In this poster -- which has no printed comment -- three old men stand close together around a large vat of vinegar. These wise old men are Confucius, Buddha, and Lao-tse. Each has just tasted the vinegar -- the essence of life -- and each presents a different face to the world.
Each day, as I roll back my chair to sit down, I glance thoughtfully at that poster and ask myself an important question:
Well, Robby: how does your world taste today?
I know my answer will have a definitive impact upon the thoughts I record for this blog, upon my email messages and responses, and upon how I will feel when I finally shut-down my computer, roll back from my keyboard, and stand up to face the rest of my day.
A mature person must take charge of his thoughts, because his thoughts determine the face he presents to the world each day. In a way, his answer to that simple question will determine his doings and interactions for his each-day-at-a-time. And those doings and interactions taken whole over a lifetime identify him -- to himself and to others -- and will determine the quality of each moment he shares with others -- and ultimately the quality of his life.
A mature person must take charge of his thoughts, because his thoughts determine the face he presents to the world each day. In a way, his answer to that simple question will determine his doings and interactions for his each-day-at-a-time. And those doings and interactions taken whole over a lifetime identify him -- to himself and to others -- and will determine the quality of each moment he shares with others -- and ultimately the quality of his life.
So I ask YOU the same question I ask MYSELF:
How does your day taste today?
Which brings us back to the three Vinegar Tasters. Because, the faces they present to each other and to us are distinctly different. And after-all, their thinking, their differing views of the world, have influenced their own Chinese culture, and the thinking of countless people around the world for centuries.
Confucius say:
Confucius say:
What you do not want
done to yourself,
do not do to others.
Back to business, please: consider the faces of each of the Vinegar Tasters. And while doing so, consider the faces each of you present to the world.
Confucius -- the old wise man on our left as he faces the vinegar -- presents a sour face. He's disgusted. He feels the way of men is at odds with the Way of Heaven. Nowadays no one respects the old and honored ways. People rush about without respect for Ancient Truths and Rituals which order the good life. No wonder Confucius makes a grouchy face when he regards the bustling turmoil, the apparent conflict and mindlessness of the world around him.
Buddha -- the wise old man in the center -- presents a bitter face. To him, the world is a place of endless arguments. Angry and confrontational men abound. Beyond that, most people are beset by troublesome relationships and desires which cause suffering. The world is an uncertain and painful place filled with conflict. Better to isolate oneself, to be self-sufficient and free of argumentation, to rise above the trivialities of common experience. Pretty bitter guy, this Buddha.
But consider the face of the man on the right. He tastes the vinegar of life and SMILES. Could be he's missing something. But still. . . Lao-tse taught that everything in the world has its own true nature which cannot be changed. Each thing, each happening, each problem and its possibilities must be seen clearly, accepted and embraced. No more messing around with fixing things and people. Fixing things brings only pain and disappointment. Take life as it comes and smile. Such is the way of Lao-Tse and the Taoists.
Hmmmmnnnn!? Reminds me a little of that old prayer. . .something about accepting things that cannot be changed, changing things that can be changed, and having the wisdom to know the difference.
GEEZ! I would so like to be younger, better-looking, and smarter, and maybe a little bit taller and more wealthy -- in no particular order. But soon! How 'bout you?
Lao-tse would say NO to such nonsense.
I think of this poster as my Seat of Wisdom -- Each morning, before I sit down, I roll back my chair, study this poster and THINK.
Some days I throw up my hands and turn to my email.
Some days I write for hours without producing anything I think worth sharing.
Some days I write something I'm not certain is worth your consideration. Yet, despite my uncertainty, I may go ahead and post.
Some days I write something thoughtful I really want to share.
Could be true, the good-writing days are the days I better understand Lao-tse . . .the days I am most comfortably a Taoist.
done to yourself,
do not do to others.
And in the Pali Canon, the sacred scriptures of the Therevada Buddhists we find:
There is no evil
for one who commits none.
for one who commits none.
And in the Book of the Tao we find Lao-Tse's words:
But then, where have we heard words something like that before? Oh never mind!? I digress.
Manifest plainness,
Embrace Simplicity,
Reduce Selfishness,
Have few desires.
Embrace Simplicity,
Reduce Selfishness,
Have few desires.
But then, where have we heard words something like that before? Oh never mind!? I digress.
Back to business, please: consider the faces of each of the Vinegar Tasters. And while doing so, consider the faces each of you present to the world.
Confucius -- the old wise man on our left as he faces the vinegar -- presents a sour face. He's disgusted. He feels the way of men is at odds with the Way of Heaven. Nowadays no one respects the old and honored ways. People rush about without respect for Ancient Truths and Rituals which order the good life. No wonder Confucius makes a grouchy face when he regards the bustling turmoil, the apparent conflict and mindlessness of the world around him.
Buddha -- the wise old man in the center -- presents a bitter face. To him, the world is a place of endless arguments. Angry and confrontational men abound. Beyond that, most people are beset by troublesome relationships and desires which cause suffering. The world is an uncertain and painful place filled with conflict. Better to isolate oneself, to be self-sufficient and free of argumentation, to rise above the trivialities of common experience. Pretty bitter guy, this Buddha.
But consider the face of the man on the right. He tastes the vinegar of life and SMILES. Could be he's missing something. But still. . . Lao-tse taught that everything in the world has its own true nature which cannot be changed. Each thing, each happening, each problem and its possibilities must be seen clearly, accepted and embraced. No more messing around with fixing things and people. Fixing things brings only pain and disappointment. Take life as it comes and smile. Such is the way of Lao-Tse and the Taoists.
Hmmmmnnnn!? Reminds me a little of that old prayer. . .something about accepting things that cannot be changed, changing things that can be changed, and having the wisdom to know the difference.
GEEZ! I would so like to be younger, better-looking, and smarter, and maybe a little bit taller and more wealthy -- in no particular order. But soon! How 'bout you?
Lao-tse would say NO to such nonsense.
I think of this poster as my Seat of Wisdom -- Each morning, before I sit down, I roll back my chair, study this poster and THINK.
Some days I throw up my hands and turn to my email.
Some days I write for hours without producing anything I think worth sharing.
Some days I write something I'm not certain is worth your consideration. Yet, despite my uncertainty, I may go ahead and post.
Some days I write something thoughtful I really want to share.
Could be true, the good-writing days are the days I better understand Lao-tse . . .the days I am most comfortably a Taoist.
Those are the days
I look at my world and smile.
I look at my world and smile.
No comments:
Post a Comment