Wu Wei's book?

[rounder]

http://www.amazon.com/I-Ching-Book-...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231116830&sr=1-1

Anyone has this book? Thoughts?
(I've seen it this video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBdV8D4l9To&feature=related)

 

[Sparhawk]

IMO, don't bother with Wu Wei's books. If you will, get this one, and only because it comes with the yarrow stalks. Keep the yarrow; chuck the book...

 

[rounder]

So, this one of those 'new age' books that we, good practitioners should avoid?
The reason I'm asking is that (form the video above) it seems to give pretty clear, straightforward answers. I still struggle figuring out standard philosophy-packed ones

 

[Sparhawk]

So, this one of those 'new age' books that we, good practitioners should avoid?
The reason I'm asking is that (form the video above) it seems to give pretty clear, straightforward answers. I still struggle figuring out standard philosophy-packed ones

Ah... I understand. Then, allow me to rephrase the above: I don't believe that Wu Wei's books will advance your understanding of the Yijing. Don't expect the Yijing to come down to an individual's level of understanding. It is the querent that must strive to raise to it. If "straightforward answers" are sought, then I'd advise that you have someone do readings for you. The "other, non-straightforward" kind of answers come from within, not from the book, which is only a mirror.

On the other hand, they are nice looking books (from an anonymous author...)

 

[rounder]

Ok, I see your point. Hard work is called for - no shortcuts. This comes somewhat like cold shower but I'm thankful :bows:

 

[bradford]

Wu Wei's work with the Yijing is junk

 

[Sparhawk]

Wu Wei's work with the Yijing is junk

Mind you, that was Brad's polite version of his opinion...

 

[rosada]

Wu Wei's books are only for those strong enough to choose for themselves.

 

[bradford]

Mind you, that was Brad's polite version of his opinion...

I've been amused for a long time about getting into this field with a background in science and logic. It seems that something less than a majority of Yixue students have worked much on their critical thinking skills, and even the academics here have somehow managed to get their PhD's without passing a course in Logic 101. More amusing to me still was my own decision early on to read everything I could find on the subject at least twice. A lot of that time I was gagging my way through, especially with the newage (rhymes with sewage) gimmick books. Wu Wei's cleverest gimmick was using the Princeton-Bollingen book cover colors to give his covers a fake air of respectability. But, at least true to his name, he actually "did nothing" to further his or his reader's understanding.
Anybody who hasn't made the decision to read it all is likely to read less than everything that's out there to be read. Anyone in this group has the opportunity, then, to select the better books from among the available material, using such tricks as advice from those who have been there. It's a question of mental hygiene, too, whether you want a bunch of crap in your brain. Then there are those who say "don't be judgmental" and with this philosophy set about filling their heads with a bunch of random ideas and fads. Of course these people won't matter to Yi studies in the long run anyway, but I tend to state my opinions fairly clearly to distance myself from all that poo. Maybe the single biggest thing that humanity still needs to learn from Darwin is that selection is the key to evolution - that making big decisions by random lottery drawings takes us nowhere or backwards. Throwing the coins is only random like that when you fail to ask a good question. Studying the Yi at random like that lacks the respect that will ask of the Yi the best that it has to offer.

 

[rounder]

Nice post bradford.
Luckily there are places like this so we can be warned: "beware, poo ahead"

 

[javalava]

I've been amused for a long time about getting into this field with a background in science and logic.
...
More amusing to me still was my own decision early on to read everything I could find on the subject at least twice. A lot of that time I was gagging my way through, especially with the newage (rhymes with sewage) gimmick books.

Not sure what you mean by the `background' comment. What is your background?

As someone working his way through your book, I'd like to say "thank you" :bows: for gagging on the sewage so I don't have to! I've only read ~40 pages but so far, I'm fascinated and intrigued. I have spent the last five years doing "cognitive science" (just as oxymoronic as a "liberal institution" ) and can report that science is not immune to the criticisms you make of academia. Mind you, even scientists are people (and get tenure ).

 

[bradford]

and can report that science is not immune to the criticisms you make of academia. Mind you, even scientists are people (and get tenure ).

I think that science itself IS immune to the criticisms because it is primarily a tool kit or methodology and not a system of beliefs. Those who screw up have confused these two, and got the scientific religion - ergo Planck's comment that science advances one funeral at a time.

If you started with the intro you may have already seen this quote about tenure:
The juvenile sea squirt wanders through the sea searching for a suitable rock or
hunk of coral to cling to and make its home for life. For this task, it has a
rudimentary nervous system. When it finds its spot and takes root, it doesn't need
its brain anymore so it eats it! It's rather like getting tenure.
Daniel Dennett, Consciousness Explained

As to my own background, I'm a polymath and an autodidact. My studies range all over the fields of science, but probly begin with neuropsychology and evolutionary biology. It's the method and the skepticism that I've tried to hold onto in all my studies. Of course being a student of things shamanic as well I needed to learn to suspend disbelief as well as belief.

 

[joezoe]

IMO, don't bother with Wu Wei's books. If you will, get this one, and only because it comes with the yarrow stalks. Keep the yarrow; chuck the book...

good idea.27 bucks kind of bites though.

 

[joezoe]

if you look at items frequently bought with the gift set at this link you'll see the complete I ching by Alfred Huang.Get that one. Trust!

 

[unsubscribed_cm]

Is the guy's name really Wu Wei?

Thats like naming yourself: enlightenment

 

[yamabushi]

So what is really so wrong with Wu Wei I ching?

 

[Sharief]

Indeed... I truly favor this person I Ching book(s) over the great majority that I have.

Lord S.