Tao Te Ching

The Tao Te Ching was written in China roughly 2,500 years ago at about the same time when Buddha expounded the Dharma in India and Pythagoras taught in Greece. The Tao Te Ching is probably the most influential Chinese book of all times. Its 81 chapters have been translated into English more times than any other Chinese document.
The Tao Te Ching provides the basis for the philosophical school of Taoism, which is an important pillar of Chinese thought. Taoism teaches that there is one undivided truth at the root of all things. It literally means:








tao (the way)
te (strength/virtue)
ching (scripture)

VERSE 1:

The Tao that can be spoken of is not the eternal Tao.
The name that can be named is not the eternal name.
The nameless is the beginning of heaven and earth.
The name is the mother of the ten thousand things.
Send your desires away and you will see the mystery.
Be filled with desire and you will see only the manifestation.
As these two come forth they differ in name.
Yet at their source they are the same.
This source is called a mystery.
Darkness within darkness, the gateway to all mystery.

Not so anonymous...

I finished reading "A Million Little Pieces" by James Frey about a week ago. It's actually alot closer to "Ten Little Pieces" as a Dateline Hollywood article spoofed. The book was an interesting read but throughout I had to keep pushing the "Man Who Conned Oprah" article published by The Smoking Gun out of my head, to be able to enjoy it.

After dating a "dry" alcoholic for 3+ years, I really took this book to heart. I can't recall the countless episodes I've experienced with J. Alcoholics don't stop being alcoholics, just because they don't drink doesn't mean they're fixed. The affliction lives with them forever, and with their partners, & families as well.

J and James have an unfortunate quality in common, they both HATE AA and what it stands for, and they think they can will themselves to not drink. However, I thought it a little contridictory when he started reading or studying the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu. For someone who blatently abhors organized religion, he sure took a liking to the book.
If you'd like a REAL memoir of a drunk, packed full of ups & downs and messy relapses - Check out "Dry" by Augusten Burroughs.

I don't really know where I'm going with this post, I guess I'm just in the mood to get some shit out. After I read the book, I looked into the Tao, and honestly I had a hard time putting it down. It makes alot of simple statements but they are views I wish more people lived by. Its full of positive self affirmations, and tells you to open up your mind to not complicate things. Just take things as they are. I think just this alone would alleviate a whole shit load of stress in my life.

Speaking of stress, anyone up for a vacation? Ya, I am. I need to get out of this god foresaken office, and spend sometime outdoors. Camping, hiking, sleeping, eating... feeling better. This may be something I seriously persue. Take off for a weekend and get the hell out of here.