I also recorded the following other stuff for people to listen to if they want:
Chi Wen Dong - The Red Streaked Cave
The Pivot Of Jade
The Hsin Yin Ching - Imprint Of The Heart
Ching Jing Jing - Purity And Rest
Tai Hsi Ching - Respiration Of The Embryo
Universal Understanding
Sometime tonight I’ll probably finish recording the entire Zhuang Zi, so if anyone doesn’t think my voice is to over the top ridiculous or something, and wants that let me know.
I’m just recording these for myself, but since they’re already recorded, I figured some people might like to listen to them on their mp3 player or computer also.
I dont know if this is the proper forum to put this question in but which book of the Tao Te Ching is the closest to the original version only printed in english? Thanks!
personally, I’ve always liked the one done by…Gui Fu Feng??? and Jane English. The large trade version with the nice black and white pics and illustrations.
There is a very good book available entitled: “TAO TE CHING, The Definitive Edition”, by Jonathan Star. The author is very careful to make clear that the title is not meant to imply this book is the definition by which all other versions should be measured. It is closer to a text book about the Tao Te Ching! The book contains a concordance of each Chinese character line by line and verse by verse with the various meanings of each character included.
He also explains why translations vary. It has to do with the way the Chinese language, both grammar and how it is written, is structured.
I always recommend to others to read a number of translations to get a variety of interpretations of the text. If one really wanted to read and understand the text it would be wise to learn Chinese grammar and calligraphy. But this is not necessary in order to understand the principles of Tao, only to understand the Tao Te Ching as it is is written in the original Chinese.
Keep in mind that the Tao Te Ching is a descriptive book, NOT a definitive book. Tao exists, its process and principles are directly observable and then these are described by the observer. The Tao Te Ching was written in order to assist others in understanding principles that already exist, Lao Tzu did not create the principles of Tao, he described them.
The Tao Te Ching does not define Tao, it describes how the the principles occur as processes. Think of it this way, a person who describes the qualities of water did not create the properties of water. He merely observed the qualities of water and then described them to others. The value of the description is determined by how closely the description informs the reader in order for the reader to recognize and understand the principles of water when he experiences water for himself first hand.
The Tao Te Ching is one man’s experience and description of his experience with the principles of Tao. While it is accepted as the central text, it is still one man’s perspective only. The Tao that is defined is not the True Tao! Tao is to be directly experienced.
So consider the Tao Te Ching as a finger pointing the way for each individual to directly experience the qualities Tao for themselves. The Tao Te Ching is not required in order for one to understand the qualities of Tao, but it is a helpful assistant to anyone interested.
Once you have experienced Tao for yourself you no longer require someone else’s description.
The Jane English/Gia version is very ‘user-friendly’, and seems to be a reasonable translation..
Red Pine’s translation has excellent commentary by noted historians..
And there’s a translation called “The Gate of All Marvelous Things”, i can’t remember the author, and the book’s at the school.. but, it has the most original, by consensus, Chinese characters for the text.. a direct translation, character by character.. you can see the complexity of getting a good english meaning.. and a standard English interpretation.. those three work well as cross-references, for a grasp of the experience intended to be communicated..
For scholarly work, I recommend Starr’s version: for a personal copy of the Tao Te Ching, I recommend the Jane English / Gia Fu Feng translation.
The Jonathan Starr text is nice because it has all of the Chinese characters with all of the different meanings. He also compares various versions of the Tao Te Ching.
I find that his final translation, however, has less flow than the J.E. / G.F.F. edition - which, by the way, is available in both a large format paperback with nice illustrations and a small pocketbook format without illustrations.
Laurie Anderson discussing zen and the art of living with esteemed translator, Stephen Mitchell
5pm London, 12 noon EST, 9am Pacific.
Attendees will be sent a link to join the event on the day.
Translated most simply as the Book of the Way, the Tao Te Ching is thought to be the work of Laozi, written in China in the 4th century BCE. It is a sequence of 81 ‘poems’ that amount to a set of principles for life. At its simplest, the verses can assist each of us in being present in life. In giving up all concepts, judgements and desires, we grow naturally compassionate and can discover, deep in our own experiences, the central truths of the art of living.
“All he left us is his book: the classic manual on the art of living, written with gemlike lucidity, radiant with humor and grace and largeheartedness and deep wisdom, it is one of the wonders of the world.”
Stephen Mitchell’s translation is admired by anyone who knows it and, not surprisingly, it took him many years and draws on his 14 years of Zen training.
Don’t miss out on the chance to be with legendary Laurie Anderson discussing spirituality, Zen and the art of living with esteemed translator Stephen Mitchell in this FREE online event.
