Tao Te Ching

by frankiespeakin 8 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  frankiespeakin

  http://books.google.com/books?id=hXoEv5WpqukC&printsec=frontcover&dq=subject:%22Philosophy+/+General%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=1RG4T7Fhx6mJAtH33YAH&ved=0CGoQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=subject%3A%22Philosophy%20%2F%20General%22&f=false
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  Chariklo

  I do like this. I've had a copy for some time, or at least extracts from the Tao Te Ching set each facing a Chinese painting.

  It's beautiful.
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  ziddina

  Ah, yes!! I read both the I Ching and the Tao Te Ching many years ago. I found the Tao to be very life-affirming....
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  botchtowersociety

  I have both and sometimes search them for guidance.

  I like my translation of the Tao Te Ching better than this one however. I don't know if it is that it reads better, or if it is that I am used to it.

  The I Ching can be consulted online here:

  http://deoxy.org/iching
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  frankiespeakin

  Well I guess it is worth a read, the idea that every thing comes from the emptiness has a lot in common with quantum events and probability waves.

  http://www.physics.lancs.ac.uk/vibrations/vib14.htm
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  frankiespeakin

  The Tao:

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tao
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  Night Owl

  Very nice.

  Thank you.

  NightOwl
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  Found Sheep

  I Ching
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  frankiespeakin

  Here is a decent rendition of the Tao:

  http://www.taoism.net/ttc/complete.htm

  Tao Ching
  Tao Classic - Chapters 1 to 37

  Chapter 1

  The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao
  The name that can be named is not the eternal name
  The nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth
  The named is the mother of myriad things
  Thus, constantly without desire, one observes its essence
  Constantly with desire, one observes its manifestations
  These two emerge together but differ in name
  The unity is said to be the mystery
  Mystery of mysteries, the door to all wonders

  Chapter 2

  When the world knows beauty as beauty, ugliness arises
  When it knows good as good, evil arises
  Thus being and non-being produce each other
  Difficult and easy bring about each other
  Long and short reveal each other
  High and low support each other
  Music and voice harmonize each other
  Front and back follow each other
  Therefore the sages:
  Manage the work of detached actions
  Conduct the teaching of no words
  They work with myriad things but do not control
  They create but do not possess
  They act but do not presume
  They succeed but do not dwell on success
  It is because they do not dwell on success
  That it never goes away

  Chapter 3

  Do not glorify the achievers
  So the people will not squabble
  Do not treasure goods that are hard to obtain
  So the people will not become thieves
  Do not show the desired things
  So their hearts will not be confused

  Thus the governance of the sage:
  Empties their hearts
  Fills their bellies
  Weakens their ambitions
  Strengthens their bones

  Let the people have no cunning and no greed
  So those who scheme will not dare to meddle

  Act without contrivance
  And nothing will be beyond control.........