Tao te Ching - part 1 chapter 1

[Tao_Equus]

You can get there by clicking on the big "interfaith" graphic in the upper left corner of the forum page.

I would Blush but it seems Brian did not know that either Thanks

tao

 

[billzant]

Here you go: Interfaith



Specifically:
taoism - tao canon, themes - taoist

Dear Brian,

Thanks for the link.

I followed it to:-

Taoism - Tao Te Ching Translations

but did not find any other texts than Tao te Ching.

I haven't done much on this but

Taoist Texts

seems good, leading to:-

Texts of Taoism (SBE 39) Index

Texts of Taoism (SBE 40) Index

Taoist Texts, by Frederic Henry Balfour - Index


I don't know what is available as Taoist texts and would be interested in having some idea.

Hope you are keeping well,

All the Best

Bill Z

 

[iBrian]

Thanks for the references.

The front of site was pretty much set up 5 years ago, but little updated since. Hopefully the move to the interfaith.org domain should make the process easier, as before I had to hand-code every single page on the main site.

 

[DrumR]

Continuing the comparative examination of the
Tao Te Ching: Part 1; The Way, Chapter 1, third verse pair.
My continuing Stumblings Concerning the Hap-Hazard Way.

But I hasten to point out that the Tao is not part of a rational system and, thus, the concept of Tao contains all including an infinity of infinities. Now that should up the confusion factor quite a bit.

The Tao is all about one. That which we may detect with our sences see, hear, smell, taste and touch is at once the dawning of the first proof and the asking of the primal question.

The secret awaits in sight of eyes unclouded by longing;
Those who are bound by desire see only the outward container.

These two come paired but are distinct by their names.
Of all things profound, say that their pairing is deepest - R.B. Blakney<1>

Therefore;
Oftentimes, one strips oneself of passion
in order to see the Secret of Life;
Oftentimes, one reguards life with passion,
in order to see its manifest results.

These two (the Secret and its manifestations)
are (in their nature) the same;
They are given different names when they become manifest. - Lin Yutang<2>

The secret of the Tao being introduced,

And whether a man see to the dispassionate core of life
Or passionately sees the surface,
The core and the surface are essentially the same,
Words making them seem different only to express appearance.

If Name be needed, wonder names the both:
from wonder into wonder Existance opens. - Whitter Bynner<3>

as is the wonder

Thus, if always without desire, one can observe the indescribable marvels;
If always desirous, one sees the merest traces.

These two come from the same source but are differently named. - Man-jen Cheng/Tam C. Gibbs<4>

and marvels to be found

So as ever hidden, we should look at its inner essence:
As always manifest, we should look at its outer aspects.

These two flow from the same source, though differently named:
And both are called mysteries. - John C.H. Wu <5>

and where to look, yet the difficulty is not reduced.

Passion, desire, longing show to one the manifestations on the senses of the Tao.
Yet the true experience of the Tao requires of one to engage in that dispassionate examination from within to find the explanations what our senses tell us is all about us.

In an effort to name the common source we are faced with adding more labels. Each label, pertaining to one or more aspects of the Tao, is only partially correct yet each label is the same thing viewed from but a different perspective. Each perspective provides a clue, but they are not complete individually or in summation.

Thus the hidden secret exists as it is beyond human expression to name or speak or even write about it directly. The true secret will remain so only for the lack of human ability and the lack of medium(s) with which to describe it to others.



References:
1) The Way of Life Lao Tzu - R.B. Blakney
2) The Wisdom of China and Asia Lao Tzu: The Book of the Tao - Lin Yutang
3) The Way of Life according to Lao Tzu - Whitter Bynner
4) Lao Tzu: "My words are very easy to understand" - Man-jen Cheng/Tam C. Gibbs
5) Tao Teh Ching - John C.H. Wu

 

[DrumR]

Continuing the comparative examination of the
Tao Te Ching: Part 1; The Way, Chapter 1, The ending and a begining.
My continuing Stumblings Concerning the Hap-Hazard Way.

Thus the hidden secret exists as it is beyond human expression to name or speak or even write about it directly. The true secret will remain so only for the lack of human ability and the lack of medium(s) with which to describe it to others.

Taoism is classed as a "Mystery Religion" based upon its supposed unknowable quality. The secret of secrets or the mystery of mysteries and the gateway to all, is the common last portion of the first chapter of the Tao Teh Ching and adds to that assumption, so why bother?

Taoism does not require that one have "faith" or to take its lessons and principals on trust. Similar to a body-building exercise-plan, reading just does not build up muscular bulk any more than does mere discussion of that plan put on the pounds of lean, supple, and dynamic muscle tissue.

Much like the body building plan above that relationship applies to the personal and spiritual growth aspects of the Tao, for Tao does require that one engage upon and participate in those daily exercises needed to attain the ultimate goal.

The mysterious aspects of the Tao, indeed much of the explanations of this first and pivotal chapter of the Tao Teh Ching, I have found best explained by Deng Ming-Dao, daily reading #326 entitled, of all things, "Mysticism." I take the liberty to provide a reduced excerpt here:

All mystical traditions are as one. They are the seed of all religions...
<snip>
All cultures know a mystical core that emphasis continuing refinement, meditation, and unification with the greater cosmos. I call that greater order Tao. They call it by different names. What does it matter what people call it? When they discovered what was holy, they uttered different sounds according to their history and culture, but they all discovered the same thing. There is only one divine source in life.

For generations mystics of all religions have plunged into Tao. When they met on the unutterable levels, they know without words that they have reached the same core of spirituality. No matter where in the world you are, there are traditions with the purity to lead you to Tao. - <1>

It is most difficult to try to improve on the above. Yet one should look at it as but a begining towards a most desirable and attainable end.



1) 365 Tao Daily Meditations - Deng Ming-Dao; Pub. Harper Collins.

 

[DrumR]

Has anyone else seen the GNL-Lao or GNLao?

Also:
One down, where to go from here?