The Tao

[wabmester]

My 2-year-old kid is going through this phase in which she likes bending words.   You know, changing or adding endings, swapping phonemes, speaking with her teeth clenched and tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth, etc.

Usually it's pretty annoying, but sometimes she'll hit upon a real word that she thought she made up, and I'll tell her what it means.   Tonight she said "The Dao," so I read her some stuff from the Tao Te Ching.   She hated it ("stop, it's scary").    But it's been 20+ years since I've read this stuff, and I found some cool stuff about retirement in there.

Fill a cup to its brim and it is easily spilled;
Temper a sword to its hardest and it is easily broken;
Amass the greatest treasure and it is easily stolen;
Claim credit and honour and you easily fall;
Retire once your purpose is achieved - this is natural.

Health or reputation: which is held dearer?
Health or possessions: which has more worth?
Profit or loss: which is more troublesome?

Great love incurs great expense,
And great wealth incurs great fear,
But contentment comes at no cost.
For who knows when to stop
Does not continue into danger,
And so may long endure.


Anyway, if you're as easily amused as I am, enjoy:

http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/gthursby/taoism/ttcmerel.htm

 

[Nords]

Tonight she said "The Dao," so I read her some stuff from the Tao Te Ching.

No, no, no, Wab, she was saying "The DOW", as in "The Dow Jones Industrials Average". (I'm sure her pronunciation improves with practice.)

Better start reviewing Warren Buffet's biography. Whatever you do, don't let her end up like Abby Joseph Cohen or Bill Gross.

What does she predict for the year's ending numbers? Any advice on how to play the first couple quarters of 2006? Thanks!!

 

[TromboneAl]

so I read her some stuff from the Tao Te Ching.

Be sure to set money aside for her therapy sessions.

 

[HFWR]

"I cried - hot tubs of tears over you;
I can't eat a bite of tofu.
I've given up tai chi, and group therapy, too.
I cried - hot tubs of tears over you..."

Austin Lounge Lizards

 

[ronin]

The guidance of the Universal One
   of natural wholeness is therefore:
Empty your mind.
Enjoy good health.
Weaken your ambitions.
Strengthen your essence.

 

[wabmester]

The sage is firm but not cutting,
Pointed but not piercing,
Straight but not rigid,
Bright but not blinding.

 

[ronin]

As for your life and your wealth,
   which is more precious?
As for gain or loss, which is more damaging?
He who is most endeared to something
   must pay dearest for it.

 

[haha]

whoa dudes. This is heavy.

 

[wabmester]

whoa dudes. This is heavy.

Heavy, but not burdensome. This is the essence of The Way.

 

[ronin]

the simple, natural reality is the same whether you think of it as heavy or not heavy... heavy and not heavy are conceivable... can one cease thinking?

 

[sgeeeee]

"I cried - hot tubs of tears over you;
I can't eat a bite of tofu.
I've given up tai chi, and group therapy, too.
I cried - hot tubs of tears over you..."

Austin Lounge Lizards

That's a fun band. I like "Saguaro".