And their cocks' crowing and dogs' barking within hearing;
The people (of the small state) will not go there their whole lives.
81
He who knows does not speak;
He who speaks does not know.
He who is truthful is not showy;
He who is showy is not truthful.
He who is virtuous does not dispute.
He who disputes is not virtuous.
He who is learned is not wise.
He who is wise is not learned.
Therefore the Sage does not display his own merits.
English_Taplow_TTK
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
English by
Alan B. Taplow, 1982
Vorwort/Foreword
PREFACE
Since the days of Lao Tzu and the Ancient Sages, the Tao Te Ching must be among the most translated and interpreted of books. So, you might be perfectly rational to question the value of still another Tao Te Ching. But . . . This is how it happened . . .
At Big Sur, the California coastline rises sharply out of the ocean presenting an overpowering presence. On an unusually warm and sunny November afternoon, a small group leisurely explores the rocks at water's edge 150 feet below the Big House at Esalen. Slowly coming together, they sit talking and shortly find themselves gathered around a recently retired physician who is relating 'unusual' tales of his small town practice in the Northern reaches of California.
As part of this group, my attention becomes increasingly intense as he tells stories of diagnosis and treatment using a form of hypnosis. Helping patients relive earlier periods of their lives and taking them into past lives he would discover the causes of otherwise unexplained physical and mental problems. He then describes how he used the I Ching in treatment of patients who were indecisive about surgery or deeply upset about an unpredictable prognosis for themselves or a family member. The doctor would introduce them to the Yarrow Stalks and help them consult the I Ching for guidance. He recounts a number of uncanny successes resulting from the 'I Ching, which itself is so completely new to my experience.
The next day, at the Esalen book shelves, my eyes find themselves drawn to a copy of the I Ching , and next to it the beautiful Gia-Fu Feng Jane English translation of the Tao Te Ching. Buying them both, a new world begins to unfold - a world possessing unity, duality, synchronicity, virtue, energies - a world of Tao, Yin and Yang; of Te, Chi and Shen. Now I find my Esalen visit extending to include Catherine Elber's loving work with the 19 movements of Tai Chi Chih , and I'm pretty well hooked on a study and experience of the Tao.
The following June finds me at John Brzostoski's course in Taoism at the New School, where John suggests the Tao Te Ching as basic reading. Finding The Gia-Fu Feng/Jane English translation physically too large for my pocket, a smaller size translation is procured. Predictably, with two of anything existing, there needs exist "Comparison." In comparing the two translations, it follows that there exists differentiation - in this instance satisfaction and dissatisfaction. In reconciling the dissatisfaction, I find myself with three, four & finally eleven translations, all unsatisfactory in some respect. My way to restore unity is to read them all and then create my own interpretation - a single interpretation which is totally satisfying to me.
This then, is what you will find on the following pages - my interpretation based upon reading direct translations. Making no claim for its authenticity, scholarly content or literary style, its single merit is that at this moment it pleases me. However, not yet attaining sagely enlightenment, my ego would be delighted to discover it was also pleasing to you.
Alan Taplow
Lawrenceville, N.J.
October, 1981.
Some Words
There being a number of Chinese words included repeatedly in the text representing ideas which cannot be succinctly translated, it seemed more appropriate to just use the original word. Here, I'd like to lend some definition to these words.
All Things - All in and of creation - sometimes called the "Ten-Thousand Things". If it exists in heaven or on earth, it is a part of All Things.
Ch'i - Energy, normally circulating energy, the body's life force, that which some would have flowing at and from various chakras. Ch'i permits: artistic creativity to happen, until such time one becomes aware of it - then it ts off. When you're sick, somewhere in your body the Ch'i is restricted.
The Sage - The wise one, a wise and learned one. The Sage is you the reader, as your natural intuitive self absorbs the Tao into your life and it begins to reflect its teachings. More than likely, you will not find yourself consciously aware of this happening . . . rest assured, it is.
Te - Some call it Virtue - but Te is more than what most Westerners think of as virtue. It has mystical powers - it is all that is powerful and right in the world. Te is the manifestation of Tao in All Things.
Wu-Wei - Action through non-action. Some would call it a Laissez Faire attitude. A quietness, a unique passivity which magically acts to cause a change in events.
Yang and Yin - Yang is the creative force represented as heaven, active, top, bright, good in Western eyes, basically "uppers". Yin is the receptive force represented as Earth, passive bottom, dark, evil, in Western eyes, basically "downers". Yang is also associated with all thing male and Yin all things female. While Western frequently attribute a sexual orientation as the prime characteristic of Yang and Yin, in Eastern thought it is just one of the many sets of opposing characteristics described as Yang or Yin.
Tao - Sorry, Folks - You're on your own. You will soon know that the Tao, while ever present is beyond definition.
1
THE TAO THAT CAN BE TOLD
The true Tao escapes definition,
Likewise, Tao is unburdened by Name.
Heaven and Earth originated unburdened by Name,
However, Name serves well to create All Things.
Unburdened by desire, the essence of Tao unfolds.
With desire, its manifestations alone appear.
The same source serves both essence and manifestation.
While viewed differently, both are characterized by deep mystery.
Deep mystery - wondrous mystery -
A gateway to the very essence of existence.
2
RELATIVENESS
Beauty becomes recognized as beauty,
As its difference from ugliness is seen.
Likewise,
Goodness and love become recognized,
As their difference from evil and hatred is felt.
The Relationship of:
- Being and non-being is known through life and growth.
- Difficult and easy is known through achievement and completion.
- Long and short is known through form and contrast.
- High and low is known through relationship and position.
- Sound and voice is known through amplitude and harmony.
- Front and behind is known through position and sequence.
Thus:
Wu-Wei graces the affairs of the Sage -
Teaching gracefully, Without words.
Receiving all happening as natural,
Without needing to judge or control.
Giving life and animation to all experience
Without needing to dominate.
Accomplishing, Without expecting reward.
In never assuming importance,
When the Sage's work is complete,
It remains, everlastingly.
3
WU-WEI
When neither the meritorious, worthy, gifted nor wise are exalted or rewarded,
Fighting, quarreling and contention become unnecessary.
When treasure, rare objects and belongings are not accumulated, valued and prized,
The rewards of thievery cease to have meaning.
When desirable things are not seen nor displayed,
The hearts of people are not troubled, excited or confused.
The Sage governs himself and leads others by:
- Encouraging the heart to be open and free from desire.
- Providing sustenance for the stomach.
- Calming the will to strive for the sake of striving.
- Strengthening the body.
Thus, keeping all, innocent and free of knowledge and desire,
The Sage discourages the cunning from harmful action.
Wu-Wei -
Action unforced -
Permitting all to just happen,
by itself,
without effort.
4
TAO IS EMPTY
Tho' Tao is empty - its grace is inexhaustible
A deep and unfathomable source,
The ancestor of all there is.
Through the Tao: - Rough edges are smoothed.
- Hard knots are untied.
- Glare of light is softened.
- Busyness of life is tempered.
Tho' hidden deeply - it is ever present.
Its origin ? - A mystery to me.
It just seems to have been forever.
5
NATURE
Nature is impartial -
While regarding All Things of the universe
as sacred,
Graces them with equality.
Likewise, the Sage is impartial -
While regarding all creatures as sacred,
Graces them with equality.
The universe - a moving bellows - Yin and Yang
always emptying - always full,
Endlessly working - endlessly yielding forth.
Understanding the nature of the universe
by words and by intellect,
Leads to exhaustion.
Hold instead to that intuition which,
Rising from the gut of mankind,
Resembles original nature.
6
SPIRIT OF THE VALLEY
The spirit of the valley is
Empty - Receptive - Eternal.
She is Yin - The Primal Mother.
At her door - the root of heaven and earth,
Which is continuous, without end.
Taking it, using it, drawing upon it,
It serves eternally - without fail.
7
SOFT ACTION
The universe is everlasting.
Not existing for itself, but giving life to all,
It endures forever.
Thus, the Sage -
- Remaining behind and in the background,
Finds himself ahead and in the foreground.
- Staying detached,
Finds himself at one with all.
- Being selfless,
Attains fulfillment.
8
WATERCOURSE WAY
The highest good of mankind, is like water -
- Without competition, gives Life to All Things.
- Flowing, it seeks and dwells in places rejected by mankind.
Thus it approaches close to the Tao.
Accordingly, the Sage -
- In dwelling, Seeks closeness to the earth.
- In heart, Seeks that which is profound.
- In relationships, Seeks gentleness and kindness.
- In speech, Seeks sincerity and truthfulness.
- In government, Seeks justice, order and peace.
- In business, Seeks ability and competence.
- In movement and action, Seeks timeliness.
The Sage -
Remaining free from competition and contention,
Is without blame - beyond reproach.
9
EXCESS
Stop short of full,
Pour not to the brim.
Over-sharpen the sword,
And the edge will soon blunt.
Be surrounded with treasure,
And lie ill at ease.
Claim title and honor and wealth,
And downfall will follow.
With mission accomplished - withdraw.
Such is in harmony with Tao.
10
CHARACTER OF TE
Can you:
Embrace oneness - Maintaining a unity of mind, body and spirit?
Control the Ch'i -
By concentration, cause it to be soft, as a little child?
Clear and purify inner mystic vision -
Spotless and without blur, creating perfection?
Govern and lead - openly, honestly and simply
The governed barely sensing your effect?
Handle "life's-gate" experiences of birth and death -
Maintaining the receptive principle of Yin?
Be open to All Things - with true understanding
Remaining detached, taking no action, not interfering?
Give birth and nourish All Things -
Seeking neither to lay claim nor possess?
Act and work -
Seeking neither credit nor reward?
Lead and assist -
Seeking neither to master nor dominate?
To do this is the primal virtue -
The profound and mysterious Te.
11
THE EMPTY
While thirty spokes are the substance
of the cartwheel,
The empty space within the hub and between
the spokes permits the wheel to be useful
While clay is the substance of the vessel,
The empty space within permits the vessel
to be useful.
While doors and windows are cut
as the substance of the wall,
The empty space within these enclosures
permits them to be useful.
Thus:
Form is generated by what IS.
Usefulness lies in what IS NOT.
12
SENSUOUS OVERLOAD
Altogether, the five colors -
Confuse, overwhelm and blind the eye.
Altogether, the five sounds -
Confuse, overwhelm and deafen the ear.
Altogether, the five flavors -
Confuse, overwhelm and dull the taste.
Compulsive activity or pursuit of possessions -
Confuses, overwhelms and maddens the mind.
Thus:
The Sage rejects the sensuous environment,
Being better guided by intuitive truth -
His inner nature.
13
NATURE OF FEAR
Favor and glory as well as disfavor and disgrace,
All cause pain in equal measure. -
As disfavor and disgrace cause pain,
Possessing favor and glory -
The fear of its loss is ever present.
What we value and what we choose to fear
Are both contained within our body/selves.
We possess fear because we have a body/self.
Ceasing to acknowledge the body part of self,
Nothing of significance remains to be feared.
The leader -
In honoring and loving his responsibilities
as he honors and loves the body/self,
Can be entrusted with the leadership
of his domain.
14
THE MYSTICAL TAO
Looking for it, it cannot be seen -
Being formless, it is called Yi, the invisible.
Listening to it, it cannot be heard -
Being soundless, it is called Hsi, the inaudible.
Grasping at it, it cannot be reached -
Being subtle, it is called Wei, the intangible.
These three; imperceptible, indescribable -
Mystically united and elusively perceived
as an undefinable oneness.
As the oneness ascends - no light appears.
As the oneness descends - no darkness is perceived.
Unceasingly, continually, form eluding definition,
Evasively reverting to spirit - to nothingness.
The form of formlessness.
