Zhuangzi or Zhuang Zhou, was a Taoist who lived through the violent upheavals of the ‘Warring States’ period in China (369-286 BCE).
“Once there was a man who hated his own shadow.
When he walked and found that his shadow was close behind him,
he began to walk faster and faster.
But the faster he moved, the closer his shadow came.
So he ran like a madman.. and in the end, he dropped dead.
Those who do no understand the Dao are just like the man
who hated his shadow. It is actually very easy to be rid
of one’s shadow — just rest under a tree. Just rest.”