Since I’m being linked to for Blogroll Amnesty Day by Fallenmonk, I just want to mention that:
Anyone on my blogroll (see list to right, go to the page if you use a reader, for once…) is an excellent read! (excepting perhaps the dog breeders and trainers, who are excellent sources of golden retrievers and training).
And many who aren’t on my blogroll are excellent reads, too…. I just started on Google reader so new acquisitions are being placed there.
You can read my Google shared items here:
http://www.google.com/reader/shared/12239438365675506550
Fair warning — it is heavy on economics, politics, and squid. Oh, and if you get an error message, send me an email or leave a comment here with your email and I’ll send you an invite. You might not be on my google mail list yet…
On to the Tao for today, on kindness:
When the great Tao is forgotten,
Kindness and morality arise.
When wisdom and intelligence are born,
The great pretense begins.
When there is no peace within the family,
Filial piety and devotion arise.
When the country is confused and in chaos,
Loyal ministers appear.
Tao Te Ching, 18
Give up sainthood, renounce wisdom,
And it will be a hundred times better for everyone.
Give up kindness, renounce morality,
And men will rediscover filial piety and love.
Give up ingenuity, renounce profit,
And bandits and thieves will disappear.
These three are outward forms alone; they are not sufficient in themselves.
It is more important
To see the simplicity,
To realize one’s true nature,
To cast off selfishness
And temper desire.
Tao Te Ching, 19
My Chinese character calendar for the month is showing the character for Kindness. I generally don’t think much about being kind, since kindness is simply part of Tao. If you have to think about being kind and moral, you’re probably doing it wrong. Kindness should simply be a natural part of life. But every so often, it might be worth thinking about being kind to others, or even more importantly, to yourself.
Thanks for the kindness of thinking of me, Fallenmonk!
5 Responses
Uhh, squid?
Also getting a “error 404” when I try the link.
LaP, I fixed the link, and sent you a gmail invite — let me know if you still have problems… I might need to add you to my friends list on google or something.
I kept seeing mention of Blogroll Amnesty Day on several blogs, but didn’t know what it was. Thanks for including a link!
I guess I’m unlike most people. Every week I go searching for Taoist blogs to add to my blog’s right side bar. I actually delight in adding newer blogs because it only adds to the color and depth of the overall Taoist tapestry.
You are most welcome. I try and link to blogs that I think are worthy or just interesting. I am afraid I don’t visit everyone often enough but Google reader has helped me stay on top of it a little better.
Loving google reader! I just started using it a couple of weeks ago.
The only thing I don’t like is feeling compelled to read everything…. before I didn’t know it was there! And I have lots to read!