The Useless Tree

Taoism

  • The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

        We watched the movie, “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly,” last night.  It is haunting, the tale of a man, Jean-Dominique Bauby, who, in his early forties, has a massive stroke that leaves him completely paralyzed, save for the… Continue reading

  • And Still Another Taoist July 4th

    I’ve run this post before; but, what the heck, it’s summer and internet traffic is down, so maybe you haven’t seen it before…..     It may seem improbable but I think we can find a Taoist angle on the US… Continue reading

  • On Being Powerful

    Good news today on the foreign policy front: the US has finally started to make progress in opening up its relations with North Korea.  Don't get me wrong.  I have nothing but disdain for the government of NK. But the… Continue reading

  • Wandering in the Tao Te Ching

    Perusing the book, worrying about work and how much I am not getting done, I put this down here as a reminder to us all: To work at learning brings more each day.To work at Way brings less each day,… Continue reading

  • A Chuang Tzu Video

       Just found this on youtube.  It's a fun five minutes. Continue reading

  • Blindsight, The Movie

         We saw Blindsight on Friday night.  A great film, but one that raises a question about how we understand disability.        First, some background on the film, without too much in the way of spoilers.  The story focuses on… Continue reading

  • Young and Restless in China

        Two nights ago I watched a great documentary on PBS, "Young and Restless in China."  The website for the program is really quite good.  It is possible to watch the whole thing on line, or to just select 10… Continue reading

  • Taoism for Kids, with Reflections on Orientalism

    Last weekend my daughter was babysitting an eight-year-old acquaintance and I took them to see a movie, something appropriate for the younger girl.  Thus, I found myself watching the new Dream Works movie, "Kung Fu Panda."  Perhaps this is a… Continue reading

  • Chuang Tzu at the Movies

         Somewhere in the past six months I missed this: a movie with clear Chuang Tzu resonance.  I stumbled upon it today, when I clicked on this post by Juhn Ahn at the Immanent Frame.  He is adding to a… Continue reading

  • That Theodicy Thing

                  A good review in the New Yorker this week by James Wood, surveying the problem of theodicy – i.e. how is it that human suffering and evil can be countenanced by an omnipotent, omniscient and benevolent God?  Wood… Continue reading