This is great, to read Lao Tsu and Shakespeare every day. There are 81 verses in Tao Te Ching and 154 sonnets by WS. Enough to keep one busy for a while. A great way to study and appreciate greatness. I started on Lao Tsu, and I'm afraid the other Chinese philosophers are not so sophisticated. Zhuangzi is a good one (a student of Lao Tsu), very imaginative, romantic, funny. Will be a very good one to study. He wrote lots and lots of beautiful prose that I always want to read. Confucius is too boring and concerns only the social aspects of Tao (the lowest level, according to Lao Tsu). Maybe Sun Zi the Chinese Machiavelli will be interesting. Still many chapters to Tao Te Ching. I won't plan ahead yet.

I do want to think about music now. So many exciting things to think about!

I told G the other day about my becoming a Taoist (for now) and my quitting science. He asked me how I felt about the decision (of quitting)--"relieved?" Probably. I have given science a good many years and I should feel good that I have tried it (rather than feel bad to quit). I only hope he is not bored with my spiritual talks. And I hope my friend R won't be bored either. I so treasure their friendship and love, and if they see something not quite right about me, I will definitely listen to what they say and re-evaluate myself. So far G seems to only interested in what I actually do. He asked me what pre-occupies me these days and I said, Eastern philosophy and Taoism, of which he had no comment. R wanted to see me making concrete plans. And you want to talk to me about music education. Well enough, it is the action that counts.

I am a new student of Taoism. It's more like an attitude toward life than anything else. Tao Te Ching is the "bible" of Tao, and it is full of wisdom that cannot be used up! And Lao Tsu (the alleged author) is the poet. I don't know how you will like this "philosophy", since in a sense it teaches not-forcing, contradictory to any ideas of socialist reform or communist revolution. But what Tao is, it is also very practical (that's why I can see it as the ultimate wisdom) and useful.

When do I take a nap? Now my brain is racing....

the student

p.s. latin might have to wait.... or is there some way that i can learn one little thing per day, too?

-- email to JA.