forgetting the snare

“The purpose of a rabbit snare is to catch rabbits. When the rabbits are caught, the snare is forgotten.

The purpose of words is to convey ideas. When the ideas are grasped, the words are forgotten.

Where can I find a man who has forgotten words? He is the one I would like to talk to.”

— Zhuangzi, chapter 26 (Thomas Merton’s version)

Quoted in: Saltveit, Mark. “Comedians as Daoist Missionaries”. Warp, Weft, and Way. wordpress.com. 21 June, 2011. Web. 22 June, 2011. http://warpweftandway.wordpress.com/2011/06/21/comedians-as-daoist-missionaries/