The Dead and Dying Are About

Halloween, Samhain, Dad of the Dead, End of the Year Coming, Fall

In America, today, we enjoy Halloween festivities.  People dress up in costumes.  Candy is exchanged and given to children.  Activities and games are played: bobbing for apples, scaring people, pranks, walking in corn mazes, pumpkin carving and rolling, nighttime fires, pie making, harvest activities, etc.  Of course, many people in America do nothing unusual today; and could care less about Nature religion and "pagan" Samhain festivities.   

I shoveled up the rotting remains of four pumpkins on our front porch ... limp, blackened yuck.  

We accidentally killed a squirrel on Highway 99, North Main, when it ran from the Red Bluff River Park onto the roadway.

Karen's friend's dog died today.

224 people died today in an airplane crash in the Sinai, Egypt.
Millions are dying from diseases: malnutrition, malaria, tuberculosis, AIDS, typhoid, poisoning, cholera, cancer, stroke ....
Many are dying today because of wars and fighting all around the world.
Somebody dying has always been news, everywhere. 

Memories of Ancestors.

Greco-Roman Hellenistic Era
Memories of Traditions, Customs, Religions. Rituals, Languages
Time.  Death or Renewal Rituals

El Dia de la Muerte.
Remember and celebrate our Ancestors.

Halloween Skeletons will walk on the streets tonight.

Macabre.  Play acts and costumes.  

Reminding us of Darkness, Fears, Monsters, Fate, Death!

Happy Halloween!!! 

This post to the blog was first sent out on October 31, 2015.  

Karen at work as Special Education Instructional Assistant

Halloween Party 2014

November 2012

Firstenburg Community Center, Vancouver WA

Last week, I visited the Firstenburg Community Center in Vancouver, Washington. This large facility offers a complete fitness center, many meeting and activity rooms, and an impressive indoor pool. The cost to me was $6.00 for an all day pass into Firstenburg. I walked the second floor indoor track for 30 minutes, and enjoyed the elevated views through large glass windows and from above the active basketball games.  Finally, I attended a very enjoyable one hour Tai Chi Chuan class conducted by Jill Ross from 12:20 to 1:20 pm.  We practiced the Yang 24 and Sword 32.  

After Taijiquan practices, I then browsed and borrowed two books from the spacious Cascade Park Community Library of the FVRL which is right next door to Firstenburg. There was ample available parking at Firstenburg, at 700 NE 136 Ave.., on the northeast side of the building.  Map View.

One could easily walk to nearby Leroy Haagen Memorial Park a bit north of Firstenburg for outdoor sidewalk and walking path jaunts.  

This is an excellent fitness facility.  The library is beautiful with many great reads, and superior inter-library request services and ebook lending.  There is a Kitchen Table Cafe and a Coffee Revolution coffee/tea room directly across the signaled street from Firstenburg, as well as a small food and drinks outlet inside of Firstenburg.  Plenty of restrooms.  Many fitness equipment options, lockers, large workout rooms.  

Firstenburg is less than a mile north of busy Mill Plain Blvd and scores of new retail stores and restaurants.  Firstenburg is about 8 miles from my home in the Orchards. I thoroughly enjoyed this outing, and this facility will definitely be part of my future pleasures. 

Firstenburg Community Center

Cascade Park Community Library

Leroy Haagen Memorial Park

Columbia River Kayaking

I have been reading many books about the Columbia River.  We also have traveled many places along the Columbia River.  I keep notes on our travels in Washington and Oregon on both a webpage and in this blog.   

Kayaking Alone.  By Mike Barenti.  Published by the University of Nebraska Press, 2008, 244 pages, bibliography.   This book tells about kayaking alone for 900 miles from Idaho's mountains to the Pacific Ocean.  He follows the Snake River from the mountains of Idaho until it reaches the confluence with the Columbia at the Tri-Cities Area of Pasco, Richland, and Kennewick.  The Yakima River also meets the Columbia in this area.  The author was a reporter for the Yakima newspaper for a number of years.  Then, he travels down the Columbia through the Gorge and then past Portland, Longview and onto Astoria.  He has many comments about the fish situation in the Columbia, the many dams, the dramatic views of the canyons and gorges, and the development of "civilization" along the Columbia.  He interviews many people on his solo journey in a kayak.  FVRL.  

 A River Lost: The Life and Death of the Columbia River.  By Blaine Harden.  W.W. Norton and Co., Revised 2012.  288 pages.  ISBN: 978-0393342567.  VSCL.  

Something Moving in the Bushes

mums flowering, 

zinnias drying-
me wondering

Flagpole lanyard clanking
in the brisk breeze-
news of war!

Angry men
ranting-
barking dogs

Haiku Poetry - October

Poems by Mike Garofalo

Pulling Onions: Quips and Sayings

moonlit garden–
something...
moving in the bushes

Behind the iron Buddha's

straight back–

a chirping cricket. 

Pulling up

twisted tomato vines–

long autumn shadows.

What a Wonderful World

“I see trees of green
Red roses too
I see them bloom
For me and for you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

I see skies of blue
And clouds of white
The bright blessed day
The dark sacred night
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

The colors of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces
Of people going by
I see friends shaking hands
Saying, "How do you do?"
They're really saying
"I love you" 

I hear babies cry
I watch them grow
They'll learn much more
Than I'll ever know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Yes, I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Oh yeah."

Recorded by Louis Armstrong, Satchmo, 1967 

Cheerfulness

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons

Exercising with a Ball

Martial Arts, physical culture, and Qigong enthusiasts can benefit from using a medicine ball when doing exercises.  There are many routines developed by Taijiquan and Qigong masters using a medicine ball.   Qigong Ball exercisers can get into a calm mode, mellow their mood, and go with the Flow.

Medicine Ball Training and Exercises: Bibliography, Links, Resources .  Prepared by Mike Garofalo.  A general introduction to the use of medicine balls in exercise programs. 

I developed my own medicine ball routine called:Magic Pearl Qigong. 

Magic Pearl Qigong, Part I, Movements 1-8 .   Instructions, Bibliography, Links, Handouts, Resources, Mythological Associations, Lore.  Prepared by Mike Garofalo.

The Magic Pearl Qigong can be a very vigorous physical culture routine if you increase the weight of the ball, lower the stances, and increase the number of repetitions of each movement.  Serious Qigong Ball enthusiasts use a very light wooden ball, move slowly, stay relaxed, sink, play.

In addition, upper body strength and athletic fitness is also be improved by practicing longer Taijiquan Forms using weapons like the saber, sword, cane, and staff. 

Tai Chi Ball Qigong: for Health and Martial Arts.  By Yang Jwing-Ming and David Grantham.  Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, YMAA Publication Center, 2010.  Index, glossary, bibliography, appendices, 301 pages.  ISBN: 1594391998.  The best book on the subject.  Linked to the two instructional DVDs listed below.  VSCL.

Taji Ball Qigong Course.   By Yang, Jwing-Ming, Ph.D.   Courses 1 and 2.  YMAA Publication Center, 2006.  180 minutes.  1 DVD, NTSC.  Directed by Yang Jwing-Ming and David Silver.   ASIN:B000EHT3DY.   VSCL. 

    "Deepen Your Tai Chi Training with Taiji Ball Qigong. Taiji Ball training is common practice in both external and internal martial arts in China. It can strengthen the torso, condition the muscles, and increase physical power by using the mind to lead the Qi. In Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan), Taiji Ball Qigong training was once a major training tool to enhance Pushing Hands ability. However, due to its secrecy, fewer and fewer people have learned it. Today the art of Taiji Ball training is almost unknown. In Course 1, Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming teaches fundamental Taiji Ball breathing techniques, and 16 basic patterns of stationary and moving Taiji Ball Circling, both Vertical and Horizontal. Breathing patterns demonstrated: Wuji breathing Yongquan breathing Laogong breathing Four Gates breathing Taiji Grand Circulation breathing Course 2 focuses on 16 basic patterns of stationary and moving Taiji Ball Rotating, both Vertical and Horizontal. Dr. Yang offers detailed instruction as students demonstrate in the classroom, accompanied by an easy-to-follow demonstration of each pattern shown in a lush outdoor setting, with beautiful classical Chinese music. Regular Qigong practice accelerates the health benefits of Taiji. You'll enjoy reduced stress, a stronger immune system, and a deeper awareness of breath and body coordination. This authoritative guide can be used with any style of Taijiquan, and it is a great way for anyone to energize the body, raise the spirit, and deepen your understanding of Qigong and Taiji. DVD features: Over 100 Chapter Markers . Narration: English and French. Multi-Language Menus and Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish. Over 1 hour of additional DVD-only content. Hidden DVD-Outtakes bloopers Segment. Interactive YMAA Product catalog with Previews of All Other YMAA Video Titles."   

        

Taji Ball Qigong Course.   By Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming.  Courses 3 and 4.  YMAA Publication Center, 2007.  200 minutes.  1 DVD, NTSC.   ASIN:B000NVRONM.   Featuring: Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming, Ramel Rones, Aaron Damus, Kathy Yang, Ben Warner and Richard Krupp.  Directed by David Silver.  MGC.  "Deepen Your Taiji with Taiji Ball Qigong. Taiji Ball training can strengthen the torso, condition the muscles, and teach the practitioner to use the mind to lead the Qi. In Taijiquan, Taiji Ball training was once a major training tool to enhance Pushing Hands ability, but it is rarely taught in modern times. This multi-language DVD by Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming contains two complete video courses, and builds upon the foundation taught in the Taiji Ball Qigong Courses 1 & 2 DVD. Dr. Yang offers you detailed instruction as you follow along with a YMAA class lesson. In Course 3, Dr Yang teaches 16 patterns of Taiji Ball Wrap-Coiling, both Vertical and Horizontal. Course 4 focuses on solo and partner applications, which help to develop coiling and neutralizing taiji skills. You will learn several Self-practice exercises: Flying Dragon Plays with the Ball. Taiji Ball Along the Edge. and 2-person Taiji Ball partner drills. DVD SPECIAL FEATURES: Over 100 Scene Selections. Narration: English. Multi-Language Menus and Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish. Interactive YMAA Product catalog with Previews of All Other YMAA Video Titles."   VSCL. 

Gardening in Early Autumn

Karen and I added new vegetable and flower garden beds on the west side of our home in Vancouver, Washington.  We both enjoy gardening.  There is always lots of work to do in any garden in the months of September and October.  One keeps busy in the autumn season.

10/15/2019, South Side of House

10/15/2019

mums flowering, 

zinnias drying-
me wondering

7/2019, 36 sqft new planting bed, west exposure

8/2019, 90 sqft new planting bed, west exposure

10/15/2019, Finishing up on around 216 sqft of new planting beds

Beds emptied on 10/5/2019, manured, amended, and expanded

Mostly the area is rested, amended, and weeded through the winter

Our winter crops might include swiss chard, radishes, cabbage, and onions

This area is on the west side of the house in full midday sun

10/15/2019, south side of the house

Hey, it is all in the Spirit of Gardening

10/15/2019, Our font bay window, south side

Goddess of Love and Passion

Interesting article by Sandra Trishula Das on Rati Maa - Goddess of Love and Passion

Goddess Vidya, a blog by Sandra Trishula Das

Sex Magick

Tantra

Devi Kamakhya

Tao Te Ching, Chapter 79

Daodejing, Laozi
Chapter 79

"Compromise with great resentment will surely yield lingering resentment;
How can this be seen as good?
For this reason,
The sage holds the debtor's side of a contract and does not make claims upon others.
Therefore,
The man of integrity attends to his debts;
The man without integrity attends to his exactions.
The Way of heaven is impartial, yet is always with the good person."
-  Translated by Victor H. Mair, 1990, Chapter 79 

"harmonizing great resentments and injuries
requires a soft but steady equilibrium
but even in a gentle balancing of the scales
some friction and pain will always remain
harmony can still be reached
if the sage wise man doesn't push
for complete unity
the sage wise man come to understand that flawless justice
is impossible
so he holds an even temperament instead
great knowledge comes from the left hand
holding something broken an flawed
accept the small inequities
a bodymind embracing the tao way of life
doesn't need perfection
a bodymind rejects the tao way of life
striving for perfection
remember
heaven lends its strength to those who
follow the natural laws of the universe."
-  Translated by John Bright-Fey, Chapter 79  


"Reconciliation of a great grudge
Surely will leave some ill-will.
How can this be considered as good?
Therefore, the sage holds the left-hand part of the contract and does not blame the other person.
The man with virtue is likely to keep the contract;
The man without virtue is likely to collect the tax.
The way of Heaven has no favor;
It is constantly with the good man."
-  Translated by Yi Wu, Chapter 79 


"Return love for great hatred.
Otherwise, when a great hatred is reconciled, some of it will surely remain.
How can this end in goodness?
Therefore the Sage holds to the left half of an agreement, but does not exact what the other holder ought to do.
The virtuous resort to agreement.
The virtueless resort to exaction.
The Tao of heaven shows no partiality;
It abides always with good men."
-  Translated by Ch'u Ta-Kao, 1904, Chapter 79  


和大怨, 必有餘怨,
安可以為善?
是以聖人執左契而
不責於人.
有德司契,
無德司徹.
天道無親,
常與善人.-  Chinese characters, Chapter 79, Tao Te Ching


he da yuan, bi you yu yuan,
an ke yi wei shan?
shi yi sheng ren zhi zuo qi
er bu ze yu ren.
you de si qi,
wu de si che.
tian dao wu qin,
chang yu shan ren.
-  Pinyin Romanization, Chapter 79, Daodejing

"There's little good in making peace
If resentment lingers
You'll never see an end to blame
If everyone is pointing fingers

It's better to be pointing
At the peaceful and creative place
Where you see naught but emptiness
And others say they see your face."
-  Translated by Jim Clalfelter, 2000, Chapter 79 


"You can resolve great rancor, but rancor always lingers on.
Understanding the more noble way,
a sage holds the creditor's half of contracts
and yet asks nothing of others.
Those with Integrity tend to such contracts;
those without Integrity tend to the collection of taxes.
The Way of heaven is indifferent, always abiding with people of nobility."
-  Translated by David Hinton, Chapter 79  


"When the principle of a dispute has been settled some accessory grievances always remain,
and things do not return to the state they were in before.
Therefore, the Sage never questions it, despite his right.
Keeping his half of the agreement, he does not exact the execution of what is written.
He who knows how to conduct himself after the Virtue of the Principle, lets his written agreements sleep.
He who does not know how to conduct himself thus, exacts his due.
Heaven is impartial.
If it were capable of some partiality, it would give advantage to good people.
It would overwhelm them, because they ask for nothing."
-  Translated by Derek Bryce, 1999, Chapter 79 


"El que consigue apaciguar un gran resentimiento, siempre deja subsistir algún resentimiento.
¿Esto puede considerarse un bien?
Por esto, el santo guarda la mitad izquierda de la talla, pero no reclama nada a los demás.
El que tiene la virtud no tiene interés más que por la talla,
El que no tiene la virtud not tiene interés más que por percibir lo que se le debe.
El camino del cielo ignora el favoritismo, recompensa siempre al hombre de bien."
-  Translated by Alba, 1998, Capítulo 79  


"When a bad grudge is settled,
Some enmity is bound to remain.
How can this be considered acceptable?
Therefore the Sage keeps to his side of the contract
But does not hold the other party to their promise.
He who has Virtue will honour the contract,
Whilst he who is without Virtue expects others to meet their obligations.
It is the Way of Heaven to be impartial;
It stays always with the good man."
-  Translated by Keith Seddon, Chapter 79

"When a great wound is healed,
There will still remain a scar.
Can this be a desirable state of affairs?
Therefore, the Sage, holding the left-hand tally,
Performs his part of the covenant,
But lays no claims upon others.
The virtuous attends to his duties;
The virtueless knows only to levy duties upon the people.
The Way of Heaven has no private affections,
But always accords with the good."
-  Translated by John C. H. Wu, 1961, Chapter 79 

A typical webpage created by Mike Garofalo for each one of the 81 Chapters (Verses) of the Tao Te Ching (Daodejing) by Lao Tzu (Laozi) includes over 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 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 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, and other resources for that Chapter.   

Chapter 79, Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu

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

One Old Daoist Druid's Final Journey  

Keys to Happiness

Happiness Activities

1.  Expressing Gratitude
2.  Cultivating Optimism
3.  Avoiding Over-Thinking and Social Comparisons
4.  Practicing Acts of Kindness
5.  Nurturing Social Relationships
6.  Developing Strategies for Coping
7.  Learning to Forgive
8.  Increasing Flow Expectations
9.  Savoring Life's Joys
10.  Committing to Your Goals
11.  Practicing Spirituality
12.  Taking Care of Your Body (Meditation)
13.  Taking Care of Your Body (Physical Activity)
14.  Taking Care of Your Body (Acting Like a Happy Person)
15.  The Five Hows Behind Sustainable Happiness: Positive Emotions, Optimal Timing and Variety, Social Support, Motivation, Effort, Commitment, and Habit. 

-  Sonja Lyubomirsky, The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want, 2008

Advice from the Sages: Living a Happy Life

Virtues and the Flourishing Life

Tai Chi Sword, 32 Form

32 Sword Form, Simplified, Yang Style, Taijiquan Jian.

A webpage by Michael P. Garofalo. 

This popular webpage includes a comprehensive bibliography, scores of links to webpages; an extensive listing of the names and name variations for each movement in English, Chinese, French, German, and Spanish; a detailed analysis of each posture and movement sequence with explanations and numbered illustrations and detailed instructions; selected quotations; comments on 20 Taijiquan sword techniques; a comprehensive media bibliography; a chart of performance times; recommendations for starting to learn this form at home one your own with instructional DVDs, books and practice methods; and, a comparison of the 32 and 55 sword forms in the Yang style. 

This is the standard, simplified, orthodox, 1957, 32 Taiji Sword Form, in the Yang Style of T'ai Chi Ch'uan. 

32 Sword Form Pamphlet by Geoffrey Hugh Miller.  Adapted from information and graphics found on the 32 Sword Form webpage by Michael P. Garofalo.  22 pages, 9/7/2015, PDF Format.  Excellent job by Mr. Miller.  This is a handy practice tool.  

Read about the Taoist magical sword finger hand sign:
"The sword finger hand sign is to draw your own magic power to the fingers and output a beam of energy for doing Taoist magic.  This beam of magical power isn’t just an imaginary thing, it’s a real visible beam if you can see it. Some of my students can see the beam of energy beams out like a long laser from the tip of the finger and extend all the way to the wall or somewhere far away. The beam is a beam a the magic power from one doing the handsign. This beam of power can be used for drawing FUs in the air, killing evils, doing magic in magic battles, healing or even saving lives!  This is like a multi-usage tool, which can be a pen, a chisel, a phone, or even a drill, it all depends on how you use it and what adaptor you put on it to make it function differently. The most  commonly seen usage of this handsign in Tin Yat Lineage is by drawing Taoism FU in the air or on the incense. This allow you to “carve” the Taoism FU into the object or in the air to perform magic." 

32 Taijiquan Simplified Sword Form

20 T'ai Chi Ch'uan Sword Techniques

55 Classical Yang Taiji Sword

Cloud Hands Taijiquan



 

The Wild Horse Jumps Over the Mountain Stream 



  "Mike, I wonder if you could give your thoughts on something.  For years I’ve been practicing 3. The Swallow Skims Across the Water with the left hand moving in a similar fashion to 5. Block and Sweep to the Left i.e. the little finger side of the hand brushing the left hip before raising above the head.  I’ve recently got a book by Li Deyin which has his daughter Faye Yip performing it slightly differently.  She points her fingers backwards with the back of the hand brushing the hip and mentions it in the essential points for the movement.  Looking at videos on the internet they all seem to be similar to Faye Yip.  Would you mind if I asked how you practice?"
-  A question from Simon Ellis, UK, 9/2/2015


Simon, I have found that the details of bodily positions for any Taijiquan movement vary somewhat according to the following standards:

1.  Competition standards.  If you are preparing to compete in a Taijiquan event, then carefully study the standards for the forms you are performing.  In the case of the 32 sword form, check out books and DVDs by Li Deyin or his heirs.

2.  Your teacher's standards.  If you are working closely with a Taijiquan teacher, then follow their instructions.  This simplifies your learning, and shows respect for the teacher.  Since I learned the 32 sword from the instructional DVD by Dr. Paul Lam, I practice this form in a manner fairly close to his instructions.  

3.  Your personal standards.  If you have been practicing for many years, mostly alone, then more variations in bodily positions will likely emerge.  Sensibly, as we age, we make adaptations in our Taijiquan form work to safely accommodate our declining physical abilities.

As for how I practice, I'm rather unconcerned about details, a bit careless, playful, free, and seldom do things exactly the same way.  I just like skimming across the water, and leave the details about how to flap my wings to others.  Call me a lazy dilettante Daoist, with a penchant for ziran.  I don't often practice with a sword or saber anymore─ I only wield my sturdy cane.  

As I recall, the front of my left hand crosses my waist while going to 3c; and, more important, I still make that magical Taoist sword finger hand sign with my left hand while doing this form.

I think that modeling your performance on the standards set by Master Faye Yip's 32 Sword form instructions and demonstration would result in much grace, improved strength, and a beautiful style.  
Best wishes!  Mike.  9/8/2015 

 

Evaluating Your Personal Strengths

Evaluation of Your Personal Strengths

Wisdom and Knowledge
1.  Curiosity and Interest in the World
2.  Love of Learning
3.  Judgment and Critical Thinking, Open-Mindedness
4.  Ingenuity, Originality, Practical Intelligence, Street Smarts
5.  Social Intelligence, Personal Intelligence, Emotional Intelligence
6.  Perspective

Courage
7.  Valor and Bravery
8.  Perseverance, Industry, Diligence
9.  Integrity, Genuineness, Honesty

Humanity and Love
10.  Kindness and Generosity
11.  Loving and Allowing Oneself to be Loved

Justice
12.  Citizenship, Duty, Teamwork, Loyalty
13.  Fairness and Equity
14.  Leadership

Temperance
15.  Self-Control
16.  Prudence, Discretion, Caution
17.  Humility, Modesty

Transcendence
18.  Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence
19.  Gratitude
20.  Hope, Optimism, Future-Mindedness
21.  Spirituality, Sense of Purpose, Faith, Religiousness
22.  Forgiveness and Mercy
23.  Playfulness and Humor
24.  Zest, Passion, Enthusiasm

 
-  Martin E. P. Seligman, Ph.D., Authentic Happiness, 2002, pp. 134-161, Website

How to Live a Good Life: Advice From Wise Persons

Virtues

Tao Te Ching Chapter 80

Dao De Jing, Daodejing, by Laozi, Lao Tzu
Chapter 80


"You want a small state with a minimal population.
Have ready to hand weaponry for a sufficient number of military units
Yet have no recourse to use them.
Make sure that the common people take dying seriously
So that they have no taste for venturing far from home.
Though you have ships and chariots enough
Have no reason to man them;
Though you have armor and weapons enough
Have no reason to parade them.
Bring the common people back to keeping their records with knotted stong,
To relishing their food,
To finding beauty in their garments,
To enjoying their customs,
An to finding security in their homes.
Although your neighboring states are within eyesight
And the sounds of their dogs and cocks are within earshot,
Your people will grow old and die without having anything to do with them."
-  Translated by Roger T. Ames and David L. Hall, 2003, Chapter 80

"The wise person reduces the importance of governments
And simplifies the modes of living,
So that people use fewer tools and wares
And treasure simplicity in their lives,
So that, though there are vehicles,
People do not take them.
And, though there are weapons,
People do not carry them.
And, though there are records,
Tying knots will serve the record-keeping purpose.
Thus, the highest political achievement is one
In which people savor their food,
Like the beauty of their clothes,
Appreciate their safe and peaceful homes,
Enjoy their social customs;
And in which roosters and dogs
Can be heard between countries;
But people, all their lives,
Have no need to go across the borders."
-  Translated by Liu Qixuan, Chapter 80   

"A small state with few people.
Let the implements (ch'ih) for ten and hundred men be unused,
Let the people fear death such that they do not move far away.
Although there are boats and carriages,
There are no places to ride them to.
Although there are weapons and armours,
There are no occasions to display them.
Let the people again tie ropes and use them (as memory aids).
Let them enjoy their food,
Consider their clothing beautiful,
Be contented with their dwellings,
And happy with their customs.
The neighbouring states overlooking one another,
The dogs' barkings and cocks' crowings are heard from other states,
Yet till they are old and dying the people do not visit one another."
-  Translated by Ellen M. Chen, Chapter 80 


小國寡民.
使有什伯之器而不用.
使民重死而不遠徙.
雖有舟輿無所乘之.
雖有甲兵無所陳之. 
使民復結繩而用之.
甘其食.
美其服安其居.
樂其俗. 
鄰國相望.
雞犬之聲相聞.
民至老死不相往來.  -  Chinese characters, Chapter 80, Tao Te Ching


hsiao kuo kua min.
shih yu shih po chih ch'i erh pu yung.
shih min chung ssu erh pu yüan hsi.
sui yu chou yü wu so ch'êng chih.
sui yu chia ping wu so ch'ên chih.
shih jên fu chieh shêng erh yung chih.
kan ch'i shih.
mei ch'i fu an ch'i chü. 
lo ch'i su.
lin kuo hsiang wang.
chi ch'üan chih shêng hsiang wên.
min chih lao ssu pu hsiang wang lai.
-  Wade-Giles Romanization, Chapter 80, Tao Te Ching


"The ideal state is a small intimate community.
Where all the necessities of life are present in abundance.
There everyone is satisfied to live and die without looking around for greener pastures.
Even if they have cats or boats, they do not use them for traveling abroad.
Even if they have police and fortifications, these are never put to use.
Business transactions are simple enough to be calculated on one's fingers rather than requiring complicated bookkeeping.
The people are satisfied with their food,
Contented with their clothing,
Comfortable in their dwellings,
And happy with their customs.
Even though neighboring communities are within sight,
And the crowing of the neighbor's cocks and barking of the neighbor's dogs are within hearing,
They grow old and die without ever troubling themselves to go outside of their own communities."
-  Translated by Archie J. Bahm, Chapter 80  


"Let every state be simple like a small village with few people
There may be tools to speed things up ten or a hundred times yet no one will care to use them
There may be boats and carriages yet they will remain without riders
There may be armour and weaponry yet they will sit collecting dust
The people must take death seriously and not waste their lives in distant lands
Let them return to the knotting of cord
Let them enjoy their food and care for their clothing
Let them be content in their homes and joyful in the way they live
Neigbouring villages are within sight of each other
Roosters and dogs can be heard in the distance
Should a man grow old and die without ever leaving his village let him feel as though there was nothing he missed "
-  Translated by Jonathan Star, 2001, Chapter 80 



"Imaginemos que gobierno un pequeño país de pocos  habitantes.
Mis súbditos tendrían embarcaciones que no utilizarían.l
Les enseñaría a temer a la muerte y a no alejarse.
Por muchos carruajes que hubiese, no viajarían en ellos.
Aunque tuviesen armas y corazas, no las mostrarían. 
Les llevaría de nuevo al uso de cuerdas con nudos (en lugar de escritura).
Encontrarían sabroso su alimento;
Ricos sus vestidos;
Cómodas sus casas;
Felicidad en sus costumbres.
Aunque los reinos vecinos se hallasen tan cerca
Que pudiesen oír el ladrido de los perros y el canto de los gallos,
Los hombres de este pequeño reino no desearían nunca abandonarlo."
-  Translated by Caridad Diaz Faes, 1970, Capítulo 80  

"Suppose I had a country small,

With people few, and I had there

Some officers of ten,

Or of a hundred men,

I'd not employ those men at all;

Though death were feared, unfrightened then,

My people would not emigrate elsewhere.

They might have carriages and boats,

But not in them to ride away,

They might have warlike arms,

But never war s alarms

Would call them with their hateful notes;

They d even forget how writing charms,

And knotted cords again they would display.

Then would they relish homely food,

Their plain clothes would seem elegant,

Though dwellings might be poor,

Content would guard the door,

And simple habits, plain and good, Far better than they knew before,

A sense of fresh enjoyment would implant.

A neighboring state might be in sight,

The voice of fowls and dogs be heard,

But life like that would make

My people such joy take

In their own state, that till the night
Of age should their enjoyment slake,

And they should die, they'd not exchange a word."
-  Translated by Isaac Winter Heysinger, 1903, Chapter 80  

"If I had a small kingdom and but ten or a hundred men of ability, I would not administrate with them.
I would teach the people to look upon death as a grievous thing, and then they would not go abroad to meet it.
Though they had boats and carriages, yet they would not go away in them.
Though they had armour, yet they would never have occasion to wear it.
The people would return to the use of the quipu.
They should find their coarse food sweet, think their plain clothes grand, regard their homes as places of rest, and take delight in their own simple pleasures.
Though the neighbouring state could be seen by us, and the crowing of the cocks and the barking of the dogs could be heard,
Yet my people would grow old, and die before ever feeling the need of having intercourse with it."
-  Translated by Walter Gorn Old, 1904, Chapter 80



A typical webpage created by Mike Garofalo for each one of the 81 Chapters (Verses) of the Tao Te Ching (Daodejing) by Lao Tzu (Laozi) includes over 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 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 extensiveindexing by key words 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, and other resources for that Chapter.   

Chapter 80, Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu

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

One Old Daoist Druid's Final Journey