Tao Te Wednesday

1/11/2012

Governing a large country
is like frying a small fish.
You spoil it with too much poking.

Center your country in the Tao
and evil will have no power.
Not that it isn't there,
but you'll be able to step out of its way.

Give evil nothing to oppose
and it will disappear by itself.

Verse 60, Stephen Mitchell
New English Version

Laura Novak

1/11/2012 00:49:51

So, I was thinking of New Hampshire when I chose this verse. Give the GOP nothing to oppose and they'll disappear. What do you think?

Ivyfree

1/11/2012 01:09:50

In order to give them nothing to oppose, we'd have to change the USA into being a theocracy; we'd have to eliminate civil rights and women's rights and LGBT rights and reproduction freedom; we'd have to be okay with dozens of social issues that are definitely not okay, and that I will spend the rest of my life opposing.

There is no way to give them nothing to oppose. They are opposed to humanity. I refuse to die, physically or spiritually, in order to appease them.

mistah charley, ph.d. link

1/11/2012 01:43:06

from John Heider's paraphrase, The Tao of Leadership.

Run the group delicately, as if you were cooking small fish.

As much as possible, allow the group process to emerge naturally. Resist any temptation to instigate issues or elicit emotions which have not appeared on their own.

If you stir things up, you will release forces before their time and under unwarranted pressure. They may be emotions that belong to other people or places. They may be unspecific or chaotic energies, which in response to your pressure, strike out and hit any available target.

These forces are real and exist within the group. But do not push. Allow them to come out when they are ready.

When hidden issues and emotions emerge naturally, they resolve themselves naturally. They are not harmful. In fact, they are no different from any other thoughts or feelings.

All energies naturally arise, take form, grow strong, come to a new resolution, and finally pass away.

V-A

1/11/2012 03:30:37

First, I laughed. My husband the chef often chides me for too much "poking." Then. . .I felt as if I suddenly understood Pres. Obama. He has frustrated me so often by "not poking" banks, Republicans, Conservatives, Crazy Christians.

It will be interesting to see if his quasi? Taoist approach will continue as the election heats, and if it will, will out in the end.

Laura Novak

1/11/2012 04:16:04

I really like that Mistah Charley. It is more of an interpretation rather than a translation. And it makes sense whether you are a business leader, a teacher, or perhaps a President dealing with a group of pre-schoolers in Congress. Thank you for supplying us with this.

Sherryn

1/11/2012 14:10:01

What amazes me about the Tao Te reminds me of Laura's post on Heather's blog. "No word is wasted".

What I've noticed is it recognizes women and men as different powers (yin/yang), but equal in importance.

I agree, the interpretation Mr Charley supplied (thank you!) makes a lot of sense, especially this part:

If you stir things up, you will release forces before their time and under unwarranted pressure. They may be emotions that belong to other people or places. They may be unspecific or chaotic energies, which in response to your pressure, strike out and hit any available target.

It explains Politics on both sides of the aisle, and the anger we've witnessed on some other blogs comments.

mistah charley, ph.d.

1/11/2012 22:05:18

The passage you cite, about "emotions that belong to other people or places", is central to the human drama in general. For example, it explains the perversions so prominent in "Republican Gomorrah", a book which I've just received a copy of - and I mean perversions of the heart as well as of the flesh. May the Creative Forces of the Universe have mercy on our souls, if any.

Ottoline

1/12/2012 09:34:38

Hope you will say a few words about "Repub Gomorrah" when you are done, MC.

Sherryn

1/12/2012 14:52:12

Mr Charley,

I meant to thank you for the tiny url to the buddhism book in the other post. I'm about half way through, and it's very well written. I'm learning so much from you, and the others who post here!

And I echo Ottoline, please do give us a few words about "Republican Gomorrah"...

A new example has surfaced, someone's started a "Spreading Romney" site, according to Rachel Maddow's show, and there's a half hour attack ad against Romney., which shows how pertinent that quote is today as when it was written.

Laura Novak

1/12/2012 01:09:41

Well, that's right, Sherryn and MC. To stir up stuff before it's time is to invite the emotions and reactions that belong to something else or a distant experience.

Didn't we see all of this in Mrs. Palin in a way? The "chaotic energy" on both sides of the aisle. Those who smelled something wrong and those who transferred unresolved desires and ambitions onto her.

Others might say the same thing about President Obama.

I still believe Santorum is a flame out waiting to happen. Same with Newt.

What frightens me about Mitt is that he has been preparing for this time for a long time. He is releasing his own energy and hitting is own targets with skill and determination.

I find him creepy, but I don't look at him as accidental.

Teaching in the city today. Will be away from my computer for many hours. Please weigh in some more if you're interested. Thank you everyone!

Laura Novak

1/12/2012 01:40:12

Hmmm, I worked at ABC News in NY in 1982 when Bergman and Geraldo Rivera (Jerry Rivers to you) were both there. Tell me what you think of this:

http://nation.foxnews.com/berkeley/2012/01/11/berkeley-prof-assigns-students-dig-fox-news-dirt

mistah charley, ph.d.

1/12/2012 02:49:45

Jerry Rivers calls somebody else "hugely self-righteous." Well, it takes one to know one, they say.

Ottoline

1/12/2012 09:32:30

Seems like straining at a gnat to me. Just because they are tired and want to be cranky. There are many better things to be angry about.

If Bergman wants a lovely scoop, how about putting the Mar 14 photo in front of any set of VIP reporters and/or GOP honchos and asking "How is this possible?" (Hope an ob/gyn is included so we don't have clueless people saying "my sister had a 6# baby in 5 weeks, too.")

http://tinyurl.com/2579nff

Sherryn

1/12/2012 15:34:08

I have a feeling Jerry Rivers knows a thing or two about ivestigative reporting, he found the treasure trove in Al Capone's Vault, but did he ever reveal the sources he used to FIND Al Capone's Vault? (Rooting though public records and contacting an old friend who's involved, maybe?) .

I like the last part where he gives it the "pranoia" meme.

Today a van from PBS’ “Frontline” is parked outside our office. I hope they’re not hacking my phone.

V-A

1/12/2012 21:57:28

not to disturb the Tao calm, but if you want to see fish poking at its finest, check out this very well-made short documentary on Mitt Romney's corporate raidership as the leader of Bain: http://www.kingofbain.com/ It's a 20 min lesson in how the Money Culture is ruining this country. Rumor is that Newt is behind it, but I won't shoot the messenger.

Ottoline

1/13/2012 05:01:08

Re the video: I can see this having legs, esp if Romney is the candidate. Thanks for posting it, V-A. Chilling.

Compare Romney to another man, Dave Duffield, who started PeopleSoft, which then was bought by Oracle in a bitterly fought hostile takeover. Duffield thus received $10B, without wanting to sell. With it, he donated $300M to create Maddie's fund (supporting no-kill pet-rescue efforts) and put $10M into a fund to help employees displaced by the buyout to make their transitions to new work. And he put money into a new start-up, Workday, Inc, which I think will be v big in time (IPO in late 2012). Takes Google's "do no evil" a big step further.

My apologies, too, for being so O/T re the Tao. I'll try to put a sock in it for awhile.

mistah charley, ph.d. link

1/12/2012 23:26:40

With regard to Heider's paraphrase/interpretation of the Tao Te Ching, which I have been reminded of my respect and affection for, although you can buy a new copy, or a used copy, right now you can also see the whole thing online at http://home.pages.at/onkellotus/TTK/English_Heider_TTK.html

Here's another food-oriented Taoist passage - from Chuang Tzu this time.

CUTTING UP AN OX

A cook was butchering an ox for Duke Wen Hui.
The places his hand touched,
His shoulder leaned against,
His foot stepped on,
His knee pressed upon,
Came apart with a sound.

He moved the blade, making a noise
That never fell out of rhythm.
It harmonized with the Mulberry Woods Dance,
Like music from ancient times.

Duke Wen Hui exclaimed: "Ah! Excellent!
Your skill has advanced to this level?"

"What I follow is Tao,"
The cook puts down the knife and answered:
"Which is beyond all skills.
When I started butchering,
What I saw was nothing but the whole ox.
After three years,
I no longer saw the whole ox.

"Nowadays, I meet it with my mind
Rather than see it with my eyes.
My sensory organs are inactive
While I direct the mind's movement.

"It goes according to natural laws,
Striking apart large gaps,
Moving toward large openings,
Following its natural structure.

"Even places where tendons attach to bones
Give no resistance,
Never mind the larger bones!

"A good cook goes through a knife in a year,
Because he cuts.
An average cook goes through a knife in a month,
Because he hacks.

"I have used this knife for nineteen years.
It has butchered thousands of oxen,
But the blade is still like it's newly sharpened.

"The joints have openings,
And the knife's blade has no thickness.
Apply this lack of thickness into the openings,
And the moving blade swishes through,
With room to spare!

"That's why after nineteen years,
The blade is still like it's newly sharpened.

"Nevertheless, every time I come across joints,
I see its tricky parts,
I pay attention and use caution,
My vision concentrates,
My movement slows down.

"I move the knife very slightly,
Whump! It has already separated.
The ox doesn't even know it's dead,
and falls to the ground like mud.

"I stand holding the knife,
And look all around it.
The work gives me much satisfaction.
I clean the knife and put it away."

Duke Wen Hui said: "Excellent!
I listen to your words,
And learn a principle of life."

http://www.chinapage.com/story/butcher.html

Republican Gomorrah - A Brief Guided Tour

1/12/2012 23:53:32

I am flattered by the requests for my comments about Blumenthal's book "Republican Gomorrah". Chances are I won't actually read the whole thing, and it's extremely unlikely I could write a better review than Jane Smiley. Let me refer you to her review, and two excerpts from the book website.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jane-smiley/republican-gomorrah_b_290293.html

http://republicangomorrah.com/excerpt.php

http://republicangomorrah.com/excerpt2.php

with best wishes,
mistah charley, ph.d.

Ottoline

1/13/2012 03:12:22

Thank you, MC for the link to the Smiley review. I rushed over to it, wondering if she would find fault with the book, which I found entirely credible and scary in the extreme, esp insofar as it helped me connect some dots that were v puzzling to me.

I beg to differ with Smiley only when she says Stalinism lasted 25 years: technically she must be right, but tell it to the E European countries who were occupied for 50+ years by the Communists, incl the time after Stalin's death.

But there's more to her point re "it lasted 25 yrs". During those years, the survival of the fittest in Communist-occupied countries was heavily stacked against educated, intelligent, principled, able people, who were deported en mass to Siberia or killed outright (often preceded by torture). In Czechoslovakia, if your parents had been educated, you had to be a field worker on farms, and vice versa. I believe they had several waves of that, thus serving to retain as top dogs for the future a different gene pool than the brightest and best of former centuries. In a different country, those of my relatives who survived and even succeeded were very timid, I thought, after meeting them in the 1990s.

I'm just adding to Smiley's premise: it's not just the "lost generations" and "our country as we know it" that we lose if we allow the RW fundie war-profiteer kleptocracy to prevail: it's a change in our gene pool if our new world is as harsh as previous similar regimes regarding those who Palin just called "numbskulls" (see IM today) (Palin using inaccurate data, as usual).

Ottoline

1/13/2012 03:31:50

Also in support of my point re mucking about with both the shallow end and the deep end of the gene pool, I cite the Holocaust vs Lebensborn.

Ottoline

1/13/2012 03:34:54

Ooops.

Ottoline

1/13/2012 03:31:50

Also in support of my point re mucking about with both the shallow end and the deep end of the gene pool, I cite the Holocaust vs Lebensborn.

V-A

1/13/2012 02:12:12

another Tao story for my chef. He'll be very pleased, and I know he will concur with its wisdom. thanks MCphd.

Laura Novak

1/13/2012 05:15:33

Noooo, Ottoline you can never shut up here. We so love your writing and your comments!!

I am trying to get some work done and then will try to post something new. But thank you all again for expanding on a simple verse. And MC, you always amaze and amuse us.

Ottoline

1/13/2012 09:53:32

O/T again: CALL FOR HELP!

Please go to the Steven Colbert site about his run for the presidency. I've posted a comment begging him to pick Amy Sedaris to be his VP. And for Amy to fake a pregnancy. Please comment or otherwise help beef up this idea.

http://tinyurl.com/7mdhmg3

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