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Comments on Dao De Jing - Part 1
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| Think "well-well" to fit in and avoid drudgery. |
Maybe pure peak study is not the best - not in the long run, not repeatedly either. But seeing is believing. Believe as little as possible till then.
Contents
Good reasons for learning this materialThe Tao of having Tao
Supporting "well medleys" are presupposed
throughout:Peak study can be a major drawback
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| What's in front of you without able hands? |
1
If you are
unaware yet, cosy thriving coupled with averaging know-how may help you further, as does
much schooling
WHEN the common types hear Dao again and again in their ears they seem to be aware and
yet unaware: They might also break into loud laughter. (1)The Dao may be a deep sound too, or go along with it.
Chinese studies can often be very, very helpful, and Sanskrit studies may go too far. You don't know how true it is deep inside, do you?
But Sanskrit is an expert language, as designed by Panini, the fabulous grammarian. ¤kkk. Lof. It's structure is famous, its vocabulary well articulated, and for the most part better than Greek and Latin, the university languages up till our century, roughly speaking. Sanskrit literature is abounding in deep, penetrating analyses that hover beyond normal concepts and normal utility nowadays. So you see, if your attainments in Sanskrit lore go on too long, you end up where no one around you can understand you, evaluate you, admire you. That's a trap. Note that. (2)
2 The
differences between unmeasurable entities or concepts may be too hard to find here on
earth
DOMINANT Sanskrit literature abounds in peak descriptions of yoga peak
insights. It could be one of the outstanding traps, since there's hardly anything higher
or better than normal, well regulated living according to some lax schemes in the long
run, after all. I regret to tell this: Foremost Buddhist thinkers have said much similar
things a long time ago, such as: There's no difference between the ultimate divinity and
the hustle and bustle - between nirvana (godhead) and sangsara (the world),
they say. This is often repeated. This is a terrible story! (3)This granted, it's hardly Rogerian or Maslowian insight peaks that determine good or daily survival, but the humdrum routines and habits that pay in the end. ¤Puse; Ztĺ; Rvl; Tcrr; Ropp; Fuf. (3)
Get insight peaks under the very helpful avatar, and at last no one around will talk with you! No doctor can understand what you imply - If so, get well schooled. It may be spelled further: Tone it down, young man. Tone the best thing down. Don't cast dogs and pearls for swine either.
3 An
academic expert hardly descended into truly welcoming arms of peers and buddies, no matter
what gurus insist on
VERY, very
many ancient scriptures abound in surface similarities, concept similarities, or often the
dao kernels given as conventionalised idea sketches (pictograms), can be interpreted much
differently. As a fruit of long, ardent study, you shall be rather isolated, as an expert.
The top expert hardly meets peers. There you see. As for me, I'm such as expert in some
sorts of Vedanta that I find no one to study! Well, well. Because of this sort of demoniac
plight, I study Laotse and Chinese heritage instead, for while I've studied Sanskrit at an
university, I've never studied Chinese; I find it very, very helpful. (5)What's more, able, sturdy Sinologists like Holmes Welsh and Rev. Raymond Blakney point out some more or less translator-dependent or much interpreted similarities between the dao of Lao Tan, and the Christian Way thought to be descended Logos or Amen. ¤Adj. Om. (5)
So: The wise man sails around the sunken rocks and skerries: Marriage, fasting and merely academic study make no man happy in the end. - The author.
Help out of the weeds and brambles
1 The
raving dilettante may have the largest future potential, relatively estimated
CHOOSE a version among the most reliable ones, and one that speaks to you personally,
for starters. It's easy to get side-tracked and waylaid otherwise. Here are some of the
reasons, but only a few:Many otherwise able translators render and select on top of their own basis attitudes. That is a problem. Some obviously limit the potential scope of the original text.
The historian Fung-Yu-lan links the metaphysical to the ethical - "how one should respond to the world" - "Fung has little or nothing to say about yoga and trance as avenues to the One." But Dr. Waley does dive into that as a free man from Tunbridge Wells, England. [See Adj 15-17]
"The Tao Te Ching has become the victim of the worst dilettantism." - This is what Holmes Welch labels a despair-cry by the Dutch Sinologist J. Duyvendak. [Adj 17]
You have to compare in order to understand much of this stuff, and in order to compare you have to sift very carefully, among other things. You might need to compare translators and the profiles of their works. Look at this: Lin Yutang, an enthusiast for the Tao Te Ching, regarding it as "the one book in the whole of oriental literature which one should read above all others." [Wic 25, rendered in Adj 16] ¤
Most Bible readers, for example, could agree on one thing: that Lin Yutang is very biased -
2 You can
get outsmarted or fall victim to anyone else's smart plots through guru-favouring,
"fair-dealing" approach.
READING Lao, "we have to decide for ourselves what is meant,
within more or less broad limits set by the text. To read is an act of creation". [Adj
12]There's no easy way out. If you cut things short and just fall for many catchy phrases, thre's a very good chance you have fallen victim to word-braying of some sort. Quote: "Fine-sounding words are not true". That dictum stems from Lao Tzu in Lin Yutang's rendition (hymn 81).
Now, is this fine-sounding? If so, it aborts its own content. I've rendered it more elegantly. It doesn't saw off the branch to sit on, so to speak:
"True words hardly sound fine. Nice words are far from always (perfectly) true." - Hymn 81.
Dr. Arthur Waley approached the Tao Te Ching to find out what it meant to the contemporaries of Lao Tzu. It's a fair approach. He writes with aplomb. He believes that the hovering work was written by a practitioner of what's called tso-wang, the early Chinese equivalent of yoga.... "intended to show how to use the Power that such trance states gave. ... Waley's interpretation, then, is mystical." [See Adj 15]
3 Enthusiasm
as directed or channeled by gurus or alien others, may in the long run ensnare you. Maybe
a lot of what is called staring or glaring or fixed staring is more rewarding. You don't
know how good it is till you have tried
"LIN YUTANG acknowledges his debt to Mr. Waley, [yet] he is impatient with the
latter's philological-historical approach. Waley's power is for Lin Yutang
character in the Sunday-sermon sense. Waley's breath-control (for trance)
becomes self-control (for gentleness). Waley's fixed staring becomes
enduring vision. Lin Yutang, perhaps, does not want the Tao Te Ching to
sound so outré to our Western ears that we will fail to share his enthusiasm." [Adj
16]
"Readiness to furnish whatever the reader needs, gives the Tao Te Ching an
immense advantage over books written so clearly that they have only one meaning." [Adj
12]The book has "little meaning that those who study it can agree upon", writes Dr. Holmes Welch. [Adj 17] ¤
Thus, much variety among translated phrases depends on the dubiousness of the so-called original text, and much else comes in addition.
Quite a lot depends on the version that you happen to come across and get fixed to, and the much limiting or weird outlooks of people behind the assorted assertions in it.
For reasons such as these, you and I should not dare to link up with versions that are not cherished by eminent Sinologists - professors and doctors - men tied in with the best British or US university publishers - such things help. It can be called "playing it safe" most often. [T+, #2.4]
How to gain sturdy enough fitness, in one way or other
I dare say a man can hardly see the difference between
solid Tao discipline and farce.
1 Deep
inside is your originator of such as healthy laughter and methodological, clever and
first-hand inspections
WHEN the best fishers, lovers or mastros have accomplished
their task and their work seems done, some people all remark, "We've done it all by
ourselves." That's to be tricked without knowing it. Much and often, religion is for that
end only. 17Before the heaven and earth existed there was something nebulous - hardly know its name. If forced to call it something, let it be "great-out-inside-space". Far-reaching it reverts to the original point, and that is deep inside. 25 (2)
To gain more of this more easily, the student of the way could aim at losing something day by day, or letting outer things drop off - Now, by continual losing one reaches doing nothing (laissez-faire). Just by doing nothing everything is done. 48
When the highest type of men hear how the way or truth is got, they had better practise it as best they could, or it may drop off. You never know. When the mediocre type hear the way, they seem to be aware and yet unaware of it. When the lowest type hear the way, they can break into loud laughter. If it were not laughed at by silly ones, it could not be a high-standing thing, not to speak of The Way. 41.
He who embraces my way of not being understood at all, had better guard carefully against being over-full. If so, he can be beyond wearing out and repair. 15
By continual losing one reaches doing nothing - a good thing it is. By doing nothing everything is done. The virtuous man, however, is for patching up; the vicious is for fixing guilt. 48, 79
Thus it is that he who knows others is learned; and he who knows himself by this methodology may be wise - and if so it's hardly reckoned with. 33
By the existence of things we profit, and by the non-existence of things we can be well served. The age-old way of dao discipline has been showed to substantiate that point rather much. 11
2 Death,
ageing and perhaps diseases are to be reckoned with for many gurus too, no matter how
ardently they exalt life and conqueror freedom here in public
A SAVIOUR hardly
reveals himself, and is therefore luminous. Yes, it can be those who never (have to)
interfere with others' living that are wise in exalting life. 22, 75The ancients who knew how to follow the way, aimed not to enlighten people. Those who know these things know some ancient standard by it, that solid rock-plan to live by. Even grand harmony could emerge from it, according to what they said back in China. 65
These wise "owls" of old had subtle wisdom and depth of understanding, so profound that they could not be understood. 15
They mastered it: Teaching without words and the benefit of taking no action are without compare in the universe. 43 (4)
The way is all-pervading, and its use is inexhaustible! Fathomless! Yet the way never does a thing. All the same, through it everything is done. If kings and barons can keep that way, the world could be reformed more of its own accord. 4, 37
If not, well, there is death. It has its forerunners: At death, man is hard and stiff. When the things and plants are dead, they're brittle and dry. So hardness and stiffness are the companions of death. A hard tree may be cut down by much consumer lifestyle, I bet. 76
3 To go
contrary to natural, sound life-outlets (libido) can be a lot harmful in the long run -
and much guru-loved training may run contrary to life. It's good to know
MUCH CONTRARY to enabling, hardened living
with its severe roles and prestige styles, thoroughly solid character appears like infirm;
and genuine, remarkable worth appears like contaminated. Great talent takes much to
mature, then 42;My man, in controlling your vital force to achieve sane gentleness, can you become like the new-born child? You should. Then, as you go on, "Who understands the way seems dull of comprehension; he who is advanced in the way seems to slip backwards". If not you may be wayward! 10, 42
That which is not yet manifest is easy to forestall; so deal with a thing before it's there, check disorder before it's rife. They say good ways side only with good individuals.'' 64, 79
It pays to go contrary to libido, but warily, in ways that "sit" a lot.
The highest perfection is like imperfection, and its use is never impaired. This
sort of reversion is the action of the way, and rustic gentleness is one function of the
way. 45, 40 (6)The great hand hardly cuts asunder. That and other sorts of great talent could take alarmingly long to mature. 28, 42
The British saviour hardly puts the guilt on the other party. He who knows this eternity-dynamism can be quite tolerant - up to eternal in his way. If it were not laughed at, it would not be the way. 79, 16, 41
Who is rich in the right sort of virtue is like a tender child, yet his grip is strong. Crying the whole day, yet his voice never runs hoarse, [but be much reserved] 55
He who keeps to rustic obscurity fit for a divine child, in due time coarses into yin - the world out there - Now, since he's equipped with some eternal prowess or even mighty yogi powers that seem to suffice, he accomplishes to returns again to the yang-side in pristine simplicity. 28
Eternity's simplicity may be hinted at: There was a beginning of it all, of the grand cosmos inside myself - my "bubble of awareness (of such as the momentuous cosmos). From my obscure starting-point, I may know all, as in my id-formed world I'm a centre inside cosmos - a holon or central image, even, if the Bible doesn't swindle over and over again. To get there deep inside has been called to sneak into and grab the absolute. Well, well." 52
Now it has been shown how the true avatar or saviour knows himself, but doesn't show himself, loves himself, but hardly ever exalts himself. He's beyond it, for most part. He mutters: "That-which-is-without-form - that part of me - penetrates that-which-has-no-crevice (out there): through this I know the benefit of taking no action in the open". 72, 43
He can influence! That's what this sort of awakening probably means. To give birth, to nourish in this elegant way could be the solid, sound virtue foreman Lao often shows. 10
Disaster is the avenue of fortune, (and) fortune is the concealment for disaster. Who would be able to know its ultimate results? Knowing such things, the British fisher or saviour is square, but not so cornered, has integrity but. not high-handed, seems bright, but not so dazzling. 58 (7)
Such a rustic saviour hardly justifies himself, and his hidden, insider influence can reach very far. This is because that saviour embraces the One and becomes modelling. 22 (8)
He quotes: "He who acts, spoils; he who grasps, let slip." 64 [T+. #1.3]
Comment
Here you have three strands of one synergic rope:- Basic teachings of Lao Tzu, in part slighty modified or altered to drive home some pressing points ad hoc.
- Teachings in remarkable unison with Jeshua's best insider teachings around heaven. You may compare with sound Kabbalah teachings centred on the tree of life - fundamentally an ancient Egyptian scheme Moses and Aaron might have got. ¤See Yy
- Solid Tantra instructions. Believe as you have to, here you find the basic features of yogi training, shown in books such as Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, and the whole teaching is in consonance with major tenets or secrets found inside Self-Realization Fellowship. Its headquarters is located in Los Angeles.
Reasons for delving into this sort of material
This existential survey of possible motives or causes for
reading the great Dao De Jing highlights a few assorted points by Dr. Holmes Welch.
My suggestion is you can read your way up through tick tack toe surveys:
1 In nature
there is no clergy, but in the world of men they live on top of much guilt and wistful
thinking around
MAKE neighbours tense; take to alchemist terminology from ancient
China if you like. Here is one slogan: "Make the golden crow capture the rabbit".
Live for that if you like. This is held to be of vital, personal importance, and you feel
puzzled by it till the symbols are denuded: "Golden crow" means yang and "rabbit"
stands for yin in these contexts. Also, yin means the unreal, and
yang means the real. [See Adj 131]Let all who admire bigwigs have their straw men to lick up to mentally: Seem allied with royal persons that assist prestige. "In the Sung Dynasty, two Emperors were particularly ardent Taoists: Chen Tsung (998-1022) and Hui Tsung (1101-1126)." - Dr. Holmes Welch. [Adj 154]
This all indicates that the alchemy of Taoism could be no mean thing, but royal. You can play on that one as long as the majority of the people hail kings and clergy, I figure.
Somewhere along the developmental way - during T'ang - the "exterior breath" inside Taoism gave way to the "interior breath" - a kind of vital energy to be drawn into the system. [Adj 130]
This seems to says that more severe pranayama or controlling the breathing severely - gave way to more delicate breathing, and a focus on internal vitality in so doing. Some yogas do the same, including the kriya yoga of Babaji. He is in fact said to be born 203 AD still young to look at, due to his alleged breathing skills, and is presented on Internet.
Dr. Holmes Welch shows more: Lying on his couch just after winter solstice, the Tao alchemist marries true lead to true mercury in his stomach and gives birth to an embryo, "the mysterious pearl" that gets visible and grows till the alchemist becomes immune to tiger and rhinoceros ... and sword. [Adj 131]
You can tie that one in with some other hard-headed tips on how the great ones act, for example: "The Sage can be ruthless [even monsterlike]" - yet can seem compassionate and humble. [See Adj 34]
As it is, transmutant Taoist alchemy was later wholly displaced by the alchemy of pots and pills. [Adj 131]
At this point of the survey you should be aware that many Taoist terms seem ludicrous, as they're much symbolic in an ancient or alien way. That's how it most often is. Until you carefully weigh and arrange foreign off-hand-looking symbols, you hardly understand a fig. I've sought to make that clear by some examples found in the eminent book by Dr. Welch - see above.
Once you penetrate the symbolism as skilfully as you can, you could get artful tips on how to master life better, even gain longevity through special breathing exercises. [See Adj 89]
You should not believe but make sure - that's "British policy". Or interpret some harsh things to your own major benefit while looking stern - You can interpret bad stuff symbolically. That approach can come in handy, so look into this:
The devout in the later glide-down alchemy inside Taoism were first to have a diet of metallic poison and abstain from meat, bread and rice. But in the 500s AD we find mention of the "interior elixir" to be striven for instead of the poison - and some sort of meditative alchemy was attained or manifested more in the open: "By the end of the eleventh century the idea [of meaning hard things symbolically] was widely accepted. One of its chief proponents was Chang Po-tuan (983-1082) who seemed to have been as much of a Ch'an [Zen] Buddhist as a Taoist ... The ingredients are to be "true lead" and "true mercury," not the "vulgar" materials," Dr. Holmes Welch writes, and the results have to make one well-nigh "imperishable". Dr. Welch concludes carefully: "I'm not sure what this is all about." You have a right to think the same as him. [Adj 130]
Now comes another stage: Glean more matter-of-fact wisdom or magical prowess. Quote:
"[The masterly ancient fable writer] Chuang Tzu tells us ... there is a Spiritualised Man (shen jen) whose skin is white, who ... inhales air. He can mount the clouds". - In many similar passages Chuang Tzu attributes (certain) magical powers to his idealised individual [or Realised Man, Perfected Man, or Sage]. ... There are parallell passages in Lieh Tzu [It's a good book]. [See Adj 91; Co.]
2 Teaching
without words could be hard -
"FROM the beginnings of the Taoist movement in the
fourth century BC to the death of (one) Ko Hung in the fourth century AD we have covered a
period of seven hundred years." It evolved its "alchemy and hygiene; the pantheon, the
church; and philosophical Taoism." [Adj 126-30]You may go into these facets out of plain curiosity. Maybe it's not so bad. Also, Taoism has a wide variety of sex postures and masterful metaphors tied in with them - some practices are said to make life cosy. [See Adj 17; Jc]
My next point lies dormant in this quote: "The glacier gave the rabbit a lesson in the need for changing the colour of its fur in winter. Similarly, the next war may give mankind a lesson in the need for being negative. Mankind may take the low road whether it wants it or not." - Holmes Welch. [Adj 177]
You have to go into exotic images or be well allied with great cunning to open up foreign similes and metaphors - just lean on he best experts available, as I normally do. Otherwise, what could be thought or claimed to be "hovering outlooks" may be looked down on. There is also mind-bugging and conform-making proselytising plays around. They use innocent curiosity or drives for something exotic, outré, strange or great - you never know - so let's beware in our sordid urbanised environment - clever, artful and cautious wariness can pay in the long run. Look to the British and next inspect so-called rarefied awareness hailed in Taoism. [Adj 63]
Next launch the counter-hypothesis without being rude and ugly: "Maybe what is needed is contrary - something like sturdy, basic awareness and guts here and now instead." It could well be.
3
Controlling your prana (vital breath) can endanger your libido - the highest perfection in
these waters is much more agreeable - how few there are who find it out! (See below)
THE BOOK has fascinated a variety of
people for long - The book is contrived so well that well-nigh everyone can find titbits
he likes or needs. "Can nothing be done to determine its meaning once and for all? There must be a way." - Dr. Holmes Welch. [See Adj 17]
Here is one more strand of the rope, one more facet of the route on and up versus Dao De Jing. Be cunning and smart and check methodically and never enter a underdog position initially, as that tends to cement bad attitudes ever after. You don't need somebody that rides you like a donkey - it could be a priest. How few know the importance of that basic positioning of self-help living!
Next, you too may have a go - you may try to master some Daoist power or prowess all on your own to know yourself in the ancient Greek way. However, the methods that most likely went along with the book, were banned and later disappeared in ancient China, so there you are. This is why Dr. Arthur Waley looked to adjacent systems and compared to get an inkling on what could be hinted at by Lao Tzu, the "Old Boy". [See Adj 15] [T+. #1.4]
Other interesting renditions in English
- Rev. R.B. Blakney's handy one.
- "Oldtimer" James Legge's sturdy, strong rendition from as far back as the 1890s.
The Tao of having Tao
We can state:Where Charlie Brown's dog appears in the text, there is Tao - it can be one of many ways, it is presumed throughout.As you see, our general stance is one of philosophical tenets. But more goes into these essays than that. We purport to hand over a way or route for neat mastery or accomplishments that may be coupled with good and decent work as time goes by and conditions allow that fare.
How-to-make-it art: The platform
It's fairly often possible to derive mental and other benefits from these yin-yang outlooks. Inside them we often happen to come across Charlie Brown and his little dog. Well, they are tokens and represent our level of control - and here they are: |
| Charlie |
|
| Snoopy |
The figures appear in a row of accomplishments - whether inwardly gauged theoretical outlooks, or solid outer attainments. Charlie points to one level, and his dog the one right after that. Charlie marks the last lay of a trek (marked by a bent arrow) right before the origo, and Snoopy stands for the first lay inside the strech (span) that goes along the diagonal from there.
Now you know the reason why Charlie and Snoopy often crop up inside the figure-linked essays at the back. Quite ideally such figures help the beginners to identify two important levels of accomplishments or thinking that are connected with two separate levels or layers inside a certain fabric (a frieze). You could eventually derive benefits if you learn these things, but there are hardly any guarantees now.
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