Is "Tao Te Ching" by Lao Tzu
>From www.thetao.info <http://www.thetao.info/> In ancient China about 2500 years ago, the keeper of the Imperial Library, Lao Tzu, was famous for his wisdom. Perceiving the growing corruption of the government, he left for the countryside. On his way, the guard at the city gates asked Lao Tzu to write out the essence of his understanding to benefit future generations. Lao Tzu wrote the Tao Te Ching, left, and was never heard of again. The Tao Te Ching (also called "The Tao", "The Dao" or the "Dao De Jing"), by Lao Tzu, is one of the most influential books in history. It is the source of famous Chinese sayings such as "Those who know do not speak, those who speak, do not know" "Even a 1,000 mile journey starts with a single step". Chapter 1 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. Here's one I've been reading that includes the complete works of Lao Tzu: "Tao Teh Ching" & "Hua Hu Ching" translated by Taoist Master Ni Hua Ching The Tao Teh Ching is one of the most frequently translated and most cherished works in the world. This ancient Chinese classic, written around 500 B.C, presents the core of Taoist philosophy and provides a bridge to the subtle truth as well as a practical guideline for natural and harmonious living. It is generally believed that Lao Tzu left behind only a single work, the Tao Teh Ching. Few people are aware that some of his later teachings were recorded (also around 500 B.C) in a book entitled the Hua Hu Ching. During a time of political turmoil in the 14th century, all copies of this work were banned and ordered to be burned. Consequently, few, if any, complete and accurate copies exist today. Fortunately, the complete teachings of the Hua Hu Ching have been preserved through the oral transmission of generation after generation of Taoist Masters to their disciples. Master Ni, heir to that orally transmitted wisdom, has translated the Hua Hu Ching and also the Tao Teh Ching. Both works are now available in one volume, The Complete Works of Lao Tzu. Master Ni, Hua-Ching is fully acknowledged and empowered as a true Master of Tao. He is heir to the wisdom transmitted through an unbroken succession of seventy four generations of Taoist Masters from 216 B.C. As a young boy, he was educated by his family and then studied more than thirty one years in the high mountains of China becoming fully achieved in all aspects of Taoist science, metaphysics and arts. His teachings carry the essence of all ancient achievement. Here's the first chapter: Tao, the path of subtle truth, cannot be conveyed with words. That which can be conveyed with words is merely a relative conception. Although names have been applied to it, the subtle truth is indescribable. One may designate Nothingness as the origin of the universe, And Beingness as the mother of the myriad things. >From the perspective of Nothingness, one may perceive the gentle operation of the universe. >From the perspective of Beingness, one may distinguish individual things. Although differently named, Nothingness and Beingness are one indivisible whole. The truth is so subtle. As the ultimate subtlety, it is the Gate of All Wonders. There are many other translations, some are available online for free to read or download as pdf files @ http://www.stillness.com/tao/index.html <http://www.stillness.com/tao/index.html> and there are several other links with free downloads another free eBook @ http://www.beatrice.com/TAO.pdf <http://www.beatrice.com/TAO.pdf> or buy @ http://www.beatrice.com/wordpress/tao-te-ching <http://www.beatrice.com/wordpress/tao-te-ching> If you can talk about it, it ain't Tao. If it has a name, it's just another thing. Tao doesn't have a name. Names are for ordinary things. Stop wanting stuff; it keeps you from seeing what's real. When you want stuff, all you see are things. Those two sentences mean the same thing. Figure them out, and you've got it made.
