Chapter 9, Verse 10 - Sun Tzu

These are the four useful branches of military knowledge which enabled the Yellow Emperor to vanquish four several sovereigns.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

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

These Dreams

I'd like to call your attention to a wonderful article, The Dream of Democracy, posted on Global Research. Here's a portion with a link to read the rest.

Finally it must be recognized that lying is an essential ingredient of statecraft in these times. Governments lie in an attempt to uphold their legitimacy in the hearts of the people.

Democratic governments do not exist. Not in this world. Many attempts have been made, many faltering half-measures. All ultimately have failed to live up to the dream. But the people hold the dream of democracy close to their hearts. The people understand that systems of justice are a sham without democracy. Governments lie in order to create the illusion of democracy so that the people are more willing to comply. Governments create an illusion and then act in ways that advance the political and economic interests of a small group.

This is the political and economic reality of these times.

In the eyes of politicians the people are mere clay to be molded to be compliant to whatever governments do. The people do not understand political realities. The people are incapable of understanding what is in their best interests. The people are worn down by the day-to-day burdens of survival. They do not have the time nor the leisure to cast a critical eye upon the behaviors of their governments. This is exactly where governments want the people to be. Overburdened, distracted, desperate, voiceless, disorganized people are more easily led.

Such a phenomenon as an enlightened populace is possible. Such a phenomenon as a populace with enough leisure time, enough energy left over after the basic necessities of life are met, is quite possible. Already the modern world has the understanding of economic systems that tend to create a society in which the people are relatively content, enlightened and prosperous so that they can be engaged in the political, economic and social issues of the day. An equitable distribution of the wealth of a nation among all the people is a basic necessity of such a society. In such a society the idea of democracy has a chance of coming to fruition.

Why do we not see democratic governments thriving among the nations of the world? It is because, despite the flowery rhetoric about freedom and brotherhood, the world has not yet outgrown totalitarian political and economic ideologies.

Asserting that a totalitarian political and economic ideology still dominates our world suggests that there exists a ruling class. How can it be denied? From country to country one sees ruling families, juntas, crony capitalism, brutal regimes, fat oligarchs amidst vast squalor, domination of the political and economic mechanisms by small, wealthy, entrenched, ruthless, privileged groups.

This is the global ruling class. They are an elite club. They look out for each others' political and economic interests. They lead double lives. They are all double agents. They pretend to serve one master but actually serve an entirely different master. They wear masks. In public they sing of the glories of the idea of democratic governance, of the march toward the liberation of the human race from tyranny and oppression. In private they ridicule such notions, despise the people and seek to manipulate the dumb masses to augment their own power, wealth and prestige.

These are the gods of the ruling class: power, wealth and prestige. They vie with each other to see who can gain the uppermost pinnacle of the global economic pyramid. They all individually seek to make of their own individual selves into a Sun God to whom all the masses bow in adoration.

The very last thing the ruling class wants is to create a political and economic landscape in which the people are well-educated, liberated from the day-to-day grind for survival and engaged in the issues related to their own governance. If the people are thriving, then too much of the wealth of the nations is being squandered. If the people are thriving, then they may grow into such engaged citizens that they challenge the political leadership, make them accountable, demand openness and honesty, infiltrate the entrenched political mechanisms with the attitudes and demands of a true democracy... READ THE REST.

Line by Line - Verse 17, Line 4

in the next they despised them.
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~

Then that which is despised.
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~

The next level, people despise them
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~

The worst leader is the one who is hated.
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~

From a certain point of view, it is far better merely to be feared than outright despised. Frequently, those who live in abject fear are paralyzed -- unable/unwilling to challenge. A leader who thoroughly is hated, however, will motivate many to set aside their fear to fight back in some way or manner.

Hate is a very powerful force indeed. It can serve as the impetus for unspeakable acts and atrocities. It can cause good people to do very, very bad things.

But while hate projected outward certainly can cause a person to injure another, the real victim of hate is the one possesses it. Like a cancer, hate has a tendency to multiply and carve out a hollow shell in our inner being. Consequently, a leader who is the catalyst for hate serves as the engine for harmony to be lost.

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

Chapter 9, Verse 9 - Sun Tzu

In dry, level country, take up an easily accessible position with rising ground to your right and on your rear, so that the danger may be in front, and safety lie behind. So much for campaigning in flat country.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

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

New Year

This Friday night people will gather together -- many of them quite inebriated -- to welcome in the "new" year. This festive atmosphere is not the property of any one country or region; it is celebrated around the world. (Societies that utilize a different calendar system may have their own celebrations at a different time.)

As with Christmas, I am very ambivalent toward New Year's Eve/New Year's Day. It is not that I disagree with the marking of time (be it an illusion or not), but in my mind's eye, every moment begins a new "year." As I type these words, the second hand has moved a notch or two. If each of us is is still alive, why aren't we celebrating?

If you think about it, life itself calls for celebration. We didn't ask to come into existence, yet here we are. Every nanosecond of being is a miracle. So, why set aside an externally-derived date to whoop it up? Why not stomp and holler for this moment right now?

The Simple Way, Part 19

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

After a disciple had observed Zhouzi easily silence a deputation of disputatious Confucian scholars, he exclaimed, “Truly master, your way triumphs over every other! Fortunate are we to have you for our teacher!”

“Surrender is our only triumph; any other is just more bondage,” replied Zhouzi. “This way is not a faction, but an all-affirming ‘Yes!’. But you would make it Something and become Someone therein. Yet know that it is empty, and only no one truly walks within.”

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 9, Verse 8 - Sun Tzu

If forced to fight in a salt-marsh, you should have water and grass near you, and get your back to a clump of trees. So much for operations in salt-marches.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

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

Tao Bible - 1 Chronciles 28:5

And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.
~ King James version ~

Tao anoints no one.
~ possible Taoist alternative ~

God tells David that the Lord has selected the king's son, Solomon, to succeed his father as king of Israel.

Tao makes no distinctions. Tao is available to all with impartiality. Humankind is responsible alone for selecting its own leaders.

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

Question - Why Punish the Multitude?

On more than one occasion in the Old Testament, we run into stories in which a king of Israel does something that angers the Lord God and so the heavenly one takes out his wrath on the entire population and not so much on the singular individual who angered him. What kind of twisted sense of judgment is that?

We find one such story in 1 Chronicles, Chapter 21. King David decides to take a census and, for some strange reason, this action really ticks off the Lord. So, does God punish David? Heck no. Instead he gives David three punishments to choose from: 1) A famine, 2) To be defeated by his earthly enemies and 3) To have a disease sweep over the land.

David opts for the third choice and it is reported that 70,000 men (of course, there is NO mention of the number of women and children) die. Interestingly enough, neither David himself nor any member of his family is stricken and he goes down in the annals of Judeo-Christian history as a great man.

Why are the people of Israel punished for their leader's sin? When a king orders something, it's generally not wise to disobey. Kings have been known to kill people who go against their commands. So, the people were simply following the dictates of a king who was anointed by the Lord, yet when he screws up, they are the ones who pay the ultimate price!

And this is a religion of morality?

To see what other questions I've asked about the Christian Bible, go here.

Chapter 9, Verse 7 - Sun Tzu

In crossing salt-marshes, your sole concern should be to get over them quickly, without any delay.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

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

So Much Stays the Same

As we continue to explore the works of Lao Tzu, Chuang Tzu and Sun Tzu, I hope you have noticed that many of the issues each dealt with thousands of years ago are not unlike many of the issues we deal with in the 21st Century. While technology keeps advancing, the basic human condition has been remarkably consistent.

John Nichols makes much the same point in comparing Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol to contemporary times. In recounting a portion of the dialogue in which area merchants approach Ebeneezer Scrooge for contributions to help the poor, Nichols writes,

So Dickens began his "A Christmas Carol," a book very much in keeping with the radical tenor of a time when the world was awakening to the truth that poverty and desolation need not be accepted by civil society -- or civilized people. The language employed by Scrooge was not a Dickensian creation; rather, it was a sort of reporting on the political platforms and statements of those who opposed the burgeoning movements for reform and revolution, which were sweeping through Europe as the author composed his ghost tale...

As Nichols aptly points out, there are characters like Scrooge who populate our world today. For example, there were "members of Congress who grumbled on the cusp of this Christmas season about extending jobless benefits for the long unemployed." There are others who bemoan the necessity of a minimum wage, the need for unions to defend worker rights and the notion of universal health care as a basic right.

Dickens was able to turn Scrooge around with "a little otherworldly pressure." Since we don't have that tool at our disposal, what will it take today to turn our Scrooges from self-serving misers into members of the community who care for all?

Chapter 9, Verses 5 and 6 - Sun Tzu

If you are anxious to fight, you should not go to meet the invader near a river which he has to cross. Moor your craft higher up than the enemy, and facing the sun. Do not move up-stream to meet the enemy. So much for river warfare.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

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

Laugh 9

Line by Line - Verse 17, Line 3

In the next they feared them;
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~

Then that which is feared,
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~

The next level, people fear them
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~

After that, there's the leader who is obeyed out of fear.
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~

When my wife and I adopted Heidi (now deceased) from the humane society, it readily was apparent that her previous human companion had ruled the roost via abuse. In those first few years, anytime one of us raised our voice or waved our arms in an animated manner, Heidi would cower and run for cover. It seemed that no amount of coaxing would convince her that we meant her no harm.

While using force to get what we want certainly DOES work, the price that those around us pay, is a heavy price indeed. It inhibits them from being in tune with their own internal nature. It blocks them from moving with the flow of life. It stifles creativity and erects a barrier of separation.

Not only do others pay a heavy toll, but we do as well. When others feel constrained from being themselves, we lose out on the opportunities to learn FROM them. More importantly, we lose the ability to form community and, where there is no community, balance and harmony cannot exist.

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

Chapter 9, Verse 4 - Sun Tzu

When an invading force crosses a river in its onward march, do not advance to meet it in mid-stream. It will be best to let half the army get across, and then deliver your attack.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

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

The Big Letdown

For a lot of people -- particularly children -- December 26 represents a big letdown. After months and months of targeting Christmas Day, it seems to come and go in a flash. Once it is in the rear view mirror, the typical routine of life resumes unabated.

When I was a child, the annual letdown played a big role in my life. I'm fairly certain the letdown for me was greater than it was for others, owing to my uncanny autistic ability for tunnel vision and my generally obsessive personality. In fact, my malaise tended to start around noon of December 25 and lasted until the beginning of February!! It was about that time that my focus would shift to Easter. ;-)

Of course, since I no longer celebrate Christian holidays, I no longer have to worry about such proverbial deflations. Yesterday was a typical day in our household. We traveled to Aberdeen to do some grocery shopping. Later, my wife put in two hours of work with one of her clients. We ate regular meals at usual times and followed the general routine of any Saturday.

It was a good day...with no hangover to deal with now.

The Simple Way, Part 18

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

A Ch’an master visited the community and spoke with Zhouzi asking, “Master, what is the central message that you teach?”

“Abide some time among us if you will,” answered Zhouzi, “for I teach only what you will see. And I, too, will know the answer when it comes from you.”

Being much taken with what he had already seen, the master agreed to stay. A few weeks later, while they were hoeing side-by-side in the garden, Zhouzi asked him, “So, have you yet discovered what it is I teach?”

The Ch’an master laughed and said, “Not only have you deftly turned my sword, but now I feel its cutting edge! Yet since I must venture to say it, though words can only miss the mark, I will shout it now: All is well!”

“All is well!” shouted Zhouzi.

“All is well!” shouted the Ch’an master.

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.

Laugh 8

It never gets old!

Chapter 9, Verses 1, 2 and 3 - Sun Tzu

Sun Tzu said: We come now to the question of encamping the army, and observing signs of the enemy. Pass quickly over mountains, and keep in the neighborhood of valleys. Camp in high places, facing the sun. Do not climb heights in order to fight. So much for mountain warfare. After crossing a river, you should get far away from it.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

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

The Internet Threat

OK, by now almost everyone knows that the US government is out to get WikiLeaks because our leaders don't like government secrets being revealed. It's a lot harder to dupe your citizens and the world abroad if everyone suspects you are lying in the first place! But the internet poses an even greater threat to another institution, an institution that believes itself to be more powerful than any government.

Religion.

This point is made in "Why I Chucked My Mormon Faith and Became an Atheist" which was posted at AlterNet this week.

What they don't understand is that we're not just leaving because church services aren't hip enough or because their sermons against homosexuality are just a little too harsh; we're leaving because we've discovered that when it comes to biology, geography and history, our conservative pastors and holy texts are dead wrong. It's important to recognize the role that the Internet plays in our abandoning doctrine for disbelief...

In olden days, it was far easier to shield curious eyes and inquisitive minds. It's far easier to hide or ban books and magazines that don't pass official muster. But the internet!!

Almost anything a person wants to know about a-n-y-t-h-i-n-g is just a mouse click away. Generations of lies can be dispatch with in mere seconds. And with so many different types of devices that now can access the world wide web, it's near impossible to keep information -- accurate or dubious -- away from inquiring minds.

Of course, both the hierarchal institutions of government and religion are painfully aware of the d-a-n-g-e-r the internet poses. So don't be surprised if the two of them join forces to try to bring it under "control". Ill-informed people are far easier to control and manipulate. Both the government and religion thrive on docile sheep, ready to be led over a cliff, if necessary!