great works ii – 2850 jta 12:25-2:05: love letters from the world

Hello Everyone,

Thanks to all of you who responded.  You made some really excellent, perceptive comments.

Tao poetry: 

The Tao Te Ching is a set of several poems (you have seen only a few here) generally attributed to the poet Lao Tzu, and possibly dating from the 4^th century B.C. E.  These poems are celebrating the philosophy of Taoism, a philosophy that attempts to show the path to spiritual enlightenment. 

Below I have gleaned the more salient comments and interpretations from your peers.  Notice that you all begin to get an excellent sense of what these poems of the Tao are saying.  These comments will also be important and helpful to remember, when you’re reading Journey to the West:

#25

(Daphne; Nicole)

The idea of connection or being connected is indeed strong here, that all things are somehow interconnected in our universe.  Here some people also see the idea of a higher being, or god, or presence, some “greatness.”

#1

(Joseph; Jorge)

This poem points to the paradox of the Tao, that our existence is both manifest in this world, and invisible, at the same time.  One needs to let go of one’s desires Joseph) to see the truth.  This poem also introduces one of the largest ideas of Tao, and that is that the Tao cannot be named or defined, as it is mystery and ambiguity, and one must simply accept this

#10

(Maria; Rebecca; Jorge)

 There is the idea that finding “balance” is a way to the path of having a fulfilled life, and the ideas of acceptance and patience.  This “balance” can also be see as the intrinsic connection between opposites or “dichotomies” as Jorge puts it.  There is also the idea of innocence, to be “as a newborn babe” (and the idea that presenting as aspect of innocence, may help us to become actually innocent).

 #22

(Farhan; Francesca; Jamie; Onu)

There is the idea of overcoming one’s obstacles by, ironically, being humble and surrendering oneself.  Humility is a large idea that runs through all of these poems. This poem also discusses the idea of ambiguity and paradox, that opposites are often two sides of one idea.  This also contributes to the idea that one needs to be open, to be “adaptable” (Onu’s quote).   

#16

(Susanna)

There is the idea of embracing the “simplicity” of one’s existence (Susanna).   The idea of “emptiness” is in this poem, as in so many of the Tao poems; in other words, one must “empty” oneself, to surrender to what is happening, and then let the answers come to you.   

 #13

(Jacqueline; Annie; Rebecca; Tara; Muneeb; Joaquin)

Here is again the theme that we see throughout all of these poems, that to be humble, to surrender oneself to “misfortune,” or to loss, and to learn that to be “important” is not the path to a better, more fulfilled life.  This connects to the idea that accepting misfortune and disgrace will actually help to strengthen you, and help you to grow. 

 #4

(Preston; Allie)
There is the idea of the Tao as a metaphor of the mind, or that the human mind is a reflection of the Tao?  This is an interesting point.  The idea of the Tao being endless, is also in this poem, as in many of these poems.  There is also the thought that the Tao is not something to be understood, but, ironically, embraced (even as we do not understand it), to embrace the mystery of life.