When one of three friends died and Confucius sent a disciple to condole with the other two, the disciple found them sitting by the side of the corpse, merrily singing and playing on the lute.

They professed the then comparatively new faith which taught that life was a dream and death the awakening.

They believed that at death the pure man "mounts to heaven, and roaming through the clouds, passes beyond the limits of space, oblivious of existence, for ever and ever without end." When the shocked disciple reported what he had seen, Confucius said, "These men travel beyond the rule of life; I travel within it.

Consequently, our paths do not meet; and I was wrong in sending you to mourn.

They look on life as a huge tumour from which death sets them free.