The Tao Te Ching is central to Taoism. Most of Whitman's greatest poetry is found in "Song of Myself." Devoting four sessions to each, with Rick's guidance, we will read sections aloud and then discuss. (Just listening is perfectly OK, too!) We will examine the language and the wisdom of these works, comparing them. Using humor and anecdotes, Rick promises enrollees a good time for 75 minutes each week in the company of “the Old Master” Lao Tzu and Walt Whitman, arguably America’s greatest poet.

Moderator: Rick Sowash is a classical composer, author, and publisher of his own music, books and CDs. He has read, studied, thought about, and talked about the Tao Te Ching and “Song of Myself” for decades. He has visited Taiwan three times, gaining insight into Chinese culture (but he's not a Taoist). He has set to music some of Whitman’s poems. He is a recipient of the Stephen Appel Award for Excellence in Teaching from OLLI.