The Essential Tao

The book consists of an introduction, a translation of the Tao Te Ching, a long section on the writings of Chuang-tzu, notes and an article on the historical background of the Tao Te Ching.

Verse 1

A way can be a guide, but not a fixed path
names can be given, but not permanent labels.
Numbering is called the beginning of heaven and earth;
being is called the mother of all things.
Always passionless, thereby observe the subtle;
ever intent, thereby observe the apparent.
These two come from the same source but differ in name;
both are considered mysteries.
The mystery of mysteries
in the gateway of marvels.

(This one is rather different from the other translations of the first verse that I have read and the first two sentences are very clear in meaning. The rest of it is also different from other translations, but it isn't as good as the average translation.)

Verse 74

If people usually don't fear death
how can death be used to scare them?
If people are made to fear death,
and you can catch and kill them
when they act oddly,
who would dare?

There are always executioners
And to kill in place of an executioner
is take the place
of a master carver.
Those who take the place
of a master carver
rarely avoid cutting their hands.

(The second verse talks about a carver yet almost all other translations I have read refer to a carpenter. This is a verse that I have never really liked in any translation since it seems sort of something a vicious ruler would say. In this version the first verse seems to endorse the killing of people to scare everyone else and keep them under control.)

Also, I feel that the section on Chuang-tzu is admittedly listed on the cover. I just felt that the section was somewhat boring.


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