Tao Teh Ching

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Poetry of Tao

Tao Teh Ching

written by: Lao Tzu

translated by John C.H. Wu

Tao= "The way" or "Ultimate"

Teh= "Virtue" or "The esscence"

Ching= Book

Legend has it that, Tao Teh Ching, was written by a man named Lao Tzu a long time ago. The word Tzu means wise man or teacher. Many people believe that in reality the book was really written by many authors over a course of many years.

Some of our favorite poems from Tao Teh Ching representing important themes:

43

The softest of all things

Overide the hardest of all things.

Only nothing can enter into no-space.

Hence I know the advantages of the Non-Ado

Few things under heaven are as instructive as

the lessens of silence,

Or as beautiful as the fruits of the Non-Ado. (page 89)

40

The movement of the Tao consists in Returning.

The use of the Tao consists in softness.

All things under heaven are born of the corporeal:

The corporeal is born of the Incorporeal. (page 83)

59

In governing people and in serving Heaven,

There is nothing like frugality.

To be frugal is to return before straying.

To return before straying is to have a double reserve

of Virtue.

To have a double reserve of Virtue is to overcome

everything.

To overcome everything is to reach an invisible height.

Only he who has reached an invisible height can have

a kingdom.

Only he who ha got the Mother of a kingdom can

last long.

This is the way to be deep-rooted and firm -planted

in the Tao,

The secret of long life and lasting vision. (page 121)

This book has many themes, the biggest one of course being the "Non-Ado". Non-Ado means "effortless effort", it means not to try too hard and let things just flow and come naturally. However, this does not mean not to practice. Many people confuse these, professional athletes are good examples of effortless effort, like Micheal Jordan. Another theme in this book is a "return to infancy" or a "renewal". Because the infant has no knowledge, it is looked at as enlightened because it is not yet tainted with useless knowledge. Another theme of Tao Teh Ching, is "cultivating the one". The one being a ruler. They believe that a ruler must be able to rule himself then the rest will fall into place. A great ruler rules by practicing the Non-Ado.