Tao Te Ching - Teachings from Silence discussion

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?

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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)?

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.

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!

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.

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.

"Sit down and shut up."

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Thank you, I appreciate that.

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

Tao - 'The Way'

Theme - The Way To Live Your Life.

Not every theme is what it themes to be.

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!

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.

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.

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