18. LAO TZU: Watering your dreams
Lao Tzu is said to be the founder of Taoism (although it’s disputed he ever lived at all) – an opposite set of beliefs from Confucianism, which was also invented around the same time (approx 500BC). Confucius placed emphasis on moral actions towards others, whereas Taoism was more concerned with self-discovery, inward reflection, simplicity and adapting to circumstances around you. Or so I think anyway, I could be wrong. The only thing I know about Taoism was that Bruce Lee studied it and he mentioned it a lot in his writings and teachings. However, the main concepts of tao, wu, wu-wei and fu are still beyond me – if anyone has a good beginner’s guide to Taoism they can recommend, I’m all ears. Having said that, this is such a great quote – worry, fear, negativity – these things never really help a situation, do they?
UPDATE: After further research and feedback from readers, it’s most likely this is misattributed to Lao Tzu. If anyone knows the real source, please let me know.
Discussion (90) ¬
umm… sprinklers don’t need electricity.
umm, this is a special electricity-powered water-recycling plant maintenance system
Of course. Similar to the units used on Tatooine, Luke’s uncle used these to reclaim atmospheric water for his farm.
I bought one off eBay yesterday
Sprinklers need water and pressure. Electric pumps can draw water from a well and pressurize it to run the sprinkler.
But isn’t that besides the point?
Sprinklers don’t need electricity only because we are used to hooking them up to a municipal water supply, that provides all the pressure needed to run them.
Read the Tao of Pooh (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tao_of_Pooh). It’s the perfect place to start.
I’d like to second this. The Tao of Pooh is a great place to start in learning about Taoism, and though I haven’t read it myself, I’ve heard tons of praise for the follow up, the Te of Piglet.
I’ve also been recommended, in a more standard approach to the subject, Taosim: The Quest for Immortality, by John Blofeld.
Thanks for the suggestion guys – i will check that book out.
I actually read the Te of Piglet first. Fantastic books.
I found a wonderful translation of Tao Te Ching, by John C. H. Wu, good luck with that! 🙂
I’m a bit late to the party, but I will suggest The Tao of Gung Fu, written by none other than Bruce Lee.
I teared up a little. I really needed this. Beautiful art, and an even more beautiful manifestation of talent :]
Nice word, and great art, thanks man’, its inspirating me much … ^^
Keep up the good work, cant wait for your next art … 😀
Hello! Having just discovered this webcomic and read them all, I’ve noticed a specific (spiritual) theme in your work has emerged, after only a short time. I don’t know if you knew it beforehand and planned it, or didn’t think about it and just selected quotes that match your worldview. Basically the theme is ‘one should simply be what one is, act according to your nature, the way you were made, and have faith that it will work out, and that you will never want. Everyone has a destiny, a ‘how to be what you are’, and one’s task is to find out what that destiny is, and then live it in good faith.’ The Sagan one is the only one that deviates from this theme, but only a little, as it only denies the afterlife, not destiny (which it doesn’t mention).
Hey Brian, no i haven’t planned a specific point of view but yes, I guess they are a direct reflection of my personality and they’re helping me figure out my own path at the moment – appreciate the insight.
These are awesome! I found your site through a friend and I love all of your cartoons. Where do you get your quotes from? Any chance I could submit some for your consideration?
Yep – go to the CONTACT page for instructions
Just needed to say I love your work! It’s beautiful and inspiring. Please keep it up! ^_^
And if you don’t mind me saying it, you might wanna check out Sri Sri Ravi Shankar quotes for more inspiration! Check http://www.artofliving.org/
Cheers from Brazil
^_^
thanks for the tip
Nice one bro – like the style..when you doing the ‘finger pointing at the moon…’ quote??
In best Bruce Lee impersonation: “What was that? An exhibition? We neeeeeed emotional content.”
Don’t worry, I’ve got big plans for Mr. Lee.
I’m an absolutely terrible gardener, at least… if you ask the many plants I have killed in containers on apartment patios. This year, I have a yard, and have enthusiastically planned an elaborate herb/flower/vegetable garden.
I have built raised beds, planted fruit trees at carefully measured intervals, and have completely lost my guest bathroom to an ever growing collection of seedlings waiting to be planted.
I have a terrible habit of worrying. This comic is absolutely spot on for me.
And I love the solar powered recycled water sprinkler. 🙂
awesome……reminds me of old school illustrations….i can see this as a pixar short…have you ever thought of animation or working for pixar? would love love love to see an original short by you…..OR A quote like one above!!
Try reading transcripts of Osho’s discourses on Tao, mate – they’re quite wonderful!
ok i’ll check them out – thanks
Awesome! Like a butter for my soul! 🙂
I’d recommend a book by Alan Watts (I hope I got the spelling right), called Tao: The Watercourse Way. It really had a great impact on me when I read it and it’s a wonderful explanation of some fundamental concepts of Tao.
You will always reap the seeds that you sow, no doubt about that.
Hi Gavin. I immensely enjoyed going through Zen Pencils. Kudos to you! Keep up the good work!
Can I get a poster size original/ print of ‘Watering your dreams’? I simply love the way you have illustrated it 🙂
Print available now!
U R AWESOME
You guys creating this are amazing! Thank you so much for the inspiration!
Love this website man. I read a book entitled The Tao of Pooh. The author explains Taoist concepts using A. A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh. Great book explaining a great philosophy through a great character.
Yep, I bought that book after a few other readers suggested it
Wow! You have an awesome gift.. I had viewed one of your posters in pinterest , love it and was lead to your web page.. I’m in awe of your talent and your works.. Love this the most. This reminds me of my brother who died last year. He loves to draw and at the same time enjoyed reading lao tzu’s works.. Hopefully someday, i could purchase one of your posters.. For the meantime, i’ll continue to follow you in facebook and happily anticipate for more of your works of art..
Can anybody point me to the source of this quotation? None of the instances I found via Google (mostly on quotation sites) provided citations.
It’s a great quote, and like everything else on this site, a great cartoon, but I used to be pretty familiar with the Tao Te Ching, and this quote doesn’t really sound like Lao Tsu to me. (It’s the references to “success” that really raise my eyebrows. But that could just be a translation choice.)
I don’t think I checked this quote as thoroughly as I should have Cris – we’ll see if another reader can help clarify. Thanks
Cris is correct. This is NOT in the Daodejing, which is the only work attributed to Laozi.
I appreciate that you made clear in 69.Buddha: Less is more, that those words are not found in Buddhist sutras. If you don’t want to perpetuate misinformation, please clarify this post as well.
Great work by the way, keep it up!
@Susheel
Yes this art is beautiful and the quote is inspiring. But if one KNOWS it is quoted incorrectly, then it is one’s responsibility to inform the public.
You’re right KC, updated the post. Cheers
Sir, enjoy the beauty of art, do not judge, even if this was quoted wrong…do you still want to disagree with whatever presented in this illustration?
Amazing! God bless your creativity, inspired. Thanks!
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I just stumbled upon your website, and got to read some of your art. Inspiring! I’d like to share it with my friends.
I’ve got interests in exploring the Eastern religions, and being in university at the moment, I’m doing just that with some of my time. I’ve read several books, and it popped into my head that you’d enjoy this one – “The Tao of Pooh”, and “The Te of Piglet”. I’d say this is the only Western source of Taoist wisdom (although I haven’t looked for anything else, really), and it’s definitely a great introduction into Taoism and some of its principles. Happy self-discovery!
You know Lao Tzu wrote that “the Tao that can be explained is not an absolute Tao”. What can be told is not the truth. The truth can only be experienced. Hence the followers of Zen do not talk. For words are limited and they limit our feelings, draining them of truth.
“if anyone has a good beginner’s guide to Taoism they can recommend, I’m all ears”
Shameless Plug:
http://www.outsidecontext.com/2010/06/27/what-is-daoism/
Love this piece. For the last several years I’ve been working on my personal world view or philosophy of life. The one constant is an over arcing idea or phrase – Bloom Where You Are Planted.
In my life we move a lot. It is rare to be in an area for more than two years. I don’t have control over where I am planted, but only I can decide if I’m going to Bloom in the new location or not.
The “Watering You Dream” art fits in seamlessly as a way to “Bloom Where You Are Planted.” Thank you.
I can’t believe no one’s mentioned “The Tao of Pooh!” It was my first, most hilarious introduction to Taoism! I wish it came in Kindle format..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tao_of_Pooh
(Oh wait, someone did, haha. Well, here’s another bump, then!)
awesome illustrations gavin
Wow.
Hello Gav,
As already noted this is not Lao Tzu. But what is a bit more concerning to me is that no one noted that Taoism was not the opposing school to Confucianism (K’ung Fu Tzu). The school of thought most in competition with Confucianism was Mohism. Mo Tzu was born nine years after the death of K’ung Fu Tzu and these became the two primary schools of thought during the Hundred Schools of Thought period in the early Warring States Period. Taoism gained popularity as a “middle path” between these two schools in the latter part of the Warring States period.
It is true that many question whether Lao Tzu actually existed and many who doubt believe that the Tao The Ching was a compilation of traditional sayings and beliefs that possibly predated K’ung Fu Tzu but what is know is that the oldest discovery of the Tao Te Ching text is dated to about 300 BCE.
Partially why the lack of knowledge of the Mohist school is the fact that it declined in popularity rapidly after the unification of China. The other reason is the general lack of interest in a broader understanding of ancient Chinese philosophies in the West outside of academia.
Well thanks for your work and will return to read other Zen Pencils. As a final note, I was wondering if you have plans of making Bruce Lee’s “Like Water” into a print for sale.
For an intro to Taoism, there is a rather good book “the Tao of Physics” but I’d suggest Thomas Merton’s version of Chuang Tzu. Chuang Tzu was to Lao Tzu roughly as Saint Paul to Christ, not the original guy but very important in the development of the style. Merton was a Catholoic monk who did not read Chinese but had read several translations of Chuang Tzu into different European languages and meditated on them for decades. Then he wrote his own English version. It is great, far better than the only English translation I have seen, which was by someone far more scholarly.
For an introduction to Tao or Zen, watch The Big Lebowski. Jeff Bridges’ attitude as “The Dude” is his whole life-philosophy, and even he has said he was basically playing *himself* in that movie.
PS – several scenes/quotes from that movie would make good ZenPencils.
(Oh wait, someone did, haha. Well, here’s another bump, then!)
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Thanks for the inspiration. Stay positive and be patient!!
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Thanks for the thought provoking one!
“Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success. Always be on the lookout for ways to turn a problem into an opportunity for success. Always be on the lookout for ways to nurture your dream.”
? Lao Tzu
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