Tao Te Ching Chapter 73-9 Tao = Net

Today's Tao

Heaven's net is vast. Its mesh is not fine, but it doesn't lose any. (Ch.73)


天網恢々疏にして失せず [tenmo kaikai so ni shite shissezu]

In Japan, this is one of the best known sentences in Tao Te Ching.

What is "Heaven's net"?

It is the net of Tao's energy, which covers everything in your hologram.

In Chapter 11, Lao Tzu said: "30 spokes share one hub". (☞See 30 spokes 11-1)

In Chapter 28: "When the uncarved block scatters, it becomes vessels". (☞See Vessels 28-13)

Can you picture the images?

All of them are metaphors in order to explain the relation between Tao and a hologram, the projector and the projected.

In Buddhism, it is symbolized by the infinite light of Amida Butsu (Amitāba Buddha).

What is the infinite light, then?

It is the movement of Tao and true You.

And this is the light that projects your holographic world in the 360 degree movie theater, so to speak.

The content of the film is not important.

The light of the projector is.


«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!



☞On the left, «The Promise of Amida Buddha: Honen's Path to Bliss». Honen is the teacher of Shinran. Amida Buddha is the pillar of Jodo Shin Shu / Pure Land Shin School of Buddhism. / On the right, «Living in Amida's Universal Vow: Essays on Shin Buddhism» is edited by Alfred Bloom and has some articles by him and Daisetz Suzuki among others. Later in his life, Suzuki, the author of «Zen and Japanese Culture», got interested in Jodo Buddhism as Zen Master Ikkyu did.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 70-3 Center & Actor

Today's Tao

The words have got the centre. The acts have got an actor. (Ch.70)


Does it bother you if I say your thoughts don't belong to you?

Or, is it a big relief?

Your thoughts and the words, which are supposed to be generated by "your thoughts", are part of your hologram.

They are sort of "sound effects" for your holographic movie.

"Thirty spokes share one hub", says Lao Tzu in Chapter 11. (☞See 30 spokes 11-1)

"Thirty spokes" are beams of light, sort of.

The hub, or the center, is the projector of the 360-degree movie.

In other words, the center is Tao.

All the acts you see are played by holographic actors in order to stimulate true You.

True You are the projector in the center, but you are not responsible for the content of the movie.


«Related Articles»
-Easy Tao 70-1
-Comprehension and Practice 70-2
-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 (6) / "Tao can be talked about, but not the Eternal Tao." On the left, «Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching (Asian Institute Translations)» translated by John C. H. Wu. / "Growing older either reveals or hides the mystery of existence." On the right, «The Sage's Tao Te Ching: Ancient Advice for the Second Half of Life» written by William Martin.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 22-3 Hollow

Today's Tao

Hollow therefore filled up. (Ch.22)


Do you remember "Thirty spokes share one hub. (Ch.11)"?

Hollow and filled. It is about holography.

If you want to be full, empty yourself.

Reduce and reduce. Particularly reduce your knowledge.

If you have nothing, you have everything.

Those words have confused many.

All right. Let's make them clear once and for all.

First, the so-called world is a hologram. That's why it is called nothing or emptiness.

Second, to learn it, your knowledge simply bothers you. Reduce it and stop analyzing.

Third, then, you will realize that the world, including your own self, is a hologram. Don't look down on it because it is a manifestation of the fundamental energy Tao. That's why it is called everything or all.

If you can love the world, you don't have to listen to all the gibberish, mine included.


«Related Articles»
-Twisted 22-1
-Bent 22-2
-Hollow 22-3
-Before parents' birth 22-4
-Shinran / Jodo Buddhism 22-5
-Not "more" 22-6
-Canon 22-7
-Clearly seen 22-8
-Righteousness 22-9
-No bragging 22-10
-No boasting 22-11
-Aikido 22-12
-Empty words 22-13
-Return it! 22-14
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 22


Tao answers your question!



Previous video / Ch.22 text / Next video


-On the photo of «In Praise of Shadows», can you see a katakana character Mu ム? Shadows are nothing. Shadows are plenty. Junichiro Tanizaki, one of the most prominent writers in modern Japan, explains the importance of shadows. There is another important one-syllable expression Ma 間. It means space/void.

30 spokes video / Tao Te Ching Chapter 11-1

Today's Tao

Thirty spokes share one hub. (Ch.11)


Japan stories

Having gone through the two decades long of sluggish economy, the Japanese seem to be transforming themselves into a post-consumer society.

One of the biggest discussions in the country is about the young men without any sexual drive.

They are called "herbivorous men".

They are not interested at all in carnal intercourse. They prefer two-dimensional fictive characters in Manga, which is printed on paper (grass?).

They are getting less and less interested in dating and purchases related to courting a girl.

In short, they spend drastically less money.

Certainly, they are good disciples of Taoism.


To read the text of Today's Tao video, would you please see 30 spokes / Tao Te Ching 11-1?


Tao answers your question!

Tao Te Ching Chapter 11-1 30 spokes

Today's Tao

Thirty spokes share one hub. (Ch.11)


Again, this is a metaphor of holography.

Imagine a movie theatre where they project images 360 degrees around you.

You are at its centre like the hub.

The spokes are a beautiful metaphor for the beams of light projected by the projector.

Please compare this to Chuang Tzu's metaphor of the frog in the well. (☞See Tao by Matsumoto Chapter 5b What's a hologram)

It is nice, too.


«Related Articles»
-30 spokes 11-1
-Wheel 11-2
-Clay 11-3
-Cup 11-4
-Doors and windows 11-5
-Room 11-6
-Nothing is working 11-7
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 11
-Mother 1-4
-Vessels 28-13 "When the uncarved block scatters, it becomes vessels." This is another metaphor of a hologram.
-No work 63-2
-Tao = Net 73-9 "Heaven's net is vast. Its mesh is not fine, but it doesn't lose any." Lao Tzu uses metaphors to explain the Tao/hologram mechanism.


Tao answers your question!



Previous video / Ch.11 text / Next video