Buddhism and Taoism and Confucianism, oh my

an excerpt from the Foreword of the Tao Teh Ching translated by Dr. John C. H. Wu:

Both Confucianism and Taoism complement each other, however incompatible they seem at first sight to be. The former places a man in his proper relation to his fellow-men, the latter in proper relation to nature. A third philosphy, Buddhism, though introduced from India, deals with the problem of human suffering and with man's ultimate destiny. These three inheritances ... have moulded the thinking not only of the Chinese people but of all Eastern Asia. There is truth, then, in the common saying that every Chinese wears a Confucian cap, a Taoist robe and Buddhist sandals.

Whereas Confucius counseled his people to labor untiringly for the welfare and dignity of man in society, Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu on the other hand cautioned them against excessive interference. In their view, the urge to change what by nature is already good only increases the sum-total of human unhappiness. These two urges: on the one hand, to do something, and on the other hand, not to do too much, are forever contending in our natures. The man who can maintain a just balance between them is on the road to social and intellectual maturity.

Arthur W. Hummel,
Former Head, Division of Orientalia
Library of Congress, Washington D.C., 1962

Unexpected Blessing

I just went to Noodles & Co. on Washtenaw for the first time in a long time. One of the workers there greeted me, came over, and asked after my (younger) daughter. We used to go there about once every week or two together, and M always used their chopstick helpers to eat her mac & cheese. (The chopstick helpers turn their chopsicks into tongs, which is actually counterproductive for learning to use chopsicks, but I digress. ;) I was soooo glad when M learned to use the chopstick helpers, because before that, she would have me spear the mac with chopsticks. It was cute, but kept me busy keeping up with her.

This person, who I later found out is named Nancy, took my order (though she may well have been able to recite it by heart, and has before--I almost always get the same thing: spicy thai ceasar with tofu and sweet red pepper). I was telling her that M was in preschool, loving it, and that I was in job-search mode and struggling with it after 8 years out of the regular work force. She told me she was buying me my lunch! Previously I would have made a big show of "no, are you sure? really?" etc. and killed the joy if not the blessing itself. But I put that aside. I thanked her profusely, and she gave me some good ideas for possible teaching leads. She said she hoped they would see me more often again. I think she must be a manager, but I had to ask to get her name, even though this is not the first conversation I have enjoyed wth her.

I had a really nice lunch, enjoying my salad and reading If the Buddha Got Stuck.

Now I am going to write her a thank-you!

Heaven is a somewhere locked inside and I must find the key, wish I'd never locked the door. Ordinary things in life are where this Heaven likes to be. Hold the sky, feet on the floor.