Lao Tzu
Nothingness
and Zero
as e-book:
or paperback:
A post-modern approach to Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching
by Jeremy M. Miller
Tao Te Ching...
verse for today (*):
51
Every being in the universeis an expression of the Tao.
It springs into existence,
unconscious, perfect, free,
takes on a physical body,
lets circumstances complete it.
That is why every being
spontaneously honors the Tao.
The Tao gives birth to all beings,
nourishes them, maintains them,
cares for them, comforts them, protects them,
takes them back to itself,
creating without possessing,
acting without expecting,
guiding without interfering.
That is why love of the Tao
is in the very nature of things.
(translation by Stephen Mitchell, 1995)
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Tao produces them
Virtue raises them
Things shape them
Forces perfect them
Therefore all things respect the Tao and value virtue
The respect for Tao, the value of virtue
Not due to command but to constant nature
Thus Tao produces them
Virtue raises them
Grows them, educates them
Perfects them, matures them
Nurtures them, protects them
Produces but does not possess
Acts but does not flaunt
Nurtures but does not dominate
This is called Mystic Virtue
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Zero, everywhere and nowhere,
Is both the Loving Mother and Protective Father.
Asking Nothing, giving everything.
Just as shade in the sun is not noticed,
The Two are not noticed.
The Two hold their power in the One,
And the One, better than all,
Knows the Bliss of Zero.
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*) The
It was written around the 6th century BC by the sage Lao Tzu.
The short text consists of 81 brief chapters, or verses.
Every day we issue a "verse of the day" for contemplation, in two leading English translations, that nevertheless differ substantially, and since December 8th 2013, we have a radically different third translation:
The I Ching is based on the number 2, with its 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 (26) = 64 hexagrams.
The Tao Te Ching is based on the number 3, with its 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 = 81 chapters.
We now offer it in three translations.
Perhaps, when reflecting on the three interpretations, the true meaning will emerge.
These 81 verses simply rotate; every day the next number, and after 81, number 1 will appear again.
This is done deliberately; if you want to read the complete text, you should purchase the resp. translations by Stephen Mitchell, Derek Lin or Jeremy M. Miller below.
(All three available in Kindle edition as well.)
If you missed yesterday's verse, you can still read it at I Ching Online.NET (version 3), which is always one day behind.
Tao Te Ching
is a Chinese classic.It was written around the 6th century BC by the sage Lao Tzu.
The short text consists of 81 brief chapters, or verses.
Every day we issue a "verse of the day" for contemplation, in two leading English translations, that nevertheless differ substantially, and since December 8th 2013, we have a radically different third translation:
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"Nothingness and Zero" A Post New-Age Approach to Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching, published by courtesy of the translator and interpreter. © Copyright 2013 Jeremy M. Miller. All rights reserved. Acknowledgments: The hundreds of prior translations, especially that by Arthur Waley. To Pythagoras, who understood Zero and taught It; and to Chuang Tzu, the ideal poetic student. |
The Tao Te Ching is based on the number 3, with its 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 = 81 chapters.
We now offer it in three translations.
Perhaps, when reflecting on the three interpretations, the true meaning will emerge.
These 81 verses simply rotate; every day the next number, and after 81, number 1 will appear again.
This is done deliberately; if you want to read the complete text, you should purchase the resp. translations by Stephen Mitchell, Derek Lin or Jeremy M. Miller below.
(All three available in Kindle edition as well.)
If you missed yesterday's verse, you can still read it at I Ching Online.NET (version 3), which is always one day behind.
More books about Tao Te Ching: