Tao Te Ching
This book has a foreword. The verses are shown in both their Chinese form and in their translated form. There are no notes on the verses.
Verse 7
Heaven lasts long, and Earth abides.
What is the secret of their durability?
Is it not because they do not live for themselves
That they can live so long?
Therefore, the Sage wants to remain behind,
But finds himself at the head of others.
Reckons himself out,
But finds himself safe and secure.
It is not because he is selfless
That his Self is realized?
Most translations of this verse indicate that Heaven and Earth will exist forever. 'Heaven is eternal, Earth everlasting' is the type of thing most translations say.
Verse 18
When the Great Tao was abandoned,
There appeared humanity and justice.
When intelligence and wit arose,
There appeared great hypocrites.
When the six relations lost their harmony
There appeared filial piety and paternal kindness.
When darkness and disorder began to reign in a kingdom
There appeared the loyal ministers.
There appeared to be a time long before the time of Lao Tsu when, supposedly, the Tao was followed closely by leaders. When that began to be dropped, for some unknown reason, things grew further and further from the Way. Justice implies someone deciding what is right and what is wrong. As things got worse things got more structured and more strict and changed from the feminine-oriented Tao to a male patriarchal type of society.
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