Religious Holy Books
+Holy book Tao Te Ching
+Most widely read sacred texts , due to its simplicity and depth
+Oldest book dates back to third century B.C
+This book of poetry and philosophy explains the Way of the Tao.
The book itself is sometimes also called Lao Tze.
+Most widely read sacred texts , due to its simplicity and depth
+Oldest book dates back to third century B.C
+This book of poetry and philosophy explains the Way of the Tao.
The book itself is sometimes also called Lao Tze.
" The Tao that can be trodden is not the enduring and
unchanging Tao. The name that can be named is not the enduring and
unchanging name.
(Conceived of as) having no name, it is the Originator of heaven
and earth; (conceived of as) having a name, it is the Mother of all
things.
Always without desire we must be found,
If its deep mystery we would sound;
But if desire always within us be,
Its outer fringe is all that we shall see.
Under these two aspects, it is really the same; but as development
takes place, it receives the different names. Together we call them
the Mystery. Where the Mystery is the deepest is the gate of all that
is subtle and wonderful. " - Lao Tzu
unchanging Tao. The name that can be named is not the enduring and
unchanging name.
(Conceived of as) having no name, it is the Originator of heaven
and earth; (conceived of as) having a name, it is the Mother of all
things.
Always without desire we must be found,
If its deep mystery we would sound;
But if desire always within us be,
Its outer fringe is all that we shall see.
Under these two aspects, it is really the same; but as development
takes place, it receives the different names. Together we call them
the Mystery. Where the Mystery is the deepest is the gate of all that
is subtle and wonderful. " - Lao Tzu
+The book The Divine Classic of Nan-hua , originally translated to The Chuang-Tzu
+Second most important book for taoism after Tao Te Ching
+Was written around 350 BC -250 BC
+Makes references to thousands of stories , myths , legands that were common during time written
except it gives new meanings and significance to each
+Second most important book for taoism after Tao Te Ching
+Was written around 350 BC -250 BC
+Makes references to thousands of stories , myths , legands that were common during time written
except it gives new meanings and significance to each
“ Suppose you and I have had an argument. If you have beaten me instead of my
beating you, then are you necessarily right and am I necessarily wrong?
If I have beaten you instead of your beating me, then am I necessarily right and are
you necessarily wrong? Is one of us right and the other wrong?
Are both of us right or are both of us wrong? If you and I don’t know the answer, then other
people are bound to be even more in the dark. Whom shall we get to decide what
is right? Shall we get someone who agrees with you to decide?
But if he already agrees with you, how can he decide fairly?…
Obviously, then, neither you nor I nor anyone else can know the answer.
Shall we wait for still another person? ” (Basic Writings, p.43)
beating you, then are you necessarily right and am I necessarily wrong?
If I have beaten you instead of your beating me, then am I necessarily right and are
you necessarily wrong? Is one of us right and the other wrong?
Are both of us right or are both of us wrong? If you and I don’t know the answer, then other
people are bound to be even more in the dark. Whom shall we get to decide what
is right? Shall we get someone who agrees with you to decide?
But if he already agrees with you, how can he decide fairly?…
Obviously, then, neither you nor I nor anyone else can know the answer.
Shall we wait for still another person? ” (Basic Writings, p.43)
Poetry
Feng-kan (whose name means Big Stick) was one of the early Taoist poets born from 750 - 850
Sinking like a rock in the sea
drifting through the Three
Worlds
poor ethereal creature
ever immersed in scenes
until a flash of
lightning shows
life and death are dust in space -Feng-Kan translated by Red Pine
Kuan Han-Ch'ing was one of the most celebrated playwrights in Beijing
Poems referred as "Taoist Drinking Songs " for he wrote through life of an essoteric drunk
Idle Wandering
go where my mind will
sit when my heart's still
drink when I'm
thirsty
and sing when I'm drunk
when hard times come
I find a pile of
grass and sleep
the days and months are long
the world is vast
and
idleness is happiness
toss off the vintage wine
use up the raw
laugh beside the earthen pot
ha, ha, ha,
hum harmonies together
with this rude old mountain bonz
he has a pair of chickens
I've brought
along a duck
and idleness is happiness -Kuan Han Ch'ing
Sinking like a rock in the sea
drifting through the Three
Worlds
poor ethereal creature
ever immersed in scenes
until a flash of
lightning shows
life and death are dust in space -Feng-Kan translated by Red Pine
Kuan Han-Ch'ing was one of the most celebrated playwrights in Beijing
Poems referred as "Taoist Drinking Songs " for he wrote through life of an essoteric drunk
Idle Wandering
go where my mind will
sit when my heart's still
drink when I'm
thirsty
and sing when I'm drunk
when hard times come
I find a pile of
grass and sleep
the days and months are long
the world is vast
and
idleness is happiness
toss off the vintage wine
use up the raw
laugh beside the earthen pot
ha, ha, ha,
hum harmonies together
with this rude old mountain bonz
he has a pair of chickens
I've brought
along a duck
and idleness is happiness -Kuan Han Ch'ing
Hymns & Prayers
-Hymns are done in Chinese and have been around since
I will cast out Wisdom and reject Learning.
My thoughts shall wander in the Great Void Always repenting of wrongs done
Will never bring my heart to rest. I cast my hook in a single stream;
But my joy is as though I possessed a Kingdom. I loose my hair and go singing;
To the four frontiers men join in my refrain. This is the purport of my song:
"My thoughts shall wander in the Great Void."
-Chi K'ang translated by Arthur Waley
I will cast out Wisdom and reject Learning.
My thoughts shall wander in the Great Void Always repenting of wrongs done
Will never bring my heart to rest. I cast my hook in a single stream;
But my joy is as though I possessed a Kingdom. I loose my hair and go singing;
To the four frontiers men join in my refrain. This is the purport of my song:
"My thoughts shall wander in the Great Void."
-Chi K'ang translated by Arthur Waley