, walked down the end of the hall, climbed the steps of the platform and approached the Duke to say, "May I ask you, my Lord, what is this you are reading?" Surprised at the forwardness of the old Wheelwright, the Duke replied, "The words of the great Sages," as if to say 'why would an aging uneducated bumpkin like you even care what I'm reading?"

Wheelwright Pian, with a thoughtful look in his eye then asked, "Are these sages alive?"

"Master Confucius is long dead of course!" spat the Duke.

"Then," Old Pian persisted, "What you are reading is just the dregs they've left behind."

The Duke's anger erupted as he stood up,"Dregs!?! How dare a simple wheelwright insult the ancient masters!" Grabbing his sword he shouted, "Explain yourself or I'll chop your head off where you stand!"

"Certainly, your Grace," said Old Pian, completely unperturbed by the Duke's threat.

"Here's how I see it. When I chisel a wheel, if I hammer too softly the chisel slides and won't grip, if I hammer too hard it gets stuck in the wood. When the wheel moves smoothly and my strikes are neither too soft nor too hard I know in my hands and respond to it from my heart. There are no words to properly describe this perfect place of balance. No one taught it to me and I cannot teach it to my son. I am 70 years old and have been striking the wheels for most my life and I will never be able to pass this teaching on to my son or anyone with mere words. And so I believe those great sages of old died and took their insight into Tao with them. That's why I said that what you are reading is just the dregs they've left behind."

The story ends there and we never know whether Old Pian meets his maker or not that day...