Studying the Tao Te Ching

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Musings on this line of study[edit | edit source]

Everything in life is connected. We are all connected.

I like to reference my life and decisions based on happenings and experiences rather than randomly from basic thought.

Many years ago, I was introduced to the Tao Te Ching. I had a wonderful book that was artistically rendered. The writings were hand-written with rough illustrations of swirls, circles and other geometric designs. I remember reading the passages, but I don't remember absorbing the teachings.

One of my favourite authors is Dr. Wayne Dyer - and in his new book (rather, his memoir), I Can See Clearly Now, Dr. Dyer references that he's been studying the Tao Te Ching for many years. This led me to investigate available translations and I've hit on one that I like, Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths in 2006.

DiosaXochi (talk) 19:20, 20 April 2014 (UTC)

Chapter 1[edit | edit source]

Steveston1.JPG

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


Initial reflections - Beautiful and poetic. To name something is to limit it, but naming it is essential to understanding. Awareness of the limitations of naming and the requirement of naming for understanding brings us to the edge where the Divine gap is revealed. DiosaXochi (talk) 19:44, 20 April 2014 (UTC)


Chapter 2[edit | edit source]

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


Initial musings - Nothing is purely good, nothing is purely dark. Detachment and non-judgement.



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