Latest Posts
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The Olympics are not Important
I'm back from summer vacation. Our England trip was great. We saw a lot (London, Oxford, the Cotswolds, Stratford-upon-Avon and Bath Spa) and we walked a lot. Best of all, it was a stark change of scenery and activity for… Continue reading
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On the Day or Our Return Home
Return is the movement of Way,and yielding the method of Way. All beneath heaven, the ten thousand things: it's all born of being,and being is born of nonbeing. Tao Te Ching, 40 Continue reading
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Mencius on Making Good Choices
Mencius said: "People love all aspects of themselves equally. Loving them all equally, people nurture them all equally. When there isn't an inch of their flesh that they don't love, there isn't an inch they don't nurture. There's only one… Continue reading
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Confucius on Strategy
The Master said: "If things far away don't concern you, you'll soon mourn things close at hand." (15.12) Continue reading
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The Silences of Confucius
I have mentioned these several times over the life of this blog but I don't think I have ever referenced them specifically. Let me do so here. Adept Kung said: "When the Master talks about civility and cultivation, you can… Continue reading
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What I Learned about Way in an Airport in Connecticut
We are happily in Oxford, after a great day in London. But getting here was quite the adventure. We were stopped in our tracks at the airport in Hartford CN by a wicked thunder storm. The original plan was… Continue reading
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David Hinton’s Version of The Useless Tree
Regular readers (both of you!) will know that I routinely use David Hinton's translations of the Chinese classics. I like the way they read in English. And I realized that, while I have posted Lin Yu-tang's translation of one of… Continue reading
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Thought for the Opening of the Olympic Games
The Master said: "The noble-minded never contend.� It's true that archery is a kind of contention.� But even then, they bow and yield to each other when stepping up to the range.� And when the step down, they toast each… Continue reading
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A Happy Thought from Chuang Tzu
Almost out the door on our trip to England. It's a beautiful day here, big puffy clouds float through a bright blue sky. A couple of gray one suggest a possibility of rain (hope that doesn't delay our flights) but… Continue reading
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Packing and Moving
August is a time of transition for me this year. First, we are moving offices. When I say "we" I mean about two thirds of the faculty at my college. It is a massive undertaking: two new office buildings and… Continue reading
The Useless Tree 