Smeagol and the Tao

Posted on 06.25.08 11:33PM under General Entries

Re-reading: The Tao Is Silent
by Dr. Raymond Smullyan

Ch. 1

Chinese Philosophy
In A Nutshell

A mathematician friend of mine recently told me of a mathematician friend of his who everyday “takes a nap”. Now, I never take naps. But I often fall asleep while reading — which is very different from deliberately taking a nap! I am far more like my dogs Peekaboo, Peekatoo and Trixie than like my mathematician friend once removed. These dogs never take naps; they merely fall asleep. They fall asleep wherever and whenever they choose (which, incidentally is most of the time!). Thus these dogs are true Sages.

I think this is all that Chinese philosophy is really about; the rest is mere elaboration! If you can learn to fall asleep without taking a nap, then you too will become a Sage. But if you can’t, you will find it not as easy as you might think. It takes discipline! But discipline in the Eastern, not Western style. Eastern discipline enables you to fall asleep rather than take a nap; Western discipline has you do the reverse. Eastern discipline trains you to “allow yourself” to sleep when you are sleepy; Western discipline teaches you to force yourself to sleep whether you are sleepy or not. Had I been Laotse, I would have added the following maxim — which I think is the quintessence of Taoist philosophy:

The Sage falls asleep not
because he ought to
Nor even because he wants to
But because he is sleepy.

This was an excerpt from an uber awesome book. What’s it got to do with Smeagol? Probably something metaphysical, I dunno. It’s summer and I’m enjoying my right to be an idiot. But anyhoo, as you can see, a new layout is up. Wordpress automatically upgraded on me (probably since I used Fantastico! in cPanel). My old theme was completely wonked out and I was too lazy to make one from scratch. So yay for pre-made layouts! I really like this one, and I’ll be keeping it for a while, especially since I modified my gallery to match it. I’ve just finished with the layout integration and made sure there was nothing buggy. And while I was at it, I added a few albums as well, including pictures from the AnimeNext convention.

I was disappointed that we couldn’t stay long (especially since we paid $40!). At least I got to take some snapshots. I got totally pwned in the gamer’s room. There’s like no place there for casual gamers. x__x

We had to go to our cousin’s baby shower that afternoon, and once the gift opening was done, I went upstairs and took a nap. I hadn’t slept at all that day, because my brain was being stupid. I’ve spent the next few days reclaiming it. I woke up at two-something today, which is the earliest I’ve woken up this week. I had two peanut butter sandwiches, which I reasoned as one counting for breakfast, and the other for lunch. >>

Then it was just killing time after, fiddling with wordpress and zenphoto, trying to sort kinks out. mmm. The Kinks. I think I’ll download a few of their songs before I go off and watch a movie.

Read Comments

  1. Posted by Hanne on 06.27.08 1:13 pm

    I’d love to read that book! Along with The Tao of Pooh. So many books to read, so little can be arsed-ness. How did you manage to install anything correctly using Fantastico? I tried that once before and it managed to bugger everything up for me. I’ve officially become a fan of doing things myself after that one.

    Cheers to killing brain cells!

  2. Posted by kimba on 07.04.08 12:24 am

    i would love to be able to take a nap everyday, i love sleep

  3. Posted by Ethan on 08.01.08 6:21 pm

    I have been taking a nap everyday here on vacation. I think there’s something about this house that just makes me SLEEP! :P

  4. Posted by Charity on 08.06.08 6:57 pm

    I seem to just fall asleep as opposed to napping. Seems like when I do I’m out for like 4 to 6 hours which is clearly not a so called nap. Love your reasoning for the two sandwiches I totally agree!

  5. Posted by Leslie on 08.07.08 11:20 am

    That sounds like a good book. Im not sure what it has to do with Smeagol, though. Haha. I love Eastern philosophy and spirituality. Dont like baby showers too much though ._.

  6. Posted by Catherine on 08.08.08 8:12 am

    The new theme is nice! I enjoy sleep, though once I’m awake I’m awake- unfortunatly. I can never take naps for that reason : )

    lol at two sandwhiches. But, it’s your holidays. Hols are made to sleep till unearthly times and then eat whatever whenever and as much as one wants!

  7. Posted by Panda on 08.10.08 10:59 am

    I love the kinks smiley
    That book sounds interesting, maybe I should read it!
    Nice theme, it’s really unusual.

  8. Posted by Vickie on 08.11.08 3:45 am

    All this sleep and nap talk makes me drowsy, but it’s 5:35 p.m. over here. If I take a nap now, I might not be able to fall asleep properly at night and wake up for classes tomorrow morning. This really isn’t so much about Eastern or Western discipline, but real life or life on paper. Or am I not supposed to take it literally? Too sleepy to think. :P

    Love the theme you chose, too.

  9. Posted by Chynna on 08.13.08 10:16 pm

    aye, fancy layout you’ve got here! smeagol actually amuses me…yeah, he scares everyone else. lol. and what is this AnimeNext convention?? i went to AX08 though. i haven’t heard of this convention…too bad you weren’t able to make the most out of your time….still, i hope you had fun out of it! (:

  10. Posted by Fee on 08.14.08 2:59 am

    I actually have that book but have never gotten round to reading it - don’t quite get how it relates to smeagol either but sure I will after I wake up more lol.
    Hope you had fun at the convention - off to have a look at the photos =)

  11. Posted by Lisa Marie on 08.15.08 1:11 am

    I never take naps that cause me to sleep 20mins to an hour. It takes me 3-4 hours! Yuck lol Awesome looking layout! smiley

  12. Posted by Crystal on 08.18.08 2:29 am

    Ooo that excerpt sounds enlightening! I will check out that book next time I go to the bookstore.

    Ppl in some Asian countries get 2 hours off work after lunch as designated nap times, i think that’d be an awesome idea!

  13. Posted by Eskuri on 08.20.08 1:43 am

    I enjoy that outlook and proverb. ^_^ I enjoy naps… it’s quite relaxing. Alas, I fear that napping is why I have difficulty falling asleep before 3 am. >.<

  14. Posted by Kari on 08.20.08 5:19 pm

    I like the layout. LOTR rocks my pants. I’m sorry you didn’t get to stay at the convention that long..and that you got jumped by the “Expert” gamers smiley….

  15. Posted by Christina on 08.24.08 5:02 am

    Dropping by from despair.nu! I really like your newest layout! Very neat site you have here! Happy blogging!

  16. Posted by Angela on 09.08.08 10:30 pm

    I always call my daily sleep a nap, but it’s not something that I plan. I usually just wake up too early in the morning and then I end up being sleepy sometime during the day, and that’s when I go to sleep. I never gave it much thought.

  17. Posted by Dv on 09.09.08 2:12 pm

    I like sleep! It’s so….not staying awake. lol.

    That book sounds cool, and familiar…hmm..thinking…nope, no ideas!

  18. Posted by Rozeh on 09.11.08 8:24 pm

    I love reading books, might try that one out ^_^

    I like the new layout! so green! <3

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