think of it by Charles Bukowski think of it, there were fellows like Kierkegaard and Sartre who found existence absurd, who battled against anxiety and anguish, nothingness, nausea, and death hanging over them like a Damocles sword while there are other men now -so empty of concern that their first thought of the day…
Have you never seen a well pump? When it is pulled up it goes down, and when it is let go it comes up. It is pulled by men but does NOT pull the men. Whether it rises or falls, the well-pump does not go against men. It is the same with rules of…
The great tao is not named. The great argument needs no words. Great benevolence is not benevolent. Great modesty is not humble. Great courage is not destructive. The tao that is displayed is not the tao. Argumentative words do not achieve their purpose. Benevolence that is predominant is not comprehensive. Modesty that is demonstrative…
A tree of a hundred years is cut and carved into a sacrificial wood vessel decorated with green and yellow. The rest is thrown into a ditch. If we compare the sacrificial vessel with what was thrown away, there is a difference between them in relation to beauty and ugliness. But they have a…
When has one written or said enough? That is, said enough, leaving space for the reader, room enough for freedom of reflection, allowing a companion to the conversation to “make up” their own mind. It is always a judgment call. One additional thought rattles around my mind. The crux of my reaction, my aversion…
In ancient times Kieh killed Kwan Lung fang, and Kâu killed the prince Pî kan. Both of these cultivated their persons, bending down in sympathy with the lower people to comfort, to relieve suffering (as they did) from their oppressors, and on their account opposing their superiors. On this account, because of their moral…
When we toil our spirits and intelligence,obstinately determined (to establish our own view),and do not know the agreement(which underlies it and the views of others),we have what is called‘In the morning three.’ What is meant by that ‘In the morning three?’ A keeper of monkeys,in giving them out their acorns, (once) said,‘In the morning…
80 Ifa country is governed wisely,its inhabitants will be content.They enjoy the labor of their handsand don’t waste time inventinglabor-saving machines. Since they dearly love their homes,they aren’t interested in travel.There may be a few wagons and boats,but these don’t go anywhere.There may be an arsenal of weapons,but nobody ever uses them. People enjoy…
79 Failure is an opportunity. If you blame someone else, there is no end to the blame. Therefore the Master fulfills her own obligations and corrects her own mistakes. She does what she needs to do and demands nothing of others. Tao Te Ching by Lao-tsu, trans. by Stephen Mitchell These lines, verse 79…
78 Nothing in the worldis as soft and yielding as water.Yet for dissolving the hard and inflexible,nothing can surpass it. The soft overcomes the hard;the gentle overcomes the rigid.Everyone knows this is true,but few can put it into practice. Therefore the Master remainsserene in the midst of sorrow.Evil cannot enter his heart.Because he has…
