The morning, Saturday features frost. After all May 2nd is early enough; that rotation of the earth’s axis inclining the northern hemispheres toward light and heat is not enough to dispel the condensation to freezing of water, frost. Frost will come and go for a week or so. After which time vegetables will be…
History is hysterical: it is constituted only if we consider it, only if we look at it— and in order to look at it, we must be excluded from it. As a living soul, I am the very contrary of History, I am what belies it, destroys it for the sake of my own…
Desire. In a day or so I have an appointment to discuss “touch” with a group of friends. This is designated our “amateur philosopher group” because our objective is enjoyment of good company. What is more agreeable, — than to listen carefully to ourselves, and to others wrestle with words to communicate thoughts rising…
Lao-tsu said, “He knows his masculine force but prevails in his feminine receptivity, becoming the channel into which all streams flow. He knows his purity but stays at the low level, becoming the valley of the world. Men all prefer to be first; he alone prefers to be last, saying that he will accept…
What better overview, critique of the fragmentation, of the lassitude of America than Zhuangzi’s commentary upon ancient iron-age China, and a near identical insight from Friedrich Nietzsche? Disorder prevails in the world –the sages and worthy men no longer bring forth light. The tao and its virtue are no longer regarded as universal. People…
The understanding of the small man does not go beyond the details of giving presents and writing memoranda. He wears out his spirit in what is inconsequential and meaningless but wishes to participate in guiding others to the tao and bring about the unity of all things. But he falls into error regarding space…
A man of Zheng, called Huan, studied his books in a place called Quishi. In three years he became a Confucian scholar, bringing benefits to the three classes of his family relations as the yellow river extends its beneficial influence for nine li. He encouraged his younger brother to study the doctrines of Mo,…
Bohun Maoren replied, “It is useless. I have said to you that they would come to you and they have. It is not you that have caused them to come to you, but you cannot prevent them from coming to you. Of what use then was my warning? It was the outward manifestation of…
Confucius was despondent and said, “May I ask what is meant by complete truth?” The stranger replied, “Complete truth is pure sincerity at its most perfect. Without pure sincerity one cannot move others. If one forces oneself to weep, however convincingly he does so, it is not true sorrow. If one forces oneself to…
Zizhang asked Man Goude, “Why do you not follow the virtuous path? Unless you follow such a path you will not be believed in you will not be appointed to office, you will not acquire gain. Therefore, whether you consider it from the standpoint of reputation or gain, righteousness is the right action. If…
