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Writings and Readings Blog

Madhu Bazaz Wangu

Discovering Virginia Woolf

Posted on October 20, 2008
in Being in Nature
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Several winters ago on a frigid January morning, I was at my lowest writing ebb. By habit, I sat in front of my computer screen staring at a blank document. I could not think of anything to write, not even a word. Where had my muses gone? I got out of the study, put on my coat, muffler and gloves and left home in search of my lost creativity. I tried to imagine June blossoms in January-a spring scene superimposed on the uncreative winter landscape-and felt dislocated, ending up at the local library. A book sale was on. The first book that caught my attention was A Room of My Own by Virginia Woolf (1882-1941). I wondered what the book was about. The name of the author was familiar because...

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Fifty-First Chapter

Posted on October 17, 2008
in Meditation, Reading
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Fifty-First Chapter Tao-te Ching Tao produces the ten thousand things. Te (Virtue) fosters them. Circumstances and tendencies complete them. Therefore the ten thousand things esteem Tao and honor te. Tao and te are free, spontaneous, perfect. Therefore all honor the way of Tao and value its te. Because the Tao gives them life, Te nourishes and nurtures them, Rears, protects and shelters them. The Tao produces them but does not take possession of them. It gives but does not expect. It leads but does not master. This is Tao's profound and hidden virtue. # As I Understand It: The Tao, our source of being, is not merely physical. We are born with a mystery, with spontaneity that sages call te. If I were merely material at birth with a predetermined role of who I am and how I should function in a family, in community, in...

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Fiftieth Chapter: Tao-te Ching

Posted on October 10, 2008
in Meditation, Reading
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Fiftieth Chapter Tao-te Ching Man comes in to life and goes out to death. Three out of ten are companions of life. Three out of ten are companions of death. And three out of ten in their lives lead from activity to death. And for what reason? Because of man's intensive striving after life. I have heard that one who is a good preserver of his life will not meet tigers or wild buffaloes, And in fighting will not try to escape from weapons of war. The wild buffalo cannot butt its horns against him, The tiger cannot fasten its claws in him, And weapons of war cannot thrust their blades into him. And for what reason? Because in him there is no room for death. # As I Understand It The fear of death is at the top of the list of all our dreaded fears....

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Forty-Ninth Chapter

Posted on October 3, 2008
in Meditation, Reading
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Forty-Ninth Chapter Tao-te Ching The sage has no fixed mind. He regards people's needs as his own. Those who are good he treats with goodness. Those who are bad he also treats with goodness. Those who are kind he treats with kindness, And he is also kind to those who are unkind. The sage lives in harmony with all. He sees everything as his own self. He loves everyone as his children. All people are drawn to him. He behaves like an infant. # As I Understand It The sage observes himself and others. He does not judge. Like the sage, observe without criticizing. Observe people's culture, religion, family relationships and politics. In time, divisions and categories "I" and "them" will become superfluous. When you stop judging yourself you will stop judging others and see yourself in "them." Extend the hand of friendship even...

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Forty-Eighth Chapter

Posted on September 26, 2008
in Meditation, Reading
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Forty-Eighth Chapter Tao-te Ching The practice of learning consists of daily accumulation. The practice of Tao consists of daily diminishing. By continuous diminishing one reaches a point of no action. When nothing is done, nothing remains undone. Mastery is gained by letting things go their own way. Nothing is gained by interfering. # As I Understand It Increasing knowledge refines intellect. Wise do not accumulate knowledge, especially meaningless facts and purposeless details. Spirituality is cultivated by diminishing it. Accumulation gives us a different perspective-we collect, we gather, we hoard. Our ceaseless desire to possess things is never quenched. But when we decrease stuff-by giving, gifting, granting, we feel refreshed. A feeling of freedom takes over. Our link with inner self strengthens; that strength cannot be stolen, it does not die. Let's become aware of things that surround...

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First Things First

Posted on September 19, 2008
in Journaling
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My growing years in India were spent in the company of some wonderful women—my mother, sisters, sisters-in-law, nieces and aunts. But eternally present at the periphery were Hindu goddesses—Durga, Lakshmi, Parvati, Sita, Radha, Kali, Sarasvati and many others. Religious or not, we found ourselves dyed in the hues and tones of the goddesses, their colors unbleachable.  How did the full-fledged Hindu goddesses emerge? Why, about five thousand years ago, were thousands of female figurines modeled in clay? Why did Indian artisans start to sculpt voluptuous dryads and nymphs by 300 CE and distinct symbolic images of the goddesses by 500 CE? And finally why are these goddesses highly cherished deities of modern India?  # The earliest female figurines were unearthed on the banks of the Indus River during the early twentieth century. They...

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Forty-Seventh Chapter

Posted on September 19, 2008
in Meditation, Reading
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Forty-Seventh Chapter Tao-te Ching   Know the world without going out the door. See the Way of Heaven without looking out the window. The further one goes, the less one knows.   Therefore the sage knows without venturing forth, Knows without looking, Accomplishes without striving. #   As I Understand It:             We are brought up to believe that effort and striving are necessary for success. But this verse suggests “accomplish without striving.” What does it mean?             Within the spiritual context the act of enlightenment involves no action at all. The sincerity and deep feelings within us can connect us to the world without our taking even a step.             In this information age we can get in touch with people in seconds and reach the farthest corner of the world within hours. But has that helped us to know ourselves better or made...

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Forty-Sixth Chapter

Posted on September 17, 2008
in Meditation, Reading
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Forty-Sixth Chapter Tao-te Ching   When the Way (Tao) prevails in the world, Galloping horses fertilize the fields. When the Way does not prevail in the world, Warhorses are bred in the countryside.   There is no greater loss than losing the Tao, No greater curse than covetousness, No greater tragedy than discontentment; No greater disaster than wanting more and more.   Contentment alone is enough. Indeed, the bliss of eternity can be found in contentment. #   As I Understand It:             Do you evaluate yourself based on how much wealth you have accumulated or on how content you are?             The country that has lost its Way (Tao) evaluates itself on its power, control over other countries and its wealth. It is perpetually preparing its warheads (horses). But the country that is in touch with its Tao uses its horses to tend the fields.             For you to understand...

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Forty-Fifth Chapter

Posted on September 5, 2008
in Meditation, Reading
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Forty-Fifth Chapter: Tao-te Ching What is most perfect seems to be incomplete; but its utility is unimpaired. What is most complete seems to be empty; but its usefulness is inexhaustible. What is most straight seems to be crooked. The greatest skill seems to be clumsy. The greatest eloquence seems to stutter. Haste overcomes cold, (But) tranquility overcomes heat. By being greatly tranquil, One is qualified to be the ruler of the world # As I Understand It: Stop seeing the world with ego coated eyes! (Here ego seems to mean an euphoric sense of self.) When we exaggerate our self-worth, things that are whole seem incomplete. But when we see with the stillness within our hearts, what seemed awkward earlier looks perfect; what we heard as stutter, sounds eloquent. We assess our world with a sweeping glace. We think our way of looking is...

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Summer Sabbatical

Posted on September 5, 2008
in Being in Nature
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I started 2008 by writing short stories. By the end of May I was working on my sixth. In June, as always, I shift my attention to reading. For me, June, July and August are focused reading months with only a smattering of writing. During spring/summer months I read on the back deck, sip my morning tea and breathe in the scent of morning glories, marigolds and mums. I read on the plane, on the beach, in bookstores and only sometimes in my study, when it rains. I drink a cup of coffee. I read and think about what I have read. I highlight the lines that teach and inspire. This spring I started with Doris Lessing’s Stories followed by Isabel Allende’s...

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