The other day I received an Email from a friend who'd seen online the videofilm program, "The Taoist and the Activist" and read my blog, "'Green and Lean: Notes on a Taoist approach to living in these times" (August 2008). Her message and my reply are below.
Dear Dr. T:
Your [blog] site and the [“The Taoist and the Activist”] videofilm touched something for me about anonymity. I have been playing with a new name of "I who have no name." Identity is an interesting component of self centeredness as I noticed that I even had to give myself the identity of "I who have no name." LOL Well, I will continue working with this to see if I can actually experience anonymity. I am doing much better with simplicity.
Warmly, C.L.
Dear C.L.
Taoist people refer to anonymity as a powerful source of "pure freedom." Because Lao Tzu (presumably the "creator" or founder of Taoism) really didn't have a "name" -- "Lao Tzu" simply means "Old Fellow" in Chinese -- he left virtually no trail, had no resume, was not stalked by groupies or deranged fan clubs.
Lao Tzu was profoundly “useless,” much as the Good Samaritan was in the biblical story. He went to his own book signing party unnoticed, I'll bet, and probably went home quietly and calmly after a couple of light drinks and casual banter about "When is this author gonna show up, anyway?!?" ... with no one dogging his ass for autographs or insisting that "We must do lunch sometime, Master!"
Next time at a social function, try introducing yourself as "I am." Smile, chat, and then slip away. A Taoist training exercise, in fact.
About Me
- Benjamin R. Tong
- I have been an educator for some 40+ years: middle schools, colleges and universities, graduate schools. Taught clinical psychology, Asian American Studies and English. In addition to maintaining a private practice in psychotherapy and consultation, I also sing, write, review movies and other writers' work, teach tai chi, hang out in stimulating caffes, run occasional health & wellness workshops and retreats, and travel. The recovery and relevance of classical Chinese culture and esoteric practices (Confucianism, Taoism, the Heroic Tradition) is an ongoing preoccupation.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment