There is an interesting dialog in Zhuangzi between Confucius and a librarian, Lao Tan, who represents the Taoist philosophy of Lao Tsu. This exchange is reminiscent of the manner of conversation between Socrates and a younger student in the 4th century BCE Agora of Athens, Greece. Confucius who represents conventional thinking desires to place…
Zhuangzi has said, “This Teacher of mine, this Teacher of mine —he passes judgment on the ten thousand things, but he/she doesn’t think himself severe; his bounty extends to ten thousand generations, but he/she doesn’t think himself benevolent. He is older than the highest antiquity, but he/she doesn’t think himself long-lived; he covers heaven,…
He who knows his stupidity is not very stupid; he who knows that he is under a delusion is not greatly deluded. He who is greatly deluded will never shake the delusion off; he who is very stupid will all his life not become intelligent. If three men be walking together, and (only) one…
It’s a Saturday, inside of Starbucks it is unusually quiet. There is a steady rain falling. Movement in the out-of-doors is avoided by most. The temp is comfortable yet, for mid October. It would be fine to go for a walk in the rain. Gazing at the empty tables, the view is peaceful, unobstructed…
Geneva, the Fox river Valley is overcast, rain is expected for this afternoon. That is well, as growing things are eager for a drink before the sleep of frost comes. All things in due time is the rule-of-thumb. Reading the Zhuangzi, the admonition is to forget oneself, to be oblivious to the human, that…
“The brutality of Hamas, this bloodthirstiness, brings to mind the worst rampages of ISIS … Stomach-turning reports of babies being killed; entire families slain; young people massacred while attending a musical festival to celebrate peace; women raped, assaulted, paraded as trophies. In this moment it must be crystal clear: We stand with Israel. We…
Ancient texts often describe a long ago period of idyllic society, a time when humans lived in harmony with one another and with Nature. This is a literary device, a means of contrast with present conditions in order to advance the writer’s point of view. Whether Eden could have existed, if furthermore any of…
I followed the war in Israel last night on ABC streaming channel. Perhaps I should say nothing about this bloodletting. Still, how is this not my business since I am human, and this is yet another outbreak, a paroxysm of rage? Gaza has been called an open air prison, one of the most densely…
Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples Day, which is it? This day, the morning of October 9th is dedicated equally to each of these dimensions of our American past, which is also our present. A day to remember our ancestors attempts to enslave the communities that lived on this continent prior to our arrival from…
I chose to “sleep in” this morning. Something which I seldom do. I like the early morning, a habit learned from my mother who grew up on a farm. Plants and animals elicit care, not scheduling at one’s convenience. Farmers do not sleep in. We visited a farmers market in Geneva where we purchased…
