Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Tao Te Ching Chapter 80-11 Neighbors


Today's Tao

Neighbouring countries can see each other. (Ch.80)


What are "neighboring countries"?

They are you and the others, not just the other people, but all the other beings, both living and non-living.

You and the others "can see each other".

It means that you project the others and the others define you.

In a way, the others are a reflection of who you are.

You hear an echo of what you think.

What is "you"?

It is your holographic "self" under your control, 自己 [jiko].

What is "the others"?

It is your holographic "self" beyond your control, 他己 [tako].

But, remember true You are Tao.

The so-called "self" is just a part of information you project.

In other words, the "self" doesn't exist.

That's why they say "無我 [mu ga] / No Self" in Zen Buddhism.

無 [mu] - nothing.

我 [ga] - self.

Nothingness is your true Self.


«Related Articles»
-Small country 80-1
-"110 vessels" 80-2
-Don't travel 80-3
-Boats and Cars 80-4
-Armor and Arms 80-5
-Tie the rope 80-6
-Hunger and Food 80-7
-Face transmission / Menju / Beauty 80-8
-Out-Tao (Heresy) Seniya / Gedo Senni / Settled 80-9
-Enjoy your customs 80-10
-Neighbors 80-11
-Moonlight and Dewdrops / Dogs and Roosters 80-12
-Life without intervention 80-13
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 80


Lao Tzu answers your question!



«Recommended Books 8» In modern Occidental literature, you have Hermann Hesse and Fyodor Dostoyevsky among others to rely on when you are lost in the wilderness of Oriental spirituality. How about local guides who can show you the way in a language and an approach that you can comprehend? The first Japanese guide is Hiroyuki Itsuki. His «Tariki» is an ideal guidebook of Jodo Pure Land Buddhism to those who prefer teachings based on historical references. The word «Ta 他» of «Tariki 他力 / Other-power» is the same «Ta 他» of «Tako 他己 / Other-self» above. Hiroyuki Itsuki asks himself why Buddha (=Other-power) made him, as a child, go through the atrocities during World War 2. The second guide is Shusaku Endo. His «Deep River» stands at the crossroads between Christianity and Oriental religions. This Japanese Catholic novelist kept on asking one question: "why God doesn't help me when I need his help?". The author doesn't mention either the word Zen nor Tao, but his concept of Deep River that goes through everything is fit nicely into Taoism and Buddhism.

2 comments:

elle said...

Speaking about "muga" :D, that old blog of mine "Sojourner Haven" doesn't exist anymore, you can delete it from your link list. Thanks for listing it. :)

And thanks again for your posts :)

Unknown said...

Thanks, Elle-san.