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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Emme on June 21, 2004, at 21:11:31
Is anyone interested in maybe picking out a few passages in the Tao Te Ching and sharing thoughts on them?
Posted by Jai Narayan on June 23, 2004, at 7:47:27
In reply to Wanna read the Tao Te Ching?, posted by Emme on June 21, 2004, at 21:11:31
Posted by Emme on June 23, 2004, at 20:03:42
In reply to I'd love to see them....I don't have the book (nm), posted by Jai Narayan on June 23, 2004, at 7:47:27
I have a nice translation by Stephen Mitchell. It cost me about $12.00.
Or I could be autocratic and post a passage or two. :)
Posted by Jai Narayan on June 23, 2004, at 22:35:41
In reply to Re: I'd love to see them....I don't have the book » Jai Narayan, posted by Emme on June 23, 2004, at 20:03:42
Posted by Emme on June 24, 2004, at 20:02:08
In reply to Emmy...please share... (nm), posted by Jai Narayan on June 23, 2004, at 22:35:41
You may already know a lot. I'm just learning. Tao Te Ching means roughly "Book of the Way". From poking at it a bit, it seems to be the ultimate book on letting go. I was surprised to see that a chunk of it deals with government and how leaders should act.
In the Tao Te Ching, the concepts are often expressed in terms of how the Master thinks/acts. The Master is the man or woman whose life is in complete harmony with the way things are. The notes at the beginning say that the Chinese language doesn't make the gender distinctions we do. So, unlike other translations, Stephen Mitchell alternates using "she" and "he" in passages referring to the master. I like gender equality. :)
Okay, here's a couple of short semi-random selections:
"Fill your bowl to the brim
and it will spill.
Keep sharpening your knife
and it will blunt.
Chase after money and security
and your heart will never unclench.
Care about people's approval
and you will be their prisoner.Do you work, then step back.
The only path to serenity."
**************************************
"The Tao doesn't take sides;
it gives birth to both good and evil.
The Master doesn't take sides;
she welcomes both saints and sinners.The Tao is like a bellows;
it is empty yet infinitely capable.
The more you use it, the more it produces;
the more you talk of it, the less you understand.Hold on to the center.
Posted by Jai Narayan on June 26, 2004, at 14:52:01
In reply to Re: Emmy...please share..., posted by Emme on June 24, 2004, at 20:02:08
**************************************
> "The Tao doesn't take sides;
> it gives birth to both good and evil.
> The Master doesn't take sides;
> she welcomes both saints and sinners.
***
This makes sense to me....we are all welcomed.
Thank you Emmy
Jai Narayan
Posted by Emme on June 27, 2004, at 22:23:04
In reply to This makes sense to me, posted by Jai Narayan on June 26, 2004, at 14:52:01
> > "The Tao doesn't take sides;
> > it gives birth to both good and evil.
> > The Master doesn't take sides;
> > she welcomes both saints and sinners.
> ***
> This makes sense to me....we are all welcomed.
> Thank you Emmy
> Jai NarayanYes, I like the idea of acceptance of people with our combinations of strengths and faults.
I've been thinking about what is meant by good and evil in the quote. It sounds like the existence of evil is acknowledged philosophically and it says the Tao produces both. So...I wonder what the Taoist tradition considers evil. Is it some sort of purposeful badness like western culture thinks of it, or is it more like unfortunate things that happen that have bad consequences (like the illnesses we all deal with)? I don't know enough yet about it to understand what's meant.
*********************************
Okay, try this one on for size. I think it sounds joyful:"Every being in the universe
is an expression of the Tao.
It springs into existence,
unconscious, perfect, free,
takes on a physical body,
lets circumstances complete it.
That is why every being
spontaneously honors the Tao."
Posted by Jai Narayan on June 28, 2004, at 18:02:41
In reply to Re: This makes sense to me » Jai Narayan, posted by Emme on June 27, 2004, at 22:23:04
Posted by tabitha on June 29, 2004, at 1:33:54
In reply to Re: This makes sense to me » Jai Narayan, posted by Emme on June 27, 2004, at 22:23:04
>
> "Every being in the universe
> is an expression of the Tao.
> It springs into existence,
> unconscious, perfect, free,
> takes on a physical body,
> lets circumstances complete it.
> That is why every being
> spontaneously honors the Tao."
>
>
That's so accepting. It says we're all sacred beings without doing anything at all.Also sounds like something I'd write in my journal when I'm in a really good mood, then look back later and think 'who was that person who wrote that?'
A question.. by 'beings', does it mean animals too? How about plants? Anything living?
Posted by Emme on June 30, 2004, at 20:44:57
In reply to Re: This makes sense to me » Emme, posted by tabitha on June 29, 2004, at 1:33:54
> >
> > "Every being in the universe
> > is an expression of the Tao.
> > It springs into existence,
> > unconscious, perfect, free,
> > takes on a physical body,
> > lets circumstances complete it.
> > That is why every being
> > spontaneously honors the Tao."
> >
> >
> That's so accepting. It says we're all sacred beings without doing anything at all.
>
> Also sounds like something I'd write in my journal when I'm in a really good mood, then look back later and think 'who was that person who wrote that?'
>
> A question.. by 'beings', does it mean animals too? How about plants? Anything living?Good question. I'm too much of a beginner to know the answer. I think I was automatically thinking of humans, but it would make sense if it included other animals and plants, too. Anyone on the board here know?
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