75
greed appears to win
the people are enslaved
sit still, watch, and wait.
Lesson # 75
People starve
because others with wealth
just want more money.
People are oppressed
because others in power
just want more control.
If you value your life, live simply.
Stop when you have just enough.
Be kind to others.
Enjoy what you have.
Seek to know yourself
and creation,
and put down your cellphone.
That is enough.
From: 81 Lessons from the Tao Te Ching
Number 75 The way out
Why are there people who are starving and suffering
Because people with the most capital
care more about amassing more capital
then they do about people starving and suffering
Why are people angry and rebellious
Because people with the most power
care more about amassing more power
and about controlling others by letting them starve and suffer
rather than hearing and addressing their pain
Why do people want to escape from being present
and flee into a drugged state or hypnotic media
Because they are suffering and
because people who control and create the media
have designed drugs and media
to be highly addictive in masking suffering
If you value your life
live simply
be kind to others
enjoy what you have
seek to know yourself and creation
and put down your cell phone
NUMBER SEVENTY FIVE
The people are hungry.
Because they who are over the food tax it heavily
That is why the people are hungry.
The people are difficult to govern.
Because the rulers trust in possessions and activities
That is why the people are difficult to govern.
The people make light of death.
Because they work hard in order to save their life,
That is why they make light of death.
A Master indeed is he whose life-activities are from within.
He excels all man in his application of Life.
Isabella Mears, The Tao Teh King, A Tentative Translation from the Chinese, William McLellan, Glascow, 1916.
Number 75 (commentary) Why are the zombies always hungry?
The zombies come, a mass of them, bloody clawed fingers outstretched, grasping for us, hungry to eat our brains; heartless, mindless and so very hungry. They need more brains to eat. They are alive and gnawing on us from inside our psyches. In Buddhism they are called “the hungry ghosts.”
Everyone wants just a little bit more. The rich want more so they can live on lush estates and holiday with other rich folks, far away from those vulgar, common folk, let alone the poor. On estates and in enclaves, they can indulge every pleasure and escape from pain. Until they get sick or killed and die.
The middle class want just a little bit more, either to become one of the rich, or at least keep themselves from the fear of becoming poor. They narcotize the fear of falling down into poverty by plunging every night and weekend and spare moment into some form of intoxication, obsession and/or media fantasies. Until they get sick or killed and die.
The poor need just a little bit more in order to survive. And no one seems to care that they do not have enough. Until they get sick or killed and die.
We are all so hungry for just a little bit more. We are zombies.
Tangent and Tool #75, Take less (Reflective exercise) For one day, whenever you become aware of wanting something, take less. If you want a sandwich, instead eat a thin slice of cheese. If you want someone’s attention, instead be kind to someone else. If you feel like you need to go to the store, take a walk instead. Eat sparingly. Do less. Interrupt your usual, comfortable, instinctual behavioral patterns. Speak less. Listen to nature, not to the news. If habitual behavior patterns emerge, do something else, spontaneous and unpredictable. Surprise yourself!