Zizhang said,“In the past Jie and Zhou reveled in being sovereignand possessed all the wealth in the world.If you now say to a grasping man, ‘Your conductis like that of Jie and Zhou,’ he will look contriteand will object to the charge,for even the smallest men despise them. Confucius and Mo Di, on the…
I have enjoyed taking photographs since I was a sophomore in high school. I borrowed my fathers box camera, (shutter speed of 1/30 th second) which I used to capture black-and-white photos of the racing action at a North Carolina drag strip. I have owed many cameras since. Photography and images endure as important…
Duke Huan sat in his hall reading a book. The wheelwright Bian was making a wheel in the courtyard below the hall. Putting down his hammer and chisel, Bian went up the steps and said, “I venture to ask your Grace what words are you reading.” “The words of the sages,” replied the duke….
One week before Thanksgiving. The weather has been distinctly unfall-like. The days have been comfortable, nearly too warm for a jacket along the Fox River valley just west of Chicago. There has been no frost to speak of. Yesterday with almost seventy degree weather I busied myself raking and mulching leaves. The ideal is…
48 In the pursuit of knowledge,every day something is added. In the practice of the Tao,every day something is dropped.Less and less do you need to force things,until finally you arrive at non-action.When nothing is done,nothing is left undone. True mastery can be gainedby letting things go their own way.It can’t be gained by…
45 True perfection seems imperfect,yet it is perfectly itself.True fullness seems empty,yet it is fully present. True straightness seems crooked.True wisdom seems foolish.True art seems artless. The Master allows things to happen.She shapes events as they come.She steps out of the wayand lets the Tao speak for itself. Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu,…
44 Fame or integrity: which is more important?Money or happiness: which is more valuable?Success or failure: which is more destructive? If you look to others for fulfillment,you will never truly be fulfilled.If your happiness depends on money,you will never be happy with yourself Be content with what you have;rejoice in the way things are.When…
I enjoyed the afternoon at the racetrack. I mean the environs of Great Lakes Dragaway located off of State Rt KR outside of Union Grove Wisconsin. Opened in 1955 the venue was the nation’s first purpose-built and is the oldest continuously operating dragstrip. The track was inspired by California racing. I was six years old…
28 Know the male,yet keep to the female:receive the world in your arms. If you receive the world, the Tao will never leave you and you will be like a little child. Know the white,yet keep to the black:be a pattern for the world. If you are a pattern for…
2 When people see some things as beautiful,other things become ugly.When people see some things as good,other things become bad.Being and non-being create each other.Difficult and easy support each other.Long and short define each other.High and low depend on each other.Before and after follow each other. Therefore the Masteracts without doing anythingand teaches without…
