The Tao Te Ching, roughly translatable as The Book of the Way and its Virtue. According to tradition, it was written around 6th century BC by the Taoist sage Lao Tzu, "Old Master", a record-keeper at the Zhou Dynasty court. The text's authorship and date of composition or compilation are still debated.
Why am I talking about Tao Te Ching?
Because it is profound. All the self-help quick fixes you look for can be answered by Tao, but in a rather spiritual way.
It is the smallest philosophy I have came across. It has 81 versus and each verse has a heading like Ambition, Calm, Fate etc. Anytime you are confused just look over and let go of that emotion which is bothering you.
You can find the Tao Te Ching at TaoTeChing.org
Some versus which I like:
Why am I talking about Tao Te Ching?
Because it is profound. All the self-help quick fixes you look for can be answered by Tao, but in a rather spiritual way.
It is the smallest philosophy I have came across. It has 81 versus and each verse has a heading like Ambition, Calm, Fate etc. Anytime you are confused just look over and let go of that emotion which is bothering you.
You can find the Tao Te Ching at TaoTeChing.org
Some versus which I like:
Ambition
Those who wish to change the world
According with their desire
cannot succeed.
The world is shaped by the Way;
It cannot be shaped by the self.
Trying to change it, you damage it;
Trying to possess it, you lose it.
So some will lead, while others follow.
Some will be warm, others cold
Some will be strong, others weak.
Some will get where they are going
While others fall by the side of the road.
So the sage will be neither extravagant nor violent.
Those who wish to change the world
According with their desire
cannot succeed.
The world is shaped by the Way;
It cannot be shaped by the self.
Trying to change it, you damage it;
Trying to possess it, you lose it.
So some will lead, while others follow.
Some will be warm, others cold
Some will be strong, others weak.
Some will get where they are going
While others fall by the side of the road.
So the sage will be neither extravagant nor violent.
Harmony
Embracing the Way, you become embraced;
Breathing gently, you become newborn;
Clearing your mind, you become clear;
Nurturing your children, you become impartial;
Opening your heart, you become accepted;
Accepting the world, you embrace the Way.
Bearing and nurturing,
Creating but not owning,
Giving without demanding,
This is harmony.
Mind
The Way bears sensation,
Sensation bears memory,
Sensation and memory bear abstraction,
And abstraction bears all the world;
Each thing in the world bears feeling and doing,
And, imbued with mind, harmony with the Way.
As others have taught, so do I teach,
"Who loses harmony opposes nature";
This is the root of my teaching.
Care at the Beginning
What lies still is easy to grasp;
What lies far off is easy to anticipate;
What is brittle is easy to shatter;
What is small is easy to disperse.
Yet a tree broader than a man can
embrace is born of a tiny shoot;
A dam greater than a river can
overflow starts with a clod of earth;
A journey of a thousand miles begins at the spot under one's feet.
Therefore deal with things before they happen;
Create order before there is confusion.
Embracing the Way, you become embraced;
Breathing gently, you become newborn;
Clearing your mind, you become clear;
Nurturing your children, you become impartial;
Opening your heart, you become accepted;
Accepting the world, you embrace the Way.
Bearing and nurturing,
Creating but not owning,
Giving without demanding,
This is harmony.
Mind
The Way bears sensation,
Sensation bears memory,
Sensation and memory bear abstraction,
And abstraction bears all the world;
Each thing in the world bears feeling and doing,
And, imbued with mind, harmony with the Way.
As others have taught, so do I teach,
"Who loses harmony opposes nature";
This is the root of my teaching.
Care at the Beginning
What lies still is easy to grasp;
What lies far off is easy to anticipate;
What is brittle is easy to shatter;
What is small is easy to disperse.
Yet a tree broader than a man can
embrace is born of a tiny shoot;
A dam greater than a river can
overflow starts with a clod of earth;
A journey of a thousand miles begins at the spot under one's feet.
Therefore deal with things before they happen;
Create order before there is confusion.
Bookmark TaoTeChing.org and in your free time browse through and read and share with me your experience. To a more balanced you !
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