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The Rambling Taoist
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The predominant perspective in the western world is derived from a Judeo-Christian viewpoint. This has led to dualism; people have become estranged from the environment, each other and themselves. This blog is written by a Taoist. See if you can discern a
Recent Posts Tagged With 'taoism'
Wen Tzu - Verse 105
from Verse One Hundred Five Works are hard to accomplish and easily foiled; fame is hard to establish and easily outdated. Ordinary people all make light of small injuries and slight subtle things, until they get to be big problems. When disaster com...
Wen Tzu - Verse 104
from Verse One Hundred FourA flood does not last more than three days, a storm does not last more than a day, ending in a while.~ Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries ~This passage sounds reminiscent of verses covered in the Tao Te Ching and Hua Hu C...
Wen Tzu - Verse 103
from Verse One Hundred ThreeSo no humaneness is greater than loving people, no knowledge is greater than knowing people. If there is love for people, no one is punished because of a grudge; with knowledge of people, there are no random policies.~ We...
Lao Who?
I've spent the better part of the last 6 months or so sharing passages and offering commentary -- both my own and from others -- of the mythic father of philosophical Taoism, Lao Tzu. I've also shared with you all my opinion that Lao Tzu probably ne...
Wen Tzu - Verse 102, Part II
from Verse One Hundred TwoA lute does not make any sound, but its twenty-five strings each resound through it; an axle does not turn itself, but the thirty spokes of a wheel revolve by virtue of its power. The strings of a lute must have a balance o...
Wen Tzu - Verse 102, Part I
from Verse One Hundred TwoWhen the people know writing, their virtue deteriorates. When they know calculation, their benevolence deteriorates. When they know contracts, their trust deteriorates. When they know machines, their substantiality deteri...
Wen Tzu - Verse 101
Verse One Hundred OneIn the Way there is no correct, and yet it can be used for correctness. For example, you need forests for lumber: so lumber is secondary to forest, forest is secondary to clouds and rain, clouds and rain are secondary to negativ...
Wen Tzu - Verse 100
from Verse One HundredWhen laws proliferate ostentatiously, there are many bandits and rebels.~ Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries ~Let's examine this passage by dropping it down a notch or two from the laws of nations to the rules of parents.In my...
Wen Tzu - Verse 99
from Verse Ninety-NineThose who know what words mean do not speak with words.~ Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries ~An interesting quote to feature on a blog that is all about words!!Including this post, there have been 1,735 total posts on this blo...
Wen Tzu - Verse 98, Part II
from Verse Ninety-EightKnowing it is shallow, not knowing it is deep. Knowing it is external, not knowing it is internal. Knowing it is coarse, not knowing it is fine. Knowing it is not knowing, not knowing is knowing it. Who knows that knowing i...
Wen Tzu - Verse 98, Part I
from Verse Ninety-EightThe Way can be used for weakness or for strength, for flexibility or for firmness, for passivity or for activity, for darkness or for light. It can be used to embrace heaven and earth, it can be used to respond to the times wi...
Wen Tzu - Verse 97
from Verse Ninety-SevenThose who plant wheat do not harvest millet; those who sow resentment are not repaid with gratitude.~ Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries ~Here we have yet another passage -- one that echoes Verse 95, Part IV -- that underscor...
Wen Tzu - Verse 96
from Verse Ninety-SixIf one turns to goodness, there is no resentment even if one goes too far; if one does not turn to goodness, even if loyal one brings on hatred. Therefore resenting others is not as good as resenting oneself; seeking from others...
Wen Tzu - Verse 95, Part IV
from Verse Ninety-FivePositive energy can be disbursed only after it has accumulated; negative energy can exert influence only after it has been built up. Nothing can exert influence without having been accumulated and built up. Therefore sages are...
Wen Tzu - Verse 95, Part III
from Verse Ninety-FiveThe way of heaven is a pattern, the way of earth is a design; unity harmonizes them, time works for them, thereby developing myriad things. This is called the Way.~ Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries ~This passage really spea...
Wen Tzu - Verse 95, Part II
from Verse Ninety-FiveThe way of heaven is to reduce what is much to add to what is little; the way of earth is to decrease what is high to augment what is low...The way of humanity is not to give to those who have much.~ Wen-tzu: Understanding the M...
Wen Tzu - Verse 95, Part I
from Verse Ninety-FiveThe activity of Nature does not cease; coming to an end, it starts over again. Therefore it can go on perpetually. When a wheel has a place to turn, it can thereby travel far. The activity of Nature is one, without deviation;...
Wen Tzu - Verse 94, Part VIII
from Verse Ninety-FourIn winter, ice can be chopped up; in summer, wood can be tied in knots. The right time is hard to find and easy to lose. When the trees are in full flourishing, you can pick from them all day and they still produce more; but l...
Wen Tzu - Verse 94, Part VII
from Verse Ninety-FourFarmers toil, rulers live off it. Fools speak, the wise choose. When you see things clearly, you can put them in the appropriate places, as you would jewels and stone. When you see things dimly, you must keep a plan.~ Wen-tzu...
Wen Tzu - Verse 94, Part VI
from Verse Ninety-FourThe power of metal overcomes wood, but a single blade cannot cut down a whole forest. The power of earth overcomes water, but a handful of dirt cannot dam a river. The power of water overcomes fire, but a cup of water cannot p...
Wen Tzu - Verse 94, Part V
from Verse Ninety-FourAn insect on a swift horse travels a thousand miles without flying; it carries no provisions, yet does not get hungry.~ Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries ~The above sentence really jumped out at me! It tells me that, aside f...
Wen Tzu - Verse 94, Part IV
from Verse Ninety-FourThose who wish to catch fish first dig a channel, those who wish to lure birds first plant trees. When water has accumulated, fish gather; when the trees flourish, birds gather.~ Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries ~Often, whe...
Guest Post: New Book on Taoism
New Book on TaoismAround the Tao in 80 Days by Trey Smith & Alex PaulGuest Post by Alex PaulThe BookAround the Tao in 80 Days was a project that I initiated because I saw the value in Trey's simple take on the Tao Te Ching. I contacted him and of...
Wen Tzu - Verse 94, Part III
from Verse Ninety-FourYin and yang cannot be permanent; it is winter for a time, and summer for a time. The moon does not know the day, the sun does not know the night.~ Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries ~There are two sides to everything in life...
Wen Tzu - Verse 94, Part II
from Verse Ninety-FourNo one uses flowing water for a mirror, still water is used for a mirror. By keeping thus inwardly, you become still and are not scattered outwardly.~ Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries ~It is pointless for you or I to stand ...
Wen Tzu - Verse 94, Part I
from Verse Ninety-FourThe substance of the Way is nonbeing: you cannot see its form when you look at it, you cannot hear its sound when you listen for it. This is called the mysterious unknown. The "mysterious unknown" is a way of talking about the...
Wen Tzu - Verse 93
from Verse Ninety-ThreeA ringing chime ruins itself giving sound, a tallow candle burns itself out giving light. The patterns of tigers and leopards bring hunters, the quickness of monkeys brings trappers.Thus brave warriors die because of their str...
Wen Tzu - Verse 92
from Verse Ninety-TwoThe ruler is the heart of the nation. When the heart is well, the whole body is comfortable; when the heart is anxious, the whole body is disturbed.~ Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries ~The message in this passage is a continua...
Wen Tzu - Verse 91
from Verse Ninety-OneWhen virtue is reborn, the world is at peace. The pivot is the leader, who is the guide for the people. Those above are models for those below. What those above like, those below will consume. If those above have the virtue of...
Wen Tzu - Verse 90
from Verse NinetyWhen it fights repeated wars and wins repeated victories, a country will perish. When it fights repeated wars, the people are wearied; when it wins repeated victories, the rulership becomes haughty. Let a haughty rulership employ a...
