Daodejing - Chapter Thirty

 

道德經  - 第三十章

以道佐人主者，不以兵強天下。

其事好還。

師之所處，荊棘生焉。

大軍之後，必有凶年。

善有果而已，不敢以取強。

果而勿矜，果而勿伐，果而勿驕。

果而不得已，果而勿強。

物壯則老，是謂不道，不道早已。

Daodejing - Chapter Thirty

Whoever relies on the Dao in governing men, doesn't try to force issues, or defeat enemies by force of arms.  

For every force there is a counter-force.

Violence even well-intentioned always rebounds upon oneself.

The master does his job and then stops.

He understands that the universe is forever out of control.

And that trying to dominate events goes against the current of the Dao.

Because he believes in himself he doesn't try to convince others.

Because he is content with himself he doesn't need others approval.

Because he accepts himself the whole world accepts him.

References

1. The above translation is based on the translation by poet, translator, scholar and anthologist, Stephen Mitchell.  His reading of the work can be found on the following YouTube video: Tao Te Ching, The Book Of The Way by Lao Tzu: https://youtu.be/t109UFLSQhk?t=2691
2. This chapter on the above video starts at 44.50 and ends at 46.10..
3. You can find the complete 81 chapters of Daodejing in Chinese and English (James Legge version) in the ctext.org website: https://ctext.org/dao-de-jing

Ethics by Peter Singer / Epicurus / Epictetus

 

Wikipedia - by Mal Vickers - Own work

Please find pdf file of Ethics by Peter Singer.

Some YouTube videos of Peter Singer on ethics

3 ethical catastrophes you can help stop, right now | Peter Singer | Big Think – Big Think

Peter Singer's Ethics – Eidos84

Peter Singer - The Genius of Darwin: The Uncut Interviews - Richard Dawkins – Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason & Science

Is it okay to eat meat? Peter Singer tackles the best objections against vegetarianism – Practical Ethics Channel

Some YouTube videos on Epicurus

PHILOSOPHY - Epicurus – The School of Life

The Philosopher of Pleasure | EPICURUS – Einzelgänger

Epicurus and the Good Life – Academy of Ideas

PHILOSOPHY - History: Epicurus’ Cure for Unhappiness [HD] – Wireless Philosophy

Some YouTube videos on Epictetus 

The Discourses of Epictetus (Animated Book Summary)  – Eudaimonia

 Epictetus - How To Be A Stoic (Stoicism)  – Philosophies for Life

Daodejing - Chapter Twenty Nine

 

道德經  - 第二十九章

將欲取天下而為之，吾見其不得已。

天下神器，不可為也，為者敗之，執者失之。

故物或行或隨；

或歔或吹；

或強或羸；

或挫或隳。

是以聖人去甚，去奢，去泰。

Daodejing - Chapter Twenty Nine

Do you want to improve the world?  I don't think it can be done.

The world is sacred, it can't be improved.

If you tamper with it, you'll ruin it.

If you treat it like an object, you'll lose it.

There is a time for being ahead, a time for being behind, 

a time for being in motion, a time for being at rest, 

a time for being vigorous, a time for being exhausted, 

a time for being safe, a time for being in danger.

The master sees things as they are, without trying to control them.

she lets them go their own way, and resides at the centre of the circle.

References

1. The above translation is based on the translation by poet, translator, scholar and anthologist, Stephen Mitchell.  His reading of the work can be found on the following YouTube video: Tao Te Ching, The Book Of The Way by Lao Tzu: https://youtu.be/t109UFLSQhk?t=2596
2. This chapter on the above video starts at 43.15 and ends at 44.50.
3. You can find the complete 81 chapters of Daodejing in Chinese and English (James Legge version) in the ctext.org website: https://ctext.org/dao-de-jing

Daodejing - Chapter Twenty Eight

 

道德經  - 第二十八章

知其雄，守其雌，為天下谿。

為天下谿，常德不離，復歸於嬰兒。

知其白，守其黑，為天下式。

為天下式，常德不忒，復歸於無極。

知其榮，守其辱，為天下谷。

為天下谷，常德乃足，復歸於樸。

樸散則為器，聖人用之，則為官長，故大制不割。

Daodejing - Chapter Twenty Eight

Know the male, yet keep to the female, receive the world in your arms.

If you receive the world, the Dao will never leave you; 

and you will be like a little child.

Know the white yet keep to the black, be a pattern for the world.

If you are a pattern for the world, the Dao will be strong inside you; 

and there will be nothing you can't do.

Know the personal yet keep to the impersonal, accept the world as it is.

If you accept the world, the Dao will be luminous inside you; 

and you will return to your primal self.

The world is formed from the void, like utensils from a block of wood.

The master knows the utensils yet keeps to the block.

Thus she can use all things.

References

1. The above translation is based on the translation by poet, translator, scholar and anthologist, Stephen Mitchell.  His reading of the work can be found on the following YouTube video: Tao Te Ching, The Book Of The Way by Lao Tzu: https://youtu.be/t109UFLSQhk?t=2502
2. This chapter on the above video starts at 41.40 and ends at 43.15.
3. You can find the complete 81 chapters of Daodejing in Chinese and English (James Legge version) in the ctext.org website: https://ctext.org/dao-de-jing

The Voice referendum

 

What is the Voice Referendum and what are we voting for? | The Voice Explained | ABC News

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice

In late 2023, Australians will have their say in a referendum about whether to change the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

The Voice would be an independent and permanent advisory body. It would give advice to the Australian Parliament and Government on matters that affect the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

For more information about the Voice, see: https://voice.gov.au/

Discussion

The following are some questions relating to the Voice referendum:

• What is the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice?
• See video above.
• What is the Voice Referendum?
• See: https://voice.gov.au/referendum-2023/referendum-question-and-constitutional-amendment
• How are the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders doing now?
• https://www.niaa.gov.au/resource-centre/indigenous-affairs/commonwealth-closing-gap-annual-report-2022
• What are some of the current Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander government agencies?
• https://yoorrookjusticecommission.org.au/overview/
  
• https://www.niaa.gov.au/who-we-are/the-agency
• https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-social-justice
  
• Since we already have many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander government agencies, why do we need the Voice?
• https://www.rmit.edu.au/news/factlab-meta/aboriginal-agencies-are-not-equivalent-to-the-voice#:~:text=The%20verdict,and%20Torres%20Strait%20Islander%20people.
  
• What are some of the basic philosophical questions?
• The First Fleet arrived in Australia on 26th January 1788.  People from all over the world have since settled in Australia.  The government of the settlers took the land from the indigenous people.  Do you consider the occupation and settlement of Australia just? 
• What is justice?
• https://youtu.be/H0CTHVCkm90
  
• Most Australians would agree that all Australians should be treated equally.  The early settlers created a society based on the British system.  Later settlers chose to live in this society.  However, the indigenous people had no choice.  Were the indigenous people treated equally?
• If not, what should be done to redress that injustice and/or inequality?
• Efforts to close the gap (the vast health and life-expectation inequality between First Nations people and non-Indigenous people in Australia) have largely been unsuccessful.  What should be done to close the gap?
• What are the arguments for the "Yes" case?
• See Referendum Pamphlet
• What are some of the arguments for the "No" case?
• See Referendum Pamphlet
• See: https://www.ruleoflaw.org.au/voice-the-case-for-voting-no/#:~:text=The%20problem%20with%20the%20current,and%20not%20just%20the%20parliament
• See: https://www.recogniseabetterway.org.au/
  

Daodejing - Chapter Twenty Seven

道德經  - 第二十七章

善行無轍迹，善言無瑕讁；善數不用籌策；

善閉無關楗而不可開，善結無繩約而不可解。

是以聖人常善救人，故無棄人；

常善救物，故無棄物。是謂襲明。

故善人者，不善人之師；

不善人者，善人之資。

不貴其師，不愛其資，雖智大迷，是謂要妙。

Daodejing - Chapter Twenty Seven

A good traveller has no fixed plans, and is not intent upon arriving.

A good artist lets her intuition lead her wherever it wants.

A good scientist has freed herself of concepts, and keeps her mind open to what is.

Thus the master is available to all people, and doesn't reject anyone.

She is ready to use all situations, and doesn't waste anything.

This is called embodying the light.

What is a good person but a bad person's teacher.

What is a bad person but a good person's job.

If you don't understand this you will get lost however intelligent you are.

It is the great secret.

References

1. The above translation is based on the translation by poet, translator, scholar and anthologist, Stephen Mitchell.  His reading of the work can be found on the following YouTube video: Tao Te Ching, The Book Of The Way by Lao Tzu: https://youtu.be/t109UFLSQhk?t=2410
2. This chapter on the above video starts at 40.10 and ends at 41.40.
3. You can find the complete 81 chapters of Daodejing in Chinese and English (James Legge version) in the ctext.org website: https://ctext.org/dao-de-jing