Tao Te Ching
By Laozi, The griffin classics and Lao Tzu
()
About this ebook
Laozi
Laozi was a Chinese philosopher and author commonly understood to have lived in the 6th century BC, although the time of his life is much disputed, and he has become as much a legend as a historical figure. Traditionally credited as the author of The Book of Tao, also known as The Tao Te Ching and The Tao and Its Characteristics, he is regarded as the father of Taoism and one of the most universally influential figures in Chinese culture.
Read more from Laozi
The Tao Teh King Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Way And Its Power; A Study Of The Tao Tê Ching Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Dao De Jing: The United Version Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Tao Te Ching (Daodejing) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Tao Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsUnlock Ancient Wisdom: Tao Te Ching - The Profound Path to Enlightenment Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dao De Jing Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tao Te Ching ( with a Free Audiobook ) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tao Te Ching Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tao Te Ching: The Timeless Classic of Taoist Wisdom, by Lao Tzu Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5CLASSICS FOR HOLIDAYS - Ultimate Collection: 150 Timeless Masterpieces of World Literature in One Volume Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Greatest Literary Masterpieces for the Holiday Season: 150 Everlasting Masterpieces of the World Literature Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Tao Te Ching
Related ebooks
Lao Tse. Tao Te Ching Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tao Te Ching: Premium Ebook Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Tao Teh King: Tao Te Ching Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Self-Reliance Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tao Te Ching (Translated with commentary by James Legge) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTao Te Ching Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Sayings of Lao Tzu Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Siddhartha Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lao Tzu : Tao Te Ching : A Book About the Way and the Power of the Way Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tao Te Ching: A New English Version Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Meditations Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTao Te Ching: Six Translations Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Meditations of Marcus Aurelius Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Prophet Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Sayings of Confucius Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Wisdom of Confucius Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Of a Happy Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Analects of Confucius Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Dhammapada Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tao te Ching: Power for the Peaceful Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Analects Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Meditations Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5THUS SPOKE ZARATHUSTRA - A Book for All and None (World Classics Series): Philosophical Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Dhammapada Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Enchiridion Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Handbook Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The I Ching: The Book of Changes Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Wisdom of the Tao: Ancient Stories that Delight, Inform, and Inspire Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Eastern Religions For You
Think on These Things Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tao Te Ching: A New English Version Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5History of the Jews Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5True Happiness: The Teachings of Ramana Maharshi Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Be Here Now Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Daoism: A Beginner's Guide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsZhuangzi: Basic Writings Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World--and Why Their Differences Matter Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Bhagavad Gita: According to Paramhansa Yogananda edited by his disciple, Swami Kriyananda Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Shiva: Stories and Teachings from the Shiva Mahapurana Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5What the Buddha Taught Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5What Is Tao? Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Zen Buddhism: How Zen Buddhism Can Create A Life of Peace, Happiness and Inspiration Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Elegant Simplicity: The Art of Living Well Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Zen Buddhism: The Short Beginners Guide To Understanding Zen Buddhism and Zen Buddhist Teachings. Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Sayings of Lao Tzu Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Analects of Confucius Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Jesus and Lao Tzu: The Parallel Sayings Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsZen Flesh, Zen Bones: A Collection of Zen and Pre-Zen Writings Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Promise of Kuan Yin: Wisdom, Miracles, & Compassion Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Wisdom of the Tao: Ancient Stories that Delight, Inform, and Inspire Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Divine Feminine Tao Te Ching: A New Translation and Commentary Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTao of Birth Days: Using the I-Ching to Become Who You Were Born to Be Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Four Chinese Classics: Tao Te Ching, Analects, Chuang Tzu, Mencius Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Dhammapada (Illustrated Edition): With linked Table of Contents Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related categories
Reviews for Tao Te Ching
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Tao Te Ching - Laozi
Ching
Laozi
(Translator: James Legge)
Published: 600
Categorie(s): Non-Fiction, Human Science, Philosophy, Religion
1
The Tao that can be described is not the enduring and unchanging Tao.
The name that can be named is not the enduring and unchanging name.
(Conceived of as) having no name, it is the Originator of heaven and earth;
(conceived of as) having a name, it is the Mother of all things.
Always without desire we must be found,
If its deep mystery we would sound;
But if desire always within us be,
Its outer fringe is all that we shall see.
Under these two aspects, it is really the same; but as development takes place, it receives the different names.
Together we call them the Mystery.
Where the Mystery is the deepest is the gate of all that is subtle and wonderful.
2
All in the world know the beauty of the beautiful, and in doing this they have (the idea of) what ugliness is;
they all know the skill of the skilful, and in doing this they have (the idea of) what the want of skill is.
So it is that existence and non-existence give birth the one to (the idea of) the other;
that difficulty and ease produce the one (the idea of) the other;
that length and shortness fashion out the one the figure of the other;
that (the ideas of) height and lowness arise from the contrast of the one with the other;
that the musical notes and tones become harmonious through the relation of one with another; and that being before and behind give the idea of one following another.
Therefore the sage manages affairs without doing anything, and conveys his instructions without the use of speech.
All things spring up, and there is not one which declines to show itself;
they grow, and there is no claim made for their ownership;
they go through their processes, and there is no expectation (of a reward for the results).
The work is accomplished, and there is no resting in it (as an achievement).
The work is done, but how no one can see;
'Tis this that makes the power not cease to be.
3
Not to value and employ men of superior ability is the way to keep the people from rivalry among themselves;
not to prize articles which are difficult to procure is the way to keep them from becoming thieves;
not to show them what is likely to excite their desires is the way to keep their minds from disorder.
Therefore the sage, in the exercise of his government, empties their minds, fills their bellies, weakens their wills, and strengthens their bones.
He constantly (tries to) keep them without knowledge and without desire, and where there are those who have knowledge, to keep them from presuming to act (on it).
When there is this abstinence from action, good order is universal.
4
The Tao is (like) the emptiness of a vessel; and in our employment of it we must be on our guard against all fulness.
How deep and unfathomable it is, as if it were the Honoured Ancestor of all things!
We should