Tao Te Ching Chapter 78-10 Contradiction

Today's Tao

Right words sound contradictory. (Ch.78)


Tao's mechanism of return creates contradiction.

Lao Tzu says here that, if the words do not sound contradictory, they are not right.

They are artificial and superficial.

Let's review Lao Tzu's maxims in this chapter, which sound contradictory.


1. Be as soft and weak as water in order to activate Dark Depth Female. (☞See Water summary 78-1)

2. When you are lost in Mayoi, you are as hard as ice; when you are one with Tao, you are as soft as water. (☞See Water's attack 78-2)

3. A hologram doesn't change. One hologram is the whole world in each moment.
Caution! Each independent being is not one independent hologram. It is part of one hologram along with the other beings, including your own self. It is like a frame in a movie. (☞See No change 78-3)

4. Everyone in the world is you. (☞See Everyone = You 78-6)

5. No matter what we are doing, we are doing nothing, which means "sending Love (=Tao's energy)". (☞See No one acts 78-7)

6. No state. No evil. Don't criticize. Don't judge. (☞See State filth 78-8)

7. No superstitions. No bad omens. They are just catalysts.

8. Lao Tzu thinks it is ridiculous to resist. No resistance.


See? Right words sound contradictory, don't they?


«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


Lao Tzu answers your question!



☞«Tao Te Ching» Key word comparison (28) / - Dark Depth Female [genpi / xuan pin / hsuan pin] 玄牝 - 玄 [gen / xuan / hsuan] means Dark Depth. 牝 [pi (hin) / pin], Female. This is one of the most important words in Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching. Mr Michael P. Garofalo has done an excellent research and comparison of the various translations. (http://www.egreenway.com/qigong/vstccs2.htm) Thanks to him, we can see easily how they translate 谷神不死, 是謂玄牝 in Chapter 6 / Valley God. / "The Valley Spirit never dies It is named the Mysterious Female." On the left, «Tao Te Ching (Wordsworth Classics of World Literature)» translated by Arthur Waley. With an introduction by Robert Wilkinson. / "The Tao is called the Great Mother empty yet inexhaustible," On the right, «Tao Te Ching: A New English Version (Perennial Classics)» translated by Stephen Mitchell.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 78-3 No change

Today's Tao

It is because nothing can change it. (Ch.78)


We have to make one thing quite clear.

There is no such thing as "change in a hologram".

"But wait a minute! Water isn't a symbol of constant change?", some might ask.

Let's make it clear.

One hologram does not change as a frame in a film does not.

"Change" is a word given to our interpretation of the sequence of holograms.

All the holograms are created simultaneously.

Time is a parameter to interpret them.

Lao Tzu says that nothing can change the water.

Nothing can change a hologram.

Nothing can change you.


«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


Lao Tzu answers your question!



☞«Tao Te Ching» Key word comparison (22) / -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 edges, loosens tangles, soften glare, mingles dust." On the left, «Tao Te Ching» translated by David Hinton. / "It blunts sharp edges, unravels their tangles, soften their blazing light, and blends one with their dust." On the right, «Tao Te Ching: An All-New Translation» translated by William Scott Wilson.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 76-1 Soft life

Today's Tao

The life of man is soft and weak. (Ch.76)


The expression "soft and weak" suggests being intangible.

Why is the life of man intangible?

Because it is part of a hologram.

What is life, then?

To answer the question, movie is a perfect metaphor.

A movie does not exist as a tangible entity.

A movie is a story told on the screen where a sequence of numerous photographs is projected.

The life of man is a movie.

As the name of "movie" is given to a sequence of projected images, "life" is the name of a collection of holograms.

Technically speaking, a hologram does not change as an individual image in a film does not change.

The sequence of holograms gives us an impression that it changes.


Check

-Life does not exist as a tangible entity.

-A hologram does not change.


«Related Articles»
-Soft life 76-1
-Hard end 76-2
-Fragile life 76-3
-Dry end 76-4
-Mujoseppo = non-living preach / Hard and Strong 76-5
-Soft and weak men 76-6
-Strong army, no win 76-7
-Karoshi / Snapped branch 76-8
-Hossho stays low 76-9
-Hoben gate / Soft and Weak 76-10
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 76
-Tao by Matsumoto / Life is a movie


Tao answers your question!



☞«Tao Te Ching» Key word comparison (1) / -Dark Depth 玄 [gen]- Let's see how they translate 玄之又玄 in Chapter 1. / "Darkness within darkness" On the left, «Tao Te Ching, 25th-Anniversary Edition (English and Mandarin Chinese Edition)» translated by Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English. / "The mystery of mysteries" On the right, «Tao Te Ching» translated by Dwight Goddhard.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 72-3 Unsatisfactory

Today's Tao

It's simply unsatisfactory. That's why they are not satisfied. (Ch.72)


A: "Master Bonbon, I am not content. I am not satisfied. What's wrong with me?"

B: "The world is full of injustice. You must do something to change this stupid world. Donate all of your family fortune and meditate for thirty years!"


C'mon, Master Bonbon. You are the stupid one.

Stop your idiocies and listen to what Lao Tzu is telling us here.

Your hologram, which you call this world, is perfect although it seems to you "unsatisfactory" sometimes.

Your judgement causes this.

But don't worry.

Although you are not supposed to judge, there is nothing wrong with your judging things if you cannot help it.

It is part of your hologram.

You just have to know that it is perfectly all right if you are not satisfied.

It's "Tao's fear", the unsatisfactoriness of perfection.


«Related Articles»
-Big's fear 72-1
-Not satisfied? 72-2
-Unsatisfactory 72-3
-Know yourself 72-4
-Love yourself 72-5
-Take it 72-6
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 72


Tao answers your question!



☞«Tao of ****» The first line comparison (1) / "You see, Pooh," I said, "a lot of people don't seem to know what Taoism is…" On the left, «The Tao of Pooh» written by Benjamin Hoff. / "Modern physics has had a profound influence on almost all aspects of human society." On the right, «Tao of physics» written by Fritjof Capra. / We are happy to introduce some old soldiers to young officers.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 67-8 Not the first

Today's Tao

The third one is to try not to be the first under the sky. (Ch.67)


The third treasure is "to try not to be the first".

You don't have to be the best.

Don't try to be the number one.

You don't have to control the world "under the sky".

Because you are "the only respectable being" as the baby Buddha said. (☞See Ordinary? 67-3)

Because you are the one who projects the world, which is your hologram.

Try not to be the first.

Lower yourself. (☞See Verbally 66-2)

This is the way you activate Dark Depth Female 玄牝 [genpi].

If you try to do nothing, you will see the world changing naturally.


«Related Articles»
-Idiot 67-1
-Parents 67-2
-Ordinary? 67-3
-3 treasures 67-4
-Protect the treasures 67-5
-Send Love 67-6
-Don't waste holograms 67-7
-Not the first 67-8
-Be brave 67-9
-Be vast 67-10
-Leader of the vessel 67-11
-Stuck in life 67-12
-Love, win, defense 67-13
-Heaven, Love, Tao 67-14
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 67


Tao answers your question!



☞On the left, it is "Ichiban 一番" in Kanji / Chinese characters. On the right, «Sapporo Ichiban» Miso taste. "Ichi" means one; "Ban", number. "Ichiban" means Number One. The Ramen is the best instant noodles from Sapporo, the name of the product claims. Sapporo is one of the heartlands of Ramen noodles in Japan. Unlike other noodles distributed internationally, the taste of «Sapporo Ichiban Miso Ramen» is not adapted to the consumers abroad. It tastes like typical and "authentic" instant Ramen noodles in their place of birth.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 64-20 Transformation

Today's Tao

Thus he keeps everything with its natural transformation. (Ch.64)


The words are sometimes more intelligent than the human beings that use them.

Look at the word 自然 [shizen].

This combination of the two kanji / Chinese characters illustrates how they look at life and nature in Taoism.

When the two kanji are together, 自然 [shizen] means nature.

When the two are separated, 自 [ji] means "self" and 然 [nen], "being in a state of".

Therefore, nature 自然 [shizen] means "being in the state of itself".

Life and nature are part of your hologram.

They transforms themselves whether we think we intervene in the process or not.

Leave your hologram coming and going naturally.


«Related Articles»
-Something stable 64-1
-Before materialization 64-2
-While fragile 64-3
-While minute 64-4
-Before existence 64-5
-In order 64-6
-Tree from a hair 64-7
-Nine-story tower 64-8
-A thousand league travel 64-9
-Do and Defeat 64-10
-Stick and Lose 64-11
-Defeat nothing 64-12
-Don't stick 64-13
-Before completed 64-14
-Careful end 64-15
-Desire no desire 64-16
-Rare coins 64-17
-Learn no learn 64-18
-Excess 64-19
-Transformation 64-20
-Don't dare 64-21
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 64
-By itself 51-7


Tao answers your question!



☞Are Japanese men all like samurai warriors? Hardly. Not just nowadays. Most Japanese men have never been samurai-like. Samurai and Ninja were a tiny portion of Japan's population. Japanese men being samurai was a myth. Probably, that's what the Japanese men have wanted to believe, but the reality has been far from it. Look at Lady Murasaki Shikibu's «The Tale of Genji». At the time of writing, about the turn of the first millennium, the Japanese aristocratic society was relatively matriarchal. A wife lived with her mother while her husband visited her at her family's residence. The children were raised under the influence of the mother's family. On the other hand, the samurai society was more patriarchal, or male-dominant sort of. A man's love to another man was considered something pure and genuine whether it was platonic or not. Ihara, Saikaku's «The Great Mirror of Male Love» portrays the love between a samurai and a samurai, a samurai and a boy, or a man and a monk; in short, the love between a human and a human.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 64-14 Before completed

Today's Tao

When people do a job, they always defeat it just before it's completed. (Ch.64)


Let's talk about a less ideal approach first.

Even if you cannot suppress a desire to profit from the world surrounding you, don't blame yourself.

Just don't try to act on the world, which is your hologram.

Do you try to change something even if you are happy about it?

No, right?

You try to change it because you are not happy.

This refusal of your hologram creates resistance.

It will block the natural flow of Tao "just before" the hologram comes to exist.

With a seemingly disfigured world, you get frustrated, and it will increase the resistance.

How can you profit from the situation!

Let's discuss another approach tomorrow.


«Related Articles»
-Something stable 64-1
-Before materialization 64-2
-While fragile 64-3
-While minute 64-4
-Before existence 64-5
-In order 64-6
-Tree from a hair 64-7
-Nine-story tower 64-8
-A thousand league travel 64-9
-Do and Defeat 64-10
-Stick and Lose 64-11
-Defeat nothing 64-12
-Don't stick 64-13
-Before completed 64-14
-Careful end 64-15
-Desire no desire 64-16
-Rare coins 64-17
-Learn no learn 64-18
-Excess 64-19
-Transformation 64-20
-Don't dare 64-21
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 64


Tao answers your question!



☞Osamu Dazai and Yukio Mishima detested each other. One was jealous of the other, one did not like the other's political views, or one despised the other's writing style. While Dazai's style was based on the oral tradition of story-telling in Japan, that of Mishima was more solidly constructed in terms of the signification of a word or a phrase. One thing is quite clear. Because of the difference, it is easier to translate Mishima's works than those of Dazai. Though it does not at all mean that the latter's works are better than those of the former, it explains why Mishima is internationally better known than Dazai.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 64-13 Don't stick

Today's Tao

He doesn't stick to anything, so he doesn't lose anything. (Ch.64)


In Chapter 29 and this Chapter 64, Lao Tzu says:

"If you stick to it, you will lose it".

(☞See If you stick to it 29-4 and Stick and Lose 64-11)


Why do you "lose" something if you are attached to it?

Because it is fundamentally against the function of a hologram, which we sometimes call the world, life, or self.

The objective of a hologram is to stimulate Tao's energy to flow.

That's why constant change is very important.

If you are attached to something, you are refusing the change and blocking the natural flow of Tao.

Did you get it?

All right.

Then, let's go a step farther.

Can you really stick to something if you don't possess your own self?

No, you can't, right?

Attachment is also part of your hologram, Inmo butsu 什麼物 the what-on-earth thing.

We don't know where it has come from. (是什麼物恁麼来 [ze inmo butsu inmo rai])

If you don't have anything from the beginning, you cannot lose anything.


«Related Articles»
-Something stable 64-1
-Before materialization 64-2
-While fragile 64-3
-While minute 64-4
-Before existence 64-5
-In order 64-6
-Tree from a hair 64-7
-Nine-story tower 64-8
-A thousand league travel 64-9
-Do and Defeat 64-10
-Stick and Lose 64-11
-Defeat nothing 64-12
-Don't stick 64-13
-Before completed 64-14
-Careful end 64-15
-Desire no desire 64-16
-Rare coins 64-17
-Learn no learn 64-18
-Excess 64-19
-Transformation 64-20
-Don't dare 64-21
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 64


Tao answers your question!



☞Yukio Mishima's «The Sound of Waves / Shiosai» has been cinematized five times. The stars of the times such as Sayuri Yoshinaga and Momoe Yamaguchi acted the leading role Hatsue. Yukio Mishima said that he had been inspired by «Daphnis and Chloe», and Hatsue is the Japanese Chloe. Unfortunately, the DVDs with these legendary actresses are not available at Amazon. This «Animated Classics of Japanese Literature» is "family friendly" and will not embarrass the parents while viewing it.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 64-11 Stick & Lose

Today's Tao

If you stick to it, you will lose it. (Ch.64)


Like yesterday's sentence, you can find the identical one in Chapter 29. (☞See If you stick to it 29-4)

When you stick to something, you are refusing change.

When you block the change, you lose Tao's energy.

Obsession is the shortcut to loss.

Especially the obsession to the concept of Self.


Zen Master Dogen kindly cautions:

"Those who are lost in Mayoi stick to (Self);

those who get Satori leave (Self)."

迷う者は之に執し、悟る者は之を離れる。

(«Gakudo yojin shu 学道用心集»)

（鎌田茂雄「正法眼蔵随聞記講話」第十一講より）


"Oh, my god. I've got my own self. I cannot leave it. My god. What can I do?"

Please do not panic.

Being lost in Mayoi is part of Satori.

Satori is another name of the hologram.

If you cannot help sticking to something, well, leave your feelings alone although it is not ideal,

and don't worry.


«Related Articles»
-Something stable 64-1
-Before materialization 64-2
-While fragile 64-3
-While minute 64-4
-Before existence 64-5
-In order 64-6
-Tree from a hair 64-7
-Nine-story tower 64-8
-A thousand league travel 64-9
-Do and Defeat 64-10
-Stick and Lose 64-11
-Defeat nothing 64-12
-Don't stick 64-13
-Before completed 64-14
-Careful end 64-15
-Desire no desire 64-16
-Rare coins 64-17
-Learn no learn 64-18
-Excess 64-19
-Transformation 64-20
-Don't dare 64-21
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 64


Tao answers your question!



☞Morihei Ueshiba (1883 - 1969) was a Japanese martial artist. An Aikido master. Takeda Sokaku was his teacher. Later he worked with a Japanese religious leader, Onisaburo Deguchi, to found a utopian colony in Mongolia. ☞Shinran (1173 -1263) is the founder of Jodo Shin shu / Pure Land Shin school. Zen Master Dogen lived in Kyoto while Shinran was there although there is no record that proves the two ran across each other. Shinran's master was Honen. Yuien, one of Shinran's disciples, is supposed to be the author of «Tannisho».

Tao Te Ching Chapter 63-10 Don't try

Today's Tao

Therefore, the sage never tries to do big things. Because of this, he often does them. (Ch.63)


A severe Zen master might say:

"Don't be stupid.

Don't try to change the world.

It's your hologram.

Don't be fooled by the illusion.

Don't look down on it, either.

It is the manifestation of Buddha's love.

Accept the love with respect.

Then, it is your turn to create Buddha's love."


Lao Tzu may be a little less demanding.

He doesn't mind if you change the world, or your own hologram.

He even tells us how.

"Don't do big things", he says.

The things will be done without your trying to do them.

This attitude of doing nothing is called Dark Depth Female, 玄牝 [gen pi].


«Related Articles»
-Decoding a riddle 63-1
-No work 63-2
-No taste 63-3
-Small = Big 63-4
-Love him 63-5
-Complicated? 63-6
-Minuscule 63-7
-Complicated in Easy 63-8
-Big in minuscule 63-9
-Don't try 63-10
-Casual promises 63-11
-Easy origin 63-12
-Everything as difficult 63-13
-Nothing is difficult 63-14
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 63


Tao answers your question!



☞Kaibara, Ekiken and Kaibara, Ekken are the same Samurai (1630 - 1714). His name is written 貝原益軒 in Japanese. He was known as a Confucianist and natural historian, and wrote the book «Yojokun» on the left at the age of 83. "Yojo" means care, and the title of the book can be interpreted as "the instructions for keeping healthy". On the right, «The philosophy of Qi» is the translation of Ekiken's «Taigiroku», the Record of Great Doubts.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 58-4 Misfortune = Fortune

Today's Tao

Misfortune hides in fortune. (Ch.58)


I sincerely hope you have read or watched the video blog Favour 13-4 because the story of «Old Sai's horse» teaches us the Taoist attitude.

Now let's discuss why.


First.

What is Tao?

Tao is the constant change of the energy flow.

It needs to change.


Second.

To create and stimulate the change of the flow, we have holograms.


Third.

Tao creates holograms, and holograms stimulate Tao.

This is the Yin Yang cycle.


Fourth.

Fortune and misfortune are part of the hologram.

To maintain the cycle, fortune provokes misfortune, and vice versa.


The important thing is that all of them are one without time or space.


«Related Articles»
-Dark Government 58-1
-Brilliant government 58-2
-Fortune = Misfortune 58-3
-Misfortune = Fortune 58-4
-Eternal cycle 58-5
-Criterion? 58-6
-Odd criterion 58-7
-Spooky 58-8
-Confused about time? 58-9
-Don't tear it! 58-10
-Kyoka (crazy song) hurts 58-11
-Straight = Bent 58-12
-Amida (Amitābha) shines 58-13
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 58
-Favour 13-4
-Can't help it 30-9


Tao answers your question!



☞Kanzo Uchimura is the founder of the nonchurch movement in Japan. He was born into a samurai family in Edo (now called Tokyo) in 1861, a few years before the end of the samurai era. He studied at Amherst College, New England, among others. The nonchurch movement is called "Mukyokai 無教会" in Japanese.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 57-9 Sage's "Do nothing"

Today's Tao

Therefore, the sage says: "I do nothing and the people change themselves." (Ch.57)


This is a true sage's attitude.

This is the true wisdom of Dark Depth Female.

Do nothing, that's all, and your hologram (=the world) will transform itself.

Some people may ask:

"But, we are not allowed to breathe or eat?

We are not allowed to do anything?"

The concept of "Do nothing" has been misunderstood for ages by many people.

"Do nothing" means:

"Accept the fact that, no matter what you do, you are doing nothing.

Accept that your own self does not exist outside your hologram.

In short, accept all."

In other words, minimize your resistance and circulate Tao's energy while letting your holograms transform themselves as smoothly as possible.


«Related Articles»
-Justice 57-1
-Surprise attack 57-2
-Don't work 57-3
-How do I know? 57-4
-No prohibitions 57-5
-More useful tools 57-6
-More intelligent, more evil 57-7
-Ho 法 and Laws 57-8
-Sage's "Do nothing" 57-9
-Don't move 57-10
-Don't work and Get rich 57-11
-Desire 57-12
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 57


Tao answers your question!



Japan is a floating world with superstitious post-consumers or a primitive society with hi-tech gadgets. Professor Kawashima's «Brain Age» will make a nice gift to your aged friends or family members. Nintendo can contribute to your "brain" maintenance. On the other hand, Hayao Miyazaki's «My Neighbor Totoro» is an ideal gift for children and young at heart. Studio Ghibli can help your "spiritual" maintenance.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 57-3 Don't work

Today's Tao

You get the world under the sky by doing no work. (Ch.57)


Lao Tzu is saying here:

"Don't govern your state with so-called justice.

Don't launch a surprise attack.

Do not work on any. Don't interfere."


He is discouraging you from using your intelligence.

The world, which you want to transform with your intelligence, is a hologram and catalyst you project.

By doing nothing, you can change the world.

If you accept all, the world will change itself.


«Related Articles»
-Justice 57-1
-Surprise attack 57-2
-Don't work 57-3
-How do I know? 57-4
-No prohibitions 57-5
-More useful tools 57-6
-More intelligent, more evil 57-7
-Ho 法 and Laws 57-8
-Sage's "Do nothing" 57-9
-Don't move 57-10
-Don't work and Get rich 57-11
-Desire 57-12
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 57
-No work 63-2


Tao answers your question!



☞I don't know if Sei Shonagon, the author of «Makura no Soshi / The Pillow Book», would be happy about the film «The Pillow Book». Probably yes. Thanks to Peter Greenaway, the classical collection of the medieval essays by an intelligent imperial female servant is now digitally immortalized in DVD. (☞See also Can't help it 30-9)

Tao Te Ching Chapter 47-4 Accomplish with no act

Today's Tao

That's why the sage doesn't go but know, doesn't see but know, and doesn't act but accomplish. (Ch.47)


Forget national politics and international affairs.

You don't have to do anything in order to make the perfect world "better".

If you do nothing, everything comes about naturally.

If you are not happy about the world (=your hologram), it is you who has to change, not the world.

The bigger it looks, the smaller it is in your hologram.

The closer, the more important.

Who is the closest to you?


«Related Articles»
-No outside 47-1
-Not out of Self 47-2
-Kensho Jobutsu / No away 47-3
-Accomplish with no act 47-4
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 47


Tao answers your question!



☞ Previous video / Ch.47 text / Next video


☞You may not like Manga Japanese cartoons. If so, I am afraid to tell you that you are avoiding the easiest way to understand Japanese traditions and legends. Manga is a modern-day equivalent to story-telling by a grand-pa or grand-ma by the mantlepiece. Highly metaphysical concepts like reincarnation and soul are explained with friendly images and cute characters. Japanese kids will remain quite "Japanese" this way.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 41-2 Tao's means

Today's Tao

Being weak is Tao's means. (Ch.41)


Accept the world as it is.

We all know that's the best way.

Then, we wonder why we have got an unquenchable desire to change the world.

Why?

Change itself is nothing bad.

On the contrary, it is essential.

Holograms have to change.

Every time a hologram changes, every time the prayer wheel turns, Tao's energy returns to Tao.

The important thing is that you must not force the hologram to change.

That's why we have to be weak.

Avoiding any direct action on the world is Tao's effective means.

This attitude is called Dark Depth Female 玄牝 [gen pi].


«Related Articles»
-Tao's move 41-1
-Tao's means 41-2
-Born from you 41-3
-Born from nothing 41-4
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 41


Tao answers your question!



-What do I miss about lost Japan? Legendary Momoe Yamaguchi half naked in the «Izu Dancer» film? No, I don't think so. When I was big enough to go to a movie theatre and see the film, old Japan had already been lost. What Nobel laureate Yasunari Kawabata wrote in the original of the film was the class difference in Japan before World War 2. The post-war Japanese society could not allow a university student to give a generous tip to traveling dancers. Dancers were still despised by good housewives. Dancers travelled from a town to another still in 1970s. But by train or car. Students were no longer considered to belong to an upper class. It was almost impossible for a student to tip a dancer an amount of money big enough to surprise her, unless he went abroad and did it in a developing country.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 40-13 White = Black

Today's Tao

Big's white seems black. (Ch.40)


Please read Chapter 25.

"Big" is a nickname of Tao.

Tao's white is black.

Do not judge.

Why do we keep on saying "Do not judge"?

Because judging disturbs the constant change of Tao the fundamental energy.

What seems to be white is, in fact, black. (vice versa)

Something seemingly white changes into something black. (vice versa)

Instead of imposing man-made criteria on Tao, accept and love what exists in front of you.


«Related Articles»
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-Advance = Retreat 40-7
-Smooth = Tangled 40-8
-Highest attainment = Valley 40-9
-Lacking 40-10
-Lazy 40-11
-Changing 40-12
-White = Black 40-13
-Square without corners 40-14
-No completion 40-15
-No voice 40-16
-No form 40-17
-Hidden with no name 40-18
-Generosity 40-19
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 40


Tao answers your question!



-When a Japanese man is tired and have no energy to do anything, what does he have in his mind? The answer is an onsen, a traditional natural hot spring resort. Here, thanks to Amazon, you can hear a folk song of Kusatsu onsen, one of the most popular onsens in Japan. In an onsen in Japan, we will be one with nature. Then, you will realize that what seems to have been important is in fact something trifle. By being tired, your body have given you an opportunity to remember it.