The Useless Tree

Taoism

  • The Needham Question…..and the Chuang Tzu Answer

           Jonathan over at Frog in a Well has a post about the the "Needham Question," named for the great historian of Chinese science, Joseph Needham: Why didn't China develop theoretical science in the manner of early modern Europe? … Continue reading

  • Taoists in Texas Moving to Vermont

        A story in today’s NYT reports on a family in Texas that has embraced the "voluntary simplicity" movement: the are giving away most of their possessions, to free themselves from the burdens of material things, and moving to… Continue reading

  • Sadness

         I have seen some deeply saddening pictures of the victims of the Sichuan earthquake.  Roland has reproduced one especially heart-rending scene; I will not print it here.      So much death, so suddenly and unexpectedly.  The mind… Continue reading

  • The Tao of Neuroscience

        I’m not a big fan of David Brooks, but a friend brought today’s column, "Neural Buddhists," to my attention, and it seems right for a post here.     Brooks is thinking about the intersection of recent popular… Continue reading

  • The Tao of “The Tempest”

         We went to see a performance of Shakespeare’s The Tempest last night, put on by the students here at Williams.  It was a fine performance.  Prospero was aloof and callous, Caliban was Gollum-like in his torment, and Ariel… Continue reading

  • Work, Work, Work

         I’m behind in posting here due to the end-of-the-semester crush.  Makes me think of Chuang Tzu: Once we stumble into the form of this body, we cannot forget it.  And so it is that we wait out the… Continue reading

  • Life, Meaning

        I was talking with a friend today.  She felt a bit overwhelmed: so much going on, so much to do, and so hard to see the significance in it all.  It was a variation on that age-old anxiety:… Continue reading

  • Nationalism, Globalization and “Three in the Morning”

     Chuang Tzu’s happy irony came to mind when I saw this story the other day: Police in southern China have discovered a factory manufacturing Free Tibet flags, media reports say. The factory in Guangdong had been completing overseas orders for… Continue reading

  • Thinking too much

        I have been falling behind in my blogging.  This work thing can really get in the way.  The myriad daily tasks and demands distract me from this space.  Oh well…I’ll just try a bit harder (or, if I… Continue reading

  • Joy in Chuang Tzu

        I’ve been busy the last couple of days.  Teaching demands time, and an extra presentation to the international studies colloquium here today demanded a bit more.  Administrative business, too, steals my attention.  Oh well, let me just offer… Continue reading