Macbook: Powered by the the Tao (道)

Not too long ago, I got a new laptop because I destroyed my previous one from excessive typing. So, I took the opportunity to replace it with a MacBook Air.

 

Considering the number of books I carry with me for research, I figured it’s better to get the thinnest and lightest laptop possible. But I wasn’t happy with having a glowing apple logo. So what did I do? I cut a piece of card to cover the logo. Ladies and gentlemen, I present you… the MacBook Tao!

Here’s a close up of the logo:

Haha… It’s so Confucian! A glowing Tao (The Way) = ming-Tao (明道), which translates to: to illuminate The Way.

There’s a passage from the Great Learning (大學), which is one of the greatest Confucian texts. It says:

大學之道，在明明德，在親民，在止於至善。知止而後有定，定而後能靜，靜而後能安，安而後能慮，慮而後能得。物有本末，事有終始，知所先後，則近道矣。

What the Great Learning teaches, is to illustrate illustrious virtue; to renovate the people; and to rest in the highest excellence. The point where to rest being known, the object of pursuit is then determined; and, that being determined, a calm unperturbedness may be attained to. To that calmness there will succeed a tranquil repose. In that repose there may be careful deliberation, and that deliberation will be followed by the attainment of the desired end. Things have their root and their branches. Affairs have their end and their beginning. To know what is first and what is last will lead near to what is taught in the Great Learning.

[The Great Learning (大學), 1]

To ming-Tao (明道), to illuminate The Way, is to demonstrate The Way of Great Learning, to illustrate illustrious virtue, and to renew the hearts of the people! WOW! So beautiful! I love this line!

Anyway, I wasn’t content with Tao-ing my laptop. So… I decided that I should Tao-ify my iPhone and iPad too! How do you Tao-ify these things? Let me show you! Haha… I did this today just now. It’s not that I have too much free time, but it’s just that I’m kinda brain-dead at the moment after doing so much reading and writing.

Look at the home button! It now has the Tao on it! Cool right? =D

 

Here’s a close-up of the Tao on the iPad:

If I have more free time, I might consider re-doing the Tao button. But thus far, it looks pretty awesome.

What’s with those keys at the bottom? Oh… My iPad functions like a type-writer. The fact that you can’t multi-task facilitates concentration. It’s very good for essay writing. Anyway, I didn’t expect to upgrade my laptop to a MacBook. It just happened. It’s unavoidable when my fingers of fury are capable of typing my laptop to death.

 

In case you’re wondering, I was only able to pay for all these things because of many long excruciating hours of part-time work. Nonetheless, I’m quite happy with my investment. Productivity has sky-rocketed. And the best part? I have awesome Tao-technology to work on my Chinese philosophy stuff!

Anyway, here’s a series of electronics that Confucius would definitely have loved. Since Confucius loved the Tao, he would definitely have loved these!

Haha… There’s a saying that Confucius had the Tao, and that’s why he didn’t talk about it. Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu didn’t have the Tao, and that’s why they talked so much about it. They were probably jealous that Confucius had such awesome gadgetry!