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sidharthvardhan's review against another edition
5.0
Contended to have lived 600 years before Christ and of being a contemporary of Confucius (that’s a century before Socrates) and supposed to be, according to some Chinese traditions, teacher of Gautama Budha or, according to some other traditions, Budha himself; Laozi is one of the three most read poets of the world (other two are Shakespeare and Kahlil Gibran). He is considered as founder of philosophical Taoism. Taoism is one of five official religions in China (other four- Budhism, Islam, Protestant Church, Catholic church – the last two are enforced by government to stay different).
Taoism is a philosophical, ethical or religious tradition which emphasizes living in harmony with Tao (literally - way, path or principle). Although the philosophical thought has nothing theist about it - it is more pantheistic; many deities are often worshipped – including Laozi himself, this despite his teaching that saints should stay modest:
What is adorable is its emphasis on soft virtues like modesty,simplicity and naturalness (something missing in so many religions):
My first impression while reading these poems was that of disappointment at the repeated emphasis on mysteriousness of Tao (it looked like 'Lord work in mysterious ways' kind of thing):
I mean how can a thing be unnamable? You can easily name anything and didn’t you just call it ‘Tao’? Now that is not bad name!
It took me some time to understand that Laozi is like those Bhakti and Sufi poets who do not want to hear anything argumentive which has to do with what they love and preach others to love - even if it is a good argument. And so knowledge and learning is disclaimed:
Also as Laozi himself says:
.. there are a lot of paradoxes, but amost of those paradoxes are simply beyond my understanding. Take for example:
Okay, I totally made up that last one but I think you get the general idea. Yet, there are other paradoxes that I understood and loved:
And there are some simply beautiful sayings:
There are some wise observations about statesmanship and leadership– even present day governments can learn from them:
I’m definately going to read more about Taoist philosophy.
*li = Chinese mile.
Taoism is a philosophical, ethical or religious tradition which emphasizes living in harmony with Tao (literally - way, path or principle). Although the philosophical thought has nothing theist about it - it is more pantheistic; many deities are often worshipped – including Laozi himself, this despite his teaching that saints should stay modest:
“When the work is done, and one’s name is becoming distinguished,
To withdraw into obscurity is the way of heaven
What is adorable is its emphasis on soft virtues like modesty,simplicity and naturalness (something missing in so many religions):
"The violent and strong do not die their natural death.
I will make this the basis of my teaching.
My first impression while reading these poems was that of disappointment at the repeated emphasis on mysteriousness of Tao (it looked like 'Lord work in mysterious ways' kind of thing):
"The Tao, considered as unchanging, has no name."
I mean how can a thing be unnamable? You can easily name anything and didn’t you just call it ‘Tao’? Now that is not bad name!
It took me some time to understand that Laozi is like those Bhakti and Sufi poets who do not want to hear anything argumentive which has to do with what they love and preach others to love - even if it is a good argument. And so knowledge and learning is disclaimed:
"It is better to leave a vessel unfilled,
than to attempt to
carry it when it is full."
"Those who know(the Tao) are not extensively learned; the extensively learned do not know."
Also as Laozi himself says:
“Words that are strictly true seem to be paradoxical”
.. there are a lot of paradoxes, but amost of those paradoxes are simply beyond my understanding. Take for example:
“The Tao in its regular course does nothing (for sake of
doing it); and so there is nothing which he does not do”
“He who dies and yet does not perish, has longevity”
“The very essence of Tao lies in its refusal to be defined,
Thus, he who doesn’t understand it, understands it best.”
Okay, I totally made up that last one but I think you get the general idea. Yet, there are other paradoxes that I understood and loved:
“Who loves the large stores
Gives up the richer state”
“The truth is not always beautiful, nor beautiful words the truth."
And there are some simply beautiful sayings:
"The tree which fills the arms grew from tiniest sprout;
The tower of nine storeys rose from a (small) heap of earth;
The journey of a thousand li* commenced with a single step."
"It is simply by being pained at (the thought of) having this disease that we are preserved from it."
"The flame that burns Twice as bright burns half as long.”
“A man with outward courage dares to die; a man with inner courage dares to live."
"If you keep feeling a point that has been sharpened,
the point can not long preserve its sharpness."
There are some wise observations about statesmanship and leadership– even present day governments can learn from them:
"“A leader is best
When people barely know he exists
Of a good leader, who talks little,
When his work is done, his aim fulfilled,
They will say, “We did this ourselves.”
I’m definately going to read more about Taoist philosophy.
"The highest excellence is like (that of) water.
The excellence of water water appears in its benefitting all things, and in its occupying, without striving (to the contrary) the low place which all men dislike.
Hence (its way) is near to (that of) the Tao."
*li = Chinese mile.
camstipated's review against another edition
fast-paced
3.5
I think I got a bad translation, but the notes were often useless (i.e. 'This is metaphorical' - yes, I would assume so) and then other passages were hopelessly dense. There's quite a bit of repetition in these ideas
maryallain's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
5.0
mobskull's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
5.0