knowing

Can we pull the plug?

This short video essay from CBS Sunday Morning gave me more food for thought. Naturally, I need that like I need another hole in my head, but I can’t pull the plug on thinking. This piece is ostensibly about the wide use of cell phones. Scratch the surface though, and it offers insight into the […]

Tao and Democracy

… go together like a horse and a buggy…la la la… A recent Science New’s report, Uncommitted newbies can foil forceful few, explains why both democracy and Taoist views have never played a large role in human culture. We are ostensibly a democratic culture, along with many others in the world today. Alas, I’m afraid […]

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 […]

A Word to the Wise?

This saying is a nice ideal, but flawed I’m afraid to say. I’ve always been fond of D.C. Lau’s “Circumstances bring them to maturity“. It is true, even if that is not exactly what the Chinese character’s say in that chapter. Just what is it about ‘circumstances’ that bring us to maturity, and presumably deeper […]

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? Really though, 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 […]

I am foolish of human mind also?

This post’s title is actually line 14, chapter 20 of the Tao Te Ching. If it helps, D.C. Lau interprets this line more understandably and beautifully as My mind is that of a fool – how blank. Recent experiences with my son reinforce this viewpoint. Ah, if only there was a ‘mis-interpreter’, who could cook […]

What Follows Loss of the Way?

Trying to know what causes this or that can be misleading. Much of our own biases easily shape what we think we know. I find chapter 38 useful in considering the ‘why of life’ while avoiding much of the bias trap. Hence, virtue follows loss of the way. Benevolence follows loss of virtue. Justice follow […]

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 and eye before favoring one side or the other. Sincere advocacy for anything is a projection of one’s own beliefs. That sounds obvious I […]

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 stands now on the ‘doorstep’ of this site. (See […]

Resistance is Futile

I happened to see this article, Fighting willpower’s catch-22, on the Web edition of Science News. It reports on how resisting desires makes ensuing ones more tempting. I certainly have experienced this to be true, although it took me decades to understand and put into practice. Still, like maintaining balance, it is always a moment-to-moment […]

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