Fun With Tao
President Scott recently acquired a copy of the Tao Te Ching. I was quite impressed with it. It was much more detailed than the copy I currently have. Eventually I think I will go out and pick up the copy he has, being that I am such a fan of this work.
One thing that kept both the President and myself entertained was comparing our copies of the Tao Te Ching. What was so amusing about doing this was how different the translations were. I present an example for any curious readers:
(Tao Te Ching, translation by Jonathan Star)
Verse 37
Tao does not act
yet is the root of all action
Tao does not move
yet it is the source of all creation
If princes and kings could hold it
everyone under them would naturally turn within
Should a doubt or old desire rise up
The Nameless Simplicity would push it down
The Nameless Simplicity frees the heart of desire
and reveals its inner silence
When there is silence
one finds peace
When there is silence
one finds the anchor of the universe within himself
(Tao Te Ching, translation by Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English)
Verse 37
Tao abides in non-action,
Yet nothing is left undone.
If kings and lords observed this,
The ten thousand things would develop naturally.
If they still desired to act,
They would return to the simplicity of formless substance.
Without form there is no desire.
Without desire there is tranquility.
And in this way all things would be at peace.
One thing that kept both the President and myself entertained was comparing our copies of the Tao Te Ching. What was so amusing about doing this was how different the translations were. I present an example for any curious readers:
(Tao Te Ching, translation by Jonathan Star)
Verse 37
Tao does not act
yet is the root of all action
Tao does not move
yet it is the source of all creation
If princes and kings could hold it
everyone under them would naturally turn within
Should a doubt or old desire rise up
The Nameless Simplicity would push it down
The Nameless Simplicity frees the heart of desire
and reveals its inner silence
When there is silence
one finds peace
When there is silence
one finds the anchor of the universe within himself
(Tao Te Ching, translation by Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English)
Verse 37
Tao abides in non-action,
Yet nothing is left undone.
If kings and lords observed this,
The ten thousand things would develop naturally.
If they still desired to act,
They would return to the simplicity of formless substance.
Without form there is no desire.
Without desire there is tranquility.
And in this way all things would be at peace.