The Simple Way, Part 26

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

A monk, whom Zhouzi had assigned to clean the privies as a disciplinary measure for his addiction to right and wrong, came and petitioned him for a change of duties. “For Master,” said he, “I have learned my lesson and see there is no point in punishing myself with guilt and recrimination.”

“So the punishment for punishing yourself has been a perfect success!” exclaimed Zhouzi. “Who then would you have take your place?”

“Master,” replied the monk, “I cannot presume to name another.”

“No matter,” replied Zhouzi. “You may return to your duties in the garden, for I have someone in mind.”

The following day Zhouzi began to clean the privies.

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 39 - Sun Tzu

If the enemy's troops march up angrily and remain facing ours for a long time without either joining battle or taking themselves off again, the situation is one that demands great vigilance and circumspection.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

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

Tao Bible - 2 Chronicles 7:1

Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.
~ King James version ~

Tao has no need for sacrifices.
~ possible Taoist alternative ~

God burns the sacrifices laid before him, so he can smell that heavenly scent!

There is nothing we can give Tao as Tao is of everything. If we want to embrace Tao in our lives, then we must embrace ourselves and all of creation.

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

Chapter 9, Verse 38 - Sun Tzu

When envoys are sent with compliments in their mouths, it is a sign that the enemy wishes for a truce.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

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

Snow Job

What is the mantra of political conservatives? The government is too big! We need to cut it down to size! Cut. Cut. Cut.

And what is one of the results of all this incessant cutting? Piled up snow.

Over the past week, many parts of New York City have been paralyzed by streets made impassible by unplowed snow. As David Sirota writes,

Like so many wealth-worshiping politicians across the land, [Mayor] Bloomberg spent the last few years focused on two priorities: He campaigned against proposals to replenish depleted public coffers via slightly higher taxes on Wall Streeters, all while citing those depleted coffers as a rationale for massive municipal layoffs. Those job cuts, which were particularly acute at New York’s snow-removing sanitation department, have now predictably translated into an immobilized metropolis...

Too much snow without enough workers and equipment to clear it created another problem -- trash and garbage piled up!

The Department of Sanitation announced it would resume garbage pickups on Monday for the first time since the Christmas weekend storm dumped 20 inches of snow on city streets. Trash collection was suspended while crews struggled to plow streets, Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty said...

You see, when we engage in this orgy of slashing the "size of government," too often what gets cut are all those basic services that makes modern society hum. While snow removal and trash pick-up may not be glamorous services, try going about your daily routine without them. Try navigating streets and bridges that aren't properly maintained or calling for the fire department that doesn't arrive until your property has burned down.

While there is no question that government can become bloated (e.g., US armed forces or the prison-industrial complex), there are many basic services that all of us -- regardless of economic standing -- rely on. Cut too much and you paralyze the organism...to EVERYONE'S peril.

Chapter 9, Verse 37 - Sun Tzu

To begin by bluster, but afterwards to take fright at the enemy's numbers, shows a supreme lack of intelligence.
~ 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 18, Lines 7-8

when the states and clans fell into disorder,
loyal ministers appeared.
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~

When the country is confused and in chaos,
Loyal ministers appear.
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~

The country is in confused chaos
There are loyal ministers
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~

When the nation is unstable,
they start talking about "patriotism".
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004~

I think Ron Hogan captures these two lines very well indeed!

Patriotism is not paraded out of moth balls when the nation is at peace and the standard of living is equitable. There is no real need to brag about putting "country first" when we're all getting along. It is only when there is a breakdown somewhere along the continuum that placing something first -- country, region, ideology, family, business, etc. -- becomes paramount.

It should go without saying that, if something is placed first, then all other things are viewed as occupying a lower rung on the ladder. There must be one or more scapegoats!!

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 36 - Sun Tzu

Too frequent rewards signify that the enemy is at the end of his resources; too many punishments betray a condition of dire distress.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

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

Falling from the Sky

Chock this up to one of those strange, unknown occurrences.

Last night, ringing in the New Year took on a whole different meaning for the citizens of Beebe. Beginning at around 11:30 p.m., enforcement officers with Arkansas Game and Fish Commission began getting reports of dead black birds falling from the sky in the city limits of Beebe.

Officers estimated that over 1,000 birds had fallen out of the sky over the city before midnight. Most of the birds were dead, but some were still alive when officers arrived. The blackbirds fell over a one-mile area in the city. AGFC wildlife officer Robby King responded to the reports and found hundreds of birds. “Shortly after I arrived there were still birds falling from the sky,” King said. King collected about 65 dead birds that will be sent to the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission lab and the National Wildlife Health Center lab in Madison, Wis.

The AGFC has flown over the area to gauge the scope of the event. There were no other birds found outside of the initial area...

Every time we humans think we have a handle on this thing called life, something odd happens and usually the best we can do is to throw up our hands. (Note: I used to live in Beebe and a black bird never fell out of the sky in my yard.)

The Simple Way, Part 25

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

“Master,” exclaimed a visiting magistrate, “I can only stumble at your teaching that the evils of men are the expression of Tao!”

“The Tao is like an archer who cannot miss,” replied Zhouzi, “for the target is always just what it hits. But you have conceived a fixed target and insist ‘aim only at this.’ But of the evils of men I have little to say, for it only one man who stands here today.”

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 35 - Sun Tzu

The sight of men whispering together in small knots or speaking in subdued tones points to disaffection amongst the rank and file.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

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

Tao Bible - 2 Chronicles 6:26

When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; yet if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them;
~ King James version ~

The rain falls according to its own internal nature, not humankind's.
~ possible Taoist alternative ~

Solomon suggests that the reason the rain doesn't fall at certain is due to the "sinful" actions of the people. He asks God to return the rain if the people repent of their evil ways.

Clouds and rain don't care one wit how you or I behave. Rain falls or does not fall on the good and the bad, the just and the unjust, the loving and the hateful. It is arrogant to believe that humankind is so important to alter the internal nature of another form!

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

Chapter 9, Verse 34 - Sun Tzu

When an army feeds its horses with grain and kills its cattle for food, and when the men do not hang their cooking-pots over the camp-fires, showing that they will not return to their tents, you may know that they are determined to fight to the death.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

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

The Creation Syndicate

The gods of man have many faces and names, but upon closer inspection they are more alike than different. The sage sees beyond the gods to the formless unseen creator of them all.
~ Today's daily quote from Lao Fzu ~

When many people read the second line of the Tao Te Ching -- the one that states the "the name that can be named is not the eternal name" -- they look at it in strictly Taoist terms. But I think Lao Tzu was making a far more profound point! It's not simply that Tao is a made-up word, but so too are Yahweh, Allah, Brahman, Jehovah, Odin and the Great Spaghetti Monster.

Humans are the sole owners of a grand creation syndicate. We've created all of the gods and forces that we bow down to or philosophize about. We are the sole authors of all of our "holy" books. Everything religious or philosophical is derived from the creative impulses in our minds.

Since we are incapable of understanding the Grand Mystery of life and existence, we create mammoth bedtime stories to calm the nervous questions that boil up in the nights of our lives. In most of these stories, the knight in shining armor arrives at some point to rescue those in distress -- all or some of us -- and the story winds down to a more or less happy ending.

There is nothing wrong with a good story AS LONG AS we don't confuse the story for reality. Of course, since these stories do permeate certain societies, far too many people come to see the myths and fables that we created as truth itself. We tell these stories to each other so often that we forget the fiction aspect inherent.

Chapter 9, Verse 33 - Sun Tzu

If there is disturbance in the camp, the general's authority is weak. If the banners and flags are shifted about, sedition is afoot. If the officers are angry, it means that the men are weary.
~ 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 18, Lines 5-6

When harmony no longer prevailed throughout the six kinships,
filial sons found their manifestation;
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~

When there is no peace within the family,
Filial piety and devotion arise.
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~

The six relations are not harmonious
There is filial piety and kind affection
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~

When they do not respect each other,
they start talking about "political correctness" and "family values".
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~

According to R.B. Blakney, the six relations referred to in this line are "father and son, elder and younger brothers, and husband and wife." Of course, there tends to be far more relationships in a nuclear or extended family, but the underlying point remains the same.

We only praise or criticize family members because their actions and behaviors too often are contrived. If everyone lived in the bosom of Tao, it would be meaningless to say that "She is a good daughter" or "He is a bad husband." Each of us would simply do what needed to be done at any given moment and everyone else would accept these thoughts and actions as what the situation called for.

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 32 - Sun Tzu

If birds gather on any spot, it is unoccupied. Clamor by night betokens nervousness.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

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

My New Year's Day Bowl Picks

Growing up, one of my favorite spectacles was watching all the various college football bowl games on January 1. My dad and I had such fun switching channels (before the advent of the remote control) to try to catch as much action from all the games that seemed to be played simultaneously. Of course, this was before the big moneyed interests -- the BCS -- came along and added more bowl games than you can shake a stick at. I'm waiting for them to add the Toilet Bowl to the future line-up!!

In the old days, only those teams with really good records got invited to a bowl game. These days all a team has to do is break even. As long as you win at least 6 games out of your 12 -- a paltry record of 6-6 -- you get in on the money bonanza. This new aspect has greatly depreciated the bowl experience for many fans.

My dad and I used to make our predictions for the January 1 games and then see which one of us was the better prognosticator. We haven't done it for years, but here are my choices.

• Ticket City Bowl: Northwestern vs. Texas Tech - I don't care.
• Outback Bowl: Penn State vs. Florida - Ditto.
• Capitol One Bowl: Alabama vs. Michigan State - Ditto.
• Gator Bowl: Michigan vs. Mississippi State - Ditto.
• Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma vs. Connecticut - Ditto
• Rose Bowl: Texas Christian (TCU) vs. Wisconsin - TCU!!!

That's right. The fellow who spends a lot of time bashing Christianity is rooting for the Christian college. What's up with that?

Go Horned Frogs!!

The Simple Way, Part 24

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

A concerned village chief came to Zhouzi and said, “Sir, it is reported among us that you teach that all that we do is an expression of Tao, whether good or ill. That you would have Tao the doer of ill, I do not understand, but never have I understood the subtle thought of the sages. Only I fear for my village, that licentious behavior might destroy its peace.”

“Dear Sir,” replied Zhouzi, “though I do not teach it as such, ours is a way to a behavior of the highest repute. Only we free ourselves from the tyranny of a right and a wrong that the ‘right’ might arise directly from the heart. The truly ‘good’ man is not so by way of a choice. But now I assure you, should ever this community cause a breach in your peace, then its entire mission will be its rectification. And you, Sir, are always most welcome to come as you wish, and ever will I be ready to address your concerns.”

“As for the Tao as the doer of ill,” he continued, “I would have you to know we teach no such thing. For we say that Tao does nothing at all, though it is in all things manifest. And we would no more judge its expression in man than we would declare the right of the sun or the wrong of the moon.”

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 31 - Sun Tzu

If the enemy sees an advantage to be gained and makes no effort to secure it, the soldiers are exhausted.
~ from The Art of War, Giles translation ~

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