Hundun

Zhuanzi tells the story of Hundun.

Hundun had a perfect and permanent life at the center of the world, but was devoid of personal features—he had no face. The kings from the periphery decided to come to the center and do Hundun a favor by giving him a facial shape. They drilled seven holes into his body—the facial openings—and he immediately perished.

from Daoism Explained, Hans-Georg Moeller, page 35

Hundun represents the private and faceless identity that lies at the center of your being. The kings from the periphery represent all the well-meaning people in your world who want you to identify with your public appearance, to believe that you are at center what you look like from a distance. The outcome, of course, is the immediate death of your central identity.

What you are for yourself at no distance is a faceless embrace of the world, capacity for all things, awareness itself. Others see your face. That is your public identity, your appearance to others. To accept that as your central identity is tantamount to death, the death of your true view of yourself. Don't let others drill holes in your facelessness.