To start off 2010, here is a quote from “The Book of Tea” by Kakuzo Okakura. In this chapter, he has just related the Taoist creation myth, and how the goddess Niu Ka put the world back together after the initial clash of the forces of light and darkness (and this was written at the turn of the last century):

“The heaven of modern humanity is indeed shattered in the Cyclopean struggle for wealth and power. The world is groping in the shadow of egotism and vulgarity. Knowledge is bought through a bad conscience, benevolence practiced for the sake of utility. The East and the West, like two dragons tossed in a sea of ferment, in vain strive to regain the jewel of life. We need a Niu Ka again to repair the grand devastation; we await the great Avatar. Meanwhile, let us have a sip of tea. The afternoon glow is brightening the bamboos, the fountains are bubbling with delight, the soughing of the pines is heard in our kettle. Let us dream of evanescence, and linger in the beautiful foolishness of things.”