Sober Philosophy: Dao De Jing Chapter 5 (Marina presents)

Jeff Pepper and Xiao Hui Wang's 2019 translation (Dao De Jing in Clear English):

1. Heaven and earth aren't kind;
2. To them, the ten thousand things are as straw dogs.
3. The sage isn't kind;
4. To him, the common people are as straw dogs.
5. Isn't the space between heaven and earth like a bellows?
6. It is empty but cannot be exhausted.
7. The more it moves, the more comes out.
8. The more you talk, the weaker you become.
9. Better to remain centered.

James Legge's 1891 translation (Chinese text project https://ctext.org/dao-de-jing):
Title: (The use of emptiness)
1. Heaven and earth do not act from (the impulse of) any wish to be benevolent;
2. they deal with all things as the dogs of grass are dealt with.
3. The sages do not act from (any wish to be) benevolent;
4. they deal with the people as the dogs of grass are dealt with.
5. May not the space between heaven and earth be compared to a bellows?
6. 'Tis emptied, yet it loses not its power;
7. 'Tis moved again, and sends forth air the more.
8. Much speech to swift exhaustion lead we see;
9. Your inner being guard, and keep it free.

Symptom-free (of potentially contagious disease) people with the capacity to listen considerately to diverse viewpoints are invited to attend after successfully RSVPing.

We begin the discussion at 7:30 pm sharp in the mezzanine of the Graduate Hotel. Feel free to come up to 30 minutes early and hang out with us beforehand. After you come down the stairs we may be in either the main room on your left or in the conference room around the corner on your right.

OPENING ROUNDTABLE FORMAT (ORF):

1. The topic presenter begins the discussion by explaining why they are interested in the topic and some introductory thoughts on it.
2. Each participant in turn going clockwise from the presenter describes their general thoughts on the topic.
3. If one is not ready to speak they can just say “pass” and the next person speaks.
4. After we've gone around once anyone who passed will get a second chance to comment.
5. Once everyone has given opening remarks or passed twice, Opening Roundtable is completed and the meeting shifts into its main format.

TIMED DIRECTION FORMAT (TDRF>5):
If there are more than 5 people present we will use the format below.

1. We will divide up the timed direction discussion time by the number of participants plus one (for a buffer). A timer will be set for this amount of time.
2. Each participant in turn will become a Discussion Director and lead the group discussion.
3. If one is not ready to direct they dimply say “pass” and the next person becomes the Discussion Director.
4. Anyone who arrives after step 1 (above), may participate but will not get a turn as Discussion Director.
5. The Discussion Director can make statements or ask questions, or interrupt or redirect the discussion at their discretion.
6. The discussion participants can state their own opinions only when asked by the Discussion Director, not Interrupt others and accede to the Discussion Director’s interruptions or redirections.
7. When the timer goes off the person speaking finishes their thought and then the next participant clockwise becomes the next Discussion Director.
8. After we've gone around once anyone who passed will get a second chance to direct.

At the end of the meeting, participants will have an opportunity to vote on the topic and format for the following meeting.