Topic: Tao Te Ching

[Jahn]

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  .

 

[Jahn]

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

[Michael]

the Tao Te Ching is a beautiful book

[Jahn]

Absolutely - I suppose there is a Large version. 

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.

[erik]

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.

[Michael]

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?

[erik]

No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

[erik]

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...

[erik]

Doing nothing is better than being busy doing nothing.

Lao Zi

[erik]

When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.

Lao Zi

[Jahn]

When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.

 

Could have been a quote from Zen as well.

[erik]

 

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

[erik]

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

[erik]

The more laws and order are made prominent, the more thieves and robbers there will be.

Lao Zi

[Jahn]

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.