OldDog

OK, here ya go.

I have actually seen Kodo live on three occasions. All I can say is that itis pure spectacle. Most enjoyable concert I had been to in years. Thanks!

Always glad to hear from Willie ... ignore the loudmouth announcer.

Bonnie Raitt ... now there's a gal that certainly has paid her musicsl dues. One good guitar player, too.

OK, tried to ignore this since it takes a turn down a political road but can't get it outa my head. Had not thought much about education until I ran into Jonathan Haidt a social psychologist that has a pretty well formed take on what's wrong politically and education is a fair piece of it. Basically it comes down to a shift from seeking truth to seeking social justice. For the full discussion ... https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EqUtgFBWezE Not trying to spark a full blown political argument ... that belongs elsewhere ... just sayin.

So, there I was yesterday afternoon when this tune popped into my head. Jumped in the car and went to my favorite bbq joint for brisket and sausage, pickles, onions and a big cup of sweet tea.

I have heard this before. It has to do with the various phases of energy during a daily cycle ... but the interval of time chosen for meditation/cultivation can produce different results. At least that is how I have understood it. Have also heard 5am to 7am recommended. It is interesting that this is explicitely pointed out. It matches my experience ... limited though it be. Think about it ... how many times have you had a brief instance of clarity regarding some aspect of existence. Brief though it may be, if you can notice it and internalize it, the impact is profound ... and changes your self/world view. This is what I liken it to. The key point is relating time to qi movement. This seems to relate to the second point in OPs opening post. The flash of clarity ... while only a second ... has a timeless quality to it. So time would seem to be somewhat plastic, if understood in this manner. Note the distinction OP makes between biological clock ... physical clock. It might be useful to look at time from the point of view of the Yijing. While not typically thought of as a neidan text, it strongly relates the nature of time to change. If nothing else, helps break the typical notion of time existing independently of our experience. For the scientific minded, the relativity of space/time is concept that demonstrates the plasticity/elasticity of time. Interesting stuff.

Better have a glass of George Dickel in hand for this one ...

... and ...

In the mood for some good ole songwriters ...

I actually liked Satie. It's the kind of music I enjoy when I want to read ... soft, peaceful, no words to distract. Reminded me a lot of what used to be called New Age music. Not sure what it's called these days. There was a pianist by the name of Liz Story, that Satie was reminiscent of, who was greatly influenced by the great jazz pianist Bill Evans.

Ok, guess it's time to leave the dancehall. Wife and I have seen this boy a few times at Gruene Hall. Lotta fun to listen to.

Back to the dancehall.

Must have passed right through Texas and ended up in Bakersfield!

The woodworker is an interesting character. Not unlike the the butcher cutting up the ox ... or other Chuangtsean characters. From his response to being questioned about the art of woodworking one can see that, even before explaining what is involved, the attitude of the woodworker is different. He is humble. He takes little to no credit for having done anything special. But when pressed, openly describes his approach. Wandelaar touches on an interesting point in the story. Just what is it that the woodworker is doing in his preparations? How does going through the austerities prepare him for the task at hand? It would seem as though he is developing his intent and focus on the task so that he can perform his work with sincerity ... so that he can recognize the bellstand that exists in a piece of wood and through his ability assist the the bellstand in manifesting. The austerities themselves ( periods of fasting ) are relatively unimportant ... for the woodworker, fasting works. What is important is the removal of attachments to notions of gain or loss that would prevent him from seeing the bellstand.

... and then go about removing everything that is not bellstand.

It almost sounded like a hymn.

Yes, that was a surprise. I ran across the same information you cited ... you knew I would, wanting to understand the perspective of Bryce and Wieger before committing to acquire their translation. But I was unaware of the scope of French efforts. It almost seemed like sinology was the domain of German and English researchers, clearly a naive assumption. What I found curious was that Wieger made his way to China circuitously by way of the Army, medicine and ultimately the Society of Jesus in such a short period of time ... then, having gotten to China, spent the remainder of his life there. That there had been such a long history of Jesuit misssion ... and scholarship ... in China, made me wonder if Wieger's joining the society wasn't a means to an end.

So, it would seem that you have answered the question posed in your original post ... you have found value in at least two older translations. Great! I hope you enjoy them and that find them as useful as they promise. It would be nice if you could report occasionally on your impressions. I have had some exposure to the Giles translation in the past and came away somewhat neutral toward it ... neither impressed or turned away. The second book, however ... Bryce / Wieger ... I find intriguing, having read through some sample pages. For one, its choice of words and use of language seems different than typical translations. Not sure why but seems like worth exploring. It seems to evoke different images in the mind. Also, I found the appendices very interesting. I like the technic of providing alternative writings relative to the main object of translations. They often expand the understanding of key concepts. I have had a growing interest in Kuan Yin Tzu. What exactly is his place in Daoism? Seems he is more than just the border guard. Here and in other references he almost seems to be given parity with Lao Tzu, which might reflect on the true place of Lao Tzu in Daoism. I think I may have to acquire the Bryce / Wieger translation as well. Thanks for the lead.

Back to the dance hall

You know, Webb Pierce is one of my favorites, especially this one.

Switching over to Texas dancehall music https://novom.ru/en/watch/TzUmWAgTavY

Yes, it would. But mistakes, as being forgivable ... suggesting accident, slip or blunder ... usually are not systemaic, unless the error occurs in an originating premise. Moeller in his l e n g t h y analysis goes into great detail demonstrate the systematic injection of western philosophical concepts, citing ... what was it ... five examples of western "motifs" being imposed. Moeller is suggesting a systematic effort ... hardly a mistake. He then goes on to further suggest a deliberate effort ... Giles "solved" this problem [ the question of the person of the narative ] by invent­ing the "I" that is not in the Chinese original—and thereby com­pletely transformed the story. So, what is it that Moeller is trying to do here ... suggest that Giles translation/interpretation was indavertant, a simple by product of his western education? I don't read it that way. I saw it as something more pernicious ... and personally think it unjustified. As I see it, the fault is Moellers.

Yeah, I've seen that. Digital never really lived up to its hyped expectation, imho. Something that has contributed greatly ... again, imho ... is the decline in musicianship. Until there is a renaissance in musicianship, there won't be a need for quality vinyl recordings ... or a need to have digital live up to potential. Just sayin.