February 8, 2004
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Once upon a time I used to be way, way into reading obscure and archaic texts and knowing things about them that other people didn't. Like, when I was interested in Buddhism, I didn't find a teacher or sangha or anything, I just went to Half Price Books and bought everything that looked impenetrable.
Well, last night I was at Half Price Books, trying to avoid anything that looked impenetrable, but I ended up buying a copy of Sun Tzu's 'Art Of War,' one of the impenetrables I missed before.
Reading the introduction to this translation (The Denma Translation Group) helped me be excited about it, because they've tried to maintain a certain difficulty in comprehension. The book itself is not supposed to be an easy read, because you have to learn from it on different levels, all at the same time. Not just how to behave in certain battle situations, but also how to approach those situations so you're not at a loss when you're finally in them. To put it into easily-comprehended English would ruin the purpose.
The introduction also talks a great deal about 'taking whole,' which can be seen as a skillful way of winning without humiliating your foe, or as a way of subverting the situation to the point that everyone's goal can be met without actual warfare.
All of this is borne out in the book itself, so far. And what's really sad to me is how obviously all of it applies to the war in Iraq. Every couplet makes me think about how removed from wisdom the current administration really is. I try to shake the comparison and just read the text, but I can't.
But the real reason I'm mentioning it here is because tonight I went and saw House Of Sand And Fog, the story of the intertwining lives of a two people disputing the ownership of a house. There is one small sliver of a moment during which these characters figure out how to 'take whole' the situation, but it passes quickly. This movie is sad and beautiful, and well worth seeing. But it's also a harsh reminder of how easily we let opportunities for harmony pass through our fingers, and how we hold on to the rest, as if for dear life.
Comments (5)
Yes, I have imagined that we are approaching the war in Iraq from the perspective of someone who has studied The Art Of War (I haven't, by the way), while the opposition approaches from the perspective of The Rebel. I don't think that the former can defeat the latter, unless he can match his opponents level of commitment. And I don't think that we can. Not that we're all going to die, just that I know we're not prepared to.
I disagree. "The Art of War" made one obvious point and beat it into the ground.
If you get tired of all that art, go here: http://www.digitalfilecabinet.com/musichawk/ for a little science. (And some kickin' jams.)
I read "House of Sand and Fog" and really want to see the movie. I have "The Art of War" but haven't managed to read it, yet.
Sounds facinating, and quite over my head.
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