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Tao Te Ching
THE TAOISM OF LAO TZU
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Tao Te Ching
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The Book
The Taoism of Lao Tzu Explained. The great Taoist philosophy classic by Lao Tzu translated, and each of the 81 chapters extensively commented. Click the image to see the book at Amazon (paid link). |
Tao Te ChingThe Concern of the Sage
Tao Te Ching has great similarities with at least two other ideals – that of Zen and that of Christianity as expressed by Jesus in the Gospels. This chapter is a clear example of the latter.
There is reason for caution when finding similarities with what is part of one's own culture and tradition. We in the Western world have a tendency to compare everything we meet, no matter how exotic, with the concepts familiar to our own culture.
This is particularly true when we examine other religions and their gods. Actually, some of these traditions can only be called religions with quite a stretch of the imagination as well as the definition. The same is true for what we call gods.
But the similarities between the words of Jesus and those of Lao Tzu are so evident that I dare to point them out.
In this chapter, when Lao Tzu says that we should be good even to those who aren't, and that the sage cares for other people as if they were his own children, then it's almost as if he spoke the words of Jesus. Well, considering his seniority in time, it would be more correct to say that Jesus spoke as if quoting Lao Tzu. There are several chapters of the Tao Te Ching giving the same impression.
The self-sacrificing attitude Lao Tzu demonstrates in this chapter, is so familiar to our Christian tradition that there is no need for me to expand on it. We should set our own needs aside for the benefit of our fellow men. It's easier said than done. But if we all do it, Paradise on Earth is around the corner.
We should volunteer to show goodness and faith, without demanding the same in return. If such qualities are not unconditional, we remain in the paranoid world of everyone waiting for everyone else to lay down arms before we do so ourselves.
Lao Tzu describes this unselfishness as virtue, te, the second word in the title of his book. Virtue is the course of action, or non-action, necessary to live in accordance with the Way. It's not a method to reach success or praise, but it will lead to those things as well. Primarily, though, it's what should be done in order to accept what is natural.
It's what we do when we don't struggle to counter the natural course of things. That's why we mostly need to refrain from action, and accept what occurs.
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Tao Te Ching Explained
Preface
Introduction
Literature
translated and explained by Stefan Stenudd.
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Tao Te Ching Explained
James Legge's Tao Te Ching
Aleister Crowley's Tao Te Ching
The 1st Chapter of Tao Te Ching in 76 Versions
Lao Tzu — Legendary Author of Tao Te Ching
My Taoism BooksClick the image to see the book at Amazon (paid link).
The Taoism of Lao Tzu Explained. The great Taoist philosophy classic by Lao Tzu translated, and each of the 81 chapters extensively commented. |
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I'm a Swedish author and aikido instructor. In addition to fiction, I've written books about Taoism and other East Asian traditions. I'm also an historian of ideas, researching ancient thought and mythology. Click the image to get to my personal website.Contact