Showing posts with label contradiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label contradiction. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

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.

Friday, July 1, 2011

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.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Tao Te Ching Chapter 72-5 Love yourself


Today's Tao

He loves himself and doesn't value himself. (Ch.72)


Is it difficult to abandon the concept of Self?

Yes? All right.

But please be aware that your own self doesn't belong to you.

It is part of your hologram, or the collective information that stimulates Tao.

Lao Tzu is asking you to take two seemingly contradictory attitudes.

Love your own self as part of an important stimulus package to Tao.

Nevertheless, do not value your own self as an independent being because, if you do, you will be stuck in your hologram, in other words, you will forget that true You are Tao.

So, cherish everything, including your own self, while knowing that it is there only to stimulate you to circulate more Love.


«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 (3) / "This is a story of a woman and her horse." On the left, «The Tao of Equus: A Woman's Journey of Healing and Transformation through the Way of the Horse» written by Linda Kahanov. / "You can speak to your children of life, but your words are not life itself." On the right, «The Parent's Tao Te Ching: Ancient Advice for Modern Parents» written by William Martin. / Old Sai's horses teach us a lot. Children teach us a lot, too.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Tao Te Ching Chapter 71-1 Learn knowing nothing


Today's Tao

To know "not knowing" is the best. (Ch.71)


You must be a smart person.

Admit it!

You are intelligent, or at least intellectual because you are interested in Taoism and other Oriental philosophies.

You know you are much smarter than others, don't you?

If you are truly smart, of course you know you don't know anything.

Lao Tzu says here that the most knowledgeable person doesn't know anything.

Does it sound contradictory?

Oh, no. Not at all.

It is totally logical because the smartest person knows that knowledge is part of his hologram, which does not belong to him as the clouds in the sky don't.

He is aware that he knows nothing.


«Related Articles»
-Learn knowing nothing 71-1
-Radio and Knowing 71-2
-No difficulty 71-3
-Difficult = Not difficult 71-4
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 71


Tao answers your question!



☞«Tao Te Ching» The first line comparison (8) / "One cannot cognize Tao only by speaking about It." On the left, «Lao Tse. Tao Te Ching». The edition by Dr. Vladimir Antonov. / "Tao is beyond words and beyond understanding." On the right, «The Tao Te Ching of Lao Tzu» translated by Brian Browne Walker.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Tao Te Ching Chapter 61-1 Satori = Reality


Today's Tao

A big country is the lower reaches of the river. (Ch.61)


"A big country" here means "to be one with Tao".

"But, wait a minute! You said: 'A country' means one's hologram, didn't you?", you might want to ask me.

Yes, I did.

Being in the hologram is being one with Tao, or being in the state of Satori.

"What? It means that the hologram, the so-called reality, or the world in front of us is Satori, doesn't it?"

Yes, it does.

Living in this world is the Satori.

Many people say some teachings of Taoism and Zen Buddhism are contradictory and incomprehensible.

Why?

Because of this.

They don't want to accept that this very reality is the state of Satori.

It is not something you obtain after long painful hard work.

At "the lower reaches of " a river, which means your hologram, your life, or this world, you are one with Tao.


«Related Articles»
-Satori = Reality 61-1
-Intercourse 61-2
-Female of the world 61-3
-Female beats male 61-4
-By stillness 61-5
-Under small 61-6
-Under big 61-7
-By going down 61-8
-Gather and Raise 61-9
-Work on people 61-10
-Go down 61-11
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 61


Tao answers your question!



☞You never know. One day we might consider «Transformers» as national treasures of Japan. At least, the name of the company that invented the group of toy robots is a nice one. The Japanese word "Takara 宝" signifies "treasure". Now Takara corporation is consolidated with Tomy. The Japanese word "tomi 富" means "wealth". No one can deny the future possibility of the Transformers being as much cherished as «Japanese Treasures» like a  Netsuke, a carved ornament suspended from the sash of a kimono.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 35-1 Big's image


Today's Tao

Grasp Big's image, and the world under the sky will go. (Ch.35)


"Big" means Tao.

Lao Tzu is asking you to picture the image of Tao.

It is a nasty task because it is not possible.

The least harmful answer might be what you see in front of you, the world.

Let's call your hologram Tao.

What!

Hologram = Tao?

Yes. Hologram = Tao.

It is a sheer contradiction, but, when you really accept it, your spiritual quest will end and the world of the holograms will go around.


«Related Articles»
-Big's image 35-1
-No harm 35-2
-Big's omnipresence 35-3
-Music and Food 35-4
-Tasteless 35-5
-Invisible Tao 35-6
-Inaudible Tao 35-7
-Inexhaustible Tao 35-8
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 35


Tao answers your question!



Previous video / Ch.35 text / Next video

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 22-8 Clearly seen


Today's Tao

He doesn't show himself. So, he is clearly seen. (Ch.22)


Impressive! Fantastic! Amazing!

All these adjectives excite us, don't they?

But we don't need to impress others, do we?

For politeness or resignation?

Oh, no, on the contrary, it is to be "seen".

Contradictory as it sounds, it is exactly because you are showing nothing that you will be recognized.

This is how you use Dark Depth Female 玄牝 [gen pi].

Try the technique. It is impressive.


«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


-Kyogen 狂言 literally means «crazy words». Only a fool can tell the truth, Sir William? It doesn't matter if it is true or not. Let's laugh. Just laugh like a fool or a crazy Kyogen actor. This young gentle man in the photo above is a well-know Kyogen actor. You cannot become a Kyogen actor. You have to born as the scion of a Kyogen family. A nice can of coffee he sells might warm you up on a cold day. A nice laughter of a Kyogen actor will loosen your Cartesian mind a bit.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 21-4 Images


Today's Tao

Though it is elusive and vague, there are images inside it. (Ch.21)


Images are projected in your mind.

Well, it is understandable. Right?

Tao is the energy and information which create and "transmit" the images.

Well, it is acceptable. Right?

You are the TV set which receives the energy and information and projects the images.

Well, well. It is still comprehensible.

What do you think if I say: "You, the TV set, are an illusion as well as the images you see on the TV set, which are what we call the world"?

"It is not logical."

"It is contradictory."

All right. All right.

But do you remember what people said to Galileo Galilei?


«Related Articles»
-Tao only 21-1
-Object 21-2
-Formed objects 21-3
-Images 21-4
-Essence 21-5
-Genuine 21-6
-Sure thing 21-7
-Tao's name 21-8
-Tao supervises all 21-9
-By Tao's name 21-10
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 21


Tao answers your question!



Previous video / Ch.21 text / Next video


-Setsuko Hara, the image of an "authentic" Japanese woman which has been lost and probably we will never see in Tokyo.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Tao Te Ching Chapter 15-11 Muddy but clear


Today's Tao

Who can keep Tao calm and gradually make it clear while it is muddy? (Ch.15)


No one can keep Tao calm, but it is calm.

Tao is an energetic chaos without form or time.

So, it is still and vibrant, muddy and clear at the same time.

It is a mess perfectly organised.


You may be sick and tired of hearing this contradiction.

I am sorry.

We can't help explaining Tao this way.

Words are not good enough.


But, why don't we use this?

For example, we don't hesitate to be confused in order to have a clear idea.


«Related Articles»
-Dark Depth 15-1
-How profound! 15-2
-Mr I-know-Tao? 15-3
-Take time 15-4
-Hesitant 15-5
-Solemn 15-6
-Disintegrating 15-7
-Thick 15-8
-Empty 15-9
-Muddy water 15-10
-Muddy but clear 15-11
-Restructured World 15-12
-Break your mirror 15-13
-Break your face 15-14
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 15


Tao answers your question!



Previous video / Ch.15 text / Next video

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Tao Te Ching Chapter 63-1 Decoding a riddle


Today's Tao

Act no action. (Ch. 63)


When you try to find some answers in Oriental philosophy, aren't you a little tired of confronting this type of contradiction?

Please forgive Lao Tzu and Zen masters for not being helpful enough.

It is not their fault.

They are just trying to be honest.

We have not only the barrier between the languages but also the lapse of time.

So, we need a decoding which is sometimes too audacious for academic study.

We need it in order to live his teachings in real life.

The sentence above means:

"Accept everything as it is".


«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!



Previous video / Ch.63 text / Next video