Confucius in England

 Confucius in England 

How Confucius could be “not at home,” yet give 
intimation to one that wished to visit of his presence.

The Master in England

His neighbor Zû Pei wished to see Confucius, but the Master declined because he was ill. But after his messenger had gone out, had delivered the Master’s message to Zû Pei, and then returned, Confucius took up his lute and sang to it, so that his neighbor might hear him.

     So Zû Pei said to himself, “What a remarkable recovery. I must go see the master.”

This is what brought Confucius to England, where hearing the sound of stringed instruments and singing, he smiled and said, “Why would one use an ox knife to kill a fowl?” Later, when asked the meaning of his saying, the Master replied, “In music, I do not like the manner in which purple takes away the luster of vermillion.”

     Then he said, “In my country it is this way: The Duke Ching of Ch’î had a thousand teams, of four horses apiece, but when he died, he was immediately forgotten. Po- î and Shû-ch’î died of hunger at the foot of the Shâu-yang mountain, yet people speak of them to this day.”

     To which his English interlocutor replied, “Not here they don’t.”

06.03.16

The discovery of fire.

 Where there is smoke. 

When Yen Yüan asked the Master if he were cold, he replied, “There are no smoking guns where there are no guns, or smoke. The ancient rules are to be followed in most things, certainly in this one.”

 

06.02.16

More Confuc-ion.

 More Confuc-ion. 

“For Kwan Chung,” the Master said, “the city of Pien, with three hundred families, was taken from the chief of the Po family, who did not utter a murmuring word, though, to the end of his life, he had only coarse rice to eat.”

Elsewhen he said, “The grass was always greener. Now it is always brown.”

06.01.16

The wisdom of Confucius unwised

 The wisdom of Confucius unwised 

blowing a raspberry

from The Analects, Book 12. Chapter 21 –

Fan Ch’i rambling with the Master under the trees about the rain altars, said, “I venture to ask how to exalt virtue, to correct evil, and to discover delusions.”

     The Master said, “Truly a good question.”

05.31.16

Bad Theology Week comes to a blessed end.

 Bad Theology Week Comes to a blessed end.   

Monday’s God is full of blame,

Tuesday’s God is always the same, [as]

Wednesday’s God [that] hates sin, [and]

Thursday’s God [that] brings the Last Days in.

Friday’s God rides with flag unfurled, [so that]

Saturday’s God will rule the world.

And the God of the Sabbath Day?

Merry and blithe, forgiving and gay?

Let's keep that soppy God well away.

Why are so many of the Christians I know so damn mad? I think it is because God just isn’t acting up to their standard. The rain continues to fall on the unjust as well as the just; and as many bad things happen to good as to bad people, and vice versa. The Last Days aren’t coming in, so all that’s going wrong won’t be put right. God seems to have decided that absolute power corrupts absolutely and so to eschew it. (Jesus!)

     In short, God is letting all of us down. But no one can say that.

05.29.16

Durch uns wird Gott die Welt regeln.

Goebbels as Pilate*
and Pius XII as Caiaphas
in Durch Gott at the
 Kit Kat Klub, Berlin.

 Durch uns wird Gott die Welt regeln 

Saturday’s God rules the world.

Yes. Yes! Shout it out!

     And make the God of lovingkindness into the God of beat-the-ship-out-of-everyone we-don’t-like. And when God refuses to do that – because he could; he is omnipotent, dammit – we hate that. We also prove that we don’t really believe that Jesus of Nazareth, healer of the sick, caster-out of demons, eater with the sinners, teller of parables, is the revelation of God.  Because Jesus proves God doesn’t want to rule the world. Let Pilate do that. Jesus proves God doesn’t even want to rule the church. Let Caiaphas do that. Jesus proves that God just wants to point out their view of Almighty God is wrong. Actually, it’s dead wrong.

     Oh, ship. Oh ship, oh Schiff, oh ship.

  

05.28.16

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*Goebbels is wearing the Gott mit uns belt buckle Robin Boylan mentioned in his comment on yesterday's post.

God is always on our side.

Friday's God rides with flag unfurled.

 God is always on our side. 

General George S. Patton, Jr.
(France, December 1944):

Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather for Battle. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call upon Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies, and establish Thy justice among men and nations.  Amen.   

05.27.16

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* Fun with Photoshop. It’s easy! Find a prayer from one of your generals and put your flag here. Because remember: your enemies are always wicked and in need of crushing.