This Paperback Book item from Vintage was reviewed on 3-Nov-2008.
Search ISBN:0679724346 offer from Abebooks or used books from Alibris. Tao Te Ching Reference Book. Classifications : General Eastern Philosophy Nonfiction 4-for-3 Books Store Custom Stores Specialty Stores Books Taoism Eastern Philosophy Nonfiction 4-for-3 Books Store Custom Stores Specialty Stores Books General Phi . Click the following link to view the cover of Tao Te Ching. Related topics: General. Eastern. Philosophy. Nonfiction. 4-for-3 Books Store. Custom Stores. Specialty Stores. Books. Taoism. Eastern. requestid: 51754d39-0f03-4582-aa0f-0c1524cd739a
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1) Paperback Book Tao Te Ching by Vintage. I was brought to this kindle version of the Tao Te Ching from the text only version of the Jane English translation. This version is *not* that translation. It´s likely a translation that can be found for free on the net. Whispernet was down when I tried to send a sample so I opted to go ahead and purchase it because it was linked as if it were the kindlized version of the translation that I know I like (I used to own it but wore the paperback out). So, I´m out the money and I can´t figure out how to ask amazon to take back this misrepresented product. Buyer beware!¤ 2) Paperback Book Tao Te Ching by Vintage. I´ve seen translations that say God instead of Tao, ones that are extremely wordy and overly spiritual, ones that make it seem very political and not spiritual at all. But this translation seems to have a balance between the five fingers of the Tao, is very direct without losing the paradoxical nature of the teachings. Highly recommended.¤ 3) Paperback Book Tao Te Ching by Vintage. Sample the taoic tradition and a nice price so your wallet
doesn´t go thru samsara.¤ 4) Paperback Book Tao Te Ching by Vintage. a good beginning, though not in itself the answer. this book points one toward the way. the way is within oneself. this book if practiced will show you your ego... perhaps for the first time (as in my case), very effectively and therefore it is extremely valuable. the psychology of the Tao Teh Ching is profound, but still i say only a pointer. this book and way is best followed when one begins to see that many of the answers lie deep within oneself.
i personally am not convinced by the interpretations behing the i ching. for example heaven is female, not male and earth is male. however, regardless of this, if one seeks ones own inner alchemy one will progress along the way. the way is largely within you, though there are outer pointers along it. the words of others, meditation, life in general.
i have said this before and i will stick to it. the female (broken line) is rightfully above the male (solid line). a solid base is required. in taoism there is often a weaker base with a solid summit. this is frankly wrong. the female should be above.
the aphorisms in the way are a great start. i see many cross overs between taoism and chan buddhism. regard for emptiness for example, but once emptiness has been attained a seed of new self should be sown in it. (a tiny white pearl).
"the taoist inner alchemy is simple" (cant believe i said that?!), refine the heart matter into fine gold. sow love in your hearts, this fire will purify your inner gold. the mind tends the heart. "but perhaps this is too simple..." (it certainly is!) pain and difficulty may play a major part in the firing process- so, it certainly will not be easy!
the time comes when one sees the tiny white pearl glowing within oneself, but after this comes the shadow of the tiny black pearl... where great purity is found great evil will come... both to protect the good and to undermine it (which it cannot thoroughly do). he who is the tiny white pearl possesses the tiny black pearl. the tiny white pearl is the cosmic collecting of purity and goodness, its shadow the tiny black pearl is a concentration of evil, contained in its effect by the tiny white pearl. only supreme good can to some degee contain/limit supreme evil.
in short... no human can be perfect, since his perfection will draw imperfection, of this i am certain. if one perceives oneself to be perfect because one has attained the tiny white pearl - is to not have seen the tiny black pearl which the white pearl draws along. no man can be perfect, in a sense he is in a sense he isnt. an is with an isnt is not pure.
the tiny white pearl shines in the darkness, the tiny black pearl is darker than the darkness. these are not ying and yang, these are good and evil.
conclusion (in prayer):-
"dear Father in heaven i pray that you protect the world and all from the tiny black pearl, and make up for the insufficencies and evils that exist, by your grace and love, thank you lord that your grace is sufficient for me, please bless all who read these words. may they fall in love upon your grace. make all of us perfect in your good time. amen."
love, from snow-flake. xxx
ps. one can relinquish the black pearl but should realize that what is black for one may be white for another. also it should be understood that one must have great faith in their own mind and heart, great faith in the potential within themselves to progress along the spiritual path, but sometimes we all need a little help. the sages and heavenlies will be able to help us there, and they can meet us in suprising ways and places. have faith in yourself, have faith in God. God bless you.
a little prayer (another!):
master of all and nothing, may you grant us the understanding, knowledge, wisdom and love that we will need to progress along the way. give us great faith, and please protect us above ´all´ else from arrogance. Amen. ***
¤ 5) Paperback Book Tao Te Ching by Vintage. Of the many translations of the Tao Te Ching I´ve read, this is the one I consider to be the finest. It´s not scholarly (for that Ellen M. Chen´s version is worth looking at), it´s not artificially modern (as are the versions by Ursula Le Guin or Stephen Mitchell), it´s just a simple clean presentation of the text with a short, but useful, introduction and end notes to flesh out each verse. The introduction and end notes have a decidedly Judeo-Christian slant, which might turn off some readers who want their Tao Te Ching with a purely Eastern flavour, but the translation itself is clear and apparently faithful to the original text.
The book also includes a very handy bibliography that describes the strengths of other available versions.
The other version that I´d strongly recommend is Witter Bynner´s "The Way of Life According To Lao Tzu," which is more of an interpretation rather than a straight translation.¤ 6) Paperback Book Tao Te Ching by Vintage. Available for the first time in a handy, easy-to-use size, here is the most accessible and authoritative modern English translation of the ancient Chinese classic. This new Vintage edition includes an introduction and notes by the well-known writer and scholar of philosophy and comparative religion, Jacob Needleman.¤ Page Updated: Robert N. Goolsby, 1-Dec-2008, 06797243469780679724346, 0X0-830-050-880-520-460-920-8 
Tao Te Ching, Book, Image © Vintage
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