Tao Bible - Job 25:6

How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?
~ King James version ~

Humankind is no better nor worse than any other manifestation of Tao.
~ possible Taoist alternative ~

Bildad submits that, compared to God, mankind is nothing more than a worm.

Tao does not rank the forms of the cosmos. A worm merely differs from a human in the form taken. Each follows its own internal nature. Since the essence of Tao is in each of us, we each are part of Tao.

If you're interested in reading more from this experimental series, go to the Tao Bible Index page.

Chapter 13, Verse 21 - Sun Tzu

The enemy's spies who have come to spy on us must be sought out, tempted with bribes, led away and comfortably housed. Thus they will become converted spies and available for our service.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

Go here to read the introductory post to the verses of The Art of War.

The Great Pretender

On a blog the other day, I offered a different explanation -- a non-theist one -- to a particular situation. One of the other commenters offered that I was being tricked by Satan into believing as I do. You see, Satan wants to turn us away from God and so he insidiously warps our thinking to accomplish this task. When we continue to believe, speak or act as we do, then Satan wins.

In the mind of many people, this represents air tight reasoning. However, in reality, this position more closely resembles swiss cheese. It contains more holes than a person can shake a stick at.

How could anyone know who is who (or is that whom)? We're talking about two entities that no human can see, hear, touch, taste or smell. We can't line them up side-by-side to check their papers. So, how would anyone know when God is relaying information to us that it's not Satan POSING as God?

For example, how would anyone be able to verify that the Holy Bible is the inspired word of God and not Satan? Maybe the Bible itself is the ultimate trick.

I can hear a lot of people scoffing at this notion. The Bible unequivocally states that God triumphs over Satan in the end, so that clearly indicates that Satan is not the author.

Not necessarily. What if Satan turns out to be the ultimate winner? He might want to fool people into thinking otherwise to more easily lead us to our own doom.

The Nazis employed this kind of stratagem during their reign of terror. They would announce to a group of imprisoned Jews and others that they would kindly allow the prisoners the luxury of taking a shower. For people forced to live in filth and disease, this must have seemed like a heavenly treat.

So, the prisoners would eagerly walk into the shower room. And sadly, we all know what happened next. The prisoners were not welcomed with a shower of life-giving water; they were gassed and their lifeless bodies were thrown in heaps like soiled rags. The Nazis utilized this wicked ploy to ensure that the prisoners willingly walked to their own funerals.

The argument could be made that anything people believe emanates from God could just as easily emanate from Satan posing as God. Jesus, for example, actually could be the son of the devil. I realize that for many this amounts to a blasphemous suggestion, but it IS in the realm of possibility.

And here's the thing. Just like the concept of God itself, it can neither be proved nor disproved.

Think about that idea the next time you hit your knees in prayer. You might believe in your heart of hearts that you're praying to the most holy God, but the being receiving your message might be the Great Pretender instead!!

Chapter 13, Verse 20 - Sun Tzu

Whether the object be to crush an army, to storm a city, or to assassinate an individual, it is always necessary to begin by finding out the names of the attendants, the aides-de-camp, and door-keepers and sentries of the general in command. Our spies must be commissioned to ascertain these.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

Go here to read the introductory post to the verses of The Art of War.

Just Rewards

It seems that since the beginning of time there have been "haves" and "have nots". One can certainly discern this fact by reading the Tao Te Ching or the Christian Old Testament (among other classic works). Those who hold the power in any given society or civilization have always looked for ways to protect their largess and to channel the energies of the dispossessed away from a sense of resentment they might feel for being thrown into the lowest echelons of the hierarchy.

At some point in the history of Judeo-Christianity, the leaders came up with an ingenious plan -- a strategy that has carried through all the way to today -- tell people that, regardless of the miseries they suffer in this life, if they accept their earthly lot, their just rewards will be waiting for them in the next life.

I've got to hand it to these manipulators of men and women; this represents a nearly flawless stratagem!

First, you have to sell the masses on the idea that they were created by a divine being that can be both very loving and extremely petulant. One minute he can grant a prayer that means a windfall for the person asking for the supernatural favor. However, the next minute, he can send brimstone or flooding rains from the heavens literally to wipe out entire nations.

Second, you must convince the masses that this divine being is like the quintessential Big Brother. God watches everybody all the time. Not only does he pay attention to what you do, but he even can see into your heart so he knows what you think or dream about. There is no escaping from his watchful eye.

Once you get the masses believing these two elements, you are now poised to set the snare. The rich and powerful now explain that they are, in fact, rich and powerful because this is God's will. The rest of society is poor and powerless because they have not devoted themselves enough to serve a) God and b) the rich and powerful.

Rebellion against either will result in iron clad proof that the poor and powerless deserve to be poor and powerless. Consequently, the only way the poor and powerless can prove themselves worthy is to accept their fate by voluntarily choosing to serve the whims of the rich and powerful...oh yeah, and that thing we told you about God too.

If a person willingly accepts the subservient role thrust upon them, then the individual is rewarded, upon their earthly death, with a trip to heaven to live in paradise. If a person, however, tries to fight against the subservient role thrust upon them and others, not only will that individual suffer in this life, but the afterlife will be much worse.

Among those conditioned to accept this type of belief system, who would want to chance pissing off the almighty? Who would want to risk burning in hell for all eternity? So, the vast majority meekly accepts being brutalized and oppressed.

Of course, what makes this strategy utterly brilliant is that the people in the lower echelons who suffer the most END UP BLAMING THEMSELVES for their wretched lot in this life. The powers that be only need continually to reinforce the concept of self-loathing and, with not too much overt effort, the result is a docile underclass that is loathe to buck the system -- a system that perpetuates the enslavement of the masses all for the benefit of the already rich and powerful.

Line by Line - Verse 21, Line 5

Profound it is, dark and obscure;
Things' essences all there endure.
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~

Oh, it is dim and dark, and yet within is essence.
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~

So deep, so profound
Within it there is essence
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~

And every object has Tao at its core.
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~

I would take Ron Hogan's rendition one step further: everything -- form and formless -- contains the essence of Tao.

There is some unknown quality that makes existence possible. We truly don't what it is...or what it is not. We don't where it came from or if it came from anywhere. We don't know if it thinks or feels. We don't know how it operates. We don't even know if it is an it or a them or none of the above.

And we don't know if what we know is knowable or if we actually know what we think we know or if we simply think we know what we don't know. We're not sure if the real is a dream or each dream is what's real.

So, all we possibly can surmise is that this entity we call the self believes itself to be alive. Whatever spurred the self to believe this is the essence of life itself.

To view the Index page for this series to see what you may have missed or would like to read again, go here.

Chapter 13, Verse 19 - Sun Tzu

If a secret piece of news is divulged by a spy before the time is ripe, he must be put to death together with the man to whom the secret was told.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

Go here to read the introductory post to the verses of The Art of War.

Falling

In a previous post in regards to this overall discussion of the concept of Satan, I asked, "How exactly would an angel fall?" I will discuss the ramifications of that question in this post.

From a fundamentalist standpoint, the angels (including Lucifer) were created BEFORE God got down to the point of the creation story. In various places in the Old Testament, the text suggests that the angels were created by God before anything else.

So, at this juncture, all of existence was God and his host of angels. There was no light. There were no planets. There was no life. So, what could an angel want?

It must be remembered that God is said to be perfect -- fully self-contained. If the angels were part of his realm AND there were no other realms, then it would stand to reason that they too were perfect as an extension of God's perfection. If everything is as it is and will be, then there are no needs, no desires, and no wants.

Rebellion can ONLY occur where needs are felt to be unmet. If a being has no needs, then rebellion holds no meaning. There would be nothing that could be attained by insurrection because you have everything already. You can't receive more of everything if everything is all there is.

Now, it could be argued that Satan wanted to influence humankind in such a way that people would worship him as they worship God. Of course, the problem with such an argument is that there weren't any people -- they hadn't been created yet.

Okay. Maybe Satan wanted the other angels to worship him instead of God. But to go down that road, one has to stipulate that angels -- just like people -- have needs. Needs are borne of the ego and the self. And, if we continue down that road, then what would cause ANY angel to stay WITH God? It would make far more sense to believe that all the angels followed the tack of Lucifer because the self wants to be elevated above all others.

As far is the self is concerned, it is the center of our universe. In essence, each self sets itself up as god. So, if angels have selves, then what Satan did is what every other angel would have done too. (Heck, maybe the entity believers refer to as God is nothing more than an entity with an enormous self and an over-sized ego.)

I realize that millions of people the world over accept the notion of Satan carte blanche. However, I contend that if one looks at the issue from the standpoint of the how and why, the concept becomes truly untenable.

The Simple Way, Part 54

The Simple Way
The Life & Teachings of Zhouzi
by Scott Bradley

Zhouzi addressed the assembly and said, “What is all this seriousness?! Everywhere I go I see striving and trying and wishing to be. One monk moves slowly as if not part of this world. Another works frantically as if digging a tunnel to freedom. And most of you beat yourselves relentlessly with feelings of failure! Enough! If you cannot relax and laugh at it all, you follow a path other than the one here espoused. When you laugh at yourself, you step through the gate.”

If you're interested in reading more from this series by Scott Bradley, go here. To check out more of Scott's writings, please visit TRT's shadow blog and look in the Table of Contents in the left sidebar.

Chapter 13, Verse 18 - Sun Tzu

Be subtle! be subtle! and use your spies for every kind of business.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

Go here to read the introductory post to the verses of The Art of War.

Tao Bible - Job 21:17

How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.
~ King James version ~

Nothing angers Tao.
~ possible Taoist alternative ~

Job states that God brings sorrow into our lives when we anger him.

If there is sorrow in our lives, it is not because of Tao.

Tao is like a perpetual oasis in a desert. If we choose to drink from it, our thirst will be quenched. If we choose to avoid it and remain thirsty, whose fault is that?

If you're interested in reading more from this experimental series, go to the Tao Bible Index page.

Chapter 13, Verses 15, 16 and 17 - Sun Tzu

Spies cannot be usefully employed without a certain intuitive sagacity. They cannot be properly managed without benevolence and straightforwardness. Without subtle ingenuity of mind, one cannot make certain of the truth of their reports.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

Go here to read the introductory post to the verses of The Art of War.

Angels in the Outfield

Whenever I spend time pondering an issue, I try to consider possible objections to my formulations. By doing this, I often catch illogical conclusions that I have previously reached. Utilizing the theme of my last few posts on the concept of Satan, we could say I play a bit of "devil's advocate."

I realized that, in my previous post, The Devil Himself, I made the following supposition:

Angels are not humans and thus wouldn't be subject to human foibles.

This statement is based on information provided in the biblical account. We are told that angels fly and/or appear/disappear at will (no human I know of can do that) and that they can do things like move gigantic boulders that no one human could hope to budge an inch. They also relay messages from God to people.

However, I suppose one could argue that angels merely are people with extra attributes. In other words, angels possess the essential mental or psychological aspects of the human race PLUS they've been endowed with skills and abilities that we humans do not possess. While this argument could thus be made, it opens an even larger can of worms.

If angels are mentally/spiritually just like people, then why did ONLY one angel -- Satan -- fall? If all humans are sinners and the argument is put forth that angels spiritually are the same as humans, then it would follow that most of or all of the angels would have followed Satan's tack and, instead of having to deal with one devil, humankind would be plagued with legions of them.

There is another consideration too. If angels and humans are synonymous (with the sole exception of a physical body), then each angel has a concept of self. The self is what makes each of us unique and it provides the narrow lens by which we view everything else.

So, if each angel possesses a self and utilizes this self to filter all things, then how could anyone be certain that messages from God delivered by angels were accurate? The angel's self might decide to amplify a point that God did not amplify or omit something that the angel's self felt was trivial or unneeded. The angel's self might also be preoccupied with other thoughts and simply garble the message that was given.

Chapter 13, Verse 14 - Sun Tzu

Hence it is that which none in the whole army are more intimate relations to be maintained than with spies. None should be more liberally rewarded. In no other business should greater secrecy be preserved.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

Go here to read the introductory post to the verses of The Art of War.

The Devil Himself

For the last day or two, I've spent a good deal of time pondering the concept of Satan. The more I've thought about it, the more it doesn't make any sense at all.

For starters, Satan supposedly is a "fallen angel". How exactly would an angel fall?

Angels are not humans and thus wouldn't be subject to human foibles. They are special beings created by God to carry out specific functions on his behalf. In a manner of speaking, angels (as depicted in the Bible) are extensions of God. They are not independent actors.

So, if Satan merely is an extension of God, how would he even possess the wherewithal to rebel? More importantly, this would seem to indicate that if we accept the notion that Satan DID rebel nonetheless, then it would follow that God is rebelling against himself.

However, if God rebels against himself, then this would indicate that he is neither perfect nor all-powerful. It would indicate that God wrestles with the same battles of morality that humans do.

Along these same lines, we're TOLD that God eventually will defeat Satan, but if anyone cares to look upon the world today, there is no evidence that this is true. In fact, it could be argued that the "bad" part of God has the upper hand on the "good" part of God.

So, it would seem to me that those who believe that humankind is created in the image of the creator should possibly entertain the idea that the connection is based NOT on some lofty conceptualization of perfection, but that humans and the Christian God are waging the same battle simultaneously. Both are trying to figure out if the loving side of their being will win out over their evil side.

Line by Line - Verse 21, Line 4

Eluding touch, eluding sight,
There are their semblances, all right.
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~

Oh, it is elusive and intangible, and yet within is form.
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~

So indistinct, so unclear
Within it there is substance
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~

Images lead to the creation of objects.
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~

Except for what goes on between our ears, most of the rest of our lives are spent relating to tangible things and beings. Wherever you are standing or sitting right now, as you look around, you are surrounded by substance: people, animals, plants, technology, paper, buildings, etc.

Yet, IF there was a beginning of time, all of this substance sprang from nothing, something formless. It boggles the human mind. It seems to be contradictory. Nothing -- everything.

Sort of like pulling a rabbit out of an empty hat!

To view the Index page for this series to see what you may have missed or would like to read again, go here.

Chapter 13, Verse 13 - Sun Tzu

Surviving spies, finally, are those who bring back news from the enemy's camp.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

Go here to read the introductory post to the verses of The Art of War.

All Part of the Plan

We've all personally known about or heard via the media of horrific tragedies that befell innocent bystanders. These occurrences especially are hard to take when it involves the death of a young child. Here they are, just beginning to blossom and then, in an ill-fated second, they are gone.

Invariably, one or more sincere individuals will try to calm the exposed wound of the loved ones left behind. "It is hard to fathom right now, but rest assured, this is all part of God's plan."

A plan? God WANTS certain people to suffer? God intends for these fathers and mothers to be cast into the throes of immeasurable agony? Really?

For those who believe that this genuinely is the case, it knocks Satan out of the driver's seat. Satan becomes nothing more than the tool or delivery system for God's intentions. In other words, Satan is just God's patsy; God is the one pulling all the strings.

To illustrate this point, think of an inmate condemned to death. The executioner isn't the one responsible for the decision; he or she simply carries it out. The responsibility for the decision itself rests with the judge and/or jury.

If God then is the underwriter for all the trials and travails we face in this life -- it is part of HIS divine plan -- then Satan becomes nothing more than a facade, a frontman. Adherents spend their time blaming Satan for societal ills when, in fact, Satan isn't responsible at all. God is.

And, if God is responsible for all the brutality and oppression throughout the history of humankind, it makes it next to impossible to turn around to argue that he is loving, just and merciful.

The Simple Way, Part 53

The Simple Way
The Life & Teachings of Zhouzi
by Scott Bradley

When an elder monk, a dear friend of Zhouzi, fell dead in the garden with a hoe in his hand, Zhouzi wept bitterly in the presence of all. And when an elder heard among some novices rumblings of dismay, he confronted them crossly and demanded to know the cause.

“Have we not come here to transcend the passions of men?” said one. “Yet now our Master weeps bitterly when Nature takes its course.”

“What teaching have you heard here,” exclaimed the elder, “that would have you be other than men? To be free of the passions is to be able to express them passionately. It is the Master’s joy to weep bitterly at the loss of his friend. What a utopian dream you would make of the world! Have you not learned the first lesson of the Simple Way? Speak, I would hear it from your lips!”

“It is that Reality is perfection and only just this,” replied one.

“And what in this instance is ‘this’?” asked the elder.

“That a friend has died and the Master weeps in his grief,” answered another.

“And that you would impose some silly perception of a right and a wrong upon it,” concluded the elder with an exaggerated stony stare.

“It is just as you say!” replied the first, while they all laughed.

If you're interested in reading more from this series by Scott Bradley, go here. To check out more of Scott's writings, please visit TRT's shadow blog and look in the Table of Contents in the left sidebar.

Chapter 13, Verse 12 - Sun Tzu

Having doomed spies, doing certain things openly for purposes of deception, and allowing our spies to know of them and report them to the enemy.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

Go here to read the introductory post to the verses of The Art of War.

Chapter 13, Verse 11 - Sun Tzu

Having converted spies, getting hold of the enemy's spies and using them for our own purposes.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

Go here to read the introductory post to the verses of The Art of War.

The Book of Chuang Tzu

As this blog is -- among other things -- one that offers commentary and analysis on Taoist writings by two gents, I have enjoyed sharing with you The Art of War in serialized fashion (which finishes up on Wednesday morning) WITHOUT any of said commentary and analysis. By breaking it up into bite-sized pieces, I hope it has been presented in such a way to make it easier to digest and ponder.

In this same vein, I've decided to give the same treatment to the Book of Chuang Tzu. This will provide those of you who have never read this book before the opportunity to wade through it slowly.

The translation featured will be from James Legge as prepared by Stephen R. McIntyre. While it is one of the older translations, it is readily available on the internet and, once we finish going through all 33 chapters, it might spur you to get a hold of one of the more recent translations.

Posts will appear beginning on Thursday, February 3, three times per day: 7:30 am, 2:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Unlike the Tao Te Ching and The Art of War, some of the posts will be fairly long as I will try to keep the various stories together, though some of the very long ones may still be broken up a bit.

As always, your comments and insights on each snippet are more than welcome AND appreciated.

ADDENDUM (2/7/11)

It has been pointed out by Baroness Radon that the Legge translation is a bit stilted. I tend to agree with her. So, I'm going to change things up a bit and intersperse -- on a chapter per chapter basis -- the translation of Burton Watson. We will see which translation readers prefer.

When I Get to Hell

If all the conservative and mainline Christians are correct, I have already punched my ticket straight to hell. You see, it is said that a person only can get to heaven by accepting Jesus as one's personal lord and savior. Since I don't believe in God -- hence I don't believe in Jesus as savior -- I have sealed my fate.

But I want to let you know that I don't plan on sitting around and burning for eternity. If this is the way a divine being truly operates, I think I will try to network with the other lost souls to mount a rebellion. I'll gather up all the Buddhists, Muslims, Pagans, Taoists, Hindus, and all the other folks condemned to eternal torture to fight back.

Who knows! Maybe we'll picket heaven. Maybe we'll conduct marches and demonstrations. Maybe we'll go on strike. I'm sure we'll come up with all sorts of creative strategies and ploys. Besides, what could this god threaten us with; we're already in hell!!

Hopefully, it won't come to that. If there is a divine being -- I have my doubts -- I can only hope she is far more flexible that her minions give her credit for. I can only hope that she has a much broader policy than has been advertised.

If not, I just want to let her or him know now that I don't plan to take this injustice sitting down.

Chapter 13, Verse 10 - Sun Tzu

Having inward spies, making use of officials of the enemy.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

Go here to read the introductory post to the verses of The Art of War.

God, I'm Putting You on Notice

I used to visit a few Christian blogs and websites just for the fun of it. After awhile, the "discussions" tended to bore me because they continually go over the same territory. So, I've moved on to more philosophical and news-based sites.

Still, from time to time, some of these blogs attract a few Christian adherents here and there. When these insistent folks decide to leave comments, you know what they will write before they write it. It's the same basic stuff you'd find on a Christian blog.

Yesterday, I learned yet again that Satan is out to destroy the world, but -- have no fear -- God loves me. Yes, God loves ME so much and he wants what is best for me.

Well God, if this genuinely is true, then I have one meager request: Get rid of Satan and then all earthly problems will be resolved. Of course, this does lead to two other questions: 1) Why did you create Satan in the first place? and 2) If you're supposed to be all-powerful and all-knowing, why haven't you figured out that getting rid of Satan is the easiest solution to this quagmire you created?

Come to think of it, I have a few more questions. You're supposed to be perfect and loving, right? How can a perfect being create something so malevolent in the first place? If you're as loving, just, merciful and compassionate as your believers say you are, how can you sit there and twiddle your thumbs while this Satan causes so much suffering and misery?

If the deists are correct, then you simply made the world and then walked away from it KNOWING that Satan would muck it up. How do you justify that? I mean, that would be like placing a vicious dog in a fenced preschool playground and then announcing to the little kiddies, "Hey, you deal with it! I'm outta here"

If the conservative Christians are correct, you sit up their on your heavenly throne and idly sit by while the dung hits the fan. You nonchalantly watch while children are murdered, people die of starvation, women are raped and vast amounts of people are brutalized and oppressed DAILY. How do you justify that? That would be like placing a vicious dog on a preschool playground and then sitting outside the fence in a lawn chair as the canine devoured and maimed the children one by one.

We both know that I don't think you exist. However, if I turn out to be incorrect and you actually DO exist, I'm putting you on notice. This "It's all Satan's fault" gambit doesn't work. We both KNOW it's completely illogical.

So, here is my humble suggestion. Since you are all-powerful and all things are possible for you, why don't you simply end all this pain and suffering, once and for all. Announce yourself to all beings. Speak in whatever language or manner that will make everyone understand. Simultaneously tell each of us where we have strayed from your glorious path AND make it clear that Satan has been sent packing.

Then, everything will be perfect and everyone will worship you like you've always wanted.

However, if you continue to be obstinate by allowing this so-called fallen angel to wreak havoc all over your creation, then you are not worthy of anyone's worship and I will continue to insist you are nothing more than a figment of people's collective imagination.

Line by Line - Verse 21, Line 3

Eluding sight, eluding touch,
The forms of things all in it crouch;
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~

Oh, it is intangible and elusive, and yet within is image.
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~

So unclear, so indistinct
Within it there is image
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~

Like this: First, there's nothing.
Then, the void is filled with images.
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~

It seems to be such a contradiction. How can nothing give birth to everything. How can a void be filled by the void itself?

Rationally, it makes no sense. It doesn't matter, though. As far as we know, there IS something here -- us and everything else. So, me thinks it's better to start with what we do and can know; forget about the stuff we can never know.

To view the Index page for this series to see what you may have missed or would like to read again, go here.

Chapter 13, Verse 9 - Sun Tzu

Having local spies means employing the services of the inhabitants of a district.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

Go here to read the introductory post to the verses of The Art of War.

Six in the Can

Today marks the beginning of this blog's 7th year of continuous publication. In that time, over 4,100 posts have been written and shared with you. Some have been fabulously written by one of your two authors and some have been...well...suitable for the nearest trash can.

In looking back over these 6 years, one can certainly tell the blog has gone through fits and starts. In its inaugural year (2005), there were 254 posts. In 2006, the number fell to 155 posts. In 2007 and 2008, I only managed a meager 110 and 115 posts, respectively. So, over the course of the first 4 years, there was a total of 634 posts.

As noted in the first paragraph, we are now over 4,100 entries, so it should be very easy to see that the vast majority have come in the last two years!! Of course, one of the reasons for this up tick is the inclusion of Scott Bradley's wondrous prose and poetry. I continue to feel honored that he has allowed me to share his beautiful gifts with the world through this medium!!

Another thing that has changed is the manner in which I write blog posts. In the early days, I wrote what was on my mind at a specific moment and then published it right then. I rarely do that anymore; I'd guess that only 10% of my pieces are written near the time they post.

Some are penned earlier that day or the night before. Some were written a few days back and many are written as much as several weeks ago. This is particularly the case with the many ongoing series. I tend to write them in batches, spending several hours pecking away on my keyboard and then scheduling each one to appear at the appropriate time.

As an example of what I'm sharing with you, I'm writing this very post in the wee hours of the morning on Monday, January 24! :-)

While many blogs have come and gone, I have no plans to go anywhere. You can expect to continue to read my musings and, hopefully, more of Scott's in the weeks and months to come. I figure that as long as I'm halfway sentient and I have the ability to write, I will.

The Simple Way, Part 52

The Simple Way
The Life & Teachings of Zhouzi
by Scott Bradley

“Master, please help me find release from the tyranny of self!” exclaimed a novice monk.

“A tyrant it surely can be,” replied Zhouzi, “and like every tyrant it loves to make war. Who then is it, that makes war in your heart?”

“It is self, Master. My self makes war on itself.”

“And thus the stronger and more tyrannical it becomes,” said Zhouzi. “Forget about ‘release’; enjoin battle no more; self is just part of the Vastness where there is no self to war.”

If you're interested in reading more from this series by Scott Bradley, go here. To check out more of Scott's writings, please visit TRT's shadow blog and look in the Table of Contents in the left sidebar.

Chapter 13, Verses 7 and 8 - Sun Tzu

Hence the use of spies, of whom there are five classes: (1) Local spies; (2) inward spies; (3) converted spies; (4) doomed spies; (5) surviving spies. When these five kinds of spy are all at work, none can discover the secret system. This is called "divine manipulation of the threads." It is the sovereign's most precious faculty.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

Go here to read the introductory post to the verses of The Art of War.

Tao Bible - Job 19:7

Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.
~ King James version ~

You want deliverance? Deliver yourself!
~ possible Taoist alternative ~

Job complains that he has cried out to God for deliverance, but God is not answering.

We create much of our own misery and suffering. If we want to be release from it, we hold the power to end it.

If you're interested in reading more from this experimental series, go to the Tao Bible Index page.

Chapter 13, Verse 6 - Sun Tzu

Knowledge of the enemy's dispositions can only be obtained from other men.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

Go here to read the introductory post to the verses of The Art of War.

Time to Reignite His Dream

Most Americans are familiar with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech of 1963. That epic speech represents the overly-romanticized version of King that too many historians and the mainstream media promote year-in and year-out. But several years later, as King's analysis had matured, there was another dream -- one cut short by an assassin's bullet.

Dr. King (as did Malcolm X too) came to realize that the only way truly to overcome the evil of racism was to do battle with the concurrent evils of economic exploitation and war. Attacking one element of this trifecta, while ignoring the other two, would doom the effort. And so, during the latter months of 1967, King and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference put together the pieces of the Poor People's Campaign.

He intended to dramatize the suffering of the nation's poor by bringing them to the capital. Poor people would live together on the National Mall - the long strip of land between the U.S. Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial - and engage in widespread civil disobedience. King wanted to force the federal government to deal with poverty.

...As the date grew closer for the start of the Campaign, King vowed that he and others would engage in "militant" civil disobedience. The plan was to disrupt the daily functioning of the capital - for instance, by staging sit-ins at the Department of Agriculture or the Department of the Interior - until Congress and the White House got serious about the concerns of poor people. The longer the federal government delayed, King promised, the more the demonstrators would escalate their protests.

King was careful to emphasize, however, that the civil disobedience he and others carried out would be nonviolent. In all his life as a civil rights leader, King never wavered in his opposition to violence. As he reminded his audience at the annual SCLC convention in August of 1967, using violence to try to change society was not only morally wrong, it almost never worked...

While many things have changed since 1968, the triple-headed monster of racism, poverty and war remains. In many regions of this country, blacks still fare far worse than their white counterparts, but the extreme vitriol of racism is more directly focused on Latinos. Poverty is on the increase as jobs vanish, homes are foreclosed on and families go bankrupt under a mountain of debt. And war, as it was in 1968, continues to suck the lifeblood out of the US economy.

Don't you think it's time we make King's dream a reality? We should put into practice his vision from 1967-68.

(Note: There is a group that is organizing an event called "The March to Fulfill the Dream." For reasons I don't understand, they have chosen to march from New Orleans to Detroit from April 4 - June 20. While I support their effort, I still think we need to follow King's vision to gather in Washington, DC. to demand from our elected leaders that they seriously begin to dismantle the war machine so we can tackle the issues of racism and poverty.)

Chapter 13, Verses 4 and 5 - Sun Tzu

Thus, what enables the wise sovereign and the good general to strike and conquer, and achieve things beyond the reach of ordinary men, is foreknowledge. Now this foreknowledge cannot be elicited from spirits; it cannot be obtained inductively from experience, nor by any deductive calculation.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

Go here to read the introductory post to the verses of The Art of War.

Line by Line - Verse 21, Line 2

Who can of Tao the nature tell?
Our sight it flies, our touch as well.
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~

The Tao is elusive and intangible.
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~

The Tao, as a thing
Seems indistinct, seems unclear
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~

But you can't pin Tao down -- you can't even see it!
How are you supposed to focus on something like that?
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~

I don't know about you, but I think Ron Hogan captures the essence of this line in the popular vernacular.

Our world is built so much on imagery. Everywhere you look, the marketers will try to convince you that you can't be hip, cool, chic, popular or powerful if you don't give your heart and soul to remake yourself into a brand or image that others have created for you!

So, this idea of emptying ourselves and trying to embody this elusive phantom called Tao probably sounds damn scary to a lot of people. How can a person emulate something that is mere essence, not tangible nor substantive -- particularly in such an image-conscious society?

To view the Index page for this series to see what you may have missed or would like to read again, go here.

Chapter 13, Verses 2 and 3 - Sun Tzu

Hostile armies may face each other for years, striving for the victory which is decided in a single day. This being so, to remain in ignorance of the enemy's condition simply because one grudges the outlay of a hundred ounces of silver in honors and emoluments, is the height of inhumanity. One who acts thus is no leader of men, no present help to his sovereign, no master of victory.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

Go here to read the introductory post to the verses of The Art of War.

Snipers On the Roof

So last night I'm flipping through channels on the TV and, for about 5 minutes or so, I happen on one of those programs that feature police videos. The viewer sees a vehicle driving way too fast and erratically. In short order, there are 15 police cars and one helicopter following him. The driver gets to a stretch of road in which he borders the ocean. It's about 100 feet below the road over a cliff.

All of a sudden, the driver veers off the road. It is fairly apparent that he is attempting to drive off the cliff, but the guard rail keeps the car from going over the side. A man jumps out waving a gun so the officers can see it and then points it at his own temple.

At this juncture, the camera shows several snipers ascending a nearby building and the officers from the 15 cars spread out with guns drawn. In a matter of moments, we see a SWAT team arrive.

Here's my question: What is the purpose of the snipers? Our friendly narrator (I believe it's one of the officers in the helicopter) tells us that it's obvious the man wants to kill himself. He has not made one aggressive move toward the officers and there are no innocent bystanders nearby, yet there is a group sharpshooters on a roof with this man in their sights.

The narrator continues by telling us the police want to do everything possible to keep the man from harming himself. So, why the need for snipers? Do they want to shoot him before he can shoot himself?

After peppering the poor fellow with numerous rounds of rubber bullets and tear gas, the SWAT team moves in and apprehends him without further incident.

But why the snipers? At the risk of a very bad pun, isn't that a bit of overkill?

The Simple Way, Part 51

The Simple Way
The Life & Teachings of Zhouzi
by Scott Bradley

A despondent disciple approached Zhouzi in the courtyard and said, “Master, I have dwelt here long and know all the teaching and understand it as well, yet I cannot attain it by grace, work or play.”

“It is said that even Confucius acknowledged himself cursed to never wander free of the conventions of men,” replied Zhouzi. “Yet who among us could bring as much harmony as he?” Then looking up to the mountain, he said, “Look at the mountain, what do you see?”

“I see a forest most beautiful — ever a pleasure to me,” answered the monk.

“Go and abide there a few days, and upon your return tell me what you have seen.”

Upon his return the monk stood before Zhouzi and said, “Master, I saw that the forest is trees, the great and the small, the shapely and the twisted, the hale and the broken. Yet to the forest they are equal, for it is only just they.”

Smiling broadly, Zhouzi looked again to the mountain and said, “What do you see?”

“I see a forest most beautiful — ever a great pleasure to me!” replied the monk.

If you're interested in reading more from this series by Scott Bradley, go here. To check out more of Scott's writings, please visit TRT's shadow blog and look in the Table of Contents in the left sidebar.

Chapter 13, Verse 1 - Sun Tzu

Sun Tzu said: Raising a host of a hundred thousand men and marching them great distances entails heavy loss on the people and a drain on the resources of the State. The daily expenditure will amount to a thousand ounces of silver. There will be commotion at home and abroad, and men will drop down exhausted on the highways. As many as seven hundred thousand families will be impeded in their labor.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

Go here to read the introductory post to the verses of The Art of War.

Tao Bible - Job 16:11

God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.
~ King James version ~

When our lives are marked by pain and suffering, it is not due to Tao.
~ possible Taoist alternative ~

Job laments that, though he is a good man, God has turned his back on him.

Tao never turns away from us. When we go looking, Tao is always there. Being beyond good and evil, Tao does not reward nor sanction us. When we suffer, it is only because we follow a path not in step with the Way.

If you're interested in reading more from this experimental series, go to the Tao Bible Index page.

Chapter 12, Verses 21 and 22 - Sun Tzu

But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life. Hence the enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full of caution. This is the way to keep a country at peace and an army intact.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

Go here to read the introductory post to the verses of The Art of War.

Pleasuring Ourselves While Rome Burns

Throughout much of the 1990s until about 2008, I was very heavily involved in progressive causes. One of the duties I signed on for was to develop, promote and administer a variety of conferences, conventions, seminars and meetings. Some were very small affairs for no more than a handful of people, but others were big deals with anticipated attendance in the 400 - 1,000 range.

Along with my colleagues, I worked very, very hard to insure that each such conference would live up to its potential. We worked to come up with meaningful themes. We brought in speakers and entertainers from far and wide. We spent hours upon hours working out all the logistics and making damn sure we had enough pamphlets, programs and other necessary educational materials.

As is my wont, I typically was in charge of all the behind the scenes administrative work. I made sure we scheduled the right speakers in the right rooms. I worked doubly hard to make everything appear seamless to participants, so they could concentrate their energies on the important matters at hand. I tended to work myself past the point of exhaustion, but my reward were those confabs that went off with few hitches.

With this preface as a backdrop, I think you could understand my initial dismay with one of Chris Hedges' recent columns, "Where Liberals Go to Feel Good." In it, he writes,

The liberal class’ solution to the bleak political landscape is the conference. This, along with letters and cries of outrage circulated on the Internet, is its preferred form of expression. Conferences, whether organized by Left Forum, Rabbi Michael Lerner’s Tikkun or figures such as Ted Glick — who is touting a plan to lure progressives, including members of the Democratic Party, into something he calls a “third force” — are where liberals go to feel good about themselves again. These conferences are not fundamentally about change. They are designed to elevate self-appointed liberal apologists who seek to become advisers and courtiers within the Democratic Party.

The conferences produce resolutions no one reads. They build networks no one uses. But with each conference liberals get to do what they do best — applaud their own moral probity. They make passionate appeals to work within systems, such as electoral politics, that have been gamed by the corporate state. And the result is to spur well-meaning people toward useless and ultimately self-defeating activity...

As much as I want to disagree with his assessment, I can't. Even though most of the conferences and conventions I organized were far to the left of the Democratic Party, his main thesis still holds true!

At the conclusion of each effort, the hosting organization would release a press statement or manifesto that almost no one read. We would create far flung networks only to see them never materialize out in the real world or they would quickly evaporate in sectarian disagreements. About the only positive realized by such meetings was that it made all the participants feel as if they had done something important when, in truth, we had hardly done a damn thing!

The few conferences that included some form of direct action as part of the proceedings were the lone exceptions. That said, even those generally were tame. About the only direct action we employed was a march and/or rally on the steps of the state capitol. The impact of such action, unfortunately, was mitigated by the fact that most of these conferences were held on weekends and, of course, the elected leaders and state officials we railed against at the podium WEREN'T EVEN IN THE BUILDING.

The truth of the matter is that we expended all sorts of time, money and energy discussing what we were going to do to change the world in a beneficial and progressive manner as a substitute for actually doing ANYTHING to change the world in a beneficial and progressive way.

I guess you could say we greatly enjoyed activist masturbation. It sure felt good, but it never seemed to produce anything.

Chapter 12, Verse 20 - Sun Tzu

Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be succeeded by content.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

Go here to read the introductory post to the verses of The Art of War.

Line by Line - Verse 21, Line 1

The grandest forms of active force
From Tao come, their only source.
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~

The greatest Virtue is to follow Tao and Tao alone.
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~

The appearance of great virtue
Follows only the Tao
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~

A Master stays focused on Tao.
Nothing else, just Tao.
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~

I like the way in which Yen Ling-Feng explains this line (from Red Pine's book):

Virtue is the manifestation of the Way. The Way is what Virtue contains. Without the Way, Virtue would have no power. Without Virtue, the Way would have no appearance.

To view the Index page for this series to see what you may have missed or would like to read again, go here.

I Didn't Watch It

Full disclosure: I didn't watch President Obama's State of the Union address. I figured it would just tick me off, so I skipped it. I also figured that I could get a fairly good gist of it by reading what some of my favorite writers -- people who did watch it -- had to say.

One of those people is Matthew Rothschild, Editor of The Progressive. I don't always agree with everything he writes, but I would guess we're in agreement 90-95% of the time. Rothschild didn't like it at all; he was unimpressed.

For those of you who DID watch or listen to it (or read the transcript), let me know if you agree with his assessment.

Obama’s Miserable Failure in State of the Union
By Matthew Rothschild, January 26, 2011

I hated Obama’s State of the Union address.

He opened with a discussion of the Tucson shooting, but as my colleague Ruth Conniff has noted, he failed to make the obvious point that we need better gun control in this country. And if he can’t make the case for that when a member of the House is in rehab after being shot through the head, when will he ever be able to do it?

He said that “each of us deserves the chance to shape our destiny,” but he didn’t once talk about poverty, which is on the rise and which greatly limits the chances of millions of Americans to reach their destiny.

He did set a goal for clean energy, but he included nuclear power in that definition.

Like Bill Clinton and recent Republican presidents, he pushed free trade agreements.

He vowed “to lower the corporate tax rate for the first time in 25 years.”

He “ordered a review of government regulations.”

He said he’d veto earmarks.

He came out in favor of limiting medical malpractice awards.

And he proposed to “freeze annual domestic spending for the next five years.”

All of those are Republican ideas, and he wrapped a lot of them in Republican rhetoric.

Here’s one example: “We have to confront the fact that our government spends more than it takes in,” he said. “That is not sustainable. Every day, families sacrifice to live within their means. They deserve a government that does the same.”

That passage could have been cut and pasted from the speech of any random Republican who ran in November. But the fact is, a family budget is not analogous to the U.S. government’s budget. When a family goes into debt, it immediately risks bankruptcy. But the U.S. government is at no risk of going bankrupt. Foreign governments and rich individuals are gladly buying up U.S. Treasuries to cover our debt. Try asking them to cover your own family’s debt! Plus, when a family goes further into debt at a time of economic troubles, it makes matters worse. But when the federal government goes further into debt at a time of economic troubles, it makes things better: It creates jobs; it increases purchasing power.

Throughout his two years in office, Obama has done a terrible job at countering Republican rhetoric and debunking their nonsense. Tuesday night was no exception.

Yes, he did talk about high-speed rail and universal Internet access.

Yes, he did defend gays in the military.

Yes, he did resist the rollback of the best elements of health care reform.

And no, he didn’t throw Social Security to the wolves on Wall Street.

But he failed miserably to make a coherent case for the kind of government action that tens of millions of Americans so desperately need right now.

Copyright 2010, The Progressive Magazine

It should be noted that Jack Rasmus and Robert Scheer were none too pleased with Obama's speech either.

Chapter 12, Verse 19 - Sun Tzu

If it is to your advantage, make a forward move; if not, stay where you are.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

Go here to read the introductory post to the verses of The Art of War.

If Only I Had a Gun

Almost every time some horrific shooting plays out in America -- think Tucson, Columbine, Ft. Hood or Virginia Tech -- one comment I hear over and over again is: "This is why we need more liberal gun laws. Them criminals would think twice about committing such acts if they KNEW a lot of the people around them were packing heat."

Really? Ya think that would make a difference?

Most of the individuals who commit these kinds of atrocities aren't, as we say, in their "right mind." Many expect to die after committing the act by a police bullet or their own gun. Do you genuinely think they care at all about whether or not people around them might be armed?

As Gene Lyons points out in an article posted at Salon.com, even though police officers are trained in the use of guns and deadly force, when caught off guard, they end up getting killed like others who are unarmed at the time of an attack.

In Hollywood films, shootouts are carefully choreographed. Villains can't shoot; heroes rarely miss. Nobody panics. Melodramatic violence metes out justice and redeems the world.

In reality, as Americans seem fated to experience again and again without learning anything, a gunman walks into a Detroit police station and shoots four cops before himself being killed.

Two cops serving a warrant in St. Petersburg, Fla., are killed and a U.S. marshal wounded by a suspect who escapes.

Two sheriff's deputies are shot at a Walmart near Seattle before a third officer kills their assailant, whose motives remain unknown.

A policeman in Waldport, Ore., is shot by an unknown assailant during a routine traffic stop. He remains in critical condition.

At another routine stop, an Indianapolis cop is shot four times, twice in the face. He's in critical condition too.

All of these events occurred within 24 hours between Jan. 23 and 24.

It's worth emphasizing that the 11 victims were trained, experienced law enforcement officers. But their assailants, who'd found semi-automatic weapons easier to acquire than whiskey, gave them no chance...

I realize it will be pointed out that, in two of the cases cited above, the police eventually killed the assailant and so some will continue to argue that the attack would have been worse if no guns were present. While that may be true, it's of little solace to the officers who were killed or wounded.

However, as Lyons and others have pointed out, armed citizens don't receive the training that police officers do and so one can never be sure if an armed citizen during an attack will shoot the would be shooter or some poor defenseless person caught in the line of fire.

For example, it has been well-publicized that one of the first citizens responding to the shooting in Tucson was armed and almost mistakenly shot the man who first wrestled the gun away from Jared Loughner. This gentleman had a split second to make a life or death decision and he has stated publicly that he feels lucky that he decided NOT to shoot.

More guns on our streets is not the answer. We don't lived in the over-glorified Wild West anymore. While it might be romantic to think that, if we are armed and faced with the prospect of a deranged person shooting people indiscriminately, that we can become the guy in the white hat to save the day, recent history has not borne out this storyline. It only plays out that way in movies or on TV.

The Simple Way, Part 50

The Simple Way
The Life & Teachings of Zhouzi
by Scott Bradley

Shortly following this time, many monks came separately before Zhouzi and expressed their gratitude to him and the community, confessing that though they had realized unity, life was so comfortable there, they had been loath to leave. “For it is a joy to commune with similar minds,” said one, “and a joy to assist others as they find their own way. Yet the community is finite and too many are turned away, so with your blessing I will return to my home.”

Having long noted this monk’s skill in spiritual midwifery, Zhouzi replied, “You have always been free to follow your heart so follow it now to where it might lead. But for my part, I bid you to stay, for your skills are here needed as much as my own. Or perhaps you are ready to plant a new garden elsewhere — there are many now parting who would gladly follow you there.”

So began a sister community.

If you're interested in reading more from this series by Scott Bradley, go here. To check out more of Scott's writings, please visit TRT's shadow blog and look in the Table of Contents in the left sidebar.

The Story That Shouldn't Go Away

Last spring and summer you couldn't turn on the TV, pick up a newspaper or read news websites without seeing wall-to-wall coverage of the BP oil spill. The media seemed all agog over nearly every aspect of this horrific story. Then, one day, the well was finally capped and the mainstream media pulled up stakes to move onto the next big story.

Of course, the tragedy didn't end when the oil stopped gushing. In fact, in many ways, the story now is far more compelling than it was then. You'd never know it though unless you follow the few reporters -- like Dahr Jamail -- who have kept on it since Day One.

Check out his most recent dispatch here. It ain't a pretty picture at all!!

Chapter 12, Verse 18 - Sun Tzu

No ruler should put troops into the field merely to gratify his own spleen; no general should fight a battle simply out of pique.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

Go here to read the introductory post to the verses of The Art of War.

Tao Bible - Job 15:31

Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompence.
~ King James version ~

Tao has no self, thus, no vanity.
~ possible Taoist alternative ~

Eliphaz, the Temanite, makes a point not unlike one made by Lao Tzu.

Vanity springs from the ego and distorts our vision. It mangles our appreciation for the cosmos. When we gaze out into the world, all we see is our own haughty reflection. When we become too full of ourselves, we leave little room for the wonder of Tao.

If you're interested in reading more from this experimental series, go to the Tao Bible Index page.

Chapter 12, Verse 17 - Sun Tzu

Move not unless you see an advantage; use not your troops unless there is something to be gained; fight not unless the position is critical.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

Go here to read the introductory post to the verses of The Art of War.

Facing Up

I have just returned from my most grueling session with my mental health counselor. I've been seeing Bill for over 2 1/2 years and we've established excellent rapport. Yet, despite the fact I feel very comfortable with him, it took me until today to divulge two of my deepest and darkest secrets.

While I am very open and honest on this blog, I have no plans to share what we talked about today. It is a subject I have never shared with anyone before and so I'm not going to share it in this somewhat anonymous medium. Suffice it to say that this mysterious it has bothered me for many years and I've spent a great deal of time and mental energy not wanting to face up to it.

I know I'm not alone. Every person I've ever met has one or more aspects about their self-identity that they don't want to face up to. It seems to be part of the human condition to build vacuous delusions of who we are and what we stand for. Far too often, we don't truly like to look in the mirror because the true reflection looking back at us shreds the definition we have of ourselves.

However, if any person wants the opportunity to realize their true internal nature and full potential, such a person must face up to who they have become -- warts and all. This is my plan in the coming months. I only hope I can maintain the courage to match my present resolve.

Chapter 12, Verse 16 - Sun Tzu

Hence the saying: The enlightened ruler lays his plans well ahead; the good general cultivates his resources.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

Go here to read the introductory post to the verses of The Art of War.

The Art of Humping

Humans, we're told, sit at the top of the evolutionary ladder. We are the ones made in the image of God. We hold dominion over all of the creatures of this world. If this supposition is questioned, one line trotted out to support this unfounded contention is that humans make l-o-v-e, while animals simply instinctively procreate.

We have entire industries that celebrate -- and often times objectify -- lovemaking. There are books, movies, instructional tapes, podcasts, YouTube videos as well as stories and techniques handed down from generation to generation. In many ways, we herald the act of copulation as an art form and it is this purported artistic expression that places us far and above the other critters mired in the muck of routinized existence.

Here's my question: How in the heck do we know if our forms of sexual endeavors are any better or worse than two dogs humping?

Well, some people will opine, making love involves fondling, caressing, kissing and a deep caring for another human being. What other creature shows this level of compassionate involvement?

Are you kidding me? Have you ever watched the mating rituals of birds, mammals or other types of animal life? They strut. They parade. Many animals put on a show that would put almost any human to shame. While many of these gestures do not involve actual touching, who is to say it does not spark great arousal and the truest sense of bonding, two creatures becoming one?

Okay, some folks will admit, you could have a point there, but animals don't express their love for each other verbally like people do. You never see a peacock or a grizzly bear yell out in the throes of ecstasy, "Oh baby, oh baby" or "Who's your daddy?" or "Thank you Jesus!" Many of them look entirely disinterested and/or rarely make a sound.

So what? Maybe they don't need to go through such histrionics to share their satisfaction. Maybe prairie dogs or wallabies look at human mating rituals and think to themselves, "What a primitive species!"

The thing that gets me is that, despite all of our advancements in so-called knowledge, no human has ever been able to communicate with another species on their own terms. We have no idea what thoughts run through their heads. We have no clue as to how each species views the world. Yet, in spite of this dearth of comprehension, we think we know what makes the rest of the world tick.

How egocentric is that?!

I don't know if two dogs humping equates to two human beings making love. It may or it may not. But I'm quite okay with admitting I don't know the answer.

Why do we humans feel the need to place all life forms in hierarchies? Why do we humans feel the need to state that what we do and how we do it represents the best way to get things done? Why do we humans feel the need to believe that it is our species that is closest to a divine creator?

Why can't we simply accept that each form has its own way, its own path, and that none is better nor worse than any other?