The Way Towards Principles - Tao Te Ching XIII - XXVIII

Opposites have been mentioned constantly in these texts since the very beginning, and now I think I understand why they are given such importance. So far, the Tao is the central element of the whole piece, and the concept of the opposites seems to rely upon it. Or maybe its the other way around, but after all, they do connect. I am beginning to apprehend the idea of the Tao; its as a divine way of living. The way of achieving the Tao is by understanding opposites and by living in their balance. This means that in order to be divine, you can't incline towards one of the ends where in this case, one of the opposites would be found. Once your in the central point of the opposites, you'll "be divine, and you will be at one with the Tao." (Tao 16) After being "at one with the Tao", you will always be engaged with it. No, not engaged in the married way. It just means that the Tao will always prevail no matter what. Its as a soul; its body might have disappeared (died) but it will always exist (live).

"What is a good man? A teacher of a bad man." (Tao 27) Then again, opposites are being mentioned. I believe that this means that without good, there is no bad. But wait! I should be analyzing this in a deeper sense. So, a good man can not be defined without the use of bad. This indicates that even though they contrast each other, and denote exactly the opposite, they also complete each other and without one, the other is nothing at all. This quote is saying that a good person is that that can teach a bad person and moreover, make him good. A teacher is someone to follow and to admire, and since a "good man" is a teacher, that "bad man" should learn from his teacher.

My favorite saying so far in this reading is a three word quote. I think that its meaning is so powerful and influential that three words are enough to emit the message. "Accept being unimportant." (Tao 13) For some it might sound extremely dumb, but for me, it's extremely helpful and reasonable. Many of us try to be more than what we really are. This might be to gain recognition and importance, which is something that actually shouldn't be happening. We should be who we are in a balanced way; never acting upon and never acting less than our reality. So when you accept being just yourself, no matter your "importance", you will gain your balance and thus, the Tao (Or so I believe).

For me, the Tao is like a healthy diet; you can never eat too much, but you can't just completely stop eating. Balance your diet = a balanced Tao!

You might be wondering why the pictures are very relaxing and this is because the Tao makes me relaxed. It takes me into another world.

Balancing Inequalities - Tao Te Ching I - XII

“The Tao that can be told is not the eternal tao." (Tao 1) I had only read the first line and already I found myself questioning. What is the Tao? The first sentence wasn't enough and neither was the first chapter to help me decipher what the Tao is. I think I deserve some more background information in order to understand the whole context. But this time, I will remain still. I will try to analyze the text and give it my own interpretation without any influence from an investigation. Yes, I'm cool. Anyways, with only reading the first chapter I also noticed how deep and meaningful this text was. It carries this poetic sense that makes the reading fluid and exciting.

The teachings of the Tao are very similar to those from previous texts. In class, we have discussed the existence of evil and agreed that evil exists because good exists so if there is good, there must be something to balance it. Others might see evil as the absence of good, but the idea remains the same. "All can know good as good only because there is evil." (Tao 2) This quote is really accurate for it says that we realize good only because there is an opposite to it. What would it be of good without evil? Adding more to this quote, I would respond that good wouldn't be good since there is nothing to contrast it and therefore, it wouldn't exist.

Chapter two starts out with another comparison of opposites. "Under heaven, all can see beauty as beauty only because there is ugliness." (Tao 2) Again, it is pointing out that the only reason for us to see things with standards is for their differences. Without ugly, pretty wouldn't exist and thus everything would be seen as the same.

"In action, be aware of the time and the season." (Tao 8) A teaching of acts is given by saying that you should always keep in mind the time and place of what you do and how pertinent it is with the situation in which you are found in. I believe this teaching is helpful for everybody because there are many occasions in which you act in the wrong way towards the circumstances in which you are in. There is always a time and place to do things and not all are adequate and appropriate.

"The highest good is like water. Water gives life to the ten thousand things and does not strive. It flows in places men reject and so is like the Tao." (Tao 8) The first thing that captured my attention in this quote was the metaphor of water. Without water, live would not exist and since its being related to the Tao, I conclude that the Tao is an essential part of ones life. The importance given to the Tao is similar to that of Goodness in the Analects. The Tao is like "the highest good", what everyone would like to achieve. And so is Goodness.

Inherit the Wind

The situation of a teacher who is judged and arrested for his supposed failure at teaching students ethical principles is found. Yes, I understand. It is hard to believe that any law would prohibit some sort of teaching, but during those times this actually happened. We are talking about the 1920's, when this novel takes place. Inherit the Wind narrates the story of a science professor, Bertram Cates, who is accused for teaching his students the theory of evolution. It comes to be that creationists were against Darwin's theory for it challenged existing ideas such as creation from Genesis and it opposed the teachings from the Bible itself.

Henry Drummond, Cates lawyer, represents the case in the trial and supports the theory of evolution of man by arguing on freedom of thought. He doubts on the Bible's accuracy and justifies evolution for it has been scientifically proven. He believes religion should not interfere and not permit these types of lessons since religion is a topic that one can freely chose to believe in or not. "The only way to get onto a hilltop and observe back to know where we came from is to abandon faith by using our unique ability to reason." If you yet haven't noticed, I am definitely on the side of evolutionists.

One of the principle things that Drummond states is that God did not create men, but that men created God. I think that this is true since for there to exist God, you must have faith in him and for one to believe in God, you must create a conceptual image of him. Every human being believes in that individual God that makes up your relgion, and since religions and believes vary, there is no justification of why God created men if they not all believe in him. After saying this, there might be many questions on who Satan is. But Drummond answers to this as well. Since men created God, and bless him as the good, they might have as well created another being to which they would blame for evil. This lawyer says that "the devil comes from men's own hell".

I come to believe that there are various parts in the Bible in which it contradict itself. It has some absurd events and facts that are just so unbelievable that they end up supporting Drummond's doubt on the realistic accuracy of the Bible. To say that people lived for around eight hundred years is indeed unconvincing and much less after taking into account that it was during those times. "And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died." (Genesis 5: 8) Nowadays, a maximum lifespan is of a hundred and twenty years old and there is much more technology and advanced medicine and even with that, people now live less than in the old times. How is that possible? How can someone live for more than eight hundred years? Those survival techniques must have been extremely fancy and influential but not even that convinces me of such incredibly expanded life spans.

"And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch". (Genesis 4: 17) Up until that point of Genesis, the only beings alive were Adam and Eve which bared only two sons, Cain and Abel. So how is it possible that Cain knew his wife? Where does his wife come from anyways? Did a cloud give birth to her? Again, this is another example that puts in test the real accuracy of the Bible, but this single story with these characters isn't over yet. “And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.” (Genesis 4: 18) It had been clearly stated in the trial by Harrison Brady, the Bible's defendant, that having sex was considered a sin. So why did all these faithful beings sin? If this i supposedly a sin, then how are we suppose to multiply?

Science and religion should not be kept apart and the teaching of both should be held, for "science without religion is lame and religion without science is blind." (-Albert Einstein) I found Drummonds position much more realistic than that of supporting the Bible due to my believe in the theory of evolution. I think it is ridiculous to forbid the teaching of science and if it really was a sin, they wouldn't teach science as a school subject nowadays. Overall, I don't think that one should replace the other for they both play a very influential role in life.

"Science can purify religion from error and superstition;
religion can purify science from idolatry and false absolutes.
Each can draw the other into a wider world, a world in which both can flourish....
We need each other to be what we must be, what we are called to be." (-Pope John Paul II)

The Wannabe Six Commandments - The Analects Books XV, XVII, XVIII

When reading Book Fifteen, I got a feeling as if I was talking to the school counselor. I'm beginning to think that the teachings in The Analects are very helpful in all societies no matter ones culture. Confucianism is indeed a religion, but the teachings it shares are valuable and influential for all. I should publish a book called The Analects Teachings for the Confused Not Followers of Confucianism. The following quote is a perfect example of what I mean and should definitely be included in the book that I will make in a few years:

"When the multitude hates a person, you must examine them and judge for yourself. The same holds true for someone who the multitude loves." (Book 15: 28) This is something that happens constantly in our society. Those who are hated will always be and those who are loved will remain loved. But no, this shouldn’t work this way. You should never base your opinion on that of others for you should first examine that hated person and judge for yourself. The same goes for that loved by most of the population, your opinion is unique and that of others shall not influence it.

“Is it not understanding? Do not oppose on others what you yourself do not desire." (Book 15: 24) And again, I find myself facing a quote that I can apply in my future. In one of the previous Books that I’ve read, I found another quote with the same meaning. “What I do not wish others to undo unto me, I also wish not to do unto others." (Book 5: 12) I believe that the message being transmitted is repeated various times for it is of great importance. No, it is not a mistake to find it more than once in the context, since it is being repeated for you to not commit a mistake. Talking about mistakes, they are indeed mentioned in this Book as well. It had been previously stated that in the Way, some make mistakes and don’t achieve Goodness. But what is making a mistake? What is called to truly make a mistake is to make a mistake and yet not learn from it.

In Book Seventeen, the Master gives away six important key terms and states that without the love of learning, these virtues will make you love vices. These six virtues were the following: Goodness, Wisdom, Trustworthiness, Uprightness, Courage, and Resoluteness. Goodness: Loving Goodness without the love of learning will make you love foolishness. Wisdom: Loving Wisdom without the love of learning will make you love deviance. Trustworthiness: Loving Trustworthiness without the love of learning will make you love harmful rigidity. Uprightness: Loving Uprightness without the love of learning will make you love intolerance. Courage: Loving Courage without the love of learning will make you love unruliness. Resoluteness: Loving Resoluteness without the love of learning will make you love willfulness.

Afterwards, Confucius is mentioned for the first time. But wait, isn’t he the Master? Why is he introduced in the Analects and under that context? Anyways, he appears to be this rural and innocent guy with not that high of a charge. Well, after all he is found holding the horse’s reins, or is that of much importance? I noticed that it was the first time in which the writing style was in chronological order, or at least that’s what it seemed to me. "The fellow holding the reins there- who is he?" "That is Confucius." (Book 18: 6) I’m beginning to think that the following Books might be in chronological order as well, since they might be based on Confucius’ story of how he got to be into a complete gentleman. After all, that’s what he is. Or isn't he?

I Desire - The Analects Books VII, VIII, XI

"Set your heart upon the Way, rely upon Virtue, lean upon Goodness, and explore widely in your cultivation of the arts." (Book 7: 6) These key terms were previously commented and somehow explained, but now the Master talks about something that has never been mentioned: the arts. I personally describe arts as human creative skills applied in a visual form such as dancing, singing, or painting, but I would say that the meaning of this quote goes much deeper than the literal sense. In this case, the arts would be the fruit of the cultivation, which is also known as the Way. The Master might mean that you have to explore in the making of these arts, but what do the arts have to do with this anyways? However, the meaning of this quote is just so thoughtful for me to comprehend. The only thing I do understand is that Confucius thinks that the arts are important and he supports them as long as they are appropriate for Goodness.

We are all here to learn. We learn from others and we learn from our mistakes and even sometimes, we learn from the mistakes made by others. “When walking with two people, I will always find a teacher among them. I focus on those who are good and seek to emulate them and focus on those who are bad in order to be reminded in what needs to be changed in myself." (Book 7: 22) I think that this is something we should all do. We should look for virtues in those exemplary others in order to learn and follow them as well as we should focus on those who aren't as great in order to know and be reminded of what needs to be changed in ourselves. This isn't something very easy to do, and this is why you should do it because those hard things to achieve are the ones that are actually worth it.

"Is Goodness really so far away? If I simply desire Goodness, I will find that it is already here." (Book 7: 30) Throughout what I've read, I realized that what everybody should be aiming for is Goodness. However, they make it seem as unreachable for some and as a very difficult state to get to for others. But why? Is it because of the great effort that it needs? This might be the reason for why we give up so quickly and giving up shows that we don't really want it. The only thing you need to do in order to achieve Goodness is to desire it.

"If you are respectful but lack ritual you will become exasperating; if you are careful but lack ritual you will become timid; if you are courageous but lack ritual you will become unruly; and if you are upright but lack ritual you will become inflexible." (Book 8: 2) I am not sure of the meaning of ritual in this, but I think that I understand what the Master wants to say by it. Everything in excess is bad and if you are not able to control your actions and their level, they will be seen negatively. I believe that ritual is used as a key word for it somehow reflects the culture and refers to its standards.

"May I inquire about death? You do not yet understand life- how could you possibly understand death?” (Book 11: 12) I agree with this completely and I find it extremely logical. In order for one to understand death, you must first understand life. If we are still working on giving life a meaning, why do we question about death? For there to be death, there must be life so in order for us to question death, we must understand life first.

I am actually learning. This is better than school.

Confucianism: Yes, It's Confusing - The Analects Books IV, V, VI

The Analects are a series of books based on the Confucian religion and the teachings of the Master Confucius. From what I have understood, in Confucianism, human beings are teachable, improvable and perfectible through communal but as well personal efforts such as self-creation. A main idea of this philosophical system is the cultivation of virtue and the development of moral perfection. These teachings are not found in chronological order, however, I would say that the books do actually follow some sort of sequence. It may be order of importance, but I'm still not completely sure of that.

In Book four, we are introduced with the teachings based on the virtue of Goodness. It states that a true gentleman achieves Goodness by finding happiness and satisfaction requiring nothing in return. "The Master said, "Without Goodnes, one cannot remain constant in adversity and cannot enjoy enduring happiness. Those who are Good feel at home in Goodness, whereas those who are clever follow Goodness because they feel that they will profit from it." (Book 4: 2) However, we later learn that only those who indeed are Good will be able to profit from Goodness because those who aren't clever enough won't be able to follow and benefit from Goodness. But then I got really confused. It said that the strength of a person to simply devote his efforts to Goodness is present within everybody. So, what is it that it is missing for the accomplishment of Goodness for one self? My doubts were cleared when I came to learn that "someone whose strength is genuinely insufficient collapses somewhere along the Way." (Book 6: 12) What is the Way? Is it like the path towards Goodness?

So concluding, a true gentleman is that who no matter the circumstances, will always chose right over wrong as well as he will respect and honor his elders and roots. This might be because those who are older, are richer. I don't mean richer in wealth, but in knowledge and understanding. However, wealth and poverty were also mentioned in the teachings. It says that poverty and meanness are what men dislike, for richness and honors are what men desire. The Master said that things can only happen if you follow the Way to get to them. Therefore, if you can't obtain wealth in the proper way, it should not be held. In this same manner, I can somehow understand that somewhere along the Way, one can collapse or continue through a wrong path, which won't guide you towards the planned end. In other words, if you do not follow the path, it is unlikely and unreasonable for you to obtain what was wanted. Only through Goodness can one hope to be prosperous and complete.

"What I do not wish others to undo unto me, I also wish not to do unto others." (Book 5: 12) Of all the quotes in these three books, this was my favorite. The message given by it is the same exact one that is given by a popular quote heard constantly in our society. "Don't do to others what you wouldn't want done unto you." I found it very interesting that a quote so known to people could have gone so far back and moreover, make part of the teachings of such an old religion.

Then, it talks all about politics which is something that I certainly hate. Politicians promise and promise but once they are elected, they just don't do anything. What is it that goes through their minds when they compromise on making changes? Anyways, going back to Confucius, he talks about the leaders and what they do and how they do it in order to follow the Way. Throughout all of this Book, examples were given in order to explain whether someone was or not considered properly Good. I learned that as long as it follows the Way it is Good and if you rule with Goodness and lead the people towards the Way, it is accepted. In order to truly be a man full of virtue, you have to balance accomplishments and solid qualities.

In Book six, Confucius gives a close definition to what Goodness is: "One who is Good sees as his first priority the hardship of self-cultivation, and only after thinks about results or rewards. Yes, this is what we might call Goodness." (Book 6: 22) Goodness is basically the effort towards reaching a severe accomplishment. When this is reached, the rewards are of no concern for he will be already satisfied. As the Master had previously said, those who are Good feel at home in Goodness, so if that individual who achieved his goal is concerned about the rewards, he is not Good. But I don't think he is to blame, for wherever there is Good, there must be bad in order for there to be a balance.

Trying To Think Out Loud - Genesis X - XVI: TTBA

After the Lord promises He will never again try to clean out his creations on Earth, He makes a pact with Noah and tells him to reproduce and flourish. He doesn't directly tell Noah to be "fruitful and multiply" as he once told Adam and Eve, maybe he was in a hurry or something. Or just maybe King James didn't have time to add it in the Bible, but I'm sure God meant to say the same thing.

And again, I question myself. Are we descendants of Noah for he is descendant of Seth? Continuing with the story, Noah did what he was told. He obeyed God, as oppose to the serpent and the whole previous drama with Adam and Eve. So Noah had his sons and created a family, but he, just as any other living creature, had to die. He had to leave Earth, but perhaps it was because the Lord felt lonely and He needed someone to make him company. Or it might have been Noah's chance to rest after saving the world. It was his descendants’ turn to demonstrate their cleverness and prove to God that he didn't make an error by not wiping out his creations.

After the flood, Noah's sons all lived together and spoke the same language, since they descended from the same man. They could communicate and understand each other easily in the same way that I can understand my brothers. But then, when they were trying to build a city all together in order to reach heaven, the Lord angrily interfered and came down to see them. Since He saw that everything was so easy for them and that they could communicate efficiently, He decided to rearrange things and confounded their language by making them not understand one another's speech. God also made them depart far away from one another, each to create their own nations. Yes, your heard it right! This time, it wasn't God the creator of nations and colonies, but it was men. They proved that they could be successful and somehow, succeed so much that they met some kind of those superb powers. Even though this wasn't done by God, it was obviously influenced by him in a way. Well, He's always there, He's Almighty and knows what he wants and how he wants it for the future.

"Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city." (Chapter 11:6)

This story is one of the few I actually remember from my childhood. I was told many, so many that they're just too hard to remember. But this specific one I was able to recognize quickly. However, from my Jewish point of view, I can relate this as a story with lack of hospitality to the "stranger", as my Rabbi once told me. The homosexuality isn't very present in my reasons to judge it how it is, however the commitment of crimes and sins by the Sodomites hurt me in a way. So, I realized that even though the story is written in the same way, it is interpreted differently by the different cultures present today.

One day, Abram is blessed by the Lord and leaves with his kids to the city of Canaan. He had hopes for a good future, but they were all ruined when he knew that his wife could not get pregnant. Sarai had to give Abram her maidservant, Hagar, to have intercourse with him. Hagar didn't love the idea, and she started having harsh feelings towards Sarai for forcing her to do that. However, Sarai had more power than Hagar and started treating her with cruelty which caused Hagar to leave pregnant. I didn't understand this well, but for some reason, Hagar came back to Abram and he named his child. He was called Ishamel. Oh my God! Is his son the great and famous primate from the book I had to read? Well, either he is or not, I'm sure that he was a very wise man. Or should I say Gorilla?