Monthly Chapter 1 (pandemic era)

The way possible to think, runs counter to the constant way.
The name possible to express runs counter to the constant name.
Without description, the universe began.
Of the describable universe, the origin.
Hence, normally without desire so as to observe its wonder.
Normally having desire so as to observe its boundary.
These two are the same coming out, yet differ in name.
The same, meaning dark and mysterious.
Dark and dark again, the multitude of wondrous entrance.
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Limits: Translations, even the nearly literal one above, lose some of the original meaning due to the cultural context of contemporary words. Studying the numerous synonym-like meanings of the Chinese characters in the Word-for-Word translation mitigates this. (Click graphic at right for on-line Word-for-Word.)

Fourth Pass: Chapter of the Month 7/3/2020

Archive: Characters and past commentary

Zoom on YouTube Recordings:

https://youtu.be/MP94E3C3v4Y is a link to unedited Zoom video of this month’s Sunday meeting. The shorter first part of the meeting begins with a chapter reading followed by attendees’ commentary, if any. A little later on begins the longer open discussion part of the meeting when those who wish to discuss how the chapter relates to their personal experience.

Corrections?

None this time

Reflections

The way possible to think, runs counter to the constant way.
The name possible to express runs counter to the constant name.
Without description, the universe began.
Of the describable universe, the origin.

I’ve been pondering recently how science’s quantum nonlocality / entanglement story ⁽¹⁾ parallels a core aspect of all of humanity’s spiritual stories. The only true difference between the two is that the quantum nonlocality story has growing scientific evidence to back it up… non-sectarian verification! Conversely, traditional spiritual ‘god’ stories, and such, are mostly projections of the human social need (tribal) for ‘alpha-male’ leadership. Indeed, the only exception to the traditional spiritual stories that I’ve come across is the Tao Te Ching. The first line above, The way possible to think, runs counter to the constant way, says it all.

Hence, normally without desire so as to observe its wonder.
Normally having desire so as to observe its boundary.
These two are the same coming out, yet differ in name.

The human problem we all face is the competition between our biology (who we are as animals), and our imagination (the apparently unique feature of our species). All this boils down to reality vs. ideality, which we struggle with from infancy to death. This is somewhat akin to normally without desire vs. normally having desire in that we can imagine an ideal—a transcendent wonder—wherein desire (or it’s source fear & need) does not determine action (biology). These two are the same coming out, yet differ in name, seems to describe this duality; and this duality triggers the disease that chapter 71 identifies — Realizing I don’t know is better; not knowing this knowing is disease.  To appreciate fully this competition, it may help to break down the origin of desire, and worry while we’re at it. Consider this:

Primal attraction (need) + thought = desire, positive expectations.
Primal aversion (fear) + thought = worry, anxiety, negative expectations.

If we subtract need and fear from this, we are left with thought, or imagination without an agenda. Here we can be normally without desire so as to observe its wonder. Nevertheless, biology generally pulls us into the latter… Normally having desire so as to observe its boundary. Do you see the problem? (For more see, Fear & Need Born in Nothing;  Fear Is The Bottom Line;  Fear Rules;  Reward, Fear & Need; The Worry Gene; Feeding the Worry Gene.)

An optimal way to ameliorate this disconnect is having a story that is both as close to reality’s wonder as possible, yet also allows for desire’s boundary. The quantum nonlocality / entanglement story ⁽¹⁾ serves that purpose well. It permits as much profound sameness as your imagination can reach, i.e., These two are the same coming out, yet differ in name. One thing is certain; we humans need a story for the mind to hold and chew on. Without one, we go insane. That is at least until we evolve or perhaps devolve some aspect of our biology. (See Belief in Nothing is Dangerous) On the other hand, who said life was supposed to be easy? Perhaps this disease will always be a core feature of our species.

The same, meaning dark and mysterious.
Dark and dark again, the multitude of wondrous entrance.

The more I can nudge my mind’s eye to see life through the Taoist dark and mysterious quantum entanglement lens, the easier it is for me to cease trying to make my imaginations idealities conform to my biological reality, or vice versa. Indeed, the fascinating feature of the Taoist worldview is how closely it parallels quantum theory, yet it can also serve as a bridge between the common way we see the world and the actual quantum way of nature… Dark and dark again, the multitude of wondrous entrance. Similarly, the quantum non-locality story can serve to counteract some of the common humanistic or superstitious embellishments found in Taoism.

Alas, all this only comes within reach when one is thoroughly ready to give up hope for an ‘end’ point, closure, resolution, final answers and solutions, or whatever you want to call such quixotic quests. As chapter 53 observes,

Were I mindful yet had knowledge,
Going in the great way, alone bestow this respect.
The great way is very smooth, yet people are fond of paths.

Therefore, life is really a journey, which begins for all of us with stumbling around to get our bearings. Once our culture has fully indoctrinated us with its “common sense” worldview, we may begin our journey of unlearning… inhale, weaken and let go of that common worldview. As the first lines of chapter 36 observe.

In desiring to inhale, one must first open up.
In desiring weakness, one must first strive.
In desiring to let go, one must first begin.
In desiring to get, one must first give.

⁽¹⁾ I often referred to quantum nonlocality in my writings. A good layman’s book on non locality is, The Conscious Universe: Part and Whole in Modern Physical Theory. For a short YouTube video on this, see The Nonlocal, Entangled, Conscious Universe – Menas Kafatos by the man who wrote the book. Finally, for a brief overview article, see Nonlocality and Entanglement.

Video Archive https://youtu.be/MP94E3C3v4Y