Dao

The more I'm reading about this, the more sense it makes. I started looking into daoism when I noticed that my perception of the spiritual world kept coming in contrasting two's: polarities as it were.

Of course, I've known the taiji symbol for years, but looking again at it in this light... It made so much sense. Two forces, opposed yet intertwined, separate yet always merging and changing in to each other, neither ever completely free of the other. One light element, male, above, reason. One heavy element, dark, feminine, absorbing, emotion. It was like the truth I had been seeing in the world for some time now had been given a face, and was staring right in mine.

I knew some of the more conspicuous elements of daoism philosophy, and they agreed quite well with my own nature: not going against the flow, 'don't worry - be happy' kind of thinking. There's some self-relativation in there too, and I'm big on self-relativation. Further familiarising myself with the dao only increased my enthousiasm (though I've only worked through the relevant wikipedia entries up 'till now: I'm a busy man). In the Netherlands we say "Wat je van ver haalt, is lekker." Run that through babelfish and tell me it doesn't make sense ;)

I guess one of this days I should really get around to reading the dao de jing...

It even integrates well with what existing paradigm I had (mostly stolen from Wicca: either you're an Eclectic, or you're not): a God and Goddess, all god-images ever conceived being manifestations of them. There's some primitive seasons stuff in there, but nothing I care to elaborate on... It needs work.

If this sounds like I'm constructing a religion as if I was writing a story, taking nice elements out of other religions and fitting them in as I see fit... that's exactly what I'm doing. All the religion stuff is just for my own amusement, something to hold on to, something that appeals to my curious (scientifically trained) nature. Besides, I like writing. Anyway, I find the faith stuff sorts itself out, no matter what name you slap on the entity on the other end.

And so my shameless rampage of burrowing (where I really mean stealling :) left and right continues. Don't worry, I'll try to keep all this self-deprevating humor in check.

Quote

"Behold, we know not anything; I can but trust that good shall fall At last — far off — at last, to all, And every winter change to spring. So runs my dream; but what am I? An infant crying in the night; An infant crying for the light, And with no language but a cry." - Alfred, Lord Tennyson

When I encounter interesting quotes, I copy them to my Google notebook.

New Blogger has ways to go

I don't know what to think about the new and improv3d Blogger. After I switched my template, forgetting to back the old one up like the fool I am, I find that all the fancy titles, which weren't in some beautiful font, it turns out, but were images, are gone. I really liked the feel of that old template. I suppose this new template system, which lets me both drag and drop and go in to the source code, is better than the old. But editing code without a WYSIWYG is second nature to me, and you get more control. These layout types Google has set aren't too flexible.

Of course, if I was really the nerd I proclaim to be I would have designed this blog myself. But I'm too lazy. Besides, why re-invent the wheel, even if this new-fangled Google system means I occasionally get a flat tire? It's not like I'm not busy with a lot of other important things... (see the homepage)

P.S.: Midterms are over! Grades are coming in, and they're not good...

Riddle

In merely two directions flowing,
my only goal is to divide.
Though well marked by the knowing,
from the ignorant I hide.
Eternal source of war and strife.
Not dead, nor lifeless, nor alive.

The Elder and the Younger

This is the eternal fate of the firstborn: to suffer, to grow, to protect
This is the eternal fate of the lastborn: to be privileged, to stay the same, to stay sheltered

I was reflecting on a commonality that runs throughout mythology worldwide: the two races. One race always comes first, one last. These races can be Gods, they can be mortal, or the elder is immortal, the younger mortal.

In Greek mythology, the Olympian deities, such as Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Hades (all siblings by the way) were preceded by a race of deities more indicative of primordial concepts: Cronus (Time), Oceanus (Sea), Themis (Justice). In Norsh mythology, the Aesir and Vanir were less crearly cut: perhaps the remnants of two mythologies merged.

A pattern that occurs often with the two races, is that though the elder race is better than the younger -tougher, longer living, more highly moral- it is the younger race that is most privileged.

An example from Christian mythology would be Angels and Men. The dilemma of the elder can be seen in plays that look at the fallen angels from the angels' perspective. Joost van den Vondel's play "Lucifer" for example, starts out by Lucifer discussing with other angels the race of men that God had just created. Even though these beings were far more flawed, more imperfect than the first born angels, they were given far more privileges and held in far higher regard in God's plan. It doesn't seem fair. "Dogma" fans will recognize this particular rant. It was cited in the movie. (An online version of the play in original old Dutch can be found here)

An even more stunning example, I think, is Tolkien's mythology as gathered in the Silmarillion. See here the first race, elves, immortal, fair, strong, in tune with Erda. Then comes a young race of mortal men, naive, brutish, and yet graced by Illuvatar with a strange yet beautiful gift: death, to live only for a short time gives that time more sweetness.

As an eldest son of two eldest children, I've encountered this dilemma. The pressure to set an example, make something of yourself, while the youngest sister gets away with behaviour that would have gotten me trotten out to the hallway when I was young, and told to stay there until I was ready to come back in and finish my plate, can be daunting. (Of course, everything is always better in 'the old days'...) On the other hand, these expectations can be a drive to perform, and the stricter upbringing have taught me some manners I'm glad to have now. I have often seen spoiled behaviour in some of my younger cousins that had me thinking "Glad that's not me."

It is true that younger siblings often leed a more sheltered live than the elder. The people around have gained experience, and patience. But in the end this is not something that bothers me, even if I am a little envious of it.

In the end, if the elder is so wise as his greater experience has led him to be, he should be happy for the younger and feel a responsibility to protect them.