Monthly Archives: September 2006

Twelve – Let Your Belly Be Your Guide

Posted on September 10, 2006 by Clay McGovern

I guess three out of seven ain’t bad. Of the seven lines of Chapter Twelve, I think I may have a relatively clear understanding of three. I think I understand what Lao Tsu means when he says racing and hunting … Continue reading →

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Eleven – Mu

Posted on September 10, 2006 by Clay McGovern

When the Emperor of China asked Daruma what the first principle of Buddhism was, Daruma replied, “Vast emptiness, nothing holy!” (See Collecting the Art of Zen.) I love the paintings of Daruma (Bodhidharma) by Fugai; Daruma is depicted as a … Continue reading →

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Ten – Be as the Newborn Babe

Posted on September 6, 2006 by Clay McGovern

Chapter Ten is a very difficult chapter for me to take in. For each of the translations I consulted, there was a (sometimes radically) different interpretation of Lao Tsu’s words. Lao Tsu is trying to communicate what Feng and English … Continue reading →

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Nine – Surfeit and The Way

Posted on September 5, 2006 by Clay McGovern

Our “Fill ‘er to the rim with Brim!” culture stands in stark opposition to the teachings of Lao Tsu. Perhaps this is unfair. It’s clear that Lao Tsu’s China of the 6th Century BCE had a comparable problem. Perhaps there … Continue reading →

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Eight – Water and the Way

Posted on September 4, 2006 by Clay McGovern

In New Orleans we have a special relationship with water. We are surrounded and suffused by it. It clings to our bodies and fills our lungs. It makes our vegetation lush, so much so that I swear I can see … Continue reading →

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