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Theme of the Tao Te Ching

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message 1: by Herbert B (new)

Herbert B Fox Does the Tao Te Ching have a theme or is it just a collection of aphorisms?
If you feel that it has a theme, how would you sum it up in two or three sentences?


Rebecca I think it would be hard to sum up a theme of the Tao because different people will interpret it in different ways and take away different insights. Personally, I think it comes down to following "the way" of nature in every aspect of life and leading yourself to a more balanced existence.


Nancy Bevilaqua I think that by approaching it from an academic standpoint--trying to "sum it up" and find a "theme" in it--one runs the risk of missing its essence, which (I think) is really quite simple, but intuitive rather than intellectual. And yet it's certainly more than a simple "collection of aphorisms."

I think of water, which has the potential to exert a tremendous amount of natural force and power itself, yet which really can't be harmed by anything because it it simply gives way to anything that exerts force upon it. It's not passive, but its real power lies in its ability to yield rather than in a will to control. But I agree with Rebecca--there are many ways to think of it.


message 4: by Amber (last edited Jul 06, 2013 12:19AM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Amber I'll try.

It's is difficult to define exactly what the Tao is as it is undefinable. It is undefinable because it is a reality which our minds cannot logically organize it into a distinct category. We can only 'feel' it through experience. The Tao teach us how to live with The Way. The Way is the workings of the universe. The Tao provides lessons on how to balance the natural yin and yang of the universe and how to work with it; the be in harmony with nature and the universe.

Please message me if you have more questions. I'd be happy to help.


message 5: by Joseph (new) - added it

Joseph As Yoda might say, "Be; not try."


Rajiv I have just read it, and found it very deep yet easy to understand. But it needs to be re-read many times to store in subconscious and practice it. Practicing the non-doing is hard, but once understood will change life, where desires and mysteries of life will transform into understanding. I loved the book.


message 7: by Herbert B (new)

Herbert B Fox Inspiring wrote: "I have just read it, and found it very deep yet easy to understand. But it needs to be re-read many times to store in subconscious and practice it. Practicing the non-doing is hard, but once unders..."

Which translation did you read (i.e., who is the translator)?


Nancy Bevilaqua I just finished reading Alan Watts' Tao: The Watercourse Way, and I've been listening to some of his brilliant talks on YouTube. His explanations and imagery regarding the Tao and concepts like wu wei are very, well, enlightening. I highly recommend them to anyone who's interested.


Talile Ali The Tao is quite possibly one of the most sublime text of absolute awareness of reality that exist on this planet! The advice given , is really that which one should always be aware of when approaching life on all of it's many diverse levels!


message 10: by Kyko (new) - rated it 5 stars

Kyko Kajangu I trust that the concept Tao refers to what Asian wisdom traditions call “the road to enlightenment” and African wisdom traditions call the “road toward perfection.”
The road to enlightenment or the road toward perfection helps humans to achieve the state of “self-realization.” Sages of most wisdom traditions believe that “self-realization” empowers humans to make existence more beautiful on earth by taking on life’s challenges, cracking the codes of creativity, and creating moral understandings and spiritual commitments that bring the best out of others.


message 11: by [deleted user] (new)

Two messages that seem to come up often while reading, for better or worse.

"Don't strive so much."

"Be passive aggressive."

I'm being facetious...sort of.


Edwin Stratton-Mackay "Sit down and shut up."


Edwin Stratton-Mackay Tao master Li Ching-Yuen lived to be 256 years old (this is definitely true, because he said he was.) He enumerated how to live the way of the Tao:

* Tranquil mind
* Sit like a tortoise
* Walk sprightly like a pigeon
* Sleep like a dog

So I do all four of these things every day.


Stephen McLoughlin I have to agree with Amber; to define it is to destroy it. I once mentioned the Tao in a graduate school class and my professor turned the class over to me and left, asking me to explain it to the class. He brilliantly taught me a lesson on the ineffable.


message 15: by Israfel (last edited Oct 30, 2017 04:56PM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Israfel Sivad From my understanding, the Tao Te Ching was never designed as a coherent book. I believe it is a collection of two collections of sayings, The Tao (or The Book of the Way) and The Te (or the Book of Virtue). It is attributed to a possibly fictional Lao (Old) Tzu (Master). That said, I believe the corresponding theme of the Tao Te Ching to be one of acting in concert with the flow of the world. To use a metaphor, the way to be in this world is like defending oneself with Aikido, we must use the motion and weight of the world itself to help us pull things in the direction they are already falling. That's my briefest conception of the book, for what it's worth.


message 16: by [deleted user] (new)

Israfel wrote: "From my understanding, the Tao Te Ching was never designed as a coherent book. I believe it is a collection of two collections of sayings, The Tao (or The Book of the Way) and The Te (or the Book o..."

Do you have a source to verify that it comes from two separate books? Do these books still exist?

Thanks,

-Boradicus


Israfel Sivad I'm sorry. I actually don't have a text that verifies it was two separate books. I remember that from a lecture in college. An excellent source for background information on the book (or books) is the introduction to Roger Ames and David Hall's "Dao De Jing: A Philosophical Translation." I hope that's helpful.


message 18: by [deleted user] (new)

Thank you, I appreciate that.


message 19: by A.D. (new) - rated it 5 stars

A.D. Crystal A theme? I think the Name is the very Theme.

Tao - 'The Way'

Theme - The Way To Live Your Life.


message 20: by [deleted user] (new)

Not every theme is what it themes to be.


message 21: by A.D. (new) - rated it 5 stars

A.D. Crystal Boradicus wrote: "Not every theme is what it themes to be."

Sure, you are absolutely right. I meant, in the case of this book, part of the name -'Tao' - is also the theme.

Happy reading!


message 22: by [deleted user] (new)

The Way of Virtue/s, I believe is one possible way in which to translate its title.

Would anyone happen to have any experience with the Wang Bi commentaries or have a recommendation of a translation that incorporates them and/or analyzes them?

Thanks.


message 23: by John (new) - rated it 5 stars

John The spokes on the wheel are just as important as and cannot exist without the space between the spokes. When I first read that it just about blew my head off; so simple yet it seemed to instantaneously answer all of my questions in an intuitive rather than an intellectual way. Balance and harmony simply are. It is we who interject chaos.


message 24: by [deleted user] (new)

I think that Eastern philosophy helps us better acclimate to figure and ground conceptualization, especially through the accessible yin/yang depiction of interchange.


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