A change of heart?
At least for now, I have stuck the term "politics" into the header of my Vox. Along with "travel tips," which has been there most of the time.
This is at least a temporary change of heart. I spent just over forty years working in or teaching about government. That is a long time, and I cared about the subject deeply.
But now I have been retired for five years, and certainly have no governmental or political role to play. And the focus of my life has come to be on travel, especially with my wonderful new wife. It is a major source of enjoyment for us both. We dislike the cities, and love the back roads.
But in a way this change also is a kind of turning my back on long-established interests and deeply held personal convictions. Not too easy to reconcile.
I have long had an interest in Asia, and Asian philosophy, and in the idea of "wandering poets," which is well established in both China and Japan. I can relate to that. And there also were "wandering scholars," looking for a governmental position from which to offer advice. While perhaps I am more one of those than I am a real "poet," my interests have been more sequential than simultaneous. When I was working, we never had a vacation. Now I am on "vacation" much of the time!
But the following passage, which I found on a page about Chinese history, emphasizes a point that actually I had once known, addressing two major schools of Chinese philosophy, Confucianism and Taoism. Those, too, were apparently sometimes practiced both simultaneously and sequentially.
Taoism holds that the goal of life for each individual is to find one's own personal adjustment to the rhythm of the natural (and supernatural) world, to follow the Way (dao) of the Universe. In many ways, Taoism was the opposite of rigid Confucian moral teaching. It served many of its adherents as a complement to the daily order that Confucianism imposed on their daily lives. A scholar on duty as an official would usually follow Confucian teachings but at leisure or in retirement might seek harmony with nature, as a Taoist recluse.
That makes a quite a lot sense for me. In a way, I was previously in my "confucian" phase, focusing almost entirely key societal and governmental issues. That was my work. But now I have largely (though not wholly) withdrawn into a "taoist" phase--traveling slowly, taking in the scenery, enjoying clear airer--and walking near the ocean or the mountains when I can.
Still, the earlier aspect of life certainly hasn't been forgotten. Maybe at some other time, perhaps then; but it is hard for me to really put it aside now, during this very crucial election year. Both of these philosophies are alive within me. Perhaps that isn't the way we westerners look at such things, but it does make sense to the Chinese! It is possible to adhere to two conflicting philosophies, and get good guidance from each. The following picture is said to illustrate the idea that confucianism, taoism, and buddhism (however different!) are one:
I greatly appreciate all of you out there who have taken some interest in my diverse travel tips, related photos, an occasional poem, personal reflections on life, and commentaries on politics. Thank you.
