Enough Seriousness For One Week… Time To Be In The Now!
I’m in a particularly good mood today, and although I’ve had fun writing my tai chi post this week, I think we’re all due for treat. Yep you guessed it; it’s time for another quote from the infamous Master of Duhism, Bob Tzu. For those of you who don’t know Master Tzu, he’s the long-lost American Cousin of the ancient Chinese Philosopher, Lao Tzu.
This quote ties in nicely with tai chi, because tai chi helps us be in the moment, live in the now, forget about our cares for a little while, and it just make us feel better. The thing about tai chi is that it takes so damn long to get there. I think “The Tzu” has figured out a way we can get there a lot more quickly.
“I’m in a hurry to be live in the moment, so I’m just taking things 2 days at a time.” Bob Tzu
Make no mistake about it, this isn’t as easy as it sounds, but if we take a page from the lessons of Master Tzu’s cousin I think the path might become a just little clearer.
“A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” Lao Tzu
If you apply both of these ancient and contemporary bits of timeless knowledge to your tai chi practice, Master Tzu tells me you’ll begin to open up to the possibilities. I’m still working on this one, so if you figure it out before I do would you mind leaving a comment so I can benefit from your experience too?
John
P.S. Want a nifty pair of these Bob Tzu specs? Click on the photo above or go to http://www.duhism.com/glasses
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Aug 28, 2009 - 12:08:42For the record, let me share the context for the quote of my cousin’s that you used. That’s what he said after I complained about the fact that we were late for a dinner party (we both love free food) and he, having forgotten the address, had been driving in circles for HOURS, refusing to stop and ask for directions.
Here’s another quote of his that’s been taken out of context: what most people think is the opening line of the Tao te Ching, “The Tao that can be spoken of is not the real Tao.”
Here’s the real story.
We’re at another dinner party and, well, Lao Tzu has a few too many sake-tinis. Someone asks him if he’s going to need a ride home and he says, “No, I know THE WAY!”
Some long-term spiritual seekers overhear this and ask him about “The Way.” He spends the next 6 hours talking and talking and talking until he finally runs out of steam.
The seekers look at each other and then say to Lao Tzu, “Uh, I don’t get it,” to which he offers the best cop-out ever, “The Tao that can be spoken…”
Turns out that someone had been writing down what Lao Tzu said, thinking they might use it in a lawsuit against him (he often said slanderous things when he was tipsy). Now, they, too, had been partaking in the free beverages, and when they walked over to present the useless transcript, they stumbled, dropping all the papers.
When everything got rearranged, the last page, with only the “Tao that can be spoken…” line, was put on top.
And the rest, as they say, was history.
Chinese literature abounds with two types of characters: the wanderer and the scamp.
Obviously, Bob Tzu is a Master “scamp” — and John, your aspiration to be one as well is clear. You’re almost there! Another example would be the stories surrounding the Cold Mountain Poems of Han-shan and Shih-te.
As to the “wanderer,” which might illustrate Lao Tzu’s line that you quoted, see if you can get a copy of The Travels of Mingliaotse. A very beautiful short story. My favorite translation is by Lin Yutang.
Master Tzu,
Thank you so much for visiting my humble blog. Your stories are informative and truly insightful… although I’m now in a quandary as to what to think of your cousin.
He must have been a channel that simply brought forth true wisdom, yet in his mortal state was unable to fully comprehend the true meanings. Yea, yea I like that story. It works for me, how about you? I feel better already.
John
Walt,
I’ll do that. Any story about a true scamp, I’m sure I’ll enjoy, or at least relate to.
John