Verse 25 by Lao Zi: 有物混成，先天地生。寂兮寥兮，独立而不改，周行而不殆，可以为天地母。吾不知其名，强字之曰：道，强为之名曰：大。大曰逝，逝曰远，远曰反。故道大，天大，地大，人亦大。域中有四大，而人居其一焉。人法地，地法天，天法道，道法自然。 There is something formed from chaos,Born before Heaven and Earth.Silent and boundless,Alone and unchanging,It moves in cycles without exhaustion,And can be called the Mother of Heaven and Earth. I do not know its name;I force myself to call it “Dao.”If compelled to give it a designation, I call it “Great.”ContinueContinue reading “Dao, Heaven, Earth, and Humanity”
Tag Archives: Philosophy
The Gift of Today: A Gratitude Reflection on Death and Life
[Written by ChatGPT] We often live as though tomorrow is promised. We make plans, set goals, and delay the words we need to say. But the truth is: tomorrow is not guaranteed. And when it arrives, it is not owed—it is a gift. This truth can feel heavy, especially when we’re faced with the lossContinueContinue reading “The Gift of Today: A Gratitude Reflection on Death and Life”
Nothing Is Ours Except Time: Ancient Wisdom for a Modern World
[Written by Gemini] Related Post: The Measure of Your Life In our perpetually busy lives, it’s easy to feel like time is a relentless current, sweeping us along. We lament its passing, yet often squander its moments. But what if we were to truly grasp the profound truth that “Nothing is ours, except time”? ThisContinueContinue reading “Nothing Is Ours Except Time: Ancient Wisdom for a Modern World”
“Idiocracy” – Are We Doomed to a Dumber Future?
[Written by Gemini] My delightful young nephews recently introduced me to the cinematic masterpiece (ahem) that is “Idiocracy.” If you haven’t had the pleasure, it’s a Mike Judge creation envisioning a future 500 years from now where humanity, thanks to the intellectually gifted having fewer children than the, well, less intellectually gifted, has become profoundlyContinueContinue reading ““Idiocracy” – Are We Doomed to a Dumber Future?”
Drifting Like the Sea
Verse 20 by Lao Zi: 唯之与阿，相去几何？美之与恶，相去若何？人之所畏，不可不畏。荒兮，其未央哉！众人熙熙，如享太牢，如春登台。我独泊兮，其未兆；沌沌兮，如婴儿之未孩；傫傫兮，若无所归。众人皆有余，而我独若遗。我愚人之心也哉！俗人昭昭，我独昏昏。俗人察察，我独闷闷。澹兮，其若海；飂兮，若无止。众人皆有以，而我独顽且鄙。我独异于人，而贵食母。 Agreement and flattery — how far apart are they?Goodness and evil — how different are they?What people fear, one cannot but fear as well.How vast and boundless — it all seems without end! The multitude are merry,as if feasting at a grand sacrifice,as if ascending a terrace in spring.I aloneContinueContinue reading “Drifting Like the Sea”
The Good Life: Ikigai and the Search for Meaning Across Cultures
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit. – Aristotle [Written by ChatGPT] What makes a life good? It’s a question philosophers, poets, and ordinary people have asked for centuries. In today’s world of hyper-productivity and hustle culture, the answer often seems to orbit one word: work. ButContinueContinue reading “The Good Life: Ikigai and the Search for Meaning Across Cultures”
The Surface of Virtue vs. the Substance of Harmony
Verse 18 by Lao Zi: 大道废，有仁义；智慧出，有大伪；六亲不和，有孝慈；国家昏乱，有忠臣. When the Great Way is abandoned, there is benevolence and righteousness.When wisdom appears, great hypocrisy arises.When family relationships fall out of harmony, there is talk of filial piety and parental love.When the state is in chaos, loyal ministers appear. [Written by ChatGPT] What if our highest ideals — kindness, wisdom,ContinueContinue reading “The Surface of Virtue vs. the Substance of Harmony”
Building Bridges Instead of Walls: Reimagining Democratic Discourse
[Written by Claude] In our current democratic landscape, we’ve mastered the art of speaking but forgotten the power of listening. Our institutions are structured around adversarial debates and passionate protests, methods that often entrench divisions rather than resolve them. But what if we could reshape how we engage with different perspectives? What if our educationalContinueContinue reading “Building Bridges Instead of Walls: Reimagining Democratic Discourse”
Beyond Bias: The “B” List That Builds or Breaks Success
[Written by ChatGPT] Use your brain’s blind spots like a pro—or be played by them When you learn about cognitive biases, it feels like getting your hands on the instruction manual for human behavior. These mental shortcuts aren’t just quirks—they’re tools. Especially for enterprising minds. Let’s explore the ones that start with B and breakContinueContinue reading “Beyond Bias: The “B” List That Builds or Breaks Success”
Applying Thinking Fast and Slow
[Written by ChatGPT] What struck me most about Thinking, Fast and Slow is how deeply its lessons apply to everyday life. It’s not just about economics or psychology—it’s about how we make choices, big and small. When I’m debating a purchase, for example, I catch myself falling into the trap of loss aversion—fearing I’ll regretContinueContinue reading “Applying Thinking Fast and Slow”
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