Everyday, we pack up and ship items to two large storage containers at Red Bluff Mini Storage on South Main near St. Elizabeth's Hospital complex.
My comfortable reading room, study, library, man cave ... is now empty.
Friday, March 31, 2017
Proceeding With Packing
Yesterday, the buyers came for the final walk through of our home and property. Two women are purchasing our home and property. Two little children and an old grandfather came with the two women and a man to walk through the house and property. We expect to sign papers early next week, closing the sale of our home and 5 acres of property.
Everyday, we pack up and ship items to two large storage containers at Red Bluff Mini Storage on South Main near St. Elizabeth's Hospital complex.
My comfortable reading room, study, library, man cave ... is now empty.
Everyday, we pack up and ship items to two large storage containers at Red Bluff Mini Storage on South Main near St. Elizabeth's Hospital complex.
My comfortable reading room, study, library, man cave ... is now empty.
Tao Te Ching, Chapter 6
Dao De Jing, Laozi
Chapter 6
"The Tao is called the Great Mother:
玄牝之門.
是謂天地根.
綿綿若存.
用之不勤. - Chinese characters, Chapter 6, Tao Te Ching
ku shên pu ssu, shih wei hsüan p'in.
hsüan p'in chih mên.
shih wei t'ien ti kên.
mien mien jo ts'un.
yung chih pu ch'in.
- Wade-Giles Romanization, Chapter 6, Tao Te Ching
"The valley spirit that doesn't die we call the dark womb
as real as gossamer silk and yet we can't exhaust it.
The valley spirit that doesn't die we call the dark womb the dark womb's mouth
we call the source of creation as real as gossamer silk and yet we can't exhaust it."
- Translated by Red Pine, Chapter 6
"The spirit of the valley does not die
It may be known as the mysterious feminine
The gateway of the mysterious feminine
May be known as the source of heaven and earth
Endless, continuous, seeming to exist
To practice this is not effort."
- Translated by Bradford Hatcher, 2005, Chapter 6
"La Esencia del Todo no muere.
Es la Mujer Misteriosa, Madre del Universo.
El camino de la Mujer Misteriosa
es la raíz del Cielo y de la Tierra.
Su duración es perenne, su eficiencia infatigable."
- Translation from Wikisource, 2013, Capítulo 6
Valley Spirit, Gu Shen, Concept, Chapter 6
Das Tor des dunklen Weibs,
das heißt die Wurzel von Himmel und Erde.
Ununterbrochen wie beharrend
wirkt es ohne Mühe."- Translated by Richard Wilhelm, 1911, Chapter 6
"The spirit of emptiness is immortal.
It is called the Great Mother
because it gives birth to Heaven and Earth.
It is like a vapor,
barely seen but always present.
Use it effortlessly."
- Translated by John H. McDonald, Chapter 6
Chapter 6
"The manifestations of Infinity never cease manifesting.
Infinity is the primal creator, the oneness of male and female.
Infinity is the gate though which heaven and earth manifested.
It is invisible to the senses, yet totally permeates all things.
It is inexhaustible and eternally available for any purpose."
- Translated by John Worldpeace, Chapter 6
Infinity is the primal creator, the oneness of male and female.
Infinity is the gate though which heaven and earth manifested.
It is invisible to the senses, yet totally permeates all things.
It is inexhaustible and eternally available for any purpose."
- Translated by John Worldpeace, Chapter 6
"The Tao is called the Great Mother:
empty yet never-ending,
it gives birth to unlimited worlds.
It is always at hand within you.
Use it gently, and without force."
- Translated by Rivenrock, Chapter 6
"The spiritual valley can never be extinguished.
It is correctly referred to as the mysteries of the receptive.
The entrance to mysterious receptivity is correctly referred to as
the origin of the whole universe.
It is continuous and unbroken!
Its usefulness seems to persevere without effort."
- Translated by Nina Correa, 2005, Chapter 6
"The valley spirit not expires,
Mysterious woman ’tis called by the sires.
The mysterious woman’s door, to boot,
Is called of heaven and earth the root.
Forever and aye it seems to endure
And its use is without effort sure.”
- Translated by D. T. Suzuki and Paul Carus, 1913, Chapter 6
"Like the sheltered, fertile valley,
the meditative mind is still,
yet retains its energy.
Since both energy and stillness,
of themselves, do not have form,
it is not through the senses
that they may be found,
nor understood by intellect alone,
although, in nature, both abound.
In the meditative state,
the mind ceases to differentiate
between existences,
and that which may or may not be.
It leaves them well alone,
for they exist,
not differentiated, but as one,
within the meditative mind."
- Translated by Stan Rosenthal, Chapter 6
"The concept of Yin is ever present.
It is the Mystic Female from whom
the heavens and the earth originate.
Constantly, continuously, enduring always.
Use her!"
- Translated by C. Ganson, Chapter 6
it gives birth to unlimited worlds.
It is always at hand within you.
Use it gently, and without force."
- Translated by Rivenrock, Chapter 6
"The spiritual valley can never be extinguished.
It is correctly referred to as the mysteries of the receptive.
The entrance to mysterious receptivity is correctly referred to as
the origin of the whole universe.
It is continuous and unbroken!
Its usefulness seems to persevere without effort."
- Translated by Nina Correa, 2005, Chapter 6
"The valley spirit not expires,
Mysterious woman ’tis called by the sires.
The mysterious woman’s door, to boot,
Is called of heaven and earth the root.
Forever and aye it seems to endure
And its use is without effort sure.”
- Translated by D. T. Suzuki and Paul Carus, 1913, Chapter 6
"Like the sheltered, fertile valley,
the meditative mind is still,
yet retains its energy.
Since both energy and stillness,
of themselves, do not have form,
it is not through the senses
that they may be found,
nor understood by intellect alone,
although, in nature, both abound.
In the meditative state,
the mind ceases to differentiate
between existences,
and that which may or may not be.
It leaves them well alone,
for they exist,
not differentiated, but as one,
within the meditative mind."
- Translated by Stan Rosenthal, Chapter 6
"The concept of Yin is ever present.
It is the Mystic Female from whom
the heavens and the earth originate.
Constantly, continuously, enduring always.
Use her!"
- Translated by C. Ganson, Chapter 6
"The valley spirit dies not, aye the same;
The female mystery thus do we name.
Its gate, from which at first they issued forth,
Is called the root from which grew heaven and earth.
Long and unbroken does its power remain,
Used gently, and without the touch of pain."
- Translated by James Legge, 1891, Chapter 6
"The valley spirit dies not, aye the same;
The female mystery thus do we name.
Its gate, from which at first they issued forth,
Is called the root from which grew heaven and earth.
Long and unbroken does its power remain,
Used gently, and without the touch of pain."
- Translated by Stephen McIntyre, 2009, Chapter 6
谷神不死, 是謂玄牝.玄牝之門.
是謂天地根.
綿綿若存.
用之不勤. - Chinese characters, Chapter 6, Tao Te Ching
ku shên pu ssu, shih wei hsüan p'in.
hsüan p'in chih mên.
shih wei t'ien ti kên.
mien mien jo ts'un.
yung chih pu ch'in.
- Wade-Giles Romanization, Chapter 6, Tao Te Ching
"The valley spirit that doesn't die we call the dark womb
as real as gossamer silk and yet we can't exhaust it.
The valley spirit that doesn't die we call the dark womb the dark womb's mouth
we call the source of creation as real as gossamer silk and yet we can't exhaust it."
- Translated by Red Pine, Chapter 6
"The spirit of the valley does not die
It may be known as the mysterious feminine
The gateway of the mysterious feminine
May be known as the source of heaven and earth
Endless, continuous, seeming to exist
To practice this is not effort."
- Translated by Bradford Hatcher, 2005, Chapter 6
"The unlimited capacity of valleys;
the unbelievable power of Spirits;
and the unending life of immortality are called the Profound Origin Mother.
The beginning of the Profound Origin Mother is the root of Heaven and Earth.
Endlessly, endlessly!
It is existing.
Yet its usefulness is invisible."
- Translated by Tang Zi-Chang, Chapter 6
the unbelievable power of Spirits;
and the unending life of immortality are called the Profound Origin Mother.
The beginning of the Profound Origin Mother is the root of Heaven and Earth.
Endlessly, endlessly!
It is existing.
Yet its usefulness is invisible."
- Translated by Tang Zi-Chang, Chapter 6
"The Tao never dies;
It is a deep womb.
And the opening of the womb
Is called the root of heaven and earth.
It exists for ever,
And its use can never be exhausted."
- Translated by Gu Zengkun, Chapter 6
It is a deep womb.
And the opening of the womb
Is called the root of heaven and earth.
It exists for ever,
And its use can never be exhausted."
- Translated by Gu Zengkun, Chapter 6
"The mystery of the valley is immortal;
It is known as the Subtle Female.
The gateway of the Subtle Female
Is the source of Heaven and Earth.
Everlasting, endless, it appears to exist.
Its usefulness comes with no effort."
- Translated by R. L. Wing, 1986, Chapter 6
It is known as the Subtle Female.
The gateway of the Subtle Female
Is the source of Heaven and Earth.
Everlasting, endless, it appears to exist.
Its usefulness comes with no effort."
- Translated by R. L. Wing, 1986, Chapter 6
"La Esencia del Todo no muere.
Es la Mujer Misteriosa, Madre del Universo.
El camino de la Mujer Misteriosa
es la raíz del Cielo y de la Tierra.
Su duración es perenne, su eficiencia infatigable."
- Translation from Wikisource, 2013, Capítulo 6
Valley Spirit, Gu Shen, Concept, Chapter 6
"Der Geist des Tals stirbt nicht,
das heißt das dunkle Weib.Das Tor des dunklen Weibs,
das heißt die Wurzel von Himmel und Erde.
Ununterbrochen wie beharrend
wirkt es ohne Mühe."- Translated by Richard Wilhelm, 1911, Chapter 6
"The spirit of the valley never dies.
It is called the subtle and profound female.
The gate of the subtle and profound female
Is the root of Heaven and Earth.
It is continuous, and seems to be always existing.
Use it and you will never wear it out."
- Translated by Chan Wing-Tsit, 1963, Chapter 6
"The spirit of emptiness is immortal.
It is called the Great Mother
because it gives birth to Heaven and Earth.
It is like a vapor,
barely seen but always present.
Use it effortlessly."
- Translated by John H. McDonald, Chapter 6
A typical webpage created by Mike Garofalo for each one of the 81 Chapters (Verses, Sections) of the Tao Te Ching (Daodejing) by Lao Tzu (Laozi) includes 25 different English language translations or interpolations for that Chapter, 5 Spanish language translations for that Chapter, the Chinese characters for that Chapter, the Wade-Giles and Hanyu Pinyin transliterations (Romanization) of the Mandarin Chinese words for that Chapter, and 2 German and 1 French translation of that Chapter. Each webpage for each one of the 81 Chapters of the Tao Te Ching includes extensive indexing by key words, phrases, and terms for that Chapter in English, Spanish, and the Wade-Giles Romanization. Each webpage on a Chapter of the Daodejing includes recommended reading in books and websites, a detailed bibliography, some commentary, research leads, translation sources, a Google Translate drop down menu, and other resources for that Chapter. These are hypertext documents, and available online under Creative Commons 4.
Chapter 6, Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu. Complied by Mike Garofalo.
Chapter and Thematic Index (Concordance) to the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
English Language Daodejing Translators' Source Index
Spanish Language Daodejing Translators' Source Index
Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices
Taoism: A Selected Reading List
Chapter 6, Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu. Complied by Mike Garofalo.
Chapter and Thematic Index (Concordance) to the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
English Language Daodejing Translators' Source Index
Spanish Language Daodejing Translators' Source Index
Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices
Taoism: A Selected Reading List
Thursday, March 30, 2017
Red Bluff Backyard Springtime
"Scents bring memories, and many memories bring nostalgic pleasure. We would be wise to plan for this when we plant a garden."
- Thalassa Cruso, To Everything There is a Season, 1973
"The act of smelling something, anything, is remarkably like the act of thinking. Immediately at the moment of perception, you can feel the mind going to work, sending the odor around from place to place, setting off complex repertories through the brain, polling one center after another for signs of recognition, for old memories and old connection. "
- Lewis Thomas
"Nothing is more memorable than a smell. One scent can be unexpected, momentary and fleeting, yet conjure up a childhood summer beside a lake in the mountains; another, a moonlit beach; a third, a family dinner of pot roast and sweet potatoes during a myrtle-mad August in a Midwestern town. Smells detonate softly in our memory like poignant land mines hidden under the weedy mass of years. Hit a tripwire of smell and memories explode all at once. A complex vision leaps out of the undergrowth."
- Diane Ackerman
Those Hearts Keep Pumping
Today, the buyer and buyer's agent, and my seller's agent, will be coming, at 10:30 am, for something called "the final inspection" of our home and property. I hope things go well, and our home and property continue to meet the buyer's expectations for purchase. We expect escrow to close, and for Karen and I to leave Red Bluff and drive to Vancouver, Washington, on April 14, 2017.
Very pleased with the Golden State Warriors NBA team wins over Memphis, Houston, and San Antonio Spurs. The win at the Spurs last night was a crazy game.
On a personal health note, I've had a first degree heart block for decades. At age 71 now, the electrical wiring of my heart has been giving me some problems. I have visited my cardiologist, Dr. Gisela Okonski, annually, for over a decade. I've had treadmill testing twice. Last year, I wore a chest pad at home for a month that monitored my heart. I was active as a fitness instructor from 2002-2016.
Yesterday, Dr. Okonski inserted a mico-chip, a Medtronic Reveal LINQ, in my chest to monitor my heart. Now, I need to learn how to use the Medtronic MyCareLink hardware and software.
Not feeling any discomfort or pain at the insertion site - at present. Taking it easy. No heavy lifting or pulling. Light duties for a few days.
I believe that I can safely walk on flat ground, and handle the remaining duties of our moving.
The wind here in Red Bluff has been extremely powerful this morning.
I hope it stops soon!!
No falling trees today, please.
No sudden heart problems, for me, I hope.
"Old men ought to be explorers
Here and there does not matter
We must be still and still moving
Into another intensity
For a further union, a deeper communion"
- T. S. Eliot, Four Quartets - East Coker # 200, 1943
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Bird Watching Tips from Jenny Wise
"Hi!
People look at me like I’m crazy when I tell them how much I love birding -- they think it’s just something older people do. But I’ve gotta tell you, that is not the case! Birding is an exciting, captivating, and great way to enjoy the outdoors, and people of all ages enjoy it as a pastime.
I wasn’t always this gaga for birds, but after a red-tailed hawk landed in our backyard one day,
I was hooked. Mostly because I kept hoping this bird would return, and she has from time to time, but she opened my eyes to a whole new world. The beauty of this hobby is that anyone can do it, whether you live in the city or the country. You can be young or old, you can do it any time of the year, and, best of all, it’s free!
If you have never considered bird watching before, I highly recommend getting a bird feeder. It’s a great way to start learning about birds, and it’s fun to watch what they do. If want to learn even more about birding, I’ve gathered some great resources below that you might be interested in, plus maybe your readers would enjoy these, too. What about placing them here:
Birding for Beginners
Lifelong Birders: Introducing Your Kids to Bird Watching in Your Backyard
The Rise of Young Birder Clubs
The Audubon Guide to Bird Gear
A Homeowner's Guide to Animal Control Problems: What to Do & Who to Call
*This is a helpful article in case you see a bird that appears to be ill or injured, or if one manages to find its way inside your home.
I hope these resources are useful in some way.
Thank you for your time, and happy bird watching!
Best,
Jenny Wise
Specialhomeeducator.com / jennywise@specialhomeeducator.com
700 N Valley St Suite B Anaheim, CA 92801"
+++++++++
Birding for Beginners
Lifelong Birders: Introducing Your Kids to Bird Watching in Your Backyard
The Rise of Young Birder Clubs
The Audubon Guide to Bird Gear
A Homeowner's Guide to Animal Control Problems: What to Do & Who to Call
*This is a helpful article in case you see a bird that appears to be ill or injured, or if one manages to find its way inside your home.
I hope these resources are useful in some way.
Thank you for your time, and happy bird watching!
Best,
Jenny Wise
Specialhomeeducator.com / jennywise@specialhomeeducator.com
700 N Valley St Suite B Anaheim, CA 92801"
+++++++++
Thank you, Jenny, for sending me this information. My wife and I are moving from Red Bluff, California, to the City of Vancouver, in the State of Washington. We will be living on the north side of the Columbia River with Portland on the south side of the Rive - a large metropolitan area. I am sure Karen and I will see many new species of birds while living 500 miles north of where we lived for 19 years in Red Bluff, California.
Just, yesterday, in Red Bluff, 3/28/17, I was walking under some pine trees and I disturbed a large barn owl. The owl flew over my head and out into the large eucalyptus trees. Last week, Karen sighted 2 large wild turkeys in Debbie's yard.
We will both miss the many backyard birds we enjoyed watching for 19 years in the North Sacramento Valley near Red Bluff, California.
Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica ASFGC 317
Black Phoebe, Sayornis nigricans, BNC 248
Blue Jay See Western Scrub-Jay
Blackbird - Brewer, Euphagus cyanocephalus, BNC 351, Present all year
Bluebird - Western, Sialia mexicana ASFGC 325
Bullock's Oriole, Icterus bullockii,. BCFG 347
Bushtit, Psaltriparus minimus, BNC 281
California Quail (Phasianidae Callipepla) BNC 127
Canada Goose, Branta canadensis ASPN 266
Cedar Waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum, BCN309, Februrary
Coot - American, Fulica americana, BNC 133, January in ricefield
Crow - American, Corvus brachyrhynchos, BNC 266
Cowbird - Brown-Headed, Molothrus ater, BNC 352
Ducks and Geese - scores of thousands fly overhead in the winter months.
Egret - Great, Ardea alba, BNC 62
Egret - Snowy, Egretta thula ASPN 262
Flicker - Northern, Colaptes auratus, BNC 237
Geese and Ducks - scores of thousands fly overhead in the winter months.
Goldfinch - American, Carduelis tristis, BNC 364
Goldfinch - Lesser, Carduelis psaltria, BNC 363
Great Egret, Ardea alba, BNC 62
Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus (Karen and I observed a very large Great Horned Owl up high in the
cottonwood tree over the middle pond on 9/23/2003.)
Grosbeak - Black Headed, Pheucticus melanocephalus
Guinea fowl Numida meleagris
Hawk - Red-Tailed, Buteo jamaicensis, BNC 112 Hawk by the pond, 8/29/07
Hawk - Red-Shouldered, Buteo lineatus, BNC 110
Heron - Green, Butorides virescens ASPN 262
Heron - Great Blue, Ardea herodias, BNC 61
Housefinches, Carpodacus mexicanus, BNC 359
Hummingbirds - Anna's Calypte anna
Hummingbirds - Black-chinned Archilochus alexandri Hummingbirds - Rufous Selasphorus rufus
Junco - Dark Eyed, Junco hyemalis, BNC342, March, December
Kestrel - American, Falco sparverius, BNC 116
Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus, BNC 139 Lay their eggs on the open ground. Mothers are great actors
that try all kinds of actions to get you to walk away from their exposed nests.
King Bird - Western Tyrannus verticalis
Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis
Magpies - Western Magpies, Yellow billed Pica nuttalli (Mike's favorites: curious, noisy, social, colorful, big.) In the summer of 2004 we found two dead magpies in the yard. By the end of the summer, our large local group of over 16 magpies had disappeared. Some local birders say that the magpies were killed by the West Nile Virus.
Mallard Duck, Anas platyrhynchos, BNC 80
Meadowlark - Western, Sturnella neglecta, BNC 349
Mockingbird - Northern, Mimus polyglottos, BNC 304. Singing from high perches for hours.
Mourning Doves, Zenaida macroura, BNC 200
Oriole - Bullock's, Icterus bullockii,. BCFG 347
Pheasant - Ring-Necked, Phasianus colchicus, BNC 121
Quail - California, Callipepla californica, BNC 127
Red-winged blackbirds, Agelaius phoeniceus, BNC 347, Spring and summer visitor.
Rock Dove, Columba livia, BNC 198
Robin, Turdus migratorius, BNC 301, springtime visitor
Rufous-sided Towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus, spring
Snow Goose, Chen caerulescens ASPN 265
Sparrow - House, Passer domesticus, BNC 366
Sparrows - Many varieties
Starling - European, Sturnus vulgaris, BNC 307
Swan - Tundra, Cygnus columbianus, BNC 75, Winter visitor
Turkey vulture, Cathartes aura, BNC 68
Western Meadowlark, Sturnella neglecta, BNC 349 Western Scrub-Jay, Aphelocoma californica, BNC 261
Woodpecker - Acorn, Melanerpes formicivorus, BNC 228
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Day Hiking - A Good Read
I have enjoyed day hikes for over 60 years. My day hikes have taken place mostly in California and Oregon. I have not done any backpacking since 1973. I enjoy tent camping and taking day hikes in the area where I camp. I take walks nearly every day of the week.
There are many books, magazine articles, and webpages with information on walks, day hikes, and backpacking. One book that I have found useful to read regarding day hiking is the following:
That is me on top of North Dome in Yosemite.
Quite a challenging day hike.
There are many books, magazine articles, and webpages with information on walks, day hikes, and backpacking. One book that I have found useful to read regarding day hiking is the following:
The
Dayhiker's Handbook: An All-Terrain, All-Season Guide. By John
Long and Michael Hodgson. Camden, Maine, Ragged Mountain Press, 1996. Index, appencices, 216 pages. ISBN: 0070291462. An excellent
guide to preparing for and enjoying long day walks in the desert, mountains, jungles, canyons and streams, in the forest and along the coast. Practical tips and useful
advice. VSCL.
That is me on top of North Dome in Yosemite.
Quite a challenging day hike.
Monday, March 27, 2017
Moving Out and Coping Stuff
My son and his wife, and my wife and I all worked on packing up our belongings and moving them into storage containers in town. We four adults worked from 3/25 to 3/27.
We how have 18 days before we must move out of our home in Red Bluff. We live at this home, on five acres of rural property, from 1998-2017.
We have made good progress on the overall task of preparing to move to Vancouver, WA.
Updated Chapter 1 of my webpage on the Tao Te Ching. I try to update one Daodejing Verse/Chapter each week.
My home library (VSCL) is all packed up and in storage.
I've used my Kindle a bit more lately.
My Kindle reading list right now includes:
The Swerve by Stephen Greenblatt
Finding Flow by Mihaly Cstkszen....
Spiritual Ecology: The Cry of the Earth compilation
The Backpacker's Handbook
However, lately, I just don't have much time for much reading.
I am following the Golden State Warriors NBA basketball team out of the San Francisco Bay area. They have a very good win streak going, and beat the Memphis Grizzles on Sunday. The Warriors will be even more competitive in the upcoming playoffs (only 9 games to go in the regular season), if Kevin Durant can return in three weeks.
We how have 18 days before we must move out of our home in Red Bluff. We live at this home, on five acres of rural property, from 1998-2017.
We have made good progress on the overall task of preparing to move to Vancouver, WA.
Updated Chapter 1 of my webpage on the Tao Te Ching. I try to update one Daodejing Verse/Chapter each week.
My home library (VSCL) is all packed up and in storage.
I've used my Kindle a bit more lately.
My Kindle reading list right now includes:
The Swerve by Stephen Greenblatt
Finding Flow by Mihaly Cstkszen....
Spiritual Ecology: The Cry of the Earth compilation
The Backpacker's Handbook
However, lately, I just don't have much time for much reading.
I am following the Golden State Warriors NBA basketball team out of the San Francisco Bay area. They have a very good win streak going, and beat the Memphis Grizzles on Sunday. The Warriors will be even more competitive in the upcoming playoffs (only 9 games to go in the regular season), if Kevin Durant can return in three weeks.
Sunday, March 26, 2017
European Christians and the American Way
I often see graphics on the Internet, in social media and webpages, that catch my attention. I don't agree with them and think they are incorrect. Here is an example:
"European Christians Built this Nation." ????
First, the word 'Christians' is merely a lump sum statistical term and vague. The fact is that Catholics, Baptists, Lutherans, Quakers, Puritans, Presbyterians, Mormons, Southern Baptist Black Churches, Jehovah's Witnesses, Fundamentalists, Mennonites, Church of England, Revivalists, Community Churches, Christian Scientists, etc., don't agree with each other, and often despise and condemn one another. Shite and Sunni and Sufi Moslems do the same today in the Middle East. The fanatics in these denominations have a long history of harassing, torturing, and murdering "non-believers" in their illusions.
Yes, those wonderful European Christians (British and Spanish) and Islamics began by kidnapping, shipping, and enslaving millions of Africans in the Americas, and kept exploiting slave labor until 1870. Those slaves help build this Nation.
Yes, those kindly European Christians decided to exterminate those savage heathen Native Americans. They helped unbuild America.
Yes, those hardworking and mean European Christians (i.e., Catholics, Lutherans, and other Protestants) wildly cheered for a loud mouthed demagogue who promised to "Make Germany Great Again". Their foolishness resulted in the genocide of 6 million Jews, the ruin of Europe, and 60 million dead from WWII.
Many of those closed-minded Christian Europeans, especially the WASP, bigoted, racist and violent KKK contingents, hated Catholics, Jews, Blacks, Moslems, and foreigners.
Many Americans were noted for their independence, self-reliance, and favoring a secular state and religious tolerance. The ongoing urbanization of America in the 20th century has made us seek new ways of governing ourselves and some shifts in values. For example, women were denied the vote by 'Christian' macho men and churches until 1920. The Civil Rights Act was not passed until 1964.
Over the years, those hardworking and poor immigrants, from all over the world, that came to America (and their children and grand children) supported, voted for, and paid taxes for public schools, welfare, Social Security, health care, homeless shelters, sewers, colleges, environmental protection, police, Medicare, courts, social services, libraries, scientific research, roads, parks, museums, etc. Those immigrants knew that America was a better place to live and they paid for the opportunity with their taxes and their lives in our military services.
Most immigrants to the USA, of all races and religions, are decent, generous, and compassionate.
My Italian grandparents immigrated in 1905 to Los Angeles and succeeded. Their children went to public schools, public colleges, used roads, followed business laws, they enjoyed the use of many public facilities, they paid their taxes, collected Social Security and Medicare, and helped build America. And many poor immigrant folks voted Democratic, were pro-union, or Socialists.
Yes, there were many decent and generous European Christian immigrants that helped build America. But they never did it alone!
I think that decent Americans continue to build a kinder and better secular Nation today.
However, the sub-text, and the wrong assumption and claim, is that immigrant white folks who worshiped at my local church, and think like I do or my parents did, really did actually build America. Balderdash!
Many European Christians and Islamics have hated and feared each other for centuries. It is no surprise to see that slip into the graphic above. I dislike Islamic Sharia laws, and I dislike Christian Moral Majority "Sharia" laws. Both want to force their religious practices and customs and petty rules on the rest of us hardworking, and law abiding citizens who support a secular government.
The "welfare" inclusion is of course the same old sub-text of not wanting welfare for those lazy blacks and rapist and drug dealing Mexicans (the latest Takeaway Trump version), and Moslem immigrants or citizens who are all radical Jihadis; while conveniently ignoring and forgiving those poor unfortunate white folks who worship at my local church and need welfare to help them get a leg up in hard times. What is good for the holy white goose is not OK for the discolored or mixed gander.
As for 'Bitching,' it seems like a sneering phrase used to describe the opinions of people who don't agree with you, e.g., if you disagree with Mr. Trump's lies and takeaways, then you are 'whining' and 'bitching.' Debating and discussing politics and values has a long and honorable tradition in America. We have listened to Republicants whine and bitch and proselytize for the last eight years; it is now payback time, but with the truth this time.
When driving home from work one day two years ago, this is what I saw. A local red-neck rifleman, probably a "Jeffersonian," spray painted on the side of a bridge over Interstate 5 the following: "Lynch Obama." [One can't know for sure who the perpetrator is, since he hides like the coward he is; but a local Red Bluff racist redneck is most likely.] He most likely sits in a Christian Church on Sundays, with other white European Christians. Many of us are not thankful for these belligerent European Christians doing their clandestine political bitching. This freeway is flanked by posters and signs with pro-Christian warnings of hell-fire, and anti-abortion crosses. Thankfully, a state CALTrans worker removed the racist graffiti from the concrete bridge wall a few days later.
Saturday, March 25, 2017
The Essence of Pleasure: Spontaneity
"No pleasure endures unseasoned by variety."
- Publilius Syrus
"The essence of pleasure is spontaneity."
- Germaine Greer
"Why not seize the pleasure at once, how often is happiness destroyed by preparation, foolish preparations."
- Jane Austen
"Man, Nietzsche contended, is a being that has leapt beyond the "bestial bounds of the mating season" and seeks pleasure not just at fixed intervals but perpetually. Since, however, there are fewer sources of pleasure than his perpetual desire for pleasure demands, nature has forced man on the "path of pleasure contrivance." Man, the creature of consciousness whose horizons extend to the past and the future, rarely attains complete fulfillment within the present, and for this reason experiences something most likely unknown to any animal, namely boredom. This strange creature seeks a stimulus to release him from boredom. If no such stimulus is readily available, it simply needs to be created. Man becomes the animal that plays. Play is an invention that engages the emotions; it is the art of stimulating the emotions. Music is a prime example. Thus, the anthropological and physiological formula for the secret of art: "The flight from boredom is the mother of all art." "
- Rudiger Safranski, Nietzsche: A Philosophical Biography, p. 23
Seven Pleasures: Essays on Ordinary Happiness
By Willard Spiegelman. The seven simple pleasures discussed are: dancing, reading, walking, looking, listening, swimming, and writing. If you included Taijiquan as "dancing" then all of these can be solitary activities. Picador, 2010. 208 pages. ISBN: 9780312429676.
Pleasure and Enjoyment: Quotations, Sayings, Information
Hedonistic and Epircurean Philosophy
The Five Senses
Play
- Publilius Syrus
"The essence of pleasure is spontaneity."
- Germaine Greer
"Why not seize the pleasure at once, how often is happiness destroyed by preparation, foolish preparations."
- Jane Austen
"Perhaps all pleasure is only relief."
- William Burroughs
- William Burroughs
"Man, Nietzsche contended, is a being that has leapt beyond the "bestial bounds of the mating season" and seeks pleasure not just at fixed intervals but perpetually. Since, however, there are fewer sources of pleasure than his perpetual desire for pleasure demands, nature has forced man on the "path of pleasure contrivance." Man, the creature of consciousness whose horizons extend to the past and the future, rarely attains complete fulfillment within the present, and for this reason experiences something most likely unknown to any animal, namely boredom. This strange creature seeks a stimulus to release him from boredom. If no such stimulus is readily available, it simply needs to be created. Man becomes the animal that plays. Play is an invention that engages the emotions; it is the art of stimulating the emotions. Music is a prime example. Thus, the anthropological and physiological formula for the secret of art: "The flight from boredom is the mother of all art." "
- Rudiger Safranski, Nietzsche: A Philosophical Biography, p. 23
Seven Pleasures: Essays on Ordinary Happiness
By Willard Spiegelman. The seven simple pleasures discussed are: dancing, reading, walking, looking, listening, swimming, and writing. If you included Taijiquan as "dancing" then all of these can be solitary activities. Picador, 2010. 208 pages. ISBN: 9780312429676.
Pleasure and the Good Life: Concerning the Nature, Varieties, and Plausibility of Hedonism.
By Fred Feldman. Clarendon Press, 2006. 240 pages. ISBN: 978-0199297603. VSCL.
By Fred Feldman. Clarendon Press, 2006. 240 pages. ISBN: 978-0199297603. VSCL. Pleasure and Enjoyment: Quotations, Sayings, Information
Hedonistic and Epircurean Philosophy
The Five Senses
Play
Friday, March 24, 2017
Dao De Jing, Laozi, Chapter 7
Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
Chapter 7
"The Tao is infinite and eternal.
Why is it eternal?
It was never born;
thus it can never die.
Why is it infinite?
It has no desires for itself;
thus it is present for all beings.
The Master stays behind;
that is why he is ahead.
He is removed from all things;
that is why he is one with them.
Because he has let go of himself,
he is perfectly fulfilled."
- Translated by John Dicus, 2002, Chapter 7
"The universe is everlasting.
The reason the universe is everlasting
Is that it does not live for Self.
Therefore, it can long endure.
Therefore, the Sage puts himself last,
And finds himself in the foremost place;
Regards his body as accidental,
And his body is thereby preserved.
Is it not because he does not live for Self,
That his Self is realized?"
- Translated by Lin Yutang, 1955, Chapter 7
"Heaven is lasting, Earth endures.
What enables Heaven and Earth to last and endure?
Because they do not live for themselves - so it is that they can live so long.
And so, the Wise Person: Puts himself last, and so finds himself in front.
He puts himself in the out group, and so maintains his place.
The personal does not exist for him.
Isn't this how he can perfect what for him is most personal?"
- Translated by Michael LaFargue, 1992, Chapter 7
"The Tao is infinite, eternal.
Why is it eternal?
It was never born;
thus it can never die.
Why is it infinite?
It has no desires for itself;
thus it is present for all beings.
The Master stays behind;
that is why she is ahead.
She is detached from all things;
that is why she is one with them.
Because she has let go of herself,
she is perfectly fulfilled."
- Translated by Edwin Shaw, 1996, Chapter 7
"Heaven is lasting and earth enduring.
The reason why they are lasting and enduring
is that they do not live for themselves.
Therefore, they live long.
In the same way the Sage keeps himself behind,
and he is in the front.
He forgets himself and is preserved.
Is it not because he is not self-interested
That his self-interest is established?"
- Translated by Ch'u Ta-Kao, 1904, Chapter 7
天長地久.
天地所以能長且久者.
以其不自生.
故能長生.
是以聖人後其身而身先.
外其身而身存.
非以其無私耶.
故能成其私.
- Chinese characters, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 7
t'ien ch'ang ti chiu.
t'ien ti so yi nêng ch'ang ch'ieh chiu chê.
yi ch'i pu tzu shêng.
ku nêng ch'ang shêng.
shih yi shêng jên hou ch'i shên erh shên hsien.
wai ch'i shên erh shên ts'un.
fei yi ch'i wu ssu hsieh.
ku nêng ch'êng ch'i ssu.
- Wade-Giles Romanization, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 7
"Heaven is enduring and earth is lasting.
Why heaven and earth can be enduring and lasting is because
they do not live for themselves, thus, they can endure and last.
So that a Sage ruler put himself behind others, and he came to the front;
he excluded himself from struggle with others and he survived.
It is because he was selfless that he fulfilled himself."
- Translated by Tang Zi-chang, Chapter 7
"The principle of initiation persists; and the principle of completion continues.
Why do such opposing principles persist?
Because they inhere in Nature, rather than stand by themselves.
That is why opposites endure.
The intelligent man, when an issue arises, stands off
and observes both contentions.
Since he does not take sides, he never loses a battle.
By not favoring one side more than the other,
he is able to appreciate the virtues of both sides."
- Translation by Archie J. Bahm, 1958, Chapter 7
"Largo es el Cielo, duradera es la Tierra.
El Cielo su larguray la Tierra su duración lo deben a no vivir vida propia.
Por eso,pueden vivir mucho.
Así, también el hombre perfecto se antepone, porque se ha pospuesto.
Se queda, porque se ha apartado.
Logra sus interesesprivados, porque los ha desatendido."
- Translated by Carmelo Elorduy, 2006, Capítulo 7
"Heaven lasts long, and Earth abides.
What is the secret of their durability?
Is it not because they do not live for themselves
That they can live so long?
Therefore, the Sage wants to remain behind,
But finds himself at the head of others;
Reckons himself out,
But finds himself safe and secure.
Is it not because he is selfless
That his Self is realized?"
- Translated by John C. H. Wu, 1961, Chapter 7
"The heavens and the earth last forever.
They can do so because they do not exist for themselves.
Therefore, great men always let other people go first, but ended up being first themselves.
They put their lives out of consideration, but always survived.
Is it not because they were selfless,
That they benefited themselves at the end?"
- Translated by Yang Xiaolin, Chapter 7
A typical webpage created by Mike Garofalo for each one of the 81 Chapters (Verses, Sections) of the Tao Te Ching (Daodejing) by Lao Tzu (Laozi) includes 25 different English language translations or interpolations for that Chapter, 5 Spanish language translations for that Chapter, the Chinese characters for that Chapter, the Wade-Giles and Hanyu Pinyin transliterations (Romanization) of the Mandarin Chinese words for that Chapter, and 2 German and 1 French translation of that Chapter. Each webpage for each one of the 81 Chapters of the Tao Te Ching includes extensive indexing by key words, phrases, and terms for that Chapter in English, Spanish, and the Wade-Giles Romanization. Each webpage on a Chapter of the Daodejing includes recommended reading in books and websites, a detailed bibliography, some commentary, research leads, translation sources, a Google Translate drop down menu, and other resources for that Chapter. These are hypertext documents, and available online under Creative Commons 4.
Chapter 7, Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu. Complied by Mike Garofalo.
Chapter and Thematic Index (Concordance) to the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
English Language Daodejing Translators' Source Index
Spanish Language Daodejing Translators' Source Index
Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices
Taoism: A Selected Reading List
Why heaven and earth can be enduring and lasting is because
they do not live for themselves, thus, they can endure and last.
So that a Sage ruler put himself behind others, and he came to the front;
he excluded himself from struggle with others and he survived.
It is because he was selfless that he fulfilled himself."
- Translated by Tang Zi-chang, Chapter 7
"The principle of initiation persists; and the principle of completion continues.
Why do such opposing principles persist?
Because they inhere in Nature, rather than stand by themselves.
That is why opposites endure.
The intelligent man, when an issue arises, stands off
and observes both contentions.
Since he does not take sides, he never loses a battle.
By not favoring one side more than the other,
he is able to appreciate the virtues of both sides."
- Translation by Archie J. Bahm, 1958, Chapter 7
"Largo es el Cielo, duradera es la Tierra.
El Cielo su larguray la Tierra su duración lo deben a no vivir vida propia.
Por eso,pueden vivir mucho.
Así, también el hombre perfecto se antepone, porque se ha pospuesto.
Se queda, porque se ha apartado.
Logra sus interesesprivados, porque los ha desatendido."
- Translated by Carmelo Elorduy, 2006, Capítulo 7
"Heaven lasts long, and Earth abides.
What is the secret of their durability?
Is it not because they do not live for themselves
That they can live so long?
Therefore, the Sage wants to remain behind,
But finds himself at the head of others;
Reckons himself out,
But finds himself safe and secure.
Is it not because he is selfless
That his Self is realized?"
- Translated by John C. H. Wu, 1961, Chapter 7
"The heavens and the earth last forever.
They can do so because they do not exist for themselves.
Therefore, great men always let other people go first, but ended up being first themselves.
They put their lives out of consideration, but always survived.
Is it not because they were selfless,
That they benefited themselves at the end?"
- Translated by Yang Xiaolin, Chapter 7
A typical webpage created by Mike Garofalo for each one of the 81 Chapters (Verses, Sections) of the Tao Te Ching (Daodejing) by Lao Tzu (Laozi) includes 25 different English language translations or interpolations for that Chapter, 5 Spanish language translations for that Chapter, the Chinese characters for that Chapter, the Wade-Giles and Hanyu Pinyin transliterations (Romanization) of the Mandarin Chinese words for that Chapter, and 2 German and 1 French translation of that Chapter. Each webpage for each one of the 81 Chapters of the Tao Te Ching includes extensive indexing by key words, phrases, and terms for that Chapter in English, Spanish, and the Wade-Giles Romanization. Each webpage on a Chapter of the Daodejing includes recommended reading in books and websites, a detailed bibliography, some commentary, research leads, translation sources, a Google Translate drop down menu, and other resources for that Chapter. These are hypertext documents, and available online under Creative Commons 4.
Chapter 7, Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu. Complied by Mike Garofalo.
Chapter and Thematic Index (Concordance) to the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
English Language Daodejing Translators' Source Index
Spanish Language Daodejing Translators' Source Index
Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices
Taoism: A Selected Reading List
A Daoist Druid's Final Journey
An Old Philosopher's Notebooks
How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons
An Old Philosopher's Notebooks
How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan, 18 Movements
I have enjoyed practicing this short Chen Taijiquan form for the past
seven years. It was developed by Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei.
Chen Taijiquan Short 18 Movement Form Webpage
List of Movements of the Chen Taijiquan 18 Movement Short Form
Chen Taijiquan Old Frame First Form Laojia Yilu Webpage
Chen Style Tai Chi Essential 18 Postures with Patrick Martin. Instructional DVD, 2 DVDs, 238 minutes. Disk 1, 130 Minutes. Jade Dragon Tai Chi International, Empty Circle Productions, 2008. VSCL. Patrick Martin is a student of Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei, and has been practicing and teaching Chen style Tai Chi for the last 20 years. Detailed instructions for each movement sequence. This DVD would be my first choice for an excellent instructional DVD on the Chen 18 Form.
Watch Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei perform the short form he created:
Chen Taijiquan Short 18 Movement Form Webpage
List of Movements of the Chen Taijiquan 18 Movement Short Form
Chen Taijiquan Old Frame First Form Laojia Yilu Webpage
Chen Style Tai Chi Essential 18 Postures with Patrick Martin. Instructional DVD, 2 DVDs, 238 minutes. Disk 1, 130 Minutes. Jade Dragon Tai Chi International, Empty Circle Productions, 2008. VSCL. Patrick Martin is a student of Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei, and has been practicing and teaching Chen style Tai Chi for the last 20 years. Detailed instructions for each movement sequence. This DVD would be my first choice for an excellent instructional DVD on the Chen 18 Form.
Watch Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei perform the short form he created:
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
Taijiquan Cane Practices
Walking and exercising with a cane has many health benefits. Tai Chi Chuan practices with a cane are an interesting addition to a walker's pleasures and fitness.
When I take long walks (3.6 + miles), I walk six times, east then west, .6 mile per whole lap. I stop between laps to practice Taijiquan (24, 37, 108 Yang; 18 Chen), and the 8 Immortals Cane Form, Part 1. The only martial arts weapon that I practice with is a cane. I practice all the Taijiquan sword and broadsword forms that I know with a cane.
Every time I take a long walk or hike I carry my cane with me. A cane provides support to a walker (like a staff or trekking pole sticks), and a cane can be used effectively for self-defense. Using various cane strikes and stretches while walking is an excellent way to exercise the upper torso. I practice the 8 Immortals Cane Form, Part 1.
I use an Instructor's Walking Cane, 40" (103 cm) long and 1" (2.54 cm) in diameter, from Cane Masters. This cane weights 1lb, 2 oz (510 gm). This beautiful martial arts combat cane is made of pure hickory heartwood, has multiple notches at three key gripping points, has a rounded hooked horn, and has a rubber covered tip. I also own the same Instructor's Walking Cane made of oak - a gift from my children.
Way of the Short Staff. By Michael P. Garofalo, M.S. A comprehensive guide to the practice of the short staff, cane, jo, walking stick, gun, zhang, whip staff, 13 Hands Staff, and related wood short staff weapons. A detailed and annotated guide, bibliographies, lists of links, resources, instructional media, online videos, and lessons. Includes use of the short staff and cane in martial arts, self-defense, walking and hiking. Separate sections on Aikido Jo, Cane, Taijiquan cane and staff, Jodo, exercises with a short staff, selected quotations, techniques, selecting and purchasing a short staff, tips and suggestions, and a long section on the lore, legends, and magick of the short staff. Includes "Shifu Miao Zhang Points the Way." Published by Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Taijiquan, Red Bluff, California. Updated on a regular basis since October, 2008. Filesize: 265Kb. Related to Mike's popular webpage on the Staff.
"The correct use of the bo (sai, tonfa, kama, naginata, sword) can produce a stimulating and practical means of "extension" training. It offers a means of martial arts training and discipline. Weapons training teaches the meaning of control, timing, distance, and flexibility as one unit. The practitioner is required to possess speed, coordination, strength, and endurance in utilizing the respective weapons."
- History of the Bo Staff
- History of the Bo Staff
"The jo can be used to strike like a sword, sweep like a naginata, thrust like a spear (yari). Its two ends can be used, unlike the single point of a sword, and its ma-ai (fighting distance) can be varied according to the hand grip you take. Because of its speed and changeable ma-ai, it is a formidable weapon."
- Muso Shindo-Ryu Jodo
- Muso Shindo-Ryu Jodo
"In Chinese shamanism, a staff represents the power of the universe. With a staff, a shaman had the power to pass on the universal knowledge to others. Later, when teachers took over part of the shaman's job, they always taught with a small staff in their hands like a shaman."
- Master Zhongxian Wu, Vital Breath of the Dao, p. 106
- Master Zhongxian Wu, Vital Breath of the Dao, p. 106
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)