Conversations of the Taoist Master Fu Hsiang

Fu Hsiang: You have a long way to go yet before your mind is clear. Would you prefer to end these discourses and learn only pa kua?

Tsia Tung: For myself sifu, I must say that I look forward to these discourses as much as I enjoy learning pa kua. But I am not a Buddhist, and so I do not feel as badly as Men Chow.

Men Chow: I feel I cannot stay as I am. Since I have begun taking your medicine, I must finish the course.

Fu Hsiang: Well then. Let us examine the problem. Can you intend the impossible?

Men Chow: I am sorry, sifu. What do you mean?

Fu Hsiang: What I mean is, can you intend to do something that you honestly believe you cannot do. For instance, you believe that you cannot jump sixty chi into the air.

Men Chow: Of course not. That is impossible.

Fu Hsiang: So believing that this is impossible, you cannot truly intend to jump sixty chi²¹ into the air.