The Useless Tree

Taoism

  • Taoist Football

    This clip, which invokes existentialism, has a strong Taoist resonance – except that Taoists would not despair at meaningless and would not contemplate suicide, they would just laugh and open themselves to the unfolding of Way. http://www.theonion.com/content/themes/common/assets/videoplayer/flvplayer.swf Pre-Game Coin Toss… Continue reading

  • Modern Mimicry

    Here's a post that I liked, over at The China Beat.  Timothy Oakes builds on accusations that China is "faking" its way through modernization, the lip-syncing and video enhancements of the Olympics being the least of it.  He didn't go… Continue reading

  • When Faced with the Absurdities of American Politics, The Taoism Helps

    We have reached that moment in American presidential campaigns when I realize just how far out of the mainstream of the indigenous political cultural I am.  The precise instant was last night, as I suffered through Sarah Palin's speech.        … Continue reading

  • Sarah Palin, Taoist Sage

        US politics have been roiled for the past few days in reaction to the announcement of John McCain's running mate.  Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska is an unknown to a national audience.  She has very little political experience,… Continue reading

  • Another Ersatz Proverb?

    This morning I was sitting at the kitchen table, eating my cereal and drinking my coffee, when I heard, as I do many mornings, I brief radio piece, "Word for the Wise." I perked up when, at the very end… Continue reading

  • Finding Taoism Everywhere

    Perhaps it is an occupational hazard, the result of my daily consideration of ancient Chinese philosophy, but I often find Taoism lurking in unexpected places.  OK, not "Taoism" per se, as a fairly clearly distinguishable stream of thought, but elements… Continue reading

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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