(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best tao te ching books

The problem is that the Dao De Jing and other Daoist texts are not simple things to read. I would say that, yes, what Dao is is perfectly explained by the Dao De Jing, but only if you know how to read it. There are plenty of secondary sources out there providing commentary and alternate translations (because these things are never so straightforward) on the Dao De Jing. Personally, I would recommend the following two translations on the Dao De Jing, this one by Roger Ames and this one by Hans-Georg Moeller. Also, if you want a close reading of what Dao is I recommend you pick up Daoism Explained, also by Hans-Georg Moeller, a lot of which is freely available to read on Google Books. For the specific question you posted here, I would recommend reading section "The Wheel--An Image of the Dao" which begins on page 27 of Daoism Explained and is one of the sections freely available in the last link I provided. I hope this helps.

Edit: Just wanted to add that I've read a lot of books by different translators and commentators of Daoism, but Hans-Georg Moeller is by far my favorite for both clarity and correctness.

I'm not sure what you've read thus far, but the three most important books in the Daoist canon are, in generally agreed upon order:

1. The Tao Te Ching (Dao De Ching, Daodejing, &c.). My favorite translation is the done by Addiss and Lombardo, but there are certainly other good translations.
   
   
2. The Chuan Tzu (Zhuangzi) I'm partial to the translation by Hamill and Seaton, though I admit that may be because it was my first exposure to Daoism. It doesn't strive for accuracy, but has taken some liberties in making the text accessible to most readers by doing away with pedantry.
   
   
3. The Lieh Tzu (Liezi) My favorite translation is the one by Eva Wong, though it also was going for readability above accuracy. I'm currently reading a much more accurate translation done by Thomas Cleary which has, thus far, been rather good.

1. Vitality, Energy, Spirit: A Taoist Sourcebook
   
2. hmm, well I practiced the Taoist principle of non-action when painting, which is similar to automatic drawing I suppose. But instead of believing spirits were guiding me, I felt I was one with universal energy and allowed it to freely flow through me.
   
3. a good amount. I'm always searching for better translations of the I Ching and Tao Te Ching.
   
4. I also study Buddhism and practice heart meditation from the Sufi's.
   
5. I haven't been to a Taoist temple or large gathering of Taoists. I think traditional Taoists are for the most part very secretive about their practices so they don't become corrupted.
   
6. When you realize deep within your heart that you are not separate from the universe.

The Tao Te Ching is also neat (if not strictly Zen) – the Taoist influence on Zen is pretty strong. For the poetry of it, I’m really fond of the translation by Jane English and Gia-Fu Feng, but in terms of a helpful explanation of the text, I really like Wai-tao’s translation included in Dwight Goddard’s compilation A Buddhist Bible. A Buddhist Bible is also an amazing compilation that I love (my copy’s gotten pretty beat up over the less-than-a-year that I’ve had it), but I’m not sure how helpful it is specifically in terms of understanding Zen.

(If you want to read really difficult but very integral Zen text, I’ve also started reading the Gudo Nishijima and Chodo Cross translation of Master Dogen’s Treasury of the Right Dharma Eye.)

I Am That by Nisargadatta

https://www.amazon.com/Nisargadatta-Maharaj-Am-That-Talks/dp/B00N4HO7EQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1483930461&sr=8-2&keywords=i+am+that


Anything by Leo Hartong, especially Awakening to the Dream

https://www.amazon.com/Awakening-Dream-Gift-Lucid-Living/dp/0954779215/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483930496&sr=1-1&keywords=leo+hartong

The Perennial Way by Bart Marshall - awesome translations and commentary on the Tao de Ching, Yoga Sutras, Dhammapada, Heart Sutra, Ashtavakra Gita, and the Faith Mind Sutra...

https://www.amazon.com/Perennial-Way-Expanded-Dhammapada-Ashtavakra/dp/0986203521/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483930618&sr=1-3&keywords=Bart+Marshall

Awakening to the Natural State, by John Wheeler

https://www.amazon.com/Awakening-Natural-State-John-Wheeler/dp/0954779231/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483930735&sr=1-1&keywords=john+wheeler+non-duality+books

I'd start with the book that played a large role in the revival of the modern occult: H.P. Blavatsky's The Hidden Doctrine, which is a synthesis of occult philosophies from all over the world.

Then, I'd go over the text on which all hermetic knowledge derives from; The Corpus Hermeticum by Hermes Trismegistus

I'd also reccomend looking into The Pistis Sophia, which explains the philosophies of early Gnosticism.

Another important text would be The Vision and the Voice by Aleister Crowley, which is an account of 30 visions that document how one may attain enlightenment, had by Crowley while he was performing a series of Enochian rituals out in the desert.

The Cosmic Doctrine by Dion Fortune is a book that was channeled by Dion Fortune, which she believes explains the hidden secrets and doctrine of the universe.

The Mystical Qabalah by Dion Fortune is a great book that explains the Qabalah, the system of philosophy which is the backbone of the occult.

This list would be incomplete without also including Agrippa's Three Books of Occult Philosophy, which was written by a Renaissance occultist named Henry Agrippa and is a foundational text to all branches of occult philosophy and knowledge.

The Dhammapada, The Questions of King Milinda, THE TÂO TEH KING, The Bhagavad Gita, The Upanishads, and The I-Ching are all also important philosophical texts to the occult. While they are not necessarily "occult" themselves, they all had a huge influence on the modern occult today, as well as many famous occultists such as Aleister Crowley, Dion Fortune, H.P. Blavatsky, etc.

God is so beautiful. And so mystical. And so uncomprehensable...

Yet so many things are a reflection of him.


Have you ever read, “The Tao of Christ”? It is such an amazing book. It helped me realize what God really is, and how he presents himself to us everyday. He is everything. His love is so expansive. Every corner of the universe is a manifestation of his love and creation.

Here is a link to the book. Maybe check it out if you have the time. Try reading the first few preview pages. It’s a lot to explain, but I’ll just say that it’s beautiful poetry. (The Tao of Christ: A Christian... https://www.amazon.com/dp/1521334463?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share)

Removed comment posted by /u/bdw9000 at 01/13/15 10:10:03:

> Since you were born into Christianity, it seems the bible is your holy book of choice by pure chance. Why not pretend you were born in India or China and pick up one of their holy books to broaden your perspective? I've heard good things about the Tao Te Ching. You could give it a try.

... in response to submission Born into Christianity pretty much. Bible is just plain boring? posted by /u/kooboiswag at 01/13/15 02:32:12:

> I've been going to church all my life. Served in the praise team, welcome committees, etc. I love it. It's a part of me. I've always had this up and down relationship with God. Never truly strongly in step with the Spirit. Been through the emotional highs and lows and now I'm starting my second semester of college and the Bible is just incredible dry. I look at my personal ESV Study Bible Edition at the corner of my desk and it's just a struggle to even pick it up. I dont even know where to start reading if I were to begin. My mentors tell me that it becomes interesting. Once you've tasted the steak, you don't want the hotdog, but I personally have just never tasted this steak and I dont get it.
>
> I guess what I wanted to ask is, how do you guys read the Bible and find it interesting? Where could I start? I've read through a chunk of the new testament, mostly Paul's letters.

Elephant Barber

I'd really like the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu because I quite enjoy Buddhist / Taoist values.

About me: I'm starting Police Foundations at college in the fall, and my one true goal in life is to become a cop + help people.

It's much better to find a well explained version of TTC to start with. This could save your a lot of time and effort. For this purpose, I'd like to recommend this one: https://www.amazon.com/Tao-Te-Ching-English-Version/dp/1727252241/

This book stands out of the crowd because it's based on research breakthroughs, and it can tell exactly what the Tao is, what Being and Non-Being are, how to experience the Tao, what your true nature is and how to know it, and how to flow with the Tao, etc. Unlike others which keep convincing you that the Tao can not be told/explained, in this book, there is no more confusing, no more vagueness, and no more hard to solve paradox. So it's a good choice for first-time readers.

I highly recommend this version: Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing): The Way to Goodness and Power (Chinese Bound Classics). It has both Chinese and English. Although the english is a novel translation and isn’t the best, it’s still altogether great.

I also have the Art of War from the same publisher.

This translation is Huston Smith's favorite. I'm a Classicist, so I'm not as knowledgeable as you are, but I think it's pretty good. Do you know either way?

All of the books below are very helpful, the one I find most helpful is "The Tao Of Teaching". http://www.amazon.com/The-Tao-Teaching-Ageless-Wisdom/dp/0452280958/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343199059&sr=8-1&keywords=the+tao+of+teaching
It is really helpful to understand the "yin and yang" of the classroom and how to take advantage of each.

In most academic works that I've seen on the Tao Te Ching that cite an English translation use the Penguin Classics edition which is definitely the most 'scholarly' version and my personal favorite: https://www.amazon.com/Tao-te-ching-Penguin-classics/dp/B0006BLO4O

Some other translations like Stephen Mitchell's (https://www.amazon.com/Tao-Te-Ching-Lao-Tzu/dp/0061232068) and Gia-fu Feng (https://www.amazon.com/Ching-25th-Anniversary-English-Mandarin-Chinese/dp/0679776192) perhaps have a bit more poetical power than an academic translation, which you might be into.

In chronological order of my reading them:

1. The Apostolic Fathers
   
   
   
2. Paradise Restored
   
   
   
3. That You May Prosper
   
   
   
4. Kingdom, Grace & Judgment
   
   
   
5. Christ The Conqueror of Hell
   
   
   
   And for good measure, The Tao Te Ching (started reading it in high school...still reading it 37 years later), and The Open Society and It's Enemies.

I went ahead and ordered this copy, I couldn’t find who did the translation. What do you like about Hua Ching-Ni’s version?

I’m slowly building my collection of spiritual works. Right now my favorite is The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche.

Oh I forgot to mention, don't get the James Legge translation, it's terrible. This is my favorite, but it seems to be out of print: https://www.amazon.com/Tao-Te-Ching-New-Translation/dp/B000RIWJIG Though I see that there is a kindle version.

The Stephen Mitchell translation is also very good. A bit less poetic, a bit more in the modern vernacular: https://www.amazon.com/Tao-Te-Ching-Laozi/dp/0060812451

Ahh... Gia-Fu Feng is the awesome translator of the Tao Te Ching.

You're correct, that is an oversimplification of Taoism. Taoism is also concerned with neidan, or internal alchemy. Basically, you're cultivating the self. This is used to promote longevity and eventually reach immortality after death.

There's also deities to make sacrifices and offerings to, Lord Lao generally considered one of the chief among them.

> I'm embracing enlightenment and cultivating knowledge!

I suggest reading Taoism for Dummies. It's a great introducing to this ancient religion, and discusses a lot of the 2000 year history of Taoism in China.

Yup, I've got that on my Kindle too... The latter half of Taoist Meditation has a few mutually conflicting texts juxtaposed right next to each other, which can be confusing if you're not already grounded in a meditation practice. Thomas Cleary is probably my favourite translator of Taoist texts, although I haven't really got into his translation of the Tao Te Ching thus far, because it's very different from this version I have which is extremely poetic and uses a beautiful flowing typography :)

Tao Te Ching

Are these the books? Tao te Ching and the book of Ecclesiastes