Tao Te Ching Chapter 78-2 Water's attack

Today's Tao

As for attacking something hard and strong, nothing is better than water. (Ch.78)


We all know this phenomenon.

Water "attacks" a rock year in and year out and eventually makes a hole in the "hard and strong" rock.

Something "hard and strong" is softer and weaker than the softest and weakest.

An ironic contradiction?

No, not at all.

Some martial artists, notably an Aikido-ka, will agree.

If you are hard and strong, you are weak.


In Zen Buddhism, they say:

"When you are lost in Mayoi, you are (hard) like ice."

But don't worry.

They also say:

"Among all the pieces of ice, there is no ice that does not become water".

(Bassui Tokusho 抜隊得勝, «Bassui Kana Hogo» 抜隊仮名法語 / ☞See Disintegrating 15-7 and While fragile 64-3)


Be like water.

Besides, if you are confused or lost in Mayoi, trust you will be as free as water.


«Related Articles»
-Water summary 78-1
-Water's attack 78-2
-No change 78-3
-Be weak 78-4
-Be soft 78-5
-Everyone = You 78-6
-No one acts 78-7
-State filth 78-8
-Bad omens 78-9
-Contradiction 78-10
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 78
-Aikido 22-12
-Aikido and Tariki 68-6


Lao Tzu answers your question!



☞«Tao Te Ching» Key word comparison (21) / -A famous proverb "Soften the light. Be like dust. 和光同塵" - Let's see how they translate 挫其鋭 解其紛 和其光 同其塵 in Chapter 4. The identical sentences are repeated in Chapter 56. In Tao by Matsumoto these are discussed in Chapter 56 / How to be One with Tao. / "It blunts sharp edges, Unties knots, Softens glare, Becomes one with the dusty world." On the left, «Tao Te Ching» translated by Stephen Addiss and Stanley Lombardo. It is introduced by Burton Watson. / "In it all sharpness is blunted, All tangles untied, All glare tempered, All dust smoothed." On the right, «Tao Te Ching (Wordsworth Classics of World Literature)» translated by Arthur Waley. It has an introduction by Robert Wilkinson.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 73-7 I shin den shin / No call

Today's Tao

It doesn't call any, but they come somehow. (Ch.73)


You don't call them.

You don't even say anything.

But they will respond.

They will even come to you somehow.

It sounds like the ultimate form of non-verbal communication such as Hara gei, the belly art.

In the domain of art in Japan, particularly martial art, non-verbal communication is a must.

We call it 以心伝心 [i shin den shin], which means "by heart, transmit heart".

This is a Kanreisu (=a bar or a spring) to better understand Zen.

This Kanji / Chinese character 心 [shin] is often translated as heart or mind.

Like the English word "heart", it also signifies "the center".

The word 心 [shin] suggests the center of the mechanism.

By the mechanism, transmit the mechanism.

In this Tao/hologram mechanism, everything comes about by itself, 自然 [ji nen].


«Related Articles»
-Act without living 73-1
-Live without acting 73-2
-Merit 73-3
-Hatred 73-4
-Heaven's Tao wins 73-5
-Response 73-6
-I shin den shin / No call 73-7
-Plan 73-8
-Tao = Net 73-9
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 73


Tao answers your question!



☞«Tao of ****» The first line comparison (11) / "Whether we hear news reports of good economic times or bad, whether we make a lot of money or a little, many or us feel something is missing in our lives." On the left, «The Tao of Abundance: Eight Ancient Principles for Living Abundantly in the 21st Century» written by Laurence G. Boldt. / "'What is Montessori?' As educators, we are asked that question often by parents, other teachers, and people on the street." On the right, «The Tao of Montessori: Reflections on Compassionate Teaching» written by Catherine McTamaney. / The abundance of love is the basis of education. Do you agree?

Tao Te Ching Chapter 43-4 Without words

Today's Tao

Teaching without words and the benefit of no action are almost the best under the sky. (Ch.43)


Teaching without words is the way we transmit our traditional knowledge in art and spirituality in Japan.

You cannot convey your thoughts with words.

In other words, you can convey your thoughts without words.

In fact, everything is shared by all because others are part of your hologram.

So are your thoughts and words.

From the beginning, thoughts do not belong to you exclusively.

Neither do your actions.


«Related Articles»
-The softest 43-1
-No space 43-2
-Valuable no-action 43-3
-Without words 43-4
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 43


Tao answers your question!



☞Without words. Today, I just want you to listen to Mr John Kaizan Neptune's «Words Can't Go There». Taste the sound of the Shakuhachi flute.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 12-6 Belly

Today's Tao

That's why the sage does the belly but doesn't do the eye. (Ch.12)


You should concentrate on Hara, the belly.

Then, no colours, no sounds, no tastes can fool you.

No superficial thing can fool you.

About the art of the belly, Hara gei, check Tao by Matsumoto / Chapter 3 Hara gei the belly art.

It is interesting especially if you are a businessman in Japan.



Naoto Matsumoto adds:

Though it is useful, this is simply a physical technique like a Kyogen actor's laughter.

We must be aware of it.

Both of them have a certain result in terms of influencing your mind.

Nevertheless, we have to remember that both our body and mind are part of the hologram.

The desire to control our mind physically itself is part of it like the mountains, rivers, and lands, as Master Dogen says.



«Related Articles»
-Five colours 12-1
-Five notes 12-2
-Five tastes 12-3
-Riding and hunting 12-4
-Coins 12-5
-Belly 12-6
-Not that one, but this one 12-7
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 12
-Tao by Matsumoto / No absolute truth If you are interested in teaching English in Japan, read this funny story in Tokyo.


More than 800 episodes available!



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-The Unspoken Way Haragei: Silence in Japanese Business and Society by Michihiro Matsumoto (Paperback - Sep 1988) @Amazon

Link Exchange and Paint Digital Art

In the morning I sent e-mails to 10+ site managers.

We don't really know how effective exchanging links is, but at this moment this is the only active way to promote our Asakusa Underground.

In the afternoon I traslated Mon Chi-chi's Paint Digital Art Museum.

It is a type of digital paintings created with Paint soft which comes with Windows.

It looks like naive paintings in the digital world.

Paint Digital Art Museum

Mon Chi-chi is a digital artist.

You can check his creation, but unfortunately at this moment only its Japanese version is available.

The English version is under construction.

Or, more precisely, I am translating the texts accompanying each picture into English.

I haven't done it yet, but it won't be long. 

You can read his profile at Asakusa Underground / About us.

He uses a naive style, but I hope that the visiors to his site can see the delicate balance of his calculation and wildness. It looks simple, but it is far from simplistic.

Self-introduction

Being accepted to dmoz Open Directory Project is truly a emotional boost for us.

At the moment of doubt, we tend to think that nothing will work.

The news has changed our perspectives completely.

Today, I translated Mon Chi-chi's self-introduction and wrote mine.

He is going to draw digital pictures with them.

Besides, he has just told me that he started his blog with his digital art.

It is a little but important step for him. 

Asakusa Underground is proud of him, too.