Tao te Ching

[Ioneo]

I'm looking for a good English translation/inspiring commentary on Lao Tsu's book. There are many out there so if anyone has any recommendations I'm interested. :dog:

[Philaletheian]

My favorite is the one from Stephen Mitchell. Really good, deep and easily understandable. But it's actually a stripped down version, but the main parts remain.
http://www.amazon.com/Tao-Te-Ching-Illustrated-Journey/dp/0711229643/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1436358788&sr=8-2&keywords=Tao+te+ching

[Earthlink]

"Virtue and The Way do not appear in me. I appear in Them."

I wrote that after reading a few different versions of Lao Tzu's collected works, but I don't remember the translators names.

[A Voice from the Mountains]

I like Stephen Mitchell's translation best as well.

This is probably the most important spiritual/philosophical work I've ever read.

[loveoflife]

Here is a free online version. http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~phalsall/texts/taote-v3.html

[mosquito]

Hi, I suggest you look at ALL the available translations and decide which one speaks to you. Here's a link to a useful site which contains some of the many translations ....

http://www.daoisopen.com/ddjtranslations.html

I've looked at the Mitchell translation that 2 members have spoken of, and for me it's just too way off what the Chinese says ! Which is a good lead in for one of the biggest problems translators face. Namely that the Dao De Jing is written in a style of ancient Chinese which is VERY economical on word use; so whoever translates it needs to understand not only the written text but also the subtle meaning being conveyed. Not an easy task. The fact is you can't simply sit and read it, like you would a text book, and understand it using the language centres of your brain. You need to read it with your heart. And if you're anything like me, it will take multiple readings to fully undertand the nuances.

Also a good thing to do is learn how to actually pronounce the name of the book. In pinyin it's written Dao De Jing, which is far closer to how it sounds than the Wade-Giles Romanization normally used. (Wade-Giles leads to many misunderstandings, for example the world is full of people who believe that the "chi" in Tai Chi is the same as the "ch'i" meaning subtle energy. It isn't) I've no idea how to embed mp3s, so here's a link to a translation with the audio. Simply click the double arrows next to DaoDeJing, then the audion icon (might have to click that one twice)...

https://www.mdbg.net/chindict/chindict.php?page=worddict&wdrst=0&wdqb=%E9%81%93%E5%BE%B7%E7%BB%8F

Good luck

[Ioneo]

Than you all for your comments and suggestions. I have read the direct translation without any commentary and 'feel' what it says. It touches my soul. I don't really need anyone to explain the Tao to me (as if it can be explained). I'm just interested in hearing another's view as I can gain from that also. I will try Mitchell's since a few of you liked it. I will also try the link you provided Mosquito. Thanks.

[Ikarusion]

http://genius.com/Lao-tzu-tao-te-ching-annotated/

not sure if its complete, but the content seems to be the same as: http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~phalsall/texts/taote-v3.html
everything is annotated. im quite surprised. i usually only use this page to get insight into rap lyrics. :P

thx for bringing this up, wanted to read this for a while, but forgot about it.

regards

[loveoflife]

Here is another version. Tao Te Ching by James Legge. http://www.taopage.org/taoteching/online.html

There are 60 versions there available for d/l.

[A Voice from the Mountains]

http://genius.com/Lao-tzu-tao-te-ching-annotated/

not sure if its complete, but the content seems to be the same as: http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~phalsall/texts/taote-v3.html

Yes, these are both the Stephen Mitchell translation.

Unlike many other translators, Mitchell is not a linguist and does not speak Chinese. He compiled a lot of other translations and tried to get to the spiritual message of them without the academic linguistic stuff.

[Sue (Ayt)]

I have a little pocket-book version of the Tao Teh Ching that I have carried around in my purse since the early 90's. Just pulled it out now, and looking at it objectively... My, it's so old and worn!
The more I read these verses, the more it just became part of me somehow. Whenever I have had to wait; in waiting rooms, in my car when picking children up, in lines, etc; I pulled out my little Tao and randomly opened it, for years now. Still do. Somehow, it is always meaningful to my "now".

I think some of the theosophists of old advised to read the Tao 1000+ times to hasten "enlightenment". Not sure where I heard that, but reading it does bring me peace of mind, which I kind of consider my highest goal at all times.

The version I carry is translated by John C.H. Wu. I have heard others highly recommend the Feng and English version.

Here is an active link to a daily Tao verse:
Daily Tao (https://www.majorcommand.com/blog/daily-tao/)

[Caliban]

It's all in there. So simple, it's too simple for us. So clear, it's too clear for us.

No matter what the translation. This is the medicine. Can we take it?

[greybeard]

It's all in there. So simple, it's too simple for us. So clear, it's too clear for us.

No matter what the translation. This is the medicine. Can we take it?

I say the same thing about non-duality and yes having used the Tao te Ching I agree.
Chris

[Sue (Ayt)]

It's all in there. So simple, it's too simple for us. So clear, it's too clear for us.

No matter what the translation. This is the medicine. Can we take it?

:clapping:
I love that, Caliban.
Thank You