slices March 30th, 2007

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1. THE EMBODIMENT OF TAO

Even the finest teaching is not the Tao itself.
Even the finest name is insufficient to define it.
Without words, the Tao can be experienced,
and without a name, it can be known.

To conduct one’s life according to the Tao,
is to conduct one’s life without regrets;
to realize that potential within oneself
which is of benefit to all.

Though words or names are not required
to live one’s life this way,
to describe it, words and names are used,
that we might better clarify
the way of which we speak,
without confusing it with other ways
in which an individual might choose to live.

Through knowledge, intellectual thought and words,
the manifestations of the Tao are known,
but without such intellectual intent
we might experience the Tao itself.

Both knowledge and experience are real,
but reality has many forms,
which seem to cause complexity.

By using the means appropriate,
we extend ourselves beyond
the barriers of such complexity,
and so experience the Tao.
 

Roughly translated as “The book of the virtuous Way”, the Tao Te Ching is an ancient book of chinese riddles, all of which address the Tao. The Tao is the nameless; it’s like a mystery which can only be experienced, not spoken about. The only reason why we name it “Tao” is because we want to remember it, but we must also remember that by naming it, it no longer is.

Sounds interesting? Well, that’s not all. Since the Tao Te Ching (authored by Lao Tzu) is a chinese text, there are several English translations available, some of which are quite different from the other. If you want to check out one of my favorite translations and learn more about this mysterious concept, check out the following link to read  Stan Rosenhal’s Tao Te Ching  online.

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