Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Yang Taijiquan Long Form Third Section

For Tai Chi Chuan players: I often take a section of a long Taijiquan form and restudy and carefully practice only that section many times. I look up that section in books to learn more from master teachers. I also use instructional DVDs and UTube for sectional reviews. Smaller bites assists with better chewing and digestion.

I use the fine books by Fu Zhongwen, Li Deyin, T.T. Liang/Stuart Olson, and Gordon Muir for review. All have photographs or line illustrations of the movements and much commentary.

Here are some UTube demonstrations of the Third Section (Movements 56-108) of the Traditional Long Form of Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan:














Third Section,  Movements 55-108,  List of Movements


Third Section List ,  Movements 55-108,  Yang Long Form 108 

    Provides a list with the number of the movement and the name of movement.  In the PDF format (print only), 1 page, 26Kb.


Third Section List,  Part I,  Movements 56 - 82,  Yang Long Form 108
   

    Provides a list with the number of the movement, the direction one is facing at the end of that movement, the name of the movement, and a brief description or notes about the movement.  In the PDF format (print only), 1 page, 65Kb.  In the HTML format provided below in this document.  


Third Section List,  Part II,  Movements 83 - 108,  Yang Long Form 108.   

    Provides a list with the number of the movement, the direction one is facing at the end of that movement, the name of the movement, and a brief description or notes about the movement.  In the PDF format (print only), 1 page, 63Kb.  In the HTML format provided below in this document.  


Comparison of 108 Long Yang with 88 Long Yang - Chart

Saturday, November 25, 2023

Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan 108 Long Form


Yang Family Style Tai Chi Chuan Traditional 108 Long Form
By Michael P. Garofalo.

This webpage provides a list and brief description of the 108 movements of the Yang Style Taijiquan Long Form divided into five sections for teaching (.html and .pdf versions available). The webpage includes an extensive bibliography on the subject, scores of Internet links, historical notes, and quotations. 


The Yang Long Form discussed on this webpage conforms to the form developed by Yang Cheng-Fu (1883-1936) and documented in books by Bu Fu Zongwen (1903-1994) and Yang Zhenduo. The numbering of the movements varies from author to author, but the essential sequence and moves remains the same.

Doing some research on the Yang style of T'ai Chi Ch'uan (85 and 24). Two books have caught me eye:

Mastering Yang Style Taijiquan.  Bu Fu Zongwen (1903-1994).  Translated by Louis Swaim.  Berkeley, California, North Atlantic Books, 1999.  Glossary, bibliography, 226 pages.  Translations of many Tai Chi classics are included.  A list of the 85 movement long form and detailed notes and descriptions of each movement are provided.  251 movement analysis illustrations.  Over 76 of the illustrations are traced and drawn from photographs of Yang Cheng-Fu.  Detailed descriptions of the long form, pp. 26-162.  Push hands information.  Yang Tai Chi essentials.  ISBN: 1556433182.  I have found this to be an excellent book!  This book was first published in 1963 in China as "Yang Shi Taijiquan".  An informative introduction and good translation by Louis Swaim.  VSCL.    

Taijiquan.  By Li Deyin.  London, Singing Dragon, 2004, 2008.  In English.  402 pages.  ISBN: 9781848190047, 1848190042.  Includes a complimentary DVD.  Includes descriptions, with photographs, of the 81 Yang Taijiquan form, Simplified 24 Taijiquan, Competition 42 Taijiquan, Competition 42 Taiji Sword, and the 32 Taiji Sword.  The Yang long form (81 Steps) includes photographs of Li Yulin performing the Yang long form in 1931.  Li Yulin and Li Jinglin, under the supervision of Yang Chengfu, were preparing a book on the subject later published under the title "Textbook of Taijiquan."  The 81 form is described in detail in this new book by Li Deyin.  


Yang Style Traditional Long Form T'ai Chi Ch'uan; As Taught by Master T. T. Liang.  By Gordon Muir.  Berkeley, California, Blue Snake Books, 2008.  225 pages.  150 numbered postures.  VSCL. 









Friday, November 24, 2023

Humanism: Readings

 

I have enjoyed and benefitted from reading three books by the fine writer, humanist, and scholar: Sarah Bakewell. 

How to Live, or A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer.

At the Existentialist Cafe: Freedom, Being and Apricot Cocktails.

This week, I have enjoyed reading her newest book:

Humanly Possible: Seven Hundred Years of Humanist Freethinking, Inquiry and Hope. Penguin Press, 2023, 454 pages. VSCL.


I have a number of webpages with my notes on Humanist philosophy:

How to Live a Good Life: Advice From Wise Persons

Pragmatism

My Views on Religion

Free Thought



Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Zen Master Raven Koans Collection Indexes

Zen Master Raven (ZMR) Indexes

 

Zen Master Raven: The Teachings of a Wise Old Bird. Compiled and annotated by Robert Aitken. Illustrated by Jennifer Rain Crosby. Foreword by Nelson Foster. Wisdom, 2002, 2017, 229 pages. VSCL, Hardbound. 183 Brief Koans.


Most koans feature Master Raven giving answers or comments, and asking follow up questions; therefore, I choose to use the character Master Raven is talking to for the Student/Learner/Responder/Questioner under the index heading of "Master, Teacher, Responder." Otherwise, nearly all 183 koans would have been listed under Master Raven. Just automatically assume the central teacher in nearly all of these koans is Zen Master Raven. 


Subject Index to Zen Master Raven's 183 Koans Collection. PDF, November 21, 2023, 28 pages.

Case Titles Index to Zen Master Raven's 183 Koans Collection. PDF, November 21, 2023, 7 pages.

Case Number Index to Zen Master Raven's 183 Koans Collection. PDF, November 21, 2023, 7 pages.

Animals and Responders Index to Zen Master Raven's 183 Koans Collection. PDF, November 21, 2023, 7 pages.



Subject Index to 1,975 Zen Buddhist Koans





Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu, Chapter 52

Dao De Jing by Laozi
Chapter 52

Returning to the Source, Great Mother, Soft and Small, Avoiding Misfortune, Study Origins, Humility, Listening, Seeds, Undying Nature, Examine Relationships,  歸元  


"All under Heaven has a generatrix, which we regard as the mother of all under Heaven.
Once one has access to the mother, through it he can know the child.
Once one knows the child, if he again holds on to the mother, as long as he lives, no danger shall befall him.
Block up your apertures; close your door,
And to the end of your life you will never be exhausted.
But if you open your apertures and deal consciously with things, to the end of your life you will never have relief.
To see the small is called "perspicacious."
To hold on to softness is called "strength."
Make use of its brightness,
But always let its brightness revert.
Never let one's person be exposed to disaster: this is a matter of practicing constancy."
-   Translation by Richard Lynn, Chapter 52 

"The world (t'ien hsia) has an origin (shih),
Which is the world's (t'ien hsia) mother (mu).
Having reached the mother,
(We) know her child.
Having known the child,
Return and abide by its mother.
(In this way) one loses the body without becoming exhausted.
Stop the apertures (tui),
Close the doors,
(In this way) one's whole life (shen) is without toil (ch'in).
Open the apertures,
Going about the affairs,
(In this way) one's whole life (shen) cannot be saved.
To see the small is called illumination (ming).
To abide by the soft is called strength.
Use the bright light (kuang),
But return to the dim light (ming),
Do not expose your life (shen) to perils,
Such is to follow (hsi) the everlasting (ch'ang)."
-   Translated by Ellen M. Chen, Chapter 52 

"If you trace problems in your relationship
back to the beginning
you will find their seeds
were sown and then ignored.
They grew unnoticed until their fruit
ripened and surprised you.
But if you can find
where the seeds were sown,
there you will find the roots as well.
And if you remove the roots
your problems will wither."
-   Translated by William Martin, Chapter 52

"When creation began, Tao became the world's mother.
When one knows one's mother he will m turn know that he is her son.
When he recognizes his sonship, he will in turn keep to his mother and to the end of life will be free from danger.
He who closes his mouth and shuts his sense gates will be free from trouble to the end of life.
He who opens his mouth and meddles with affairs cannot be free from trouble even to the end of life.
To recognize one's insignificance is called enlightenment.
To keep one's sympathy is called strength.
He who uses Tao's light returns to Tao's enlightenment and does not surrender his person to perdition.
This is called practicing the eternal."
-   Translation by Dwight Goddard, Chapter 52 

"The beginning of the universe, when materialized, is considered to be a mother.
When a man finds the mother, he will know the children, accordingly.
Even though he knows the children, he still clings to the mother:
Therefore, although his body wanes, he never perishes.
The person who shuts his mouth and closes his doors
Will never perish.
If he opens his mouth and increases his affairs,
He will never be saved.
The person who sees the tiniest thing possesses clear vision,
The person who adheres to the weak possesses strength.
Use your light, but dim your brightness,
In this way you will not do yourself any harm.
This is called following the eternal Tao."
-   Translated by Chou-Wing Chohan, Chapter 52 

"Everything begins with the Tao and ends with the Tao.
To know it retrace the steps of your life.
When you reach back to the beginning, the Tao lies herein.
Then you will realise there is no death.
Without desire your heart is at peace.
Without judgment your mind is clear.
See who it is that sees.
Witness thoughts come and go.
Turn the light around and find its source.
Practicing this leads to enlightenment."
-   Translated by David Bullen, Chapter 52 

"This world must have begun in certain way;
We may thenceforth consider it the origin (mother) of our world;
Once we manage to ascertain the origin, we could [apply it] to study its offsprings;
After we learn more about the offsprings, we may reciprocally eke out our knowledge about the mother (the origin);
This is my never-ending life-long quest.
If paths and openings of one's connections [to the outside world] are blocked, he will never be aroused to do anything in life;
If paths and openings of one's connections [to the outside world] are unlocked and he is properly motivated, he will never cease [from the quest described above].
One who perceives subtleties is brilliant;
One who maintains humility is strong.
One who would use [the light of Tao] to illuminate his [potential] brilliance will thus leave behind nothing that could cause misfortune to later generations.
A person, who achieves all of the above described fulfillment, is what I called the person with embodiment of the perpetual [Te]."
-   Translated by Lee Org, Chapter 52 

"The world had a beginning
And this beginning could be the mother of the world.
When you know the mother
Go on to know the child.
After you have known the child
Go back to holding fast to the mother,
And to the end of your days you will not meet with danger.
Block the openings,
Shut the doors,
And all your life you will not run dry.
Unblock the openings,
Add to your troubles,
And to the end of your days you will be beyond salvation.
To see the small is called discernment;
To hold fast to the submissive is called strength.
Use the light
But give up the discernment.
Bring not misfortune upon yourself.
This is known as following the constant."
-   Translation by D. C. Lau, Chapter 52 

“Realizing the interplay of the Tao way of life
and the virtue of nuturing all things under heaven
will introduce you to the primal mother
The mother of the world
resting peacefully with the mother
will introduce you to her sons and daughters
The sons and daughters of the world
these children can be exhausting
and though they mean no harm
trying to follow or control them
will only bring great danger to you
To be safe
rest peacefully with the mother
gently close your eyes
and look inward
softly direct your eyes
to listen within
lightly close your mouth
raise your tongue to its roof
and quietly savor the interior
gently lift your crown
sit firm with a relaxed hold
on your bodymind
and let her love
fill you up
you will never be empty
again
remember
chasing children
brings calamity
no matter
how hard
you try
to follow
or grasp them
the whole universe is in the palm
of your hand
but without
illumination
you cannot see it
the real world is not open
to the rational mind 
the ancient child asks
when you have rested sufficiently
in the arms of the primal mother
and you vision begins to clear
what occurs
it is an unexpected sense of making
that first arises within the bodymind 
then you are engulfed in a benevolent flame
that outlines rather than burns
and I do not know if I am
the source or the witness
the senses play
leaping to and fro
mischievously acting against their nature 
emotions of comfort and satisfaction swell
so that even the harshest rain
feels like a lover’s kiss
resting deeper
you fell as if an unseen enemy
has been vanquished
and life courses through you limbs
as the warrior’s belt collects you
the connection to the Tao source and way of life
becomes punctuated and definite
possessed of a wholly benevolent clarity 
language leaves you
and a light and sensitive energy collects at your
     crown
visions cascade upon you so rapidly
that it becomes impossible
to divide or discern
what we normally regard as real
death becomes impossible 
fire and force penetrate deeply
within you bodymind
and a new truth shapes you
into someone altogether different 
you begin to breathe
the Tao way of life
as true respiration
within a quickening
that shines out
for all to see  
spinning out of the quickening
you understand the mother’s children
you sing and dance
you paint and play
you look at the palm of your hand and 
you see 
you can still make mistakes
you can still be confused
you can still misstep
but you will always have the eyes of the Tao 
however
should you ever see yourself as separate from it 
you will cease
to see
altogether”
-  Translation and Interpretation by the Reverend Venerable John Bright-Fey, Chapter 52 

“All the universal things have a common origin.  We regard it as the “Mother” of all things. 
Gaining the mother, we can know its children,
Knowing how the children come into being, we can return to hold onto the mother.
Thus ensuring nor danger to life.
Closing the eyes and shutting up the mouth,
One can keep from sickness forever.
Opening the eyes to chase after desires and passions,
One can be helpless forever.
Watching less and less can be enlightened.
Holding onto the weak can be mighty.
Using the outgoing eyesight,
To turn to illuminate the inward,
Thus, there can be no disaster to the body.
This is called practicing enduring Tao.”
-   Translated by Hu Huezhi, Chapter 52


 

 

 

Chapter 50   The Value Set on Life, Value Life, Esteem Life, Become Invulnerable, Followers of Life, Accept Death, Esteem Life, Out of Harms Way,  貴生

Chapter 51   The Nourishment of the Tao, Virtue as a Nurse, Guiding, Creativity, Mystical Power, Freedom, Nature, Follow the Tao, Harmony, Honor Virtue,  養德 
 
Chapter 52   Returning to the Source, Great Mother, Soft and Small, Avoiding Misfortune, Study Origins, Humility, Listening, Seeds, Undying Nature, Examine Relationships,  歸元  

Chapter 53   Follow the Way, Avoid Shortcuts, Disadvantages of Wealth, Avoid Greed, Work, Be Diligent, Gaining Insight, Look at the Facts, Appearances, Thieves,  益証  

Chapter 54   Cultivating Insight and Intuition, Person, Family, Village, State, Cultivation, Views, Virtue, Observing the Tao, As Below So Above,  修觀   

Chapter 55   Mysterious Virtue, Sign of the Mysterious,  玄符  


Monday, November 20, 2023

350+ Riddles, Puzzles, Brain Teasers, Knock Knocks, Corny Jokes.

 

350+ Riddles


Riddles, Puzzles, Paradoxes, Humor
Curious Questions, Brain-Teasers
Koans, Quizzers, Jokes, Nonsense
Knock Knock Jokes, Corny Jokes
350+ Riddles


Compiled by Michael P. Garofalo

 

Gardening Jokes, Humor, Riddles, Puns, Quips

Zen Koans

Pulling Onions: Over 1,000 Maxims, Quips, One-Liners

Cloud Hands Blog

Cliches

Haiku

350+ Riddles

Sunday, November 19, 2023

Crane Frolic Chi Kung Exercise #6

6.  The Crane Opens and Closes Its Wings

Begin in the basic Crane stance with the hands at the waist.  The legs are separated with a shoulder's width.  Stretch the fingers open.  Inhale as you lift both hands up the center of the body, fingers pointing forward, arms about 24" apart.
As the hands reach the neck begin to move both hands to the side, upwards, and backwards.  Spread the arms as far apart as you can and to either side of the body as you lift both arms high above the head.  Draw the arms up and back as you gently bend backwards.
At the same time as the arms are lifted up and back, try to lift both heels off the ground, and come up on your toes.  Look up at the sky with your head drawn back. 
As you begin to exhale, gently draw the arms forward and down, straighten the back, look forward, and move the arms down to the waist. 
Repeat for 4 to 8 repetitions in a gentle, slow, calm, deliberate, and smooth manner. 

This movement is found in the Wild Goose Qigong (Dayan Chi Kung) routine.  Refer to "Wild Goose Qigong" by Hong-Chao Zhang, pp.20-21. 
Back-bending while standing with the arms lifted above the head and with the hands touching is a commonly used hatha yoga posture called Anyvittasana.   
This exercise is a hyperextension of the back, stretching of the latissimus dorsi muscles of sides of the upper back, a stretching of the upper rectus abdominis, engaging the pectoralis major, and a tensing of the trapezius muscles in the upper back and neck. 
This movement opens and fills with Qi (Chi, Energy) the Middle Dan Tien (i.e., 中丹田, Zhong Dantian, middle elixir fields, cauldron) of the esoteric body system explained in Chinese Qigong (Yoga); or, analogously, opens the Heart Chakra (Anhata) of Hatha Yoga.  Exercise of this area in the front of the body helps heal disturbed emotions, calms the spirit, strengthens the heart and lungs, and opens the Heart-Soul to the grace of light energy. 
The wide-spread arms held up high help establish a feeling of opening up, freeing oneself, and uplifting one's mood and spirit. 
You often see this ritual body posture in Christian revival meetings as a kind of "Saying Hallelujah" posture.
If the movement was done forcefully and with power and quickly it would be the flapping of the wings of a powerful bird like a Crane or wild Goose or for a human bodybuilder the performance of incline dumbbell flys. 


         
 


Crane Frolic Qigong Exercise Set

Eight Animals Frolics Mind/Body Fitness Practices (Chi Kung) by Mike Garofalo
 

The webpages for the eight specific animals will also have photographs of me or others doing these exercises.  There are also five, eight or twelve animals in Shaolin Kung Fu, Ba Gua Zhang, Taijiquan, and Xing Yi Quan.  Movements or postures called a "crane" or "hawk" or "rooster" are found in most of these mind-body internal arts.   

Chinese exercises recommended for improving fitness, maintaining good health, overcoming diseases, increasing energy and vitality, contributing to good mental health, and improving one's chances for longevity have a very long documented history going back to as early as 160 BCE in the Daoyin Tu.    

Saturday, November 18, 2023

Daodejing Concordance and Daodejing 81 Website


Concordance for the Dao De Jing, Daodejing.
Indexing by Michael P. Garofalo.
2014, PDF, 101 pages.

Concordance for the Tao Te Ching. 
Indexing by Michael P. Garofalo.
2014, PDF, 96 pages.


Daodejing 81 Website

Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
Dao De Jing by Laozi
Concordance, Selected Translations, Bibliography, Commentaries


Compilation and Indexing by Michael P. Garofalo



81 Chapters:
25 English Translations
5 Spanish Translations
Chinese Characters
Pinyin & Wade-Giles
Concordance
Bibliography & Links
Directory
Commentary
Chapter Indexes

 
Daodejing 81 Website

Concordance to the Tao Te Ching

Daodejing 81 Website

English Language Versions of the Tao Te Ching - Translator's Index


Spanish Language Versions of the Dao De Jing

Chapter Index to the Tao Te Ching

Thematic Index to the Tao Te Ching


Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices


Taoism: A Bibliography


An Old Philosopher's Notebooks

Cloud Hands Blog Posts About the Daodejing


How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons



Tao Te Ching
 Chapter Number Index


Standard Traditional Chapter Arrangement of the Tao Te ChingChapter Order in Wang Bi's Daodejing Commentary in 246 CE
Chart by Mike Garofalo
Subject Index
 
12345678910
11121314151617181920
21222324252627282930
31323334353637383940
41424344454647484950
51525354555657585960
61626364656667686970
71727374757677787980
81






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 or more different English language translations or interpolations for that Chapter, 5 or more 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. 


An electronic Concordance for all 81 Chapters of the Tao Te Ching is provided.

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. 



Chapter 7, Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu






Friday, November 17, 2023

Yurt Camping on the Northwest USA Coast

 

Yurt Camping on the Northwest USA Coast:
Information, Tips, Locations, Photographs, Adventures, Camping

Four Days in Grayland:
Guides, Information, Tips, Cities, Camping in the Northwest USA Coast

Memories of Pacific Coast Places
Travels on US Highway 101 and 1
Docu-Poem by Michael P. Garofalo


Yurt Camping Locations on the Northwest USA Coast:

Pacific Beach State Park, Washington
Bay View State Park, Washington
Dosewallips State Park, Washington
Twin Harbors State Park, Washington
Grayland Beach State Park, Washington
Bay Center KOA, Washington
Cape Disappointment State Park, Washington

Fort Stevens State Park, Oregon
Nehalem Bay State Park, Oregon
Cape Lookout State Park, Oregon
Beverly Beach State Park, Oregon
South Beach State Park, Oregon
Sunset Bay State Park, Oregon
Bullards Beach State Park, Bandon, Oregon


Yurts at Nehalem Bay State Park:




















Thursday, November 16, 2023

Dao De Jing, Laozi, Chapter 51

Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
Chapter 51


"The Way produces all things.
Power nourishes them.
Matter gives them physical form.
Environment shapes their abilities.
Therefore all things respect the Way and honor power.
The Way is respected, and power is honored
without anyone's order and always naturally.
Therefore the Way produces all things,
and power nourishes them,
caring for them and developing them,
sheltering them and comforting them,
nurturing them and protecting them,
producing them but not possessing them,
helping them but not obligating them,
guiding them but not controlling them.
This is mystical power." 
-  Translated by Sanderson Beck, Chapter 51  



"A guide starts it,
virtuosity cultivates it,
Natural kinds model it
and circumstances complete it.
For this reason, among the ten-thousand natural kinds,
None fail to respect a guide and value virtuosity.
This respecting of guides
and valuing of virtuosity
is not, in general, commanded in words instead it treats self-so as constant.
Hence a guide starts it,
virtuosity cultivates it,
Acts as its elder, educates it,
shades it, poisons it,
nourishes it and returns it.
Gives rise to and not 'exist,'
Deem: act and not rely on anything.
Acts as elder and does not rule.
This would be called 'profound virtuosity.'"
-  Translated by Chad Hansen, Chapter 51  



"Tao produces them (all things);
Virtue feeds them;
All of them appear in different forms;
Each is perfect by being given power.
Therefore none of the numerous things does not honour Tao and esteem virtue.
The honouring of Tao and the esteem of virtue are done, not by command, but always of their own accord.
Therefore Tao produces them, makes them grow, nourishes them, shelters them, brings them up and protects them.
When all things come into being, Tao does not reject them.
It produces them without holding possession of them.
It acts without depending upon them, and raises them without lording it over them.
When merits are accomplished, it does not lay claim to them.
Because it does not lay claim to them, therefore it does not lose them."
-  Translated by Ch'u Ta-Kao, 1904, Chapter 51  



道生之.
德畜之.
物形之.
勢成之. 
是以萬物莫不尊道而貴德.
道之尊.
德之貴.
夫莫之命而
常自然. 
故道生之.
德畜之.
長之育之.
亭之毒之.
養之覆之. 
生而不有.
為而不恃.
長而不宰.
是謂玄德. 
-  Chinese characters, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 51  



tao shêng chih.
tê hsü chih.
wu hsing chih.
shih ch'êng chih.
shih yi wan wu mo pu tsun tao erh kuei tê.
tao chih tsun.
tê chih kuei.
fu mo chih ming erh ch'ang tzu jan.
ku tao shêng chih.
tê ch'u chih.
ch'ang chih yü chih.
t'ing chih tu chih.
yang chih fu chih.
shêng erh pu yu.
wei erh pu shih.
ch'ang erh pu tsai.
shih wei hsüan tê.
-  Wade-Giles Romanization, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 51 




"Tao brings forth and Teh nourishes.
All things take up their several forms, and natural forces bring them to perfection.
Therefore all things conspire to exalt Tao and to cherish virtue.
But this regard of Tao and Teh is not in deference to any mandate.
It is unconstrained, and therefore it endures forever.
For Tao produces all things, and Teh nourishes, increases, feeds, matures, protects, and watches over them.
To produce without possessing; to work without expecting; top enlarge without usurping; this is the absolute virtue!"
-  Translated by Walter Gorn Old, 1904, Chapter 51 




"Tao gives all things life
Te gives them fulfillment
Nature is what shapes them
Living is what brings them to completion
Every creature honours Tao and worships Te not by force but through its own living and breathing
Though Tao gives life to all things
Te is what cultivates them
Te is that magic power which raises and rears them completes and prepares them comforts and protects them
To create without owning
To give without expecting
To fill without claiming
This is the profound expression of Tao
The highest perfection of Te"
-  Translated by Jonathan Star, 2001, Chapter 51 




"El Tao engendra.
La virtud nutre.
La materia conforma.
La Energía perfecciona.
Por esto, los diez mil seres
respetan al Tao
y honran la virtud.
Este respeto al Tao y honor a la Virtud
no ha de ser impuesto por nadie, sino que es espontáneo,
por ser la propia naturaleza.
Porque el Tao los engendra,
la virtud los nutre,
los hace crecer, los perfecciona,
los conserva, los madura
y los protege.
Engendrar y criar,
Engendrar sin apropiarse,
Obrar sin pedir nada a cambio,
Guiar sin dominar,
Esta es la Gran Virtud."
-  Translation from Wikisource, 2013, Capitulo 51



"The Tao gives birth to all of creation.
 The virtue of Tao in nature nurtures them,
 and their families give them their form.
 Their environment then shapes them into completion.
 That is why every creature honors the Tao and its virtue.

 No one tells them to honor the Tao and its virtue,
 it happens all by itself.
 So the Tao gives them birth,
 and its virtue cultivates them,
 cares for them,
 nurtures them,
 gives them a place of refuge and peace,
 helps them to grow and shelters them.

 It gives them life without wanting to posses them,
 and cares for them expecting nothing in return.
 It is their master, but it does not seek to dominate them.
 This is called the dark and mysterious virtue."
 -  Translated by John H. McDonald, 1996, Chapter 51 
  




Chapter and Thematic Index (Concordance) to the Tao Te Ching



Taoism: A Selected Reading List



Tao Te Ching English Language Corncordance by Gerold Claser.  An excellent English language concordance providing terms, chapter and line references, and the proximal English language text.  No Chinese language characters or Wade-Giles or Pinyin Romanizations.  Based on the translation by John H. McDonald, available on the Internet in the public domain.  






Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Autumn in Southwester Washington State

We drove home from Twin Harbors State Park today.  We drove through Grayland Beach, Tokeland, Raymong, Pe Ell, Vader, Longview, and Woodland.  November 15, 2023.

When we got home we showered, clean up, and cleaned razor clams for storage.

Dramatic fall colors everywhere!!

For many photographs and more information go to: Four Days in Grayland by Michael P. Garofalo.

















Tuesday, November 14, 2023

Hunting for Mushrooms and Raxor Clams

 We enjoyed a beautiful clear day of camping at Twin Harbors State Park.   November 14, 2023

We went walking in search of mushrooms in the Park.

We ate Dungeness crab, Kumamoto oysters, Little Neck clams, homemade squash soup, fresh bread, and wine. Shopped at the fish market at Brady's Oysters.

Went razor clam digging at Grayland Beach Road. Caught 49 clams after 5 pm at low tide.

For many photographs and more information go to: Four Days in Grayland by Michael P. Garofalo.