Three years ago I planted some oriental lily bulbs at the edge of our yard. The lily bed interfaces with the creek bed. Also a large boulder with a natural notch impressed me as the ideal resting place for a carved stone heart. The stone heart is about the size of a bowling ball….
The Song of the Idiot They do not hinder me. They let me go.They say, nothing could happen even so.How good.Nothing can happen. Everything revolves engrossedalways around the Holy Ghost,around a certain ghost (you know)—how good.No, one should really not supposethat there is any danger in those.There’s of course the blood.The blood is the…
49 The Master has no mind of her own. She works with the mind of the people. She is good to people who are good. She is also good to people who aren’t good. This is true goodness. She trusts people who are trustworthy. She also trusts people who aren’t trustworthy. This is true…
38 The Master doesn’t try to be powerful; thus he is truly powerful. The ordinary man keeps reaching for power; thus he never has enough. The Master does nothing, yet he leaves nothing undone. The ordinary man is always doing things, yet many more are left to be done. The kind man does something,…
This single flowerhas leaves and rootsthat take nourishment fromthe environing soil and air. And the soil contains the distilled nutrientsof past growth and decay that constitute the living ecological systemin which all of its participants are organically interdependent. The sun enables the flower to process these nutrients,while the atmosphere that caresses the floweralso nourishes…
Monday morning, resuming my ordinary life, two cups of dark roast, reading and now a bit of writing here at Starbucks. Agreeable conversation with two friends is welcome. I am grounded by others… I know that to be so from experience. Friends remind me I am not “that” guy I assumed that I was….
No. 24 He who stands on tiptoedoesn’t stand firm.He who rushes aheaddoesn’t go far.He who tries to shinedims his own light.He who defines himselfcan’t know who he really is.He who has power over otherscan’t empower himself.He who clings to his workwill create nothing that endures.If you want to accord with the Tao,just do your…
No. 20 Stop thinking, and end your problems.What difference between yes and no?What difference between success and failure?Must you value what others value,avoid what others avoid?How ridiculous! Other people are excited,as though they were at a parade.I alone don’t care,I alone am expressionless,like an infant before it can smile. Other people have what they…
A second day, family vacation close to Coloma Michigan. St. Joseph is just a fifteen minute drive south, a famed small town enjoyed by generations. The view from the bluff of Silver Beach is spectacular. There is a very large circular concrete splash pad with timed water jets for toddlers, and older children to…
No. 8 The supreme good is like water, which nourishes all things without trying to. It is content with the low places that people disdain. Thus it is like the Tao. In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don’t try…
