Confucius and Wisdom

Confucius met two boys who were arguing.  One said: "When the sun rises it is closer to the  earth and at midday it is farther away.  I know this because it looks bigger when it rises in the morning annd smaller at midday and distance makes objects seem smaller."  The other boy disagreed furiously, insisting: "No. No. When it rises the sun is cool, but at midday it is hot.  Therefore it must be nearer at midday because near things are warmer than distant things."  The two boys asked Confucius to settle their disagreement.  Having thought for a while, Confucius had to admit, "I don't know."  "So why do they call you wise?" demanded the boys.  "Because I know that is is possible to prove anything with clever arguments," replied Confucius.

from Taoist Wisdom:  Daily Teachings from the Taoist Sages
Timothy Freke, editor.


Wise he is, but there's something else that demonstrates Confucius' wisdom in this story, something rarely seen in the wise of all ages and eras, especially today.  He is able to say, "I don't know." 

A Minute Meditation

I usually post texts that either I agree with to a greater or lesser degree or which puzzle me and I hope for illumination.  Rarely do I post something that I disagree with, but this will be one of those rare occasions.


"The Wise are pleased by nothing
          and pained by nothing,
          delighted by nothing
          and angered by nothing.
Everything is mysteriously the same.
         There is no good and bad.

-- Lao Tzu --
from Taoist Wisdom, "August 26"
Timothy Freke, editor



Not being Wise, I am pleased by some things
         and pained by others,
         some things delight me
         while I am angered by others.
Everything is mysteriously and wondrously different.
        There are things good and bad.


It is clear that I have an impossible distance to travel before I become "Wise."

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