Casino gambling and the Tao
It may seem strange to equate casino gambling with Taoist philosophy, but this may be because gambling is so much a part of and widely accepted in Chinese culture.
The first recorded history of playing cards dates back to the 9th century in China, which makes sense since they were the inventors of writing paper. The first book written about playing cards dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907) called Yezi Gexi. By the 11th century, playing cards could be found throughout Asia featuring many of the 108 Lan Shun characters found in the Chinese classic Water Margin.
In the 16th century, playing cards made their way to France, where they began to use the picture card suits we are familiar with today, based on figures of the French nobility.
Daoist philosophy is said to be nearly 6,000 years old and was made famous by the teachings of the Yellow Emperor Huang Ti, the first emperor of China. With many of their scientific discoveries such as mathematics and astronomy, there was also a deep connection with astrology, symbology (the science of symbols and their effects), numerology and many forms of mysticism.
In the 7th pillar of Taoism, “The Tao of Mastery”, the water symbol is K’AN and it says “to be successful and lucky, one must take risks”. Luck to the ancient Taoists was a form of control and timing.
Obviously, in all gambling, timing is an important factor. Regardless of the type of gambling, all forms of gambling tend to run in cycles, both winning and losing. It is the skill one manages through these cycles that conveys the player’s level of control over the outcome.
The first serious studies of gambling in the 20th century were done by economists who expressed their confusion that gambling was a losing proposition and effectively irrational behavior. In 1945, William Vickery, a famous economist, came to the conclusion that gambling should not be measured by the expected winnings, but by the money that the gambler does not have and that seems more valuable to him than what he has.
The typical view is that gambling is self-defeating, undermines the work ethic and takes away money that could be put to better use in the economy. The idea that most people tend to gamble beyond their means remains unproven and was challenged in a 1966 study in The Economics of Gambling, published in London, England. In this study, it was found to be an emotional outlet for feelings of frustration, relief from loneliness, and leveling of inequality between economic classes.
Many psychologists view gambling as a normal form of entertainment and destructive only to addicts. They stated that the solution lies in the treatment of the gambler, not in the condemnation of gambling in general.
The casino patron is wooed with opulent surroundings, swimming pools, shops, shows, nightlife and “extra” amenities. Attraction is undeniably an escape from boring and aimless pursuits. Confronting the myth of success when faced with insurmountable economic and social obstacles makes the whole casino experience much easier to understand.
My personal opinion is that people who gamble purely for the thrill and excitement without caring about economic results would do better to find a more satisfying and cheaper hobby. Gambling is an isolated activity. It will not take the place of meaningful connection, nor will it counteract feelings of alienation or loneliness. These are not reasons to bet.
Using any type of gambling to fill a void in one’s personal life, something one cannot do, is the type of gambling that can lead to devastating consequences.
If you’ve ever been to a casino, there’s one thing you’ve probably noticed more than anything else…that one thing is seeing people lose money. This happens because the amateur gambler enters this competition with no basic knowledge of game odds, game strategy, or even a thought for proper money management. It’s a sloppy way to handle money and doesn’t change the inevitable outcome.
Casinos love these types of gamblers and spend a fortune to attract their business. With the odds squarely in their favor, casino operators know that although there are many effective methods of play that can transfer those odds to the player, very few will invest the time or effort to use them.
Common sense tells us that if everyone who bets in casinos loses, they will cease to exist. To attract losers you have to have winners and it is just as easy to win in many casino games as it is to lose.
I’m not writing for weekend gamblers who are desperate to have a good time at any cost. Winning isn’t even in their vocabulary. They consider the possibility of profit to be remote, as if it were left entirely to chance.
I feel that the person who is determined to win at all costs is most like myself. It is to these people that I offer the following. There are many ways to achieve your goal. Decide that you will learn everything you need to win consistently when you risk your hard-earned money betting in casinos. Nothing else makes sense to me.
In the words of the ancient Taoist Lao Tze
“Fortune favors the prepared.”
#Casino #gambling #Tao