Sunday, March 28, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 32-8 No danger


Today's Tao

It is because, if they know where to stop, there is no danger. (Ch.32)


If you don't want to face any danger, stop judging.

Well, conventional wisdom says contrarily, but that's the truth.

If you don't judge, you will not have any problem.

It is difficult to stop judging?

No.

It is easy.

The best way to do so is to swap the cause and the result.

Instead of thanking someone for your well being, we can live to thank him.

This is "Reverse Thinking".


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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 32


Tao answers your question!



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Saturday, March 27, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 32-7 Stop


Today's Tao

Once they have got names, they should know how to stop. (Ch.32)


Are names bad?

Probably not.

We can better appreciate Tao's manifestation through each thing if it has a name.

But names come along with discernment.

Discernment leads you to judgement, right?

Isn't judgement the source of discontent?

One has to stop somewhere before he starts suffering from the lack of satisfaction.


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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 32


Tao answers your question!



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Friday, March 26, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 32-6 Cuts & Names


Today's Tao

After they start cutting things, there are names. (Ch.32)


Tao splits up, and creates holograms, which are sometimes called vessels.

Holograms get their names.

Names create categories.

Categories fascinate human beings too much.

Why do you want to be among chosen people?

You and non-you are the same thing.

Jiko 自己 and Tako 他己 are the same hologram.

While giving a name, you are segregating one from another.

No name, please. We are one.


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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 32
-Tao by Matsumoto / You and non-you


Tao answers your question!



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Thursday, March 25, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 32-5 Balance


Today's Tao

You don't need to order people. They balance themselves naturally. (Ch.32)


This chapter is good, isn't it?

It must be Lao Tzu's true work.

Everything in your hologram; people, things, or whatever; is like water.

They look for balance whether you give them orders or not.

Well, it is not precise.

Everything in front of us is totally balanced already.

Whether you impose your judgement on it or not, it is perfect naturally.

Don't judge because you know very well that it is a waste of energy.


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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 32


Tao answers your question!



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Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 32-4 Fertile raindrops


Today's Tao

Heaven and earth harmonize with each other, so fertile raindrops fall. (Ch.32)


Heaven and earth.

You and non-you.

The outside world constitutes your feelings and thoughts, and your feelings and thoughts constitute the outside world.

"The true sutra is grasses, woods, you and non-you", says Zen Master Dogen. (Jishozanmai 自証三昧, «Shobogenzo»)

They are part of your hologram, so everything is always in harmony with Tao however disharmonious it seems.

Please remember fertile rains are constantly falling on us.


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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 32


Tao answers your question!



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Apology

Apology

I was very sorry.

Due to the problem with SFR (Vodafone owns its provider service in France), I was not capable of posting the entree yesterday.

Now I am writing it at a Wifi point.

I will do my best to keep sending posts without delay 5:oo PM European Time.

Please forgive me.


Naoto Matsumoto.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 32-3 Lords & Kings


Today's Tao

If the lords and kings defend it very well, all the material things will obey them. (Ch.32)


"Lords and kings" mean the one who creates his hologram.

If he knows how to defend Tao very well, he can control all the material beings, Lao Tzu says.

He has to know how to use Dark Depth Female.

By "doing nothing".

He has to know how to go back to Tao.

By Reverse Thinking.

Now you remember that true You are creating your hologram.

But, wait a minute.

Now you know it is useless to control any.


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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 32


Tao answers your question!



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-Ihara Saikaku's first successful novel is «Koshoku Ichidai Otoko / The life of an Amorous Man (I might translate the title as "The life of the most lecherous man")». A fantastic book. To some Japanese in the Edo period (1603 - 1868), life was just a joke. They called it a floating world Ukiyo. Why don't we enjoy it? Read this novel and understand the philosophy of "ordinary people" in the epoch. When you see Akihabara girls in Tokyo, nothing seems to have changed much.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 32-2 Small uncarved block


Today's Tao

Though the uncarved block is small, no one under the sky can make it his minister very well. (Ch.32)


It is a good suggestion.

Many people try to control Tao.

Lao Tzu makes it clear that it is impossible.

"The uncarved block", which is Tao, is not just small, but doesn't have any volume at all.

"The world under the sky" means your hologram.

You cannot control Tao from the side of the hologram by any means, neither by any exercise nor prayer, not to mention any scientific measure.

I hope that you don't practice Taoism or Zen Buddhism, thinking that you will be able to control Tao.


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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 32
-Tao by Matsumoto / Uncarved block


Tao answers your question!



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-I am sincerely proud that I was born in a country where «The life of amorous woman» and «Five women who loved love» are considered to be part of our greatest literary achievement. The English titles may have been somehow "softened" for the public to think that it is a "serious" literary work. The titles in Japanese, «Koushoku Ichidai Onna» and «Koushoku Gonin Onna», mean more indecent than those in English. I may translate them as «The most lecherous woman in one life» and «The five most lecherous women» respectively.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 32-1 Nameless


Today's Tao

Tao is constantly nameless. (Ch.32)


"What is Tao?"

Many people ask this question.

Excuse me, but Tao refuses to have a name.

We just call it Tao for the sake of our discussion.

What do you do you when someone asks you questions like:

"What is a Calvin Klein? What is a Starbucks?"

The easiest way to answer the questions is to point out the underpants or the double mokachino.

I will do the same.

Tao is this.

Tao is constant and omnipresent.

It is bigger than a name.


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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 32
-The beginning 1-3


Tao answers your question!



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-To while away the idle hours seated the livelong day before the ink-slab, by jotting down without order or purpose whatever trifling thoughts pass through my mind, verily this is a queer and craze thing to do! (Translated by George Bailey Sansom) «Tsurezuregusa / Essays in Idleness» begins like this. Kenko Yoshida, its author in the Samurai era, might be facing a computer terminal and spending his time playing on Internet if he lived now.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 30-13 Early end


Today's Tao

If you are against Tao, you come to an early end. (Ch.30)


"Result is not important at all, but process is."

Many school teachers and your parents may have told you this.

Have they told you why?

Probably, not.

Then, I'll tell you why.

Because the process means turning the prayer wheel.

In Zen Buddhism, they call it "turning the ring of the manifestation of Buddha".

This is our raison d'être.

To turn it, in other words, to keep the circulation of Tao's energy, we exist.

Not to achieve some result in our hologram.

Of course, if something is against Tao's mechanism, it doesn't last long in the hologram.


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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 30


Tao answers your question!



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-Zenzai is sweet red been soup. Meoto means a husband and a wife. The story was originally written by Sakunosuke Oda, a commercial but good writer who is unfortunately less known outside Japan. The film is directed by Shiro Toyoda whose works you should not miss if you like Kurosawa and Ozu. He is another master film maker of the time when the industry in Japan had plenty of money available. «Meoto zenzai» could be interpreted as "keeping the relationship of a couple is like cooking Zenzai red bean soup". It takes time to prepare, but is sweet when you enjoy it.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 30-12 Against Tao


Today's Tao

This is called being against Tao. (Ch.30)


I know the difference between man and superman.

You know the difference between "rich" and "super rich".

We all know the difference between being young and living eternally.

If you are looking for any kind of excess, it is against Tao, mister.

Don't get obsessed with result. It's against Tao, too.

If someone bothers you by talking about your result, just say to yourself:

"uh,uh, my hologram is asking me to be kindly accepted".


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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 30


Tao answers your question!



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-If you are familiar with Major League Baseball, you know what Baltimore Orioles are. Eternal underdogs. We love underdogs somehow, don't we? I do. Particularly when I see the international popularity of Zen, I want to help a bit to promote Buddhist underdogs, Tariki Buddhism. Tariki means "not to help yourself, but let others help you." Read Shinran Shonin's Tannisho. There is a cheaper paperback, too. Under dogs might be closer to Tao. Didn't Mr Lao Tzu say so?

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 30-11 Strong steroids


Today's Tao

If a thing is strong, it gets old. (Ch.30)


It is the simple mechanism of Yin Yang cycle.

"What goes up must come down."

Now you know the danger of being strong.

It is like athletes using steroids.

They strangely look older than their age, don't they?

Lao Tzu says something strong gets old prematurely.

If so, be weak and stay young like a baby.


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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 30
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Tao answers your question!



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-«Konjaku Monogatari / The Tales of Konjaku». All the stories in the collection begin with the expression of "Ima wa mukashi", which is literally translated as "Now is old times". "Konjaku" means this. Once upon a time story-telling was a job of a grandmother or an idle preacher. The kids without television or a Nintendo adored stories whoever told them. Now people have no time. "Now is new times", so to speak.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 30-10 Force nobody


Today's Tao

It's just a result. Don't force any. (Ch.30)


Stocks may go up and down.

Your beloved Yankees may win and lose.

The result is there to stimulate you to turn the prayer wheel called Life.

Don't buy and sell stocks to control the prices.

Don't buy and sell players to win the World Series.

Don't act on it directly. It is your hologram you create.

It is ridiculous to pay money for what you create.

Instead, use Dark Depth Female and do nothing.

It is free, ladies and gentlemen.


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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 30


Tao answers your question!



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-Certainly «Genji Monogatari / The Tale of Genji» is a classic. Nevertheless, it is not a history yet. In a modern Japan with Play Station and Manga, you can see the incessant resurrection of the famous story by Murasaki Shikibu (Lady Murasaki, which means Lady Purple). The video game on the left has nothing to do with the aristocratic life of a seducer prince, though. When I was a child, I thought the same thing. I imagined that «The Tale of Genji» might be a story of samurais who lived in the time of the confrontation between Heike and Genji families. I ignorantly thought that it could be a Genji version of «Heike Monogatari / The Tale of Heike».

Monday, March 15, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 30-9 Can't help it


Today's Tao

It's just a result. Say you couldn't help it. (Ch.30)


Please ask old Sai (Favour 13-4) if losing his horse is a good result or not.

Then, ask him if his son breaking the leg is a bad result or not.

His answer is always the same:

"You never know".

He is right because there is neither good nor bad.

One cannot help the result.

Thinking about another result hypothetically is a waste of energy.

We cannot help the result because it is the best result no matter how awful it seems.

Let's believe it.


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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 30


Tao answers your question!



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-Surely, you can translate the name of «Makura no Soshi» as "The Pillow Book". It is not linguistically wrong or immorally distorted. Not at all. The author, Sei Shonagon who was born more than one thousand years ago, might be quite happy to have this title with tongue in cheek. She must have been a cheeky intellectual maid in the imperial palace.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 30-8 No arrogance


Today's Tao

It's just a result. Don't be arrogant. (Ch.30)


Lao Tzu keeps on asking us not to be arrogant.

Then, to him, what is being arrogant?

He says:

"Being a good man is just a result. Don't be arrogant".

It seems that Lao Tzu thought being good is arrogant.

Well, being good is bad. Being bad is good.

Sounds a bit like Honen and Shinran's Akunin shoki setsu 悪人正機説 (The Doctrine of Evil Persons as the Object of Salvation).

It is logical, isn't it?

There is neither good nor bad in Tao.

If you try to distinguish something from another, it won't work with Tao.


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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 30


Tao answers your question!



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-We don't really know why you call it «Ise monogatari / The tales of Ise». It is about an aristocrat's life when the samurai did not yet grasp the power. If you buy a packaged tour to Japan, chances are that you will visit Ise Shrine. Then, you can think about the Japanese man in the ancient times who might have visited the princess offered to Shintoist god of Ise.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 30-7 Don't boast


Today's Tao

It's just a result. Don't boast. (Ch.30)


Once again Lao Tzu asks us not to boast, but boast about what?

In the previous sentences of this chapter, Lao Tzu says that being a good man is just a result.

War is a good example.

A good man in this side of the border is a bad man in the other side.

In the history of human beings, we know plenty of individuals who boasted, "I am good", and regretted it the day after.


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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 30


Tao answers your question!



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-If you like legends and fantastic stories, this is for you. «The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter» and «The Old bamboo-Hewer's story» have different English titles, but they share the same original story «Taketori Monogatari». An alien princess born in the bamboo fascinates terrestrial men. They fight each other to marry the beautiful princess who has to go back to the outer space. «The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter» might be worth checking because it was translated into modern Japanese by Yasunari Kawabata and into English by Donald Keene. They are probably the best duo to introduce Japanese literature to English readers.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 29-11 Arrogance


Today's Tao

He stays away from arrogance. (Ch.29)


Be balanced.

Stay away from luxury.

Don't be arrogant.

That's for sure.

But did Lao Tzu need to emphasize them here?

I translated the Chinese character Kanji 去 [saru] as "stay away".

But the original meaning of the character is "to leave".

In order to leave, you have to go there once.

Be imbalanced.

Enjoy luxury.

Be arrogant.

Then, you leave.

This explains why Geishas in Kyoto have been patronized by many Buddhist monks historically.


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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 29


Tao answers your question!



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-There is nothing wrong with living beautifully. It is no use judging those Buddhist monks who fell in love with a geisha in the red light district in Kyoto. On the contrary, I want to praise them for their honesty and sincerity. How can we stop someone from loving an adorable creature living in the despised sphere of a decent society? Fortunately, the Japanese have Master Ikkyu who respected and worshipped "it". So-called pure religious leaders often make us laugh in Japan although this attitude sometimes confuses the naive believers of Zen Buddhism abroad.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 29-10 Luxury


Today's Tao

He stays away from excessive luxury. (Ch.29)


We know Tao doesn't like excess.

But how about luxury?

"Of course, I know how to stay away from luxury. I don't wear neither Gucci nor Brooks Brothers. I am happy to be in my cotton Samue "working Yukata" designed by a humble Japanese monk living in an authentic Buddhist temple in Kyoto, who respects the traditional materials and designs and, above all, made in Laos, not even in China. I don't think there is something less luxurious than my Zen outfit."

Don't worry.

I can guarantee you that you are in the state of Satori while wearing Levi's.


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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 29


Tao answers your question!



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-Showing their publicities does not mean that I recommend them. Some people don't know what a Yukata is. Therefore, I show the photos. Unfortunately, Amazon does not seem to sell a Samue. It is a set of a cotton top and pants. Please picture the yukata with a pair of pants made of the same cloth. Japanese rappers can wear Levi's, so there is nothing wrong with a samue or a yukata worn in a country where they speak the language of Shakespeare.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 29-9 Imbalance


Today's Tao

Therefore, the sage stays away from imbalance. (Ch.29)


A: "Master Bonbon, I don't know what to do."

B: "Meditate and think like a chosen super being, and you will see the answer."

A: "Yes, Master Bonbon, I will think. I will think. I will think… Oh, my god, I don't see the answer. I don't know what to do."


You don't need a superhuman effort.

You'd rather avoid any superhuman way.

No superhuman act is natural.

If you need an answer right now right here, ask water.

Let's think what water might do in the situation.

Water may avoid confrontation and try to look for balance.


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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 29


Tao answers your question!



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-Manyoshu is the oldest anthology of poems in Japan. Is it really possible to translate poesy into another language? I just wonder how the translators work with the the ancient expressions to which the people associate certain feelings. "It is impossible. That's why we do it", Tadashi Suzuki, the director of Scot theatre company, answered when he was asked about the translation of Shakespearean plays into Japanese.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 29-8 Maximum = Minimum


Today's Tao

Some grow. Some break. (Ch.29)


The bigger, the better?

Lao Tzu is certainly against the idea.

If you try to make something too big, you will break it.

When it happens to you, what do you say?

"Oh, my god, all my effort is wasted!"

If so, it is high time you thought that the effort itself might be the origin of the setback.

Everything is part of a cycle.

Maximum = Minimum


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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 29


Tao answers your question!



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-Sometimes, we feel uncomfortable where we were born. We pack our bag and leave for somewhere else. It doesn't matter where as long as the destination is somewhere else but right here. Sometimes, we end up in a place we have never imagined to live in. Because of the consequences of inexplicable coincidences, we are here millions of miles away from where we were born.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 29-7 Judo


Today's Tao

Some are strong. Some are weak. (Ch.29)


If you want to be strong, be weak.

Judo lost spirituality and has become a modern sport.

Judo lost politeness and has become a competition.

Judo lost its white Judo-gi costume and has become a merchandise.

In the old days, if you wanted to be tough in Judo, you needed to be soft.

Judo means soft Tao.

One day Judo will lose its name and become something else.


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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 29


Tao answers your question!



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-This is the white Judo-gi costume I am talking about. Isn't it beautiful when you see two judoka in white on the green Tatami mats? In this sense, I share the same sort of esthetics with British gentlemen who fought in vain to keep their cricket uniforms white. It is simply refreshing when we see cricket players in white playing on the green grass. You never know one day the British might allow coloured shirts at Wimbledon. I just hope that the Japanese will not allow a shiny rainbow coloured Mawashi band on the waist of a naked Sumo Rikishi wrestler at Ryogoku, Tokyo.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 28-15 The greatest control


Today's Tao

Therefore, the greatest control doesn't split any. (Ch.28)


Tao is "the greatest control".

It cannot be divided, so don't split any.

Since everything is one, the idea of dividing something does not suit Tao.

So, don't judge. Don't tell good from evil.

Do nothing and accept all.

This is the greatest control of all.

Why don't we give Tao a bit more credit.

Tao knows. Tao flows.

The rest is a nice steak sauce to stimulate your appetite.


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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 28


Tao answers your question!



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-Let's go to Matsuyama, Japan. They have fantastic Dogo Onsen the hot spa. Botchan, probably one of the best known characters in Japanese literature, adores to take a bath there. The word "Botchan" could be translated as a naive rich kid in English. Because of his naivety the Japanese adore him. A onsen and a young man gives another aspect of the hot spring tradition than a geisha and a bath. Somehow it touches the heartstrings of the nation of onsen lovers, too.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 28-14 Chief officials


Today's Tao

The sage uses them, and makes them the chief of the officials. (Ch.28)


The uncarved block scatters and becomes vessels.

Tao scatters and becomes your hologram.

Use your hologram. It's all yours.

But, not by acting on it directly. By using Dark Depth Female method.

Let people do whatever they want.

After all, they are part of your hologram.

If someone wants to be "the chief of the officials" and reign over the world, don't get annoyed.

Just let him do.


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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 28


Tao answers your question!



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-I am so glad that Donald Keene chose Ryotaro Shiba among the five modern Japanese novelists along with Jun' ichiro Tanizaki, Yasunari Kawabata, Kobo Abe, and Yukio Mishima. Ryotaro Shiba is extremely popular in Japan and very productive in terms of the volume and number of his works. It is surprising to know that only a handful of his novels have been translated into English so far. Nevertheless, I see some change. So far, artistic novels seem to have represented Japanese literature, but more and more readers living abroad are interested in Japan's popular literature mostly read in commuter trains by "salarymen" because they are good reads. Otherwise, they would fall asleep in the train.

Friday, March 5, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 28-13 Vessels


Today's Tao

When the uncarved block scatters, it becomes vessels. (Ch.28)


I like this beautiful image.

An uncarved block splits up and scatters all over.

Then, the tiny pieces will get together and form vessels everywhere.

The uncarved block means Tao.

The vessels can be objects or people.

In any case, they are holograms.

Here, we have another fantastic metaphor on how Tao's holography works.


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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 28
-30 spokes 11-1 "30 spokes share one hub." This is another interesting metaphor.
-Tao = Net 73-9 "Heaven's net is vast. Its mesh is not fine, but it doesn't lose any." Lao Tzu uses metaphors to explain the Tao/hologram mechanism.


Tao answers your question!



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-«The Tale of Genji» is definitely the best novel written in Japanese. The translator of the book on the left is Donald Keene, who is definitely the best researcher of Japanese literature outside, and probably inside as well, the Japanese archipelago. It is quite ironical that, thanks to World War 2, we have this American gentleman and exceptional scholar. He was trained as a intelligence officer. Well, he decoded the classic nicely.