Tao Te Ching

By Lucian Aeris and Lao Tzu

This short book has followed an eventful path since its inception over 2000 years ago, having morphed through many changes, rendered largely as a result of the old Chinese system of copying texts repeatedly onto fresh materials to save the writings from physical degradation. Other changes occured due to scholarly attention.

Some say it was originally written by a man known as Lao Tzu (Old Master) and some say that Lao Tzu is a title under which many contributors coalesced. Whatever the case, this book is certainly unique and powerful, and has evolved over time in a way that couldn’t have been planned or predicted by any human being.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jul 2, 2015
• ISBN: 9781326336684

Book preview

justice.

Part 1

Te

1. What is Te?

Elevated te has no te.

It is therefore full of te.

Declining te will not let te go.

It is therefore lacking te.

Elevated te does not act and does not consider why.

Declining te does not act and considers why.

Elevated good acts and does not consider why.

Elevated morality acts and considers why.

Elevated law acts and when nobody responds its arms quiver and it enforces its will.

Therefore, when the tao is forgotten there remains te.

When te is forgotten there remains good.

When good is forgotten there remains morality.

When morality is forgotten there remains laws.

Those of the laws have only a spattering of loyalty and faith, and are the forerunners of confusion;

To predetermine the consequences of the tao’s way is to be vain and begins stupidity.

Therefore, true souls dwell with the generous, and do not reside with the miserly;

Dwell with honesty, and do not reside with vanity.

2. The Root of the Universal Law

Of those well before us these knew the one:

Heaven knew the one so as to be complete;

Earth knew the one so as to be calm and stable;

Universal Energy knew the one so as to be diligent and able;

The River Valley knew the one so as to be well-watered;

The ten thousand things knew the one so as to be born and have life;

The nobility knew the one so as to serve all under heaven correctly.

It is what they all devoted themselves to.

Without its completion Heaven will be under threat of coming undone;

Without its calmness and stability the Earth will be under threat of trembling and breaking;

Without its diligence and ability Universal Energy will be under threat of being put to rest;

Without its deep water the River Valley will be under threat of being exhausted;

Without their life the ten thousand things will be under threat of vanishing into extinction;

Without their correctness the nobility will be under threat of stumbling from their position.

It is for these reasons that the

Reviews for Tao Te Ching

[martyr13 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The tao te ching is pound for pound the greatest spiritual work ever written. 81 short pages written thousands of years ago still pack a serious punch, and are scarily relevant. This translation is not my favorite, so I rated it 4 stars instead of 5.

[meditationesmartini · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

 I was totally surprised to find out that this is actually a political treatise but less surprised to learn that quiescence is strength.

[duck2ducks · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Pretty good, but the few poems I had encountered before reading this in its entirety proved to be the best of the bunch. Some are inspiring and beautifully written, while others are plainer - but that's to be expected of a work composed by a multitude of hands over many years. Really great ideas and values to reflect upon and try to keep in mind though, which is where this book earns most of its praise.

[michael_rose-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I felt this was one of those things I should read to help understand another culture from another place and time. It was enjoyable from that point-of-view, but I didn't gain anything else from it.

[phrontist_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I'm not grandiose enough to review the content, but this is the most readable translation I've come across, and print quality is great.

[kawgirl · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

You will not find a better, more accessible translation of the Tao te Ching than this one. Mitchell's translation is a must read.

[michael.bradham · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Guidance I needed.

[jvioland_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The basic text of Taoism that was very influential in subsequent ancient Chinese philosophical and religious beliefs. Worth reading for a very different perspective on existence.

[shawnd_72 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked this version a lot. I am likely paraphrasing other reviewers when I say it is accessible, sensible, stylistic, and modern. Modern meaning it's been sanitized a bit more than most, for example "The Master doesn't seek fulfillment; Not seeking, not expecting; she is present, and can welcome all things. So use of the female and male 'tense'. Also missing some of the more abstract or even abstruse general metaphysical terms found in some translations. A good starter Tao for the first timer.

[brightman-4 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Good visuals for contemplation

[andersonden · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I read this more than 10 years ago for a comparative religion class and keep coming back to it. I can't really comment on the translation since I don't know Chinese but certainly in this form it contains many pithy truths.

[raqqash-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A classic for life.

[tdh70 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the best translation of Tao Te Ching I have encountered, and I have read probably a dozen over the last 30 years. If you must have only one translation of Lao Tzu, this is the one.Red Pine himself does not say much, but provides excerpts from centuries of commentaries. His comments are almost entirely confined to the introduction, and this is proper: he is only one of many commentators. His attitude seems to be like Isaac Newton, standing on the shoulders of giants.

[michael5rimmer · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I've read the Tao Te Ching many times and still come away uncertain as to its meaning, but each time I get little glimmers that I didn't see before. It's probably because I'm trying to understand it that I don't.

[eileansiar · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

"There was something undefined and complete, coming into extistence before Heaven and Earth. ... I do not know its name, and I give it the designation of the Tao (the way or course)." Thus wrote this ancient seer. And much more. A succinct guide to guide to the inner workings of 'life, the universe and all that,' - a hitchikers guide to the essential nature of creation. It's not what you think - instead, just get your striving ego out of the way, and let the Way flow into your life.

[benuathanasia · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It didn't really explain WHAT Tao is. Maybe it was just my translation, but when the whole explanation of Tao is that ~those who know about don't talk about it, and those that talk about it, don't know about it~ isn't particularly helpful.

[hermit_9_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

To say that this classic is obtuse is an understatement, but it remains one of the most influential works in forming my personal philosophy.

[co_coyote · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

One of the classics. This translation by Jane English is one of my favorites. Plus, the pictures are wonderful. Great memories of winter camping are conjured up, for some reason.

[spbooks_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

First time I've read the Tao Te Ching. Simple but profound advice for living. Simple to understand translation and the annotations and explanations are clear and helpful.

[jjmcgaffey · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Philosophic fluff. Most of the good lines quoted something - from Shakespeare to Star Wars (not quotes exactly - evoke, more like). The glosses were interesting (why did Mitchell say it that way?) and amusing ("One gives birth to Two: Oy!"

[bricker-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is one of those quick to read, but long to digest books. It was interesting and will take more than one reading to feel more comfortable with.

[jinuu_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I own and have read many translations of the Tao Te Ching, but this one is by far my favorite. Written in plain, common sense English, it renders the difficult philosophy accessible and easier to understand.

[www3snigel3nu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A very thorough and yet comprehensive translation and interpretation of Daodejing. Complete with a chapter discussing the text and its implications.

[laphenix · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A beautiful translation with a wonderfully illustrated explanations. Everyone ought read The Tao once.

[heidialice · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Classic, beautifully translated (and beautiful accompanying photographs). This is comforting in its timelessness, and shakes me out of being stuck in my head. A text I return to over and over.

[taobrarian · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A beautifully illustrated and poetically translated version of the Tao Te Ching from Stephen Mitchell.

[kristymk18-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

"People certainly have been confused for a long time."The introduction and endnotes went a long way helping me read this. I can see why it takes a lifetime to decipher this.

[pattern0chaser · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Daoist classic of oriental wisdom. Not easy to appreciate without help....

[jolyon_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Still the best, overall. Have had this for 30 years and it never palls.

[waelrammo · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Just amazing.