The Daodejing seemingly comes to us through the ages as a whole of parts, like puzzle pieces, or a deck of cards, shuffled and redealt a thousand-thousand times.
What stayed with me most was your reflection on Su Dongpo—not caring for the world’s opinion, even when it cost him. That’s been on my mind more as I get older: how much energy goes into contorting ourselves for approval we don’t even believe in. There’s a quiet kind of strength in letting that go. Thanks for the reminder.
The way he related that whole little story chokes me up. The LinYutang biography, "The Gay Genius" is 10/10. This has been on my mind more and more as well, my friend. 🙏
The "aspire to be be great by being the greatest version of ourselves "reminds me of a comment Timothee Chalamet recently made. At some awards show or another, he said simply that he aspired to be great. Then all the world criticized him for being arrogant. Arrogant? He wasn't saying he was great, he was simply saying he aspired to be. Isn't it good to have goals, to be the best version of ourselves? He put so much effort over a lengthy period of time to capture the essence of Bob Dylan, and after seeing the movie, all I have to say is that i think Timothee is already great. He's already achieved his goal.
I wouldn’t criticize him on his use of that word either… and he’s a fine actor. 🙂 If he had said “I aspire to be thought of as great” he couldn’t be critiqued for being honest. If he’d said, “I want be the greatest I can be,” that should be close to what we all want? But if I caught Timothee creating his own fan clubs or crafting a mythical journey for himself, that is attempting to influence others to give the greatness tag. A lot of that in the world. I liked him in Dune and Little Women. ☺️
totally makes sense. thats what makes an actor brilliant, when you inhabit the character. Like Meryl Streep in simply all of her movies. All of the actors in a Complete Unknown did that. I totally believed Edward Norton WAS Pete Seeger.
I like to think of us all having ripple effects with every action. Sometimes those ripples reach farther and sometimes closer. I also relate to wanting to be great for the sake of it. To prove something to others and myself. It’s not as fulfilling on the other side as I originally thought, because what I was really wanting was to be closer and more trusting of myself. Love this series Paul, it always gets me thinking.
Thank you, Breanna, maybe some incomplete thoughts here, I took a lot of cues from outside to guide what I was doing, and I suppose my I do is impacting others. Worth the time to have our own Why in sight and try our best to stay with it.
"Arrive without traveling. See all without looking. Do all without doing."--The Beatles. That sense of no self doing happens when I am just in the moment, painting, writing, driving, hiking, teaching, whatever, when the clock is unseen and no future whispers possible gains, accolades, the letting go of the results, of shooting the arrow and not trying to grasp it as it flies to the target.
Thank you, Janaka, it means a lot. It must be such a good feeling, I think I grasp it a few minutes at time now and again. The Beatles... sages without doubt. My Mom is the biggest Beatles fan in the world, she's been there since the landing. ☺️🙏
Thank you, Emmette, I do love your interpretation, it uplifts me, and your reference to flow states is very much integral to the grand meaning I get from The Daodejing. To me, that "flow", or "zen state", being "in the moment" is almost an experience of unconsciousness.
The mind is quieted, as if we are almost not there anymore, only to return after, left with a very happy feeling of a time we lost ourselves for a time.
I am a person who finds joy in repetitive, small habits also. I have lists, alarms, meal plans, etc. Perhaps the routines reduce my worry and cognitive strain, having to think about less. If any of that will be called "great", certainly it will be someone else saying it. 🙏
What stayed with me most was your reflection on Su Dongpo—not caring for the world’s opinion, even when it cost him. That’s been on my mind more as I get older: how much energy goes into contorting ourselves for approval we don’t even believe in. There’s a quiet kind of strength in letting that go. Thanks for the reminder.
The way he related that whole little story chokes me up. The LinYutang biography, "The Gay Genius" is 10/10. This has been on my mind more and more as well, my friend. 🙏
The "aspire to be be great by being the greatest version of ourselves "reminds me of a comment Timothee Chalamet recently made. At some awards show or another, he said simply that he aspired to be great. Then all the world criticized him for being arrogant. Arrogant? He wasn't saying he was great, he was simply saying he aspired to be. Isn't it good to have goals, to be the best version of ourselves? He put so much effort over a lengthy period of time to capture the essence of Bob Dylan, and after seeing the movie, all I have to say is that i think Timothee is already great. He's already achieved his goal.
I wouldn’t criticize him on his use of that word either… and he’s a fine actor. 🙂 If he had said “I aspire to be thought of as great” he couldn’t be critiqued for being honest. If he’d said, “I want be the greatest I can be,” that should be close to what we all want? But if I caught Timothee creating his own fan clubs or crafting a mythical journey for himself, that is attempting to influence others to give the greatness tag. A lot of that in the world. I liked him in Dune and Little Women. ☺️
I havent seen much of him before but he was good in Dune also. I think he is actually a very good actor already, from what i have seen.
I appreciate an actor who works to be the character, and not just an actor playing a character, if that makes sense. He gets my vote.
totally makes sense. thats what makes an actor brilliant, when you inhabit the character. Like Meryl Streep in simply all of her movies. All of the actors in a Complete Unknown did that. I totally believed Edward Norton WAS Pete Seeger.
She’s a great example. Michael Biehn (Great) in The Terminator versus Jai Courtney (Terrible) in Genesis. 😄
I like to think of us all having ripple effects with every action. Sometimes those ripples reach farther and sometimes closer. I also relate to wanting to be great for the sake of it. To prove something to others and myself. It’s not as fulfilling on the other side as I originally thought, because what I was really wanting was to be closer and more trusting of myself. Love this series Paul, it always gets me thinking.
Thank you, Breanna, maybe some incomplete thoughts here, I took a lot of cues from outside to guide what I was doing, and I suppose my I do is impacting others. Worth the time to have our own Why in sight and try our best to stay with it.
Profound wisdom, Paul. Thank you for sharing.
"Arrive without traveling. See all without looking. Do all without doing."--The Beatles. That sense of no self doing happens when I am just in the moment, painting, writing, driving, hiking, teaching, whatever, when the clock is unseen and no future whispers possible gains, accolades, the letting go of the results, of shooting the arrow and not trying to grasp it as it flies to the target.
Thank you, Janaka, it means a lot. It must be such a good feeling, I think I grasp it a few minutes at time now and again. The Beatles... sages without doubt. My Mom is the biggest Beatles fan in the world, she's been there since the landing. ☺️🙏
I hope she didn’t scream:)
She was front row.... you can guess how it was. 🙏 Inspired her to play and sing in a band which she is still doing at 76. 🙂
Good on her.
Thank you, Emmette, I do love your interpretation, it uplifts me, and your reference to flow states is very much integral to the grand meaning I get from The Daodejing. To me, that "flow", or "zen state", being "in the moment" is almost an experience of unconsciousness.
The mind is quieted, as if we are almost not there anymore, only to return after, left with a very happy feeling of a time we lost ourselves for a time.
I am a person who finds joy in repetitive, small habits also. I have lists, alarms, meal plans, etc. Perhaps the routines reduce my worry and cognitive strain, having to think about less. If any of that will be called "great", certainly it will be someone else saying it. 🙏
🙏😌 You're to kind💝