(no subject)

[robinturner]

I'm really beginning to appreciate the Chinese concept of wu wei or "non-action". However, I think I'm applying it backwards. The way Laozi (Lao Tzu) uses it is to give the idea of achieving results without appearing to do anything e.g. "When nothing is done, nothing is left undone" or "I take no action and people are reformed." What I'm doing these days is mastering the art of appearing to work without actually doing anything, something known to adepts of bureaucracy since ancient Egypt. For example, today I went to the bound journals section of the library. Just being there makes you feel incredibly academic (and also makes you sneeze a lot, because the vast majority have not been opened since they were bound, and so carry large quantities of dust). My initial aim/excuse was trying to find some journal dealing with Chinese philosophy, culture or history, so I could find suitable articles to inflict on my students next semester. Of course there was nothing of this ilk, so I just sat on the floor thumbing through China Sport for articles on martial arts.

Speaking of martial arts, I have now corrected the imbalance between my shoulders. For a long time I'd been lopsided because I tore some muscles in my left shoulder after landing incorrectly from a belt throw (which means Philip picks me up by my belt and throws me over his shoulder). Last night I got put in a shoulder lock and thrown over Philip's hip, and was unable to repress my instinct to resist, so I have torn muscles in both shoulders now. Surprisingly, this feels much better.

Comments

[kristian.livejournal.com]

Get all your students to read "The Tao of Pooh".

It converted me.

[solri.livejournal.com]

It wouldn't really work with my students, as Winnie the Pooh isn't part of Turkish culture. I liked the book, though.

[kristian.livejournal.com]

wu wei is a beautiful concept.

I've tried to introduce it into student politics also, but no one seems to understand. But then again, it might be asking a little to much from a group of people who don't seem to comprehend much other than "Fuck The Capitalist Patriarchy! Hurrah for Socialism"