Professor: Lou Marinoff
Basically this class talks about Confucius' Analects and LaoZi's Dao De Jing. The professor apparently regards this class from the viewpoint of Buddhism. I intend to take this class as supplement to my Philosophy minor.
Most supplements and syllabus are on his google drive. As for online I-Ching resource, he recommended this.
I shall record my journey of studying Confucius and Lao Zi here.
Resources:
Confucius
Analects
Good comparison between Chinese original and English translation.
http://www.acmuller.net/con-dao/analects.html
Prof. Marinoff suggested Arthur Waley's translation, the free version online mistaken as Arthur Waley, but was actually translated by James Legge in 1893, which I found out later doing a quick search). Apparently some of the students in class were using fooled by this error as well. Verses are not marked.
Wikipedia lists notable translations, some of which are available freely online. I cannot find any parallel comparison site online as the one I found for Lao Zi's Tao De Ching. I could start a project website for a translation comparison chart. I also should mirror backup Lao Zi's http://www.mobilewords.pro/Tao/.
Lao Zi
Tao De Ching
Lots of English Translators Comparison (Prof. Marinoff's book is translated by Ch'u Ta-Kao (初大告) & Stephen Mitchell). It would appear that Red Pine has very accurate translation.
http://www.mobilewords.pro/Tao/
A good Chinese source, with pinyin, no verse labels but tedious explanation.
http://www.zxuew.cn/daodejing/
Apparently reliable chinese explanation, with Chinese medicinal application.
http://doc.zenw.org/ddj/
Chinese Text with some English Translations Comparison, but translations are a little off sometimes. However, Chinese Characters have pinyin and definitions. The same site has other books such as Sun Tzu's The Art of War.
http://www.yellowbridge.com/onlinelit/daodejing.php
Prof. took a day off on 10/14 for a trip to Italy for the Global China Business Meeting hosted by horasis.org (which also hosts India, etc. Business Meeting).
Confucius
Analects
Notable verses:
2:7 子曰。今之孝者、是謂能養。至於犬馬、皆能有養。不敬、何以別乎。
This is a good reminder. Filial piety is not just about providing material need. I do not disagree with the latter part, because honoring our parents is essential. However, I must add, it is important to forge good relationship above all.
Lao Zi
Dao De Jing
I shall do a full commentary of my own and mark notable verses in red.
Chapter 1
道可道，非常道；名可名，非常名。无，名天地之始；有，名万物之母。故常无，欲以观其妙；常有，欲以观其徼。此两者同出而异名，同谓之玄，玄之又玄，众妙之门。
An allusion to God. Though, it may not be Lao Tzu's acknowledgment of God. It is a mystery to him. I would not go as far as some saying how Lao Tzu was a prophet of God in an official sense. Nevertheless, his SCIENTIFIC OBSERVATION of the way the cosmos works is rather impressive. The pro of this is that we can learn humility from this. However, if we idolize humility, it becomes pride.
Chapter 3, close to communism:
不尚贤，使民不争；
The presupposition of Godlessness see strife as the ultimate obstacle. Not sin.
不贵难得之货，使民不为盗；
不见可欲，使民心不乱。
是以圣人之治，虚其心，实其腹；弱其志，强其骨。
常使民无知无欲，使夫知者不敢为也。
Very passive, materialistic. Seeks no innovation but merely defensive power. At least here I can see why Mr. Yuan Zhi Ming acted so nonchalant towards theological (or any academic) pursuit.
为无为，则无不治。
无为之道，是要深知自然之道而为之。但没人明此道。
Therefore, it is a very passive notion, creating a future of passive nation.
Chapter 8
上善若水。水善利万物而不争，处众人所恶，故几於道矣。
居善地；心善渊，与善仁，言善信，政善治，事善能，动善时。
夫惟不争，故无尤。
Water is viewed uniquely by Lao Zi. It helps understand the highest virtue according to him. Just as the Holy Spirit/wind being compared to water from time to time. In Genesis, the water's presence was rather mysterious as well.
不争, non-contention, could be a virtual but it should not be taken passively, otherwise the interpretation of 无尤 becomes "no shame", "no blame", etc. which is a self-centered prevention.
易性， the title ascribed to this chapter, may allude to the fact that like water which is formless/changing and simple, one should align one's understanding of virtue likewise.
Chapter 9
持而盈之，不如其已。揣而锐之，不可长保。金玉满堂，莫之能守。富贵而骄，自遗其咎。功成名遂身退，天之道也。
A work based theology. Don't be greedy, don't be hubristic, finish you "part" and disappear. The unspecific definition of certain things is a good way to create paradoxes and emphasis the principle of Ying and Yang. The prof. spoke of different kinds of pride where religions differ. It is clear that semantics problems are involved.
Chapter 10
载营魄抱一，能无离乎？专气致柔，能如婴儿乎？涤除玄览，能无疵乎？爱民治国，能无为乎？天门开阖，能为雌乎？明白四达，能无知乎？生之、畜之、生而不有，为而不恃，长而不宰，是谓玄德。
The title 能为, tries to introduce the religion of Lao Zi, though supposedly independent of Buddhism influence. The Oneness terminology is definitely cheered by the Zen Buddhists. It's how Lao Zi finally defined 玄德.
Chapter 15
古之善为士者，微妙玄通，深不可识。夫惟不可识，故强为之容。豫兮若冬涉川，犹兮若畏四邻，俨兮其若客，涣兮若冰之将释，孰兮其若朴，旷兮其若谷，浑兮其若浊。孰能浊以澄静之徐清？孰能安以久动之徐生？保此道者不欲盈，夫惟不盈，故能敝不新成。
The concept of uncarved block (朴), reminds me of tabula rasa. Description of sages. Their patience, flexibility, etc.
Chapter 16
致虚极，守静笃，万物并作，吾以观复。夫物芸芸，各归其根。归根曰静，静曰复命。复命曰常，知常曰明，不知常，妄作，凶。知常容，容乃公，公乃王，王乃天，天乃道，道乃久。没身不殆。
While most may claim this is a sort of ascension for truth seekers, I will give Mr. Yuan Zhi Ming credit for relating this to Logos, I think that was what he was doing. I will give Lao Tzu the benefit of the doubt that he grasped the concept of the cosmos rather well. It is the divine revelation of "Dao", that is a problem for sinners.
Chapter 18
大道废，有仁义；智慧出，有大伪；六亲不和，有孝慈；国家昏乱，有忠臣。
Though relevant to chapter 19, it would seem to me that Lao Tzu was simply saying: The doctrine of Ying & Yang becomes apparent. I believe Lao Tzu got it right in chapter 19 that though these troubling thought of the bad completes the good or vice versa is troubling, one must seek after one's origin or source. However, this is as much as Lao Tzu can arrive. Anything further requires particular revelation.
Chapter 19
绝圣弃智，民利百倍；绝仁弃义，民复孝慈；绝巧弃利，盗贼无有。此三者，以为文不足，故令有所属，见素抱朴，少私寡欲。
The warning against ritualizing or rather idolizing morality, good, etc.
Chapter 23
希言自然。故飘风不终朝，骤雨不终日。孰为此者？天地天地尚不能久，而况於人乎？故教从事於道者，道者同於道，德者同於德，失者同於失。同於道者，道亦乐得之；同於德者，德亦乐得之；同於失，者失亦乐得之。信不足，焉有不信焉。
Favorite: 信不足，焉有不信焉 Those who lack trust will not be trusted.
Chapter 24
企者不立，跨者不行，自见者不明，自是者不彰。自伐者无功，自矜者不长。其在道也，曰余食赘行。物或恶之，故有道者不处也。
On pride. Analogous to those who wish to be first will be last.
Chapter 27
善行无辙迹，善言无瑕谪；善数不用筹策；善闭无关楗而不可开，善结无绳约而不可解。是以圣人常善救人，故无弃人；常善救物，故无弃物。是谓袭明。故善人者，不善人之师；不善人者，善人之资。不贵其师，不爱其资，虽智大迷，是谓要妙。
The theory of "good" according to Lao Zi. Either has to do with being one with nature or humility that is based on a trackless journey. Contrasting with Micah 6:8.
Chapter 28
知其雄，守其雌，为天下溪。为天下溪，常德不离，复归于婴儿。知其白，守其辱，为天下谷。为天下谷，常德乃足，复归于朴。知其白，守其黑，为天下式。为天下式，常德不忒，复归于无极。朴散则为器，圣人用之，则为官长，故大智不割。
Uncarved block mentioned again.
Chapter 29
将欲取天下而为之，吾见其不得已。天下神器，不可为也，不可执也。为者败之，执者失之。是以圣人无为，故无败；无执，故无失。夫物或行或随；或嘘或吹；或强或羸；或载或隳。是以圣人去甚，去奢，去泰。
The virtual of content.
Chapter 30
以道佐人主者，不以兵强天下。其事好远。师之所处，荆棘生焉。大军之后，必有凶年。善有果而已，不以取强。果而勿矜，果而勿伐，果而勿骄。果而不得已，果而勿强。物壮则老，是谓不道，不道早已。
Taoist vs. violence
Chapter 31
夫兵者，不祥之器，物或恶之，故有道者不处。君子居则贵左，用兵则贵右。兵者不祥之器，非君子之器，不得已而用之，恬淡为上。胜而不美，而美之者，是乐杀人。夫乐杀人者，则不可得志于天下矣。吉事尚左，凶事尚右。偏将军居左，上将军居右，言以丧礼处之。杀人之众，以悲哀泣之，战胜以丧礼处之。
The necessity of violence. Though some might have mixed feeling due to the conept of necesssary evil.
Chapter 32
道常无名朴。虽小，天下莫能臣。侯王若能守之，万物将自宾。天地相合，以降甘露，民莫之令而自均。始制有名，名亦既有，夫亦将知止，知止可以不殆。譬道之在天下，犹川谷之于江海。
"民莫之令而自均" close to rain falling on the good and the bad in the Bible.
Chapter 33
知人者智，自知者明。胜人者有力，自胜者强。知足者富。强行者有志。不失其所者久。死而不亡者寿。
In dealing with self.
Chapter 34
大道泛兮，其可左右。万物恃之以生而不辞，功成而不有。衣养万物而不为主，可名于小；万物归焉而不为主，可名为大。以其终不自为大，故能成其大。
Lao Zi trying to identify the morality of Dao. Dao as source and destination of all.
Chapter 35
执大象，天下往。往而不害，安平泰。乐与饵，过客止。道之出口，淡乎其无味，视之不足见，听之不足闻，用之不足既。
Benefit of Dao.
Chapter 36
将欲歙之，必故张之。将欲弱之，必故强之。将欲废之，必故兴之。将欲取之，必故与之。是谓微明。柔弱胜刚强。鱼不可脱于渊，国之利器不可以示人。
The usage of Dao. Where diplomats or Tai Chi masters would love.
Chapter 37
道常无为而无不为。侯王若能守之，万物将自化。化而欲作，吾将镇之以无名之朴。镇之以无名之朴，夫将不欲。不欲以静，天下将自正。
Taming people with the uncarved wood.
Chapter 38
上德不德，是以有德；下德不失德，是以无德。上德无为而无以为；下德无为而有以为。上仁为之而无以为；上义为之而有以为。上礼为之而莫之应，则攘臂而扔之。故失道而后德，失德而后仁，失仁而后义，失义而后礼。夫礼者，忠信之薄，而乱之首。前识者，道之华，而愚之始。是以大丈夫处其厚，不居其薄；处其实，不居其华。故去彼取此。
My favorite: 下德无为而有以为. The order of Dao - Virtue - Jen - Righteousness - ritual. The mature man's act.
Chapter 39
昔之得一者：天一以清，地得一以灵，神得一以宁，谷得一以盈，万物得一以生，侯王得一以为天下贞，其致之一也。天无以清，将恐裂，地无以宁，将恐发；神无以灵，将恐歇；谷无以盈，将恐竭；万物无以生。将死灭；侯王无以贞贵高，将死蹙。故贵以贱为本，高以下为基。侯王自谓孤、寡不 。此其以贱为本也？非乎？故致数车无车。不欲 如玉落落如石。
Chapter 40
反者道之动；弱者道之用。天下万物生于有，有生于无。
Chapter 41
上士闻道，勤而行之；中士闻道，若存若亡；下士闻道，大笑之。不笑不足以为道。故建言有之：明道若昧；进道若退；夷道若颣；上德若谷；广德若不足；建德若偷；质真若渝；大白若辱；大方无隅；大器晚成；大音希声；大象无形；道隐无名。夫唯道，善贷且成。
Almost analogues to the sowing of seeds of Jesus' parable. My favorite: 不笑不足以为道.
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
名与身孰亲？身与货孰多？得与亡孰病？甚爱必大费；多藏必厚亡。故知足不辱，知止不殆，可以长久。
Rhetorical questions on values. Being content.
Chapter 45
大成若缺，其用不弊。大盈若冲，其用不穷。大直若屈，大巧若拙，大辩若讷。静胜躁，寒胜热。清静为天下正。
Chapter 46
天下有道，却走马以粪。天下无道，戎马生于郊。祸莫大于不知足；咎莫大于欲得。故知足之足，常足矣。
Chapter 47
不出户，知天下；不窥牖，见天道。其出弥远，其知弥少。是以圣人不行而知，不见而明，不为而成。
Chapter 50
出生入死。生之徒，十有三；死之徒，十有三；人之生，动之于死地，亦十有三。夫何故？以其生之厚。盖闻善摄生者，路行不遇兕虎，入军不被甲兵；兕无所投其角，虎无所用其爪，兵无所容其刃。夫何故？以其无死地。
Chapter 61
大邦者下流，天下之牝，天下之交也。牝常以静胜牡，以静为下。故大邦以下小邦，则取小邦；小邦以下大邦，则取大邦。故或下以取，或下而取。大邦不过欲兼畜人，小邦不过欲入事人。夫两者各得所欲，大者宜为下。
Chapter 63
为无为，事无事，味无味。大小多少，报怨以德。图难于其易，为大于其细；天下难事必作于易，天下大事必作于细。是以圣人终不为大，故能成其大。夫轻诺必寡信，多易必多难。是以圣人犹难之，故终无难矣。
Big things have small beginnings.
Chapter 64
其安易持，其未兆易谋。其脆易泮，其微易散。为之于未有，治之于未乱。合抱之木，生于毫末；九层之台，起于垒土；千里之行，始于足下。为者败之，执者失之。是以圣人无为，故无败，无执，故无失。民之从事，常于几成而败之。不慎终也。慎终如始，则无败事。是以圣人欲不欲，不贵难得之货；学不学，复众人之所过。以辅万物之自然，而不敢为。
Chapter 68
善为士者，不武；善战者，不怒；善胜敌者，不与；善用人者，为之下。是谓不争之德，是谓用人之力，是谓配天古之极。
The meaning of meekness. 不争之德 in Lao Tzu.
Chapter 73
勇于敢则杀，勇于不敢则活。此两者，或利或害。天之所恶，孰知其故？天之道，不争而善胜，不言而善应，不召而自来，坦然而善谋。天网恢恢，疏而不失。
73 & 74: Lao Tzu's view on death penalty.
Chapter 74
民不畏死， 奈何以死惧之？ 若使民常畏死，而为奇者， 吾得执而杀之， 孰敢？常有司杀者杀。 夫代司杀者杀， 是谓代大匠斲， 夫代大匠斲者， 希有不伤其手矣。
Chapter 80
小国寡民。使有什伯之器而不用；使民重死而不远徙。虽有舟舆，无所乘之，虽有甲兵，无所陈之。使民复结绳而用之。甘其食，美其服，安其居，乐其俗。邻国相望，鸡犬之声相闻，民至老死，不相往来。
Singaporean Utopia? Plato's idea of city-state is within the dimension of a good day's walk from the center. Over population, prof. suggested the movie "Soylent Green".
Rajneesh was mentioned due to a paper a student wrote.
It would appear that the prof. was pretty fond of the guru.
A Hindu guru, nicknamed "sex guru", appeared to be rebellious throughout his life. He has criticized from teachers to Gandhi (that he was a masochist, loving poverty). I supposed he posthumous reputation greatly affected the West.
Deported from U.S., after the terror his Oregon commune brought.
Examining his works may help me understand things pertaining to Western Buddhism.
dhyana (Sanskrit India) => Chan 禪 (China) => Son (Korea) => Zen (Japan).
Notable Western Zen "master", Roshi Robert Kennedy, a Zen Jesuit. According to prof.: he went to Japan to bring Christianity to them but was "converted" to Zen instead.
10/21/2014
Theory of Everything mentioned (ToE)
David Hume (nicknamed "infidel") not employed due to atheism.
Existence vs. Non-existence
Krishnamurti mentioned. Who supposedly influenced Bruce Lee.
Recommendation: "IF" by Rudyard Kipling (Taoist sort to Prof.)
David Bohm's Wholeness and the Implicate Order. Bohm had dialogue with Krisnamurti.
Mentioned: Plato's Anamnesis
10/23/2014
Epictetus's "Enchiridion" view of death compared to DDJ's chapter 16.
Irvin Yalom mentioned. On psychiatry. "Love Executioner", Novels on Schopenhauer (curable), Nietzsche (not curable), on Spinoza.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) had an edition that says religious faith is a mental illness. Mentioned by Marinoff. But perhaps it has to do with extremism, which is redundant. However, it appears to be a passionate read of Marinoff for his psychoanalysis hobby.
On Buddhism, Marinoff has as always, been trying to promote it over all other religions. Though he maintained a very inclusive view of other faiths, misinterpreting that of Christian faith is inevitable. Thus, I would recall Dr. Tong's sermon: 3 kinds of self-made god: 1). material idolatry, 2). person/heroism idolatry (Confucianism, Toaism, etc.), 3). Rational idolatry (the highest form), which is ascribed to Buddhism, some Toaists (such as Marinoff), etc.
The Power of Tao Book Talk
10/25/2014
Twin book of "The Inner Philosopher"
Niels Bohr was known to favor the Ying Yang principle. He had his coat made with the Latin seal "Contraria sunt Complemanta" (Opposites are complementary). I believe thinks is the kind of
10/28/2014
Jonas Salk invented the polio vaccine. Mentioned in reference to Chapter 27 (DDJ) on how he did not attempt to leave any trace. Some thought (incl. the prof.) he deserved the Nobel Prize.
10/30/2014
Mentioned - Book by Matthew Alper: The God Part of the Brain
We also digressed to the idea of Chinese Room. Talking about the impossibility to understand understanding.
11/4/2014
On Lao Tzu's Chapter 27.
Cicero was good speaker. After decapitation, wife of Antony put hairpin to Cicero's tongue.
On not ignoring waste, Landfillharmonic was mentioned.
On Chapter 28.
I asked of the similarities between uncarved block and blank slate (of John Locke), prof. said blank slate is only 2D. Uncarved block: On not letting situations around shape us. Such as Izak Perlman's broken string performance (look up).
On writing improvement, read:
The Elements of Style by Strunk and White.
Essay 01 was returned. Prof. commented that my essay was a pleasure to read and that the fact that I'm a Chinese probably has something to do with that. There were minor corrections which I have revised in the above link. The title of my essay was: The Accounting of the fact that whereas Confucianism has remained ensconced in East Asia, Taoist philosophy has found its way into virtually every corner of the planet.
11/06/2014
DDJ chp. 29-31
Brian Victoria's Zen at War book mentioned. On corruption of Buddhism.
Prof. recommended book: Rats, Lice and History by Hans Zinsser, a remake copy by someone else is called Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond.
Prof. discussed on the need to act instead of passive inaction. Reminding me of Gandhi's other definition of violence (that it is preferred to nonviolence). Such is required in order for peace. Prof. also contrasted this with a quaker, Seth Loflin, I think, who did not wish to take arms and thus committing federal offense, but the firing squad executing him stopped when he said "Father, forgive them..."
My moral compass in this is closest to the concept of: There shouldn't be a need to stand up for one self all the time, but one must always, always, stand up for others when they are oppressed.
11/11/2014
Bodhidharma mentioned.
Prof.'s conspiracy theory: China attacked Tibet to push Tibetan passivity to the West. Europe has been debellated.
11/13/2014
Descartes denied vacuum due to the fact that he thought God would not exist in vacuum.
Aether debunked by Michelson-Morley experiment.
Reify, reification: making/naming something as real. Could be dangerous.
11/18/2014
CELAP mentioned: China Executive Leadership Academy Pudong. Where prof.'s is invited pertaining to his Dao book. Honored and terrified. The second "Chinese curse" where the government knows you. Prof.: Pudong is where officials are trained.
On chapter 34, regarding dehumanization, Henri Bergson was mentioned.
11/20/2014
NIMH rejects DSM-5. Prof. talks about the problems in mental disorder diagnosis, which I have been believing for a long time.
The Open Society and Its Enemies by Sir Karl Popper.
Presumption of Innocence = Innocent until proven guilty.
Brave New World by Huxley, contrasting with Orwell (e.g. 1984).
On depression read existentialism books:
1. Stranger by Camus
2. Nausea by Sartre
3. Moviegoer by Walker Percy [Prof: Genuine American existentialist material]
Semiology: Study of symbols and signs.
11/25/2o14
Mentioned: Diogenes of Sinope, Cynic.
12/02/2014
Chuang Tzu's "The Dexterous Butcher"《庄子书：内篇·养生主》 translated by Burton Watson
Suggestion: Igmar Bergman's "The Seventh Seal" film, comparing with Lao Tzu's chapter 74.
12/04/2014
Mentioned: Vero Wynne-Edwards on dialectic tribes, automated effective population size in species.
12/09/2014
Heterodox schools from India:
Buddhism, Jain & Charvaka
Indian Philosophy: Atman = soul. Atman is Brahma (creator, cosmic soul)
Buddha rejected Atman.
Hinayana (Lesser Vehicle)
Arahant - Monastic lifestyle
(Great Vehicle)
Bodhisattva - Missional
Prolific in China
4 noble truths 四圣谛 on Dukkha (苦)
8 fold path 八正道 (正見、正思惟、正語、正業、正命、正精進、正念、正定)
"Most segregated week of the day - Sunday." ~ Clark Strand of Tricycle.
12/11/2014
Bertrand Russell hired by City College, but not allowed to teach, read: Appointment Denied: The Inquisition of Bertrand Russell by Tom Weidlich.
Also read:The Problem of China by B.R.
Also read Power: A New Social Analysis, by B.R.
School of Athens painting = Knowledge of Causes (original title)
Compared with Eastern's the Vinegar Tasters 三酸圖. Interesting of all 3, Lao Tzu is the only positive one. There's other interpretations: That the three were not afraid being in the wild.