Welcome. What you will find here will be my random thoughts and reactions to various books I have read, films I have watched, and music I have listened to. In addition I may (or may not as the spirit moves me) comment about the fantasy world we call reality, which is far stranger than fiction.
Monday, August 8, 2016
A Minute Meditation
Wish I had learned this long ago, and now I wish I could remember this in time.
Wisdom is knowing when to stop speaking . . .
-- Chuang Tzu -- from Taoist Wisdom: Daily Teachings from the Taoist Sages
Are you suggesting, therefore, that no one can say anything about anyone else's statements? That people should be free to say anything they want and not be held accountable for what they say?
Fred: I'm sure you have thought of this, but the first two lines of Chapter 56 of Lao Tzu's Tao te Ching come to mind: "He who knows does not speak. He who speaks does not know." (Translated by Arthur Waley.) Waley also translated this humorous poem by Po Chü-i:
Lao Tzu
"Those who speak know nothing; Those who know are silent." These words, I am told, Were spoken by Lao Tzu. If we are to believe that Lao Tzu Was himself one who knew, How comes it that he wrote a book Of five thousand words?
Here is something from another part of the ancient world. It was written by Palladas, and appears in The Greek Anthology (the translation is by the Earl of Cromer):
Thou talkest much, O man, but spare thy breath, Keep silence here on earth, and think on Death.
Finally, there is this: "What we cannot speak about we must pass over in silence." This is Proposition 7 (the final, one sentence Proposition) in Wittgenstein's Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus. I've long thought that Wittgenstein was a Taoist or a Buddhist, though he didn't know it.
These are all pieces of advice that have nothing whatsoever to do with politics, and we all ought to pay heed to them, in my humble opinion.
Thank you for posting the wise statement from Chuang Tzu.
Thanks for posting the poem by Po Chu-i. I had never read it, but it expressed the first thought that came to me after reading Lao Tzu's oft quoted couplet from Tao Te Ching.
Can't remember where I read it, but someone said that most Taoists don't know that they are Taoists.
This is lesson that would greatly benefit me :)
ReplyDeleteBrian Joseph,
DeleteOne of these days I may learn it.
i haven't learned it yet... exercising the mouth muscles is addictive in some cases(mine)...
ReplyDeleteMudpuddle,
DeleteAnd if I ever learn this lesson, then it will be time to start on the next one: when to remain silent in the first place.
Say that to Trump.
ReplyDeleteDi,
DeleteI doubt if he would listen, or could listen.
R.T.,
ReplyDeleteAnd who shall be qualified to judge who shall be qualified to judge anyone else's utterances and wisdom?
R.T.,
DeleteChuckle . . .
Love those infinite series.
I hope you're feeling a bit better now. Have you started going back home yet?
I was sorry to hear that illness interrupted what looked to be a great trip.
R.T.,
ReplyDeleteAre you suggesting, therefore, that no one can say anything about anyone else's statements? That people should be free to say anything they want and not be held accountable for what they say?
Fred: I'm sure you have thought of this, but the first two lines of Chapter 56 of Lao Tzu's Tao te Ching come to mind: "He who knows does not speak. He who speaks does not know." (Translated by Arthur Waley.) Waley also translated this humorous poem by Po Chü-i:
ReplyDeleteLao Tzu
"Those who speak know nothing;
Those who know are silent."
These words, I am told,
Were spoken by Lao Tzu.
If we are to believe that Lao Tzu
Was himself one who knew,
How comes it that he wrote a book
Of five thousand words?
Here is something from another part of the ancient world. It was written by Palladas, and appears in The Greek Anthology (the translation is by the Earl of Cromer):
Thou talkest much, O man, but spare thy breath,
Keep silence here on earth, and think on Death.
Finally, there is this: "What we cannot speak about we must pass over in silence." This is Proposition 7 (the final, one sentence Proposition) in Wittgenstein's Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus. I've long thought that Wittgenstein was a Taoist or a Buddhist, though he didn't know it.
These are all pieces of advice that have nothing whatsoever to do with politics, and we all ought to pay heed to them, in my humble opinion.
Thank you for posting the wise statement from Chuang Tzu.
Stephen,
DeleteThanks for posting the poem by Po Chu-i. I had never read it, but it expressed the first thought that came to me after reading Lao Tzu's oft quoted couplet from Tao Te Ching.
Can't remember where I read it, but someone said that most Taoists don't know that they are Taoists.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.