A short video essay on cell phones gave me more food for thought. Of course, I need that like I need another hole in my head, but I can’t pull the plug on thinking. The essay is ostensibly about the wide use of cell phones. However, scratch the surface and it offers insight into the […]
Continue reading…knowing
Tao and Democracy
The Science News’ report, Uncommitted newbies can foil forceful few, explains why both democracy and Taoist views have never played a large role in human culture. (Also, ‘Google Uninformed individuals promote democratic consensus in animal groups’) We are ostensibly a democratic culture, along with many others in the world today. Alas, I’m afraid that is […]
Continue reading…What’s Not the Elephant?
One of my favorite Buddhist parables is the “Blind Men And The Elephant“. Several blind men each touch a different part of an elephant and proceed to describe and debate what they think an ‘elephant’ is. The moral here is that we can only perceive a sliver of the whole. With only 5 or 6 […]
Continue reading…A Word to the Wise?
“A word to the wise” is a good maxim, but flawed I’m afraid to say. I’ve always liked how D.C. Lau phrased the last characters of the first line of chapter 51: Circumstances bring them to maturity. It’s true, albeit not what the actual character’s say. What is it about ‘circumstances’ that bring us to […]
Continue reading…Guilt, Shame and the Name Game
I used the experience of guilt and shame for an example in my recent post, I am foolish of human mind also? I feel our habit of naming emotional experiences deserves its own post, so here goes, beginning with a personal example… Up until thirty years ago, I had never experienced depression… or so I […]
Continue reading…I am foolish of human mind also?
‘I am foolish of human mind also?’ is one of my favorite lines in chapter 20. The more literal the translation, the more peculiar it can read. If it helps, D.C. Lau interprets this line more poetically as, My mind is that of a fool – how blank. I do feel the literal phrasing of […]
Continue reading…What Follows Loss of the Way?
Knowing reality — what was, is, and will be — is nearly impossible because much of our own biases shape what we think we know. Chapter 38 helps avoid the trap of personal biases when pondering ‘the whys and wherefores’ of life. Hence, virtue follows loss of the way. Benevolence follows loss of virtue. Justice […]
Continue reading…Who or What Do You Trust?
The ‘small “t” taoist’ within us can find it difficult to decide who to trust, especially if both the advocates and critics feel convincing. Conversely, the partisan within us seldom bats an eyelash before favoring one side or the other. Sincere advocacy for anything is a projection of one’s own beliefs. That sounds obvious I […]
Continue reading…We only understand what we know
The view that ‘One who speaks does not know’ has intrigued me for most of my thinking life. I ran across this D.C. Lao translation in Vietnam, of all places, in the early 60’s. I’ve referred to it many times over the decades in various ways. Indeed, it still launches the overview of CenterTao.org. (See One who […]
Continue reading…Resistance is Futile
This Science News article, Fighting willpower’s catch-22, (Google the title) reports on how resisting desires makes ensuing ones more tempting. I certainly have experienced this to be true, although it took me decades to recognize this and begin to manage it. Like maintaining balance, applying this always requires a moment-to-moment re-realization. Why did it take […]
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