Bad Tidings

Up against the wall,

I can hold my breath

My tongue no longer

Can you read my lips?

Fire cannot put out their flame,

So give me water.

~*~

Without warning,

You give me goosebumps.

An almighty shiver

To the core of my being.

Just yesterday, spring was blooming,

Dewy fragrance graced the dawn

And children waved farewell,

Some for the last time.

O mighty Earth, O cruel sea!

By the light of the great sun,

We shall always hold you close

In love, in pain, in healing.

–okei

Ideas towards a Structure of the Tao Te Ching

A Subdivision of Lao-Tzu's

Tao Te Ching into 27 Parts

The Unnameable Dao (1-3)
Emptiness (4-7)
Suppleness (8-10)
Openness (11-13)
Formlessness (14-16)
Genuineness (17-19)
Inner Stillness (20-21, 24)
Wholeness (22-23, 25)
Rootedness (26-28)
Peacefulness (29-31)
Innateness (31-34)
Mildness (35-37)
Simpleness (38-39, 41)
Reversion (40)

Wordlessness (42-44)
Stillness (45-47)
Harmlessness (48-50)
Straightness (51-53)
Virtuousness (54-56)
Sparingness (57-59)
Forgiveness (60-62)
Mindfulness (63-65)
Humility (66, 80-81)
Reserve (67-69)
Wisdom (70-72)
Softness (73-76)
Gentleness (77-79)


This then is a playlist of the complete reading of a compressed-haiku version of the Tao Te Ching (Daodejin) by Lao-Tzu (Laozi). The order follows that of the over two-thousand year old Ma-wang-tui version of the text which was discovered in 1973.

The spirit of Dao of these verses is illustrated by the paintings of Jia Lu and accompanied by the gayageum-playing of Choi Jin.  

And it is read by me. Enjoy!




Acknowledgments to books by Henricks and Lin Yutang especially, inspiration from Lee to begin with, an insight of Tamara, and Fangyu and Jue for a comment or two along the Way.

Spirit of Dao in the Art of Jia Lu

Ingredients:

Hello All! I've been rather absent lately. I hope you are all well!

Apart from work, I've also been enjoying putting together this...a video comprising:

(1) the verses of the Tao Te Ching (pronounced Daodejin) by Lao-Tzu (Laozi), rendered in haiku form,

(2) a selection of paintings of female beauty by Jia Lu ("Departures" pictured).

(3) the traditional Chinese instrumental piece "Return of the Fishing Boat".

Enjoy!

Directions: