[ Open as the Sky] text from Tao Te Ching道德經,  translated by Stephen Mitchell，two-parts choral piece.

Hello --
When I boarded the airplane to make the first of three visits to Taiwan, I brought along two books to read in flight, thinking I'd bone up on Chinese history and culture.  One was a chronicle of China's 5,000 years squeezed into a book of manageable length; I figured it would require six or seven hours to read.

The other, Stephen Mitchell's translation of Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching, one of the world's great scriptures, the fundamental, indispensable classic of Chinese thought, is only 5,000 words long.  I flipped through it for a few seconds.  Only 81 pages, offering 81 terse thoughts.  All short, some very.  I thought I'd give it a half an hour or so and then turn to the history book.

Was I wrong!  Hours passed and I was only half-way through the Tao Te Ching.

During the 17-hour flight, I passed about six hours reading the book of Chinese history, as anticipated.  I must have passed twice as much time reading the Tao Te Ching.  

Or not reading, exactly.  Pondering would be a better word.  Each of the 81 thoughts compels thinking -- long, deep, careful thinking.  I read one and found myself gazing out the window, thinking hard about it for twenty minutes before turning to the next.  

This ambiguous little book, written 600 years before Jesus, seemed to address the most pressing particulars of my life at that time; during all the years since, it has helped me to think about whatever is going on in my life, in my family, in our country or in the world.

I keep a slim copy in my pocket when I'm working as a security guard at the Cincinnati Art Museum.  On snowy days or late summer afternoons when the galleries are empty, I read a few pages, pondering anew.  I especially love to peruse it when I'm guarding the Asian galleries.  I think, think, think about what is being said and how it applies at that moment.Here are a few of the many lines I've pondered, long and hard:

He who has power over others

can't empower himself.     (Oh?  Why is that?)

If you realize that you have enough,

you are truly rich.     (Ah, but how much is enough?  truly rich?)

The more he [the Master] gives to others,

the wealthier he is.     (wealthier in what sense?)

Success or failure: which is more dangerous?     (what dangers?)

Give evil nothing to oppose

and it will disappear by itself.     (Hitler?  Stalin? would Gandhi agree?)

Care about people's approval

and you will be their prisoner.     (how exactly?  what about family, friends?)

Do your work.  Then step back.

The only path to serenity.     (a day's work?  a life's work?  why the only path?)

Inevitably, I started setting to music thoughts from the Tao Te Ching.  One of these was #12. 

Here it is:  Colors blind the eye. Sounds deafen the ear. Flavors numb the taste.

Thoughts weaken the mind. Desires wither the heart.

The Master observes the world but trusts his inner vision.

He allows things to come and go. His heart is open as the sky.

One can think for a long, long time about these words.  Is it a caution against hedonism?  Are we being warned not to be led and shaped only by our senses, thoughts, desires?  Instead:  trust your inner vision, let things come and go and become as open as the sky.  What does this mean, practically?

But look again!  We're not told to do anything.  We're simply told what the Master does and that the Master's heart is open.  Are we to do likewise?  Do we want to be a Master?  A Master of what, exactly?  Hearts open to what, precisely?  Think!  Think!  Think!  See what I mean?

I'd love to share much more about this remarkable little book ... the advice for artists ... the counsel about governance of self, family, nation ... the idea of 'action through non-action' ... finances ... the glimpses into mystical experience ... the humor, yes! ... but this message is already too long.  Another time ....

To hear the men of the Harvard University Choir singing my cool, dispassionate and somewhat Chinese-sounding setting of these words, click here:

http://www.sowash.com/recordings/mp3/open_sky.mp3

To see a PDF of the score, click here:

http://sowash.com/recordings/mp3/open_sky.pdf

I'd love to know what you think about this music; feel free to reply if you're inclined.  But please don't feel that you are expected to reply.  I'm just glad to share my work in this way.  

As always, feel free to forward this message to friends who might enjoy it.   

Anyone can be on my little list of recipients for these mpFrees (as I call these musical emails).  To sign up, people can email me at rick@sowash.com, sending just one word:  "Yes."   I'll know what it means. 

Rick Sowash

Cincinnati, OH

Sept. 28, 2014

www.sowash.com