Tao - Chapter 3

[GeneHrsy]

Not exalting the gifted prevents quarreling.
Not collecting treasures prevents stealing.
Not seeing desirable things prevents confusion of the heart.

The wise therefore rule by emptying hearts and stuffing bellies, by weakening ambitions and strengthening bones.
If men lack knowledge and desire, then clever people will not try to interfere.
If nothing is done, then all will be well.
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Time is the measurement of humanity's Awakening to the True nature of Now.
Ever wonder what would happen if the whole world farted, then smiled at the same time??

[one under god]

i havnt gone back and re read the first posts
but got from them not a real lot of what the Tao is

like what does the name mean
the time it was written
who wrote it
who used it
how was it used
was it a sect thing
or a teqnique?

ie its roots and best use?
are each line a meditation point
there are many concepts in each line
are they meant to be a progressive mantra

in short i should normally do some back ground study on the matter

i have long used ichin

[GeneHrsy]

One Under God,

Your enthusiasm is awesome!

The Tao is often described as the wind of change (another description of the force of God - in another cultural framework). It is an ancient Chinese philosophy written by Lao Tzu. Here is a cut and paste from the taopage.org: History - Structure - Philosophy

According to tradition, the work originates in the 4th century BC, but recent discoveries showed that it is no early than the 4th or 3rd century. The oldest existing copy is from 206 or 195 BC.

Lao-tzu would have composed this work by the request of Yin Hsi, the guardian of the mountain pass, while he began his wandering towards West.

The book consists of 81 short chapters among which 37 form the first part, the Classic of the Way (Tao), and the next 44 form the Classic of Te ("te" is a word translated by James Legge in relation with "Tao" as "characteristics", the entire title of the book would be The Classic about Tao and its Characteristics).

Its division in chapters is considered to be the result of the remarks of mysterious Ho-shang kung (Han dynasty).

The philosophy of this classic focused on concepts like: tao and te, wu-wei (usually translated as nondoing) and fu (the return of all things to their origins). The goal of the Taoist philosophy is, according to the scholars, to become one with tao, inwardly achieving the universal rule of the return to origins. But for this purpose the disciple has to achieve the emptiness (wu) and to practice the nondoing.

However, we must not ignore the fact that Tao-te ching is a composite work (although its unity is asserted or wished) which, the same way as I-ching, underwent influences and taints in the most various ways.

The second part of the book seems to be compiled by the Confucianists because it dwells unlawfully much on the art of governing, and the Taoists didn't show interested in this aspect. It is also true that the art of governing is related to the Tao (or from the imitation of Tao) and its characteristics (Te).

Today, Tao-te ching is being considered the main source of Taoism ideas and concepts. However, it remains further an obscure and very difficult to interpret ancient book.

The review authors always offer us selected aphorisms from the first part of the book, interpreted from Christian ethics or dogmatic esoteric philosophies point of view, whichever flourish nowadays.

I always read Chinese philosophy with the light hearted intent it is written with. As with anything, take what makes sense to you, the rest is to ponder or ignore as you will.
We usually try to interpret the direction of the writing in the translation. Translation generally means that we try to convey the meaning of what is being said the best way possible in the translated language. But reading them backwards is kinda fun.
Namaste
Gene
_________________
It Just Keeps Getting Better
Time is the measurement of humanity's Awakening to the True nature of Now.
Ever wonder what would happen if the whole world farted, then smiled at the same time??