Today's Tao
The sage's Tao acts and doesn't compete. (Ch.81)
Who is the sage?
Of course, you are the one.
Then, who are you?
"Eh, excuse me, sir, which are you talking about, 'true You' or 'your own self'? Self doesn't exist, right?"
That's right.
Self, life, world. They are names given to some groups of information.
They are not independent entities.
"I see. Eh, excuse me, sir. What is 'true I'?"
True You are Tao.
Tao is always "acting without competing", that is to say, projecting a hologram without directly interfering with it.
Tao, Love, Buddha, and Zen among others are names given to the fundamental energy.
"Eh, sir, it is also called nothingness 無 [mu], right?"
Exactly.
Please picture the circulation of an energy with neither time nor space.
What else can you call it but nothingness.
Time and space are parameters used to reconstruct information in "the mind".
In other words, they are names.
"If you can talk about Tao, that Tao is not Tao itself."
This very first line of Tao Te Ching is not saying that it is impossible to understand Taoism logically. No!
It is possible to comprehend Taoism logically.
It is saying that the comprehension itself is part of your hologram.
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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 81
Lao Tzu answers your question!
☞«Recommended Books 18» The most important function of a Japanese is making love. It doesn't matter if he is the poorest dropout living in the forests or the most revered priest of Shintoism living in the castle. He or she has got to make love. This could be a hidden heritage from our Polynesian ancestors or a genetic mission imprinted in the deepest recess of our chromosomes. Whatever it is the reason, the Japanese love to make love not only for the reproduction of the people but for pleasure. In spite of all the moral prohibitions by Confucianism and by jealous parents, Japanese girls have been successfully finding a way to enjoy making love. We used to have an institution called Geisha girls. Though it changes names and appearances, the institution never die out. A nice gift of a Gucci bag is an excuse good enough to make love with an aged stranger. Why? Because making love is sacred. Carnal desire is a manifestation of divinity. We, all the human beings, are divine. That's why we make love for pleasure. The gadgets for pleasure are offerings to the deity of joy. Please read «Kojiki
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» first. The work is considered a masterpiece in Japan, and many students read it at school. Into a cave under the stream, a frog was swept. The salamander blocked the entrance of the cave with his body. The salamander had been captured there because his body was too big to get away. Now he had a "friend". If you have some time, before you go straight to «
», please read his «
». It is about a young fisherman cast away by a typhoon and rescued by an American boat when it was illegal to leave Japan. Their docile acceptance of what it is and what it is happening will certainly give you another flavor when you read «Black Rain». Although 
is excellent, the end of the story is not precisely the same. It is worth reading the novel. Which after-taste do you prefer?
» to find out his "
».
and 
represent modern Zipangu's alchemy.
». If you want to know the mentality and sufferings of Japanese men transforming themselves from samurai to modern consumers, read Soseki Natsume's «
».
» is not a bad English title, but the title of Osamu Dazai's masterpiece is called «Ningen Shikkaku» in Japanese. A Japanese-English dictionary will tell you that the word "shikkaku" signifies failure or disqualification. Its antonym in Japanese is "gokaku". It is undoubtedly the happiest Japanese word in February and March, when most entrance examinations are held. "Ningen" means a human being. Dazai is declaring: "I flunked the examination as a human being!". What will happen if you fail it? Shusaku Endo, the author of «
», «
», and «
», may answer: "Whether we succeed or fail, all of us go to «
» eventually".
» if you are interested in the old schoolers of samurai. Kusunoki, Masashige was a loyal tactician and strategist for Emperor Go-Daigo. ☞Ironical as it sounds, the title «Taiheiki» signifies a chronicle of the great peaceful period. The real peace might rather be represented by this popular song. One of the greatest singers in post-war Japan, Hibari Misora, sings «
», which can be translated as "Taiheiki of a young girl in kimono". The title in the photo reads «
», or the white waves of seagulls, though.
