Tao Te Ching Chapter 70-4 They know nothing

Today's Tao

They simply know nothing. That's why they don't know me. (Ch.70)


People in your hologram don't think.

That's why we cannot hear what they are thinking.

They don't know anything.

They don't need to.

They are just a catalyst to stimulate Tao (=true You) to circulate itself.

They don't know you are Tao.

They don't even know that they are part of your hologram.

But you must not laugh at them.

Because probably your own self does not know that it is a hologram, either.

Do you know who you are?

All right. Let's make it clear.

True You are Tao.

Your own self is a hologram.


«Related Articles»
-Easy Tao 70-1
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-Center and Actor 70-3
-They know nothing 70-4
-Precious one 70-5
-Shabby clothes 70-6
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 70


Tao answers your question!



☞«Tao Te Ching» The first line comparison (7) / "The man of superior virtue is not virtuous and that is why he has virtue." On the left, «Tao Te Ching (Everyman's Library)» translated by D. C. Lau / "The way you can go isn't the real way." On the right, «Lao Tzu : Tao Te Ching : A Book About the Way and the Power of the Way» A new English version by Ursula K. Le Guin with J. P. Seaton.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 68-4 Lower than people

Today's Tao

One who uses people well puts himself lower than them. (Ch.68)


"Hai, hai, hai. Yes, yes, yes."

Have you ever seen a Japanese saying "hai, hai, hai" while bowing?

And did you laugh?

All right. You laughed. Totally understandable.

Then, did you think about Lao Tzu and Tao Te Ching?

No?

It's a pity.

You missed a fantastic living example of Dark Depth Female 玄牝 [gen pi].

The Japanese word "hai" does not necessarily mean: "Yes. I agree with you".

It means: "Yes. I understand what you are saying, I am lower than you, and I respect you as a part of sacred nature".

In short, "I accept you and the rest".

"People" here means your hologram.

By lowering yourself and activating Dark Depth Female, you can "use" your hologram.


«Related Articles»
-True samurai 68-1
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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 68


Tao answers your question!



☞Recently the Japanese have become more and more introversive. Some things change on the superficial level. Other things hardly change. The Japanese might be heading towards the closure of the country as once they did some 400 years ago. You never know. If you want to do some business in Japan, more than ever you need a good preparation with up-to-date materials. Check Paul Norbury's «Japan - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs and Culture» and John Alston and Isao Takei's «Japanese Business Culture and Practice: A Guide to Twenty-First Century Japanese Business».

Tao Te Ching Chapter 45-7 Poor speech

Today's Tao

Big's speech seems poor. (Ch.45)


A: "Master Bonbon, why are you so serious all the time? "

B: "I am talking something sacred. I have to be serious. Otherwise, people will not believe it."


No, Master Bonbon, if you are talking about true Tao, people have to laugh at you.


Lao Tzu says in Chapter 40:

"When a low man hears about Tao, he laughs out loud.

If he doesn't laugh, it is not worth being Tao."

(Laughable Tao 40-3 and If not laughable 40-4, respectively)


When you talk about Tao, don't try to convince others because your speech must sound very poor.


«Related Articles»
-Completion 45-1
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-Tozan Ryokai / Cold 45-8
-Heat 45-9
-Clear and Still 45-10
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 45


Tao answers your question!



☞Making a speech is not exactly part of Japanese tradition. The more you talk, the less important you are. Ishin denshin 以心伝心: by your heart you can transmit your heart, is our traditional way. You can watch the two good Japanese films in the post-Kurosawa era concerning the departure of one's beloved, and see how Japanese handle the situation with the minimum of speech. Silence is still golden in the modern Jipangu which Marco Polo thought was rich in gold.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 40-4 If not laughable

Today's Tao

If he doesn't laugh, it is not worth being Tao. (Ch.40)


Have you laughed out loud today?

Uh, uh, you have been serious, right?

If you are too serious, you may have to ask yourself whether you are talking about something true.

Lao Tzu says, "If they don't laugh at you, you are not talking about true Tao".

Please don't underestimate the power of laughter.

When the lowest and basest man laughs at you like a Japanese Kyogen actor, you should remember that water stays in a lower place because it is close to Tao.

Then, his nasty laughter may have another signification.

Ha, ha, ha, ha.

Laughter and truth go hand in hand.


«Related Articles»
-High samurai 40-1
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-Evident = Vague 40-6
-Advance = Retreat 40-7
-Smooth = Tangled 40-8
-Highest attainment = Valley 40-9
-Lacking 40-10
-Lazy 40-11
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-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
-Poor Speech 45-7


Tao answers your question!



-Go and visit Kokuritsu Nogakudo (National Noh Theatre). This is one of the must-see places in Tokyo. Normally Noh performances take place along with Kyogen, a traditional farce. You may have to fight against the temptation of falling asleeep during the Noh play. But, don't worry about Kyogen. It is fairly representational and not too difficult to understand what they are doing on the stage. Even if you don't comprehend it at all, just laugh out loud when the Japanese audience do.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 40-3 Laughable Tao

Today's Tao

When a low man hears about Tao, he laughs out loud. (Ch.40)


This is encouraging, isn't it?

Even more than 2500 years ago, people were not so innocent.

Certainly, when Lao Tzu talked about Tao, some of them laughed at him.

He called them "low". His little ego might have been hurt.

But, when people laugh at us, we know a better way to handle the situation, right?

We say "Thank you for laughing".

People laughing at you are your holograms testing if you truly believe in Tao. We can interpret it this way.

Or, as Lao Tzu will tell us in tomorrow's episode, if they don't laugh, you are not talking about true Tao.

Something or someone lower is much closer to Tao.

Truth must be funny.


«Related Articles»
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-Evident = Vague 40-6
-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
-Poor Speech 45-7


Tao answers your question!



-Don't underestimate them. Although this dog and that cat live in the world of cartoons, they can tell us about life. A laughable Tao is the true Tao. You still prefer serious analyses of Tao Te Ching? If so, Snoopy and Doraemon the gadget cat will laugh at you.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 22-13 Empty words

Today's Tao

There is an old saying "Twisted therefore complete". How can it be empty words! (Ch.22)


Being twisted is perfect.

Chaos is perfect.

Chaos is perfectly organized in a fashion beyond our comprehension.

So-called human capacities are very limited.

The most advanced science in the 19th century was a laughingstock in the 20th century.

What's gonna happen to the most advanced science in the 20th century.

Lao Tzu, supposedly an old man in the 6th century BC, said: "Twisted therefore complete".

Look at the Yin Yang circle. It is twisted therefore complete.

How can it be empty words!

But, wait a minute!

All words are empty, aren't they?


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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 22
-Words are not good enough 1-1


Tao answers your question!



Previous video / Ch.22 text / Next video


-Ran, a war or a revolt; a commotion or a chaos. Kurosawa's Ran is beautifully organized. You have a yellow team, a red team, and a blue team. It was not like that in the real history, but it is easier to distinguish one from another especially if you are not familiar with the Japanese samurai era.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 20-11 Fool

Today's Tao

I am the heart of a fool! Chaotic! (Ch.20)


Like water and a baby, a fool is close to Tao.

Chaos is a harmony beyond our comprehension.

We don't need Shakespearean fools to tell us the truth.

We look like fools when we tell the truth.

Especially when you talk about Tao the most honestly and precisely, we sound like fools.

That's why Lao Tzu says:

"If he doesn't laugh, it is not worth being Tao." (Ch.40)

Stop trying to be accepted.

Start saying:

"Do you laughing at me?

"Do you laughing at me?

"Thank you.

"Thank you very much".


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-High wind I 20-17
-Purpose 20-18
-Incompetence 20-19
-I'm different 20-20
-Eat mother 20-21
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 20


Tao answers your question!



Previous video / Ch.20 text / Next video


Who is the bigger fool, Shakespeare or Lao Tzu?

Tao Te Ching Chapter 20-7 Baby's smile

Today's Tao

As if I were a new-born child who has not yet smiled. (Ch.20)


A baby is a human equivalent to water, Lao Tzu's ideal state of being.

Smile is his expression. Any expression is part of your hologram.

Tao is the state before the baby's laughter is born.

Ha, ha, ha, ha.

Let's laugh and bring ourselves to the state before the laughter was born.


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-Good = Evil 20-2
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-Blur 20-4
-Fun or depression 20-5
-Signs 20-6
-Baby's smile 20-7
-Tired 20-8
-Secret of abundance 20-9
-Buddha alone 20-10
-Fool 20-11
-Mundane people 20-12
-Dark 20-13
-Investigation 20-14
-Not clear 20-15
-Sea 20-16
-High wind I 20-17
-Purpose 20-18
-Incompetence 20-19
-I'm different 20-20
-Eat mother 20-21
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 20


Tao answers your question!



Previous video / Ch.20 text / Next video



A Kyogen actor's laughter teaches us a thing or two.