Tao Te Ching Chapter 29-9 Imbalance

Today's Tao

Therefore, the sage stays away from imbalance. (Ch.29)


A: "Master Bonbon, I don't know what to do."

B: "Meditate and think like a chosen super being, and you will see the answer."

A: "Yes, Master Bonbon, I will think. I will think. I will think… Oh, my god, I don't see the answer. I don't know what to do."


You don't need a superhuman effort.

You'd rather avoid any superhuman way.

No superhuman act is natural.

If you need an answer right now right here, ask water.

Let's think what water might do in the situation.

Water may avoid confrontation and try to look for balance.


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-If you stick to it 29-4
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-Imbalance 29-9
-Luxury 29-10
-Arrogance 29-11
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 29


Tao answers your question!



Previous video / Ch.29 text / Next video


-Manyoshu is the oldest anthology of poems in Japan. Is it really possible to translate poesy into another language? I just wonder how the translators work with the the ancient expressions to which the people associate certain feelings. "It is impossible. That's why we do it", Tadashi Suzuki, the director of Scot theatre company, answered when he was asked about the translation of Shakespearean plays into Japanese.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 29-8 Maximum = Minimum

Today's Tao

Some grow. Some break. (Ch.29)


The bigger, the better?

Lao Tzu is certainly against the idea.

If you try to make something too big, you will break it.

When it happens to you, what do you say?

"Oh, my god, all my effort is wasted!"

If so, it is high time you thought that the effort itself might be the origin of the setback.

Everything is part of a cycle.

Maximum = Minimum


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-Obtain the world 29-1
-A god's vessel 29-2
-Defeat it 29-3
-If you stick to it 29-4
-Lead 29-5
-Blow gently 29-6
-Judo 29-7
-Maximum = Minimum 29-8
-Imbalance 29-9
-Luxury 29-10
-Arrogance 29-11
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 29


Tao answers your question!



Previous video / Ch.29 text / Next video


-Sometimes, we feel uncomfortable where we were born. We pack our bag and leave for somewhere else. It doesn't matter where as long as the destination is somewhere else but right here. Sometimes, we end up in a place we have never imagined to live in. Because of the consequences of inexplicable coincidences, we are here millions of miles away from where we were born.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 29-7 Judo

Today's Tao

Some are strong. Some are weak. (Ch.29)


If you want to be strong, be weak.

Judo lost spirituality and has become a modern sport.

Judo lost politeness and has become a competition.

Judo lost its white Judo-gi costume and has become a merchandise.

In the old days, if you wanted to be tough in Judo, you needed to be soft.

Judo means soft Tao.

One day Judo will lose its name and become something else.


«Related Articles»
-Obtain the world 29-1
-A god's vessel 29-2
-Defeat it 29-3
-If you stick to it 29-4
-Lead 29-5
-Blow gently 29-6
-Judo 29-7
-Maximum = Minimum 29-8
-Imbalance 29-9
-Luxury 29-10
-Arrogance 29-11
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 29


Tao answers your question!



Previous video / Ch.29 text / Next video


-This is the white Judo-gi costume I am talking about. Isn't it beautiful when you see two judoka in white on the green Tatami mats? In this sense, I share the same sort of esthetics with British gentlemen who fought in vain to keep their cricket uniforms white. It is simply refreshing when we see cricket players in white playing on the green grass. You never know one day the British might allow coloured shirts at Wimbledon. I just hope that the Japanese will not allow a shiny rainbow coloured Mawashi band on the waist of a naked Sumo Rikishi wrestler at Ryogoku, Tokyo.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 28-15 The greatest control

Today's Tao

Therefore, the greatest control doesn't split any. (Ch.28)


Tao is "the greatest control".

It cannot be divided, so don't split any.

Since everything is one, the idea of dividing something does not suit Tao.

So, don't judge. Don't tell good from evil.

Do nothing and accept all.

This is the greatest control of all.

Why don't we give Tao a bit more credit.

Tao knows. Tao flows.

The rest is a nice steak sauce to stimulate your appetite.


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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 28


Tao answers your question!



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-Let's go to Matsuyama, Japan. They have fantastic Dogo Onsen the hot spa. Botchan, probably one of the best known characters in Japanese literature, adores to take a bath there. The word "Botchan" could be translated as a naive rich kid in English. Because of his naivety the Japanese adore him. A onsen and a young man gives another aspect of the hot spring tradition than a geisha and a bath. Somehow it touches the heartstrings of the nation of onsen lovers, too.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 28-14 Chief officials

Today's Tao

The sage uses them, and makes them the chief of the officials. (Ch.28)


The uncarved block scatters and becomes vessels.

Tao scatters and becomes your hologram.

Use your hologram. It's all yours.

But, not by acting on it directly. By using Dark Depth Female method.

Let people do whatever they want.

After all, they are part of your hologram.

If someone wants to be "the chief of the officials" and reign over the world, don't get annoyed.

Just let him do.


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-Constancy attainment 28-11
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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 28


Tao answers your question!



Previous video / Ch.28 text / Next video


-I am so glad that Donald Keene chose Ryotaro Shiba among the five modern Japanese novelists along with Jun' ichiro Tanizaki, Yasunari Kawabata, Kobo Abe, and Yukio Mishima. Ryotaro Shiba is extremely popular in Japan and very productive in terms of the volume and number of his works. It is surprising to know that only a handful of his novels have been translated into English so far. Nevertheless, I see some change. So far, artistic novels seem to have represented Japanese literature, but more and more readers living abroad are interested in Japan's popular literature mostly read in commuter trains by "salarymen" because they are good reads. Otherwise, they would fall asleep in the train.