Soma

Tools of the Path => Other Paths [Public] => Topic started by: Jahn on February 04, 2009, 07:02:01 AM

Title: Tao Te Ching
Post by: Jahn on February 04, 2009, 07:02:01 AM: I got a little book that came my way many many Moons ago, suddenly it was there on one of our tables, telling me it was time to read a few lines - so I did that Yesterday. It is really a little book in the physical, and so is the title, not larger than a normal hand, but it contains some real gems from the Teachings of Tao.

A Little Book about Tao Te Ching*

Tao is lika a empty pitcher
that one pour from, but that never gets dry
endless deep, is the source of everything.

It blunts the sharpness
loosen all the knots
gives shadow to the light
aligns with all that is perishable

Page 10.
*Original text by John R Mabrys translation to English, then translated to Swedish by Ewa Garden (Trädgårdh) and now this is my poor translation from Swedish back to English :) .
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: Jahn on February 04, 2009, 07:05:38 AM: The Heaven and the Earth are neutral
They allow things to die

The wise is not sentimental
She knows that all beings must depart

The space between Heaven and Earth
Is like a pair of bellows
Empty but inexhaustible
the more it is used the more it will give.

p. 10
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: Michael on February 04, 2009, 07:26:52 PM: the Tao Te Ching is a beautiful book
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: Jahn on February 05, 2009, 06:52:57 AM: Absolutely - I suppose there is a Large version. ;D

Here is todays qoute:

Tao is mighty
Heaven is mighty
Earth is mighty
Mankind is also mighty

In the Universe are these four things that are mighty
and mankind is one of them.

The Mankind follows the Universe,
The Earth follows the The Heaven,
while Tao only follow itself.

Page 20.
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: erik on August 03, 2009, 05:53:10 PM: The highest good is like water.
Water gives life to the ten thousand things and does not strive.
It flows in places men reject and so is like the Tao.
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: Michael on August 03, 2009, 08:42:25 PM: Quote from: Yellow hat on August 03, 2009, 05:53:10 PM
It flows in places men reject and so is like the Tao.

nice one.

Tao, pronounced Dow, as in the 'Dow Jones Index'.

but Julie and I then had a discussion - does it flow in places women reject?
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: erik on August 09, 2009, 02:15:04 PM: No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: erik on August 09, 2009, 02:27:58 PM: Quote from: Michael on August 03, 2009, 08:42:25 PM
but Julie and I then had a discussion - does it flow in places women reject?

There was this story where Xanthos managed to get very drunk and waged his fortune on the claim that he could drink the sea. Having sobered up, he asked for help from Aesop who said that Xanthos should tell his opponents that he would actually drink the sea if the opponents separated from it all waters of rivers, all waters of rain, etc. The remains he would drink happily...
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: erik on August 11, 2009, 07:27:20 AM: Doing nothing is better than being busy doing nothing.

Lao Zi
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: erik on August 12, 2009, 01:39:55 PM: When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.

Lao Zi
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: Jahn on August 13, 2009, 04:10:16 AM: Quote from: Yellow hat on August 12, 2009, 01:39:55 PM
When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.
:)

Could have been a quote from Zen as well.
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: erik on August 13, 2009, 03:53:24 PM: Quote from: Jamir on August 13, 2009, 04:10:16 AM
:)

Could have been a quote from Zen as well.

Absolutely!

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.
Lao Tzu

Nature is not human hearted.
Lao Tzu
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: erik on August 14, 2009, 01:46:03 PM: A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.

Lao Zi
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: erik on August 17, 2009, 02:51:36 PM: The more laws and order are made prominent, the more thieves and robbers there will be.

Lao Zi
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: Jahn on August 18, 2009, 03:48:25 AM: Quote from: Yellow hat on August 17, 2009, 02:51:36 PM
The more laws and order are made prominent, the more thieves and robbers there will be.

Lao Zi

Or ... the more firemen the more fires it will be.
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: Michael on August 18, 2009, 07:59:27 PM: the more roads, the more cars appear
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: erik on September 06, 2009, 05:54:38 PM: A Clear mind comes from the wonderful fundamental essence given us by nature and is not a personal possession. Impartiality beyond any specific culture fosters clarity and deeper seeing. It is not hard to produce wisdom... what is hard is to have wisdom not interrupted.
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: Nichi on September 17, 2009, 06:11:18 PM: Tao Te Ching, version by gia-fu feng (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gia-Fu_Feng)

23.

To talk little is natural.
High winds do not last all morning.
Heavy rain does not last all day.
Why is this? Heaven and Earth!
If heaven and Earth cannot make things eternal,
How is it possible for man?
He who follows the Tao
Is at one with the Tao.
He who is virtuous
Experiences Virtue.
He who loses the way
Is lost.
When you are at one with the Tao,
The Tao welcomes you.
When you are at one with Virtue,
The Virtue is always there.
When you are at one with loss,
The loss is experienced willingly.
He who does not trust enough
Will not be trusted.
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: erik on September 21, 2009, 06:28:17 AM: Once a student asked his teacher: why does the Path contain so much bad fortune and unpleasant events? In response, the teacher stood up, walked a full circle and sat down again.
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: Firestarter on September 21, 2009, 06:51:10 AM: Quote from: Yellow hat on September 21, 2009, 06:28:17 AM
Once a student asked his teacher: why does the Path contain so much bad fortune and unpleasant events? In response, the teacher stood up, walked a full circle and sat down again.

samsara
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: erik on September 21, 2009, 01:36:28 PM: Quote from: ~Autumn on September 21, 2009, 06:51:10 AM
samsara

Incorrect. That was not what the teacher meant. It is not that simple.

Besides, why would I post something so obvious/Buddhist in Taoism thread? ;) Why would I repeat the same view on 'samsara' over and again - without trying to see new/other takes on it?
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: Nichi on October 11, 2009, 10:10:20 PM: Nothing is softer and more yielding than water
yet nothing is better in attacking the solid and forceful
because nothing can take its place. Weak conquers strong,
soft conquers hard,
no one doesn't know this,
yet who practices it?
Thus the sage says
The state's true master takes on
the country's disgrace
and by taking on the country's misfortunes
is king under heaven.
Straight speech may seem like paradox.
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: Nichi on August 01, 2010, 07:08:38 PM: Good weapons are instruments of fear; all creatures hate them.
Therefore followers of Tao never use them.
The wise man prefers the left.
The man of war prefers the right.

Weapons are instruments of fear; they are not a wise man's tools.
He uses them only when he has no choice.
Peace and quiet are dear to his heart,
And victory no cause for rejoicing.
If you rejoice in victory, then you delight in killing;
If you delight in killing, you cannot fulfill yourself.

On happy occasions precedence is given to the left.
On sad occasions to the right.
In the army the general stands on the left.
The commander-in-chief on the right.
This means that war is conducted like a funeral.
When many people are being killed,
They should be mourned in heartfelt sorrow.
That is why a victory must be observed like a funeral.

- Lao-tzu
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: Nichi on December 06, 2010, 08:15:37 AM: She who defines herself, cannot know who she really is.
~Tao Te Ching
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: Builder on December 16, 2010, 05:39:53 PM: We join spokes together in a wheel,
but it is the center hole
that makes the wagon move.

We shape clay into a pot,
but it is the emptiness inside
that holds whatever we want.

We hammer wood for a house,
but it is the inner space
that makes it livable.

We work with being,
but non-being is what we use.
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: daphne on December 17, 2010, 02:31:07 AM: Quote from: Builder on December 16, 2010, 05:39:53 PM
We join spokes together in a wheel,
but it is the center hole
that makes the wagon move.

We shape clay into a pot,
but it is the emptiness inside
that holds whatever we want.

We hammer wood for a house,
but it is the inner space
that makes it livable.

We work with being,
but non-being is what we use.

wow! beautiful!
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: Michael on December 18, 2010, 02:44:45 AM: Quote from: Builder on December 16, 2010, 05:39:53 PM
We work with being,
but non-being is what we use.

Yep, clever man him.
The open secret.
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: Builder on December 28, 2010, 01:42:40 AM: When people see beauty, they think, "that's beautiful".
Thinking of something as beautiful makes you think other things are ugly.
Calling something "good" forces you to call some other things "evil."
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: Builder on January 24, 2011, 05:23:05 PM: Nature rarely speaks.
A whirlwind doesn't even last a whole morning.
A rainstorm starts and ends in a single day.

Such things are made by heaven and earth.
If heaven and earth can't make a storm last,
how can you?
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: Builder on February 11, 2011, 05:56:39 PM: Accept disgrace willingly.
Accept misfortune as the human condition.
What do you mean by "Accept disgrace willingly"?
Accept being unimportant.
Do not be concerned with loss or gain.
This is called "accepting disgrace willingly."
What do you mean by "Accept misfortune as the human condition"?
Misfortune comes from having a body.
Without a body, how could there be misfortune?

Surrender yourself humbly; then you can be trusted to care for all things.
Love the world as your own self; then you can truly care for all things.
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: Nichi on March 29, 2011, 02:24:03 AM: The magical function of infinite emptiness is endless without limits,
thus it is called the mysterious pass.
The mysterious pass serves as a communing doorway connecting human beings to heaven and earth.

Tao Te Ching
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: Nichi on July 05, 2012, 02:53:27 PM: What is rooted is easy to nourish.
What is recent is easy to correct.
What is brittle is easy to break.
What is small is easy to scatter.

Prevent trouble before it arises.
Put things in order before they exist.
The giant pine tree
grows from a tiny sprout.
The journey of a thousand miles
starts from beneath your feet.

Rushing into action, you fail.
Trying to grasp things, you lose them.
Forcing a project to completion,
you ruin what was almost ripe.

Therefore the Master takes action
by letting things take their course.
He remains as calm
at the end as at the beginning.
He has nothing,
thus has nothing to lose.
What he desires is non-desire;
what he learns is to unlearn.
He simply reminds people
of who they have always been.
He cares about nothing but the Tao.
Thus he can care for all things.

~Tao Te Ching
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: Jennifer- on July 05, 2012, 10:35:13 PM: :)
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: erik on July 06, 2012, 03:51:55 AM: If I have a little knowledge
Walking on the great Tao
I fear only to deviate from it
The great Tao is broad and plain
But people like the side paths

http://www.taoism.net
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: Nichi on April 04, 2013, 12:23:11 PM: In holding the soul and embracing oneness
Can one be steadfast, without straying?
In concentrating the energy and reaching relaxation
Can one be like an infant?
In cleaning away the worldly view
Can one be without imperfections?
In loving the people and ruling the nation
Can one be without manipulation?
In the heavenly gate's opening and closing
Can one hold to the feminine principle?
In understanding clearly all directions
Can one be without intellectuality?

Bearing it, rearing it
Bearing without possession
Achieving without arrogance
Raising without domination
This is called the Mystic Virtue.

-Tao Te Ching #10
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: Nichi on June 22, 2013, 06:03:31 PM: When they lose their sense of awe,
people turn to religion.
When they no longer trust themselves,
they begin to depend upon authority.

Therefore the Master steps back
so that people won't be confused.
He teaches without a teaching,
so that people will have nothing to learn.

― Lao Tzu (Tao Te Ching)
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: Nichi on June 26, 2013, 08:22:24 PM: Those who try to control,
who use force to protect their power,
go against the direction of the Tao.
They take from those who don’t have enough
and give to those who have far too much.

The Master can keep giving
because there is no end to her wealth.
She acts without expectation,
succeeds without taking credit,
and doesn’t think that she is better
than anyone else.

― Lao Tzu (Lao Zi)
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: Nichi on April 13, 2014, 07:38:41 AM: Simplicity, patience, compassion.
These three are your greatest treasures.
Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of being.
Patient with both friends and enemies,
you accord with the way things are.
Compassionate toward yourself,
you reconcile all beings in the world.

- Lao Tzu
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: Nichi on June 20, 2014, 07:48:51 PM: Don't pursue actions that can be repudiated, but don't resent it if people repudiate you. Cultivate virtues worthy of praise, but don't expect people to praise you.
You cannot cause calamity not to occur, but trust in yourself not to beckon it. You cannot cause fortune to arrive, but trust in yourself not to reject it. When calamity occurs, since it is not your doing you do not grieve when in straits. When fortune comes, since it is not your achievement you are not conceited when successful.
In this way you live at ease and enjoy effortlessness, yet there is order.

- Lao Tzu

[from 'Wen-Tzu : Understanding the Mysteries', translated by Thomas Cleary]
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: Nichi on August 09, 2014, 07:32:20 PM: Do you think you can take over the universe and
improve it? I do not believe it can be done.

The universe is sacred. You cannot improve it.
If you try to change it, you will ruin it.
If you try to hold it, you will lose it.

So sometimes things are ahead and sometimes they are behind;
Sometimes breathing is hard, sometimes it comes easily;
Sometimes there is strength and sometimes weakness;
Sometimes one is up and sometimes down.

Therefore the sage avoids extremes, excesses, and complacency.

- Lao-tzu

Tao Te Ching
Translation by Gia-fu Feng and Jane English
Vintage Books Edition, September 1972
Title: Re: Tao Te Ching
Post by: Nichi on September 13, 2014, 10:31:08 PM: Creating, yet not possessing.
Working, yet not taking credit.
Work is done, then forgotten.
Therefore it lasts forever.

Tao Te Ching