So I've been wanting to read over the tao the ching again lately. It kind of calms me down and helps me think a bit, so I thought this time I'd post a chapter here every day just so other people (including myself) can read it in chunks and sort of think about it more rather than reading the whole book in a sitting.
I'll try and post a chapter a day, but might miss one every once in a while. sorry in advance :P
If you'd like to comment on any of it, lets make a separate thread maybe, so this is easier to read. feel free to destroy this thread if its wrong in some way. I'll be taking it from a public translation on line ( http://www.wright-house.com/religions/taoism/ … ching.html ) I think this is okay to post.
there are many translations of this, and this one may not be the best, but its free and gets the job done ;)
hope you enjoy it.
I'll try and post a chapter a day, but might miss one every once in a while. sorry in advance :P
If you'd like to comment on any of it, lets make a separate thread maybe, so this is easier to read. feel free to destroy this thread if its wrong in some way. I'll be taking it from a public translation on line ( http://www.wright-house.com/religions/taoism/ … ching.html ) I think this is okay to post.
there are many translations of this, and this one may not be the best, but its free and gets the job done ;)
hope you enjoy it.
1.
The tao that can be described
is not the eternal Tao.
The name that can be spoken
is not the eternal Name.
The nameless is the boundary of Heaven and Earth.
The named is the mother of creation.
Freed from desire, you can see the hidden mystery.
By having desire, you can only see what is visibly real.
Yet mystery and reality
emerge from the same source.
This source is called darkness.
Darkness born from darkness.
The beginning of all understanding.
The tao that can be described
is not the eternal Tao.
The name that can be spoken
is not the eternal Name.
The nameless is the boundary of Heaven and Earth.
The named is the mother of creation.
Freed from desire, you can see the hidden mystery.
By having desire, you can only see what is visibly real.
Yet mystery and reality
emerge from the same source.
This source is called darkness.
Darkness born from darkness.
The beginning of all understanding.
2.
When people see things as beautiful,
ugliness is created.
When people see things as good,
evil is created.
Being and non-being produce each other.
Difficult and easy complement each other.
Long and short define each other.
High and low oppose each other.
Fore and aft follow each other.
Therefore the Master
can act without doing anything
and teach without saying a word.
Things come her way and she does not stop them;
things leave and she lets them go.
She has without possessing,
and acts without any expectations.
When her work is done, she take no credit.
That is why it will last forever.
When people see things as beautiful,
ugliness is created.
When people see things as good,
evil is created.
Being and non-being produce each other.
Difficult and easy complement each other.
Long and short define each other.
High and low oppose each other.
Fore and aft follow each other.
Therefore the Master
can act without doing anything
and teach without saying a word.
Things come her way and she does not stop them;
things leave and she lets them go.
She has without possessing,
and acts without any expectations.
When her work is done, she take no credit.
That is why it will last forever.
3.
If you overly esteem talented individuals,
people will become overly competitive.
If you overvalue possessions,
people will begin to steal.
Do not display your treasures
or people will become envious.
The Master leads by
emptying people's minds,
filling their bellies,
weakening their ambitions,
and making them become strong.
Preferring simplicity and freedom from desires,
avoiding the pitfalls of knowledge and wrong action.
For those who practice not-doing,
everything will fall into place.
If you overly esteem talented individuals,
people will become overly competitive.
If you overvalue possessions,
people will begin to steal.
Do not display your treasures
or people will become envious.
The Master leads by
emptying people's minds,
filling their bellies,
weakening their ambitions,
and making them become strong.
Preferring simplicity and freedom from desires,
avoiding the pitfalls of knowledge and wrong action.
For those who practice not-doing,
everything will fall into place.
4.
The Tao is like an empty container:
it can never be emptied and can never be filled.
Infinitely deep, it is the source of all things.
It dulls the sharp, unties the knotted,
shades the lighted, and unites all of creation with dust.
It is hidden but always present.
I don't know who gave birth to it.
It is older than the concept of God.
The Tao is like an empty container:
it can never be emptied and can never be filled.
Infinitely deep, it is the source of all things.
It dulls the sharp, unties the knotted,
shades the lighted, and unites all of creation with dust.
It is hidden but always present.
I don't know who gave birth to it.
It is older than the concept of God.
5.
Heaven and Earth are impartial;
they treat all of creation as straw dogs.
The Master doesn't take sides;
she treats everyone like a straw dog.
The space between Heaven and Earth is like a bellows;
it is empty, yet has not lost its power.
The more it is used, the more it produces;
the more you talk of it, the less you comprehend.
It is better not to speak of things you do not understand.
Heaven and Earth are impartial;
they treat all of creation as straw dogs.
The Master doesn't take sides;
she treats everyone like a straw dog.
The space between Heaven and Earth is like a bellows;
it is empty, yet has not lost its power.
The more it is used, the more it produces;
the more you talk of it, the less you comprehend.
It is better not to speak of things you do not understand.
How to be a slave, by chinese culture.
"It is better not to speak of things you do not understand."
:) seems rather apt.
:) seems rather apt.
6.
a.
The spirit of emptiness is immortal.
It is called the Great Mother
because it gives birth to Heaven and Earth.
It is like a vapor,
barely seen but always present.
Use it effortlessly.
b.
The valley spirit never dies.
It is named the mystic woman.
And the gate of the profound woman is the root that heaven and earth sprang from.
It is there within us all the while;
Draw upon it as you will,
You can never wear it out.
c.
The spirit of the valley never dies.
It is called the subtle and profound female.
The gate of the subtle and profound female
is the root of heaven and earth.
It is continuous, and seems to be always existing.
Use it and you will never wear it out.
andyp, continue as usual! sometimes these aren't the best or most poetic translations, it can be good to read a few.
a.
The spirit of emptiness is immortal.
It is called the Great Mother
because it gives birth to Heaven and Earth.
It is like a vapor,
barely seen but always present.
Use it effortlessly.
b.
The valley spirit never dies.
It is named the mystic woman.
And the gate of the profound woman is the root that heaven and earth sprang from.
It is there within us all the while;
Draw upon it as you will,
You can never wear it out.
c.
The spirit of the valley never dies.
It is called the subtle and profound female.
The gate of the subtle and profound female
is the root of heaven and earth.
It is continuous, and seems to be always existing.
Use it and you will never wear it out.
andyp, continue as usual! sometimes these aren't the best or most poetic translations, it can be good to read a few.