Tao te Ching

[liveforsnow2288]

Hi everyone,
I've recently checked out a few translations of the Tao te Ching and was wondering if anyone has suggestions on a good translation. I feel that alot of these translations are only doing partial justice to the true spirituality of this text.
Thanks,
Josh

[anamoly]

Headless Tao

I like this translation.

[supertom]

Originally Posted by anamoly

Headless Tao

I like this translation.

oooooo looks good, i think its best to look at a few translations, jack hawley ,maybe

[Ree]

Steven Mitchell's translation is excellent. He is, by the way, Byron Katie's husband

[dream23]

liveforsnow- speaking of snow,

theres snow outside my window, falling, twirling and dancing. The snow flake knows it's life is short lived, so it get's in as much dancing and twirling as it can. No ancipation or worries of falling, just dancing to the beat of the earth. Until eventually...SPLAT, right on my hand

Soz can't help with tao ching, just like your name, as it matched the snow outside my window. lol

[liveforsnow2288]

funny you guys should mention mitchell because that is the translation that i've enjoyed the most thus far

[Jamie]

Originally Posted by Ree

Steven Mitchell's translation is excellent. He is, by the way, Byron Katie's husband

So he is! I figured that connection out a while back, after googling Byron. Also, may well be worth while, is Derek Lin's traslation:

Accurate Translation of the Tao Te Ching

Buy it here:

Amazon.com: Tao Te Ching (Skylight Illuminations): Lao Tzu,Derek Lin,Lama Surya Das: Books

Taoism forum, where you can talk to Derek:

Tea House 2.0 :: View Forum - Applications

[Ree]

I agree. I think any translation is going to fall short of the true spirituality of the Tao. Not sure a mere unenlightened or only partially enlightened human can do justice......but one can certainly point us in the right direction.

[veranadine]

Wayne Dyer has just done a wonderful book that is not actually a translation of the Tao Te Ching but a practical guide on his understanding of it and how to apply it to your daily life.

It's called Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life

I also personally love the Tao of Pooh...silly to some, I know. But I found it inspiring.

Blessings,

[supertom]

Living the Wisdom of the Tao: The Complete Tao Te Ching and Affirmations

Amazon.com: Living the Wisdom of the Tao: The Complete Tao Te Ching and Affirmations: Wayne W. Dyer: Books

Best cover for a book I have seen( anybody know what type of art is it ??)

wayne dyer's next book is gonna be about the "I CHING" oldest book know to man.

[liveforsnow2288]

thanks alot for all the input guys, i'm definitely going to check these books out

[MartialDev]

Originally Posted by liveforsnow2288

Hi everyone,
I've recently checked out a few translations of the Tao te Ching and was wondering if anyone has suggestions on a good translation. I feel that alot of these translations are only doing partial justice to the true spirituality of this text.
Thanks,
Josh

Without being fluent in ancient Chinese yourself, would you have anything but your personal preferences to guide you towards the most "authentic" translation? Nothing wrong with preferences, but we ought to recognize them for what they are.

Ive seen more than a few instances where a "translator" inverted the meaning of the original text, to rationalize their own beliefs and behaviors.

[liveforsnow2288]

Originally Posted by MartialDev

Without being fluent in ancient Chinese yourself, would you have anything but your personal preferences to guide you towards the most "authentic" translation? Nothing wrong with preferences, but we ought to recognize them for what they are.

Ive seen more than a few instances where a "translator" inverted the meaning of the original text, to rationalize their own beliefs and behaviors.

I completely agree with what you're saying, but you can feel when a text is spiritually alive and some are more than others, and I believe these are the ones more true to the originals nature

[hkalchemy]

Effortless Wealth and Abundance
There is a translation by R L Wing which I like and have used for years. Not sure if it's still in print - it was second hand when I bought it years ago. It's called 'The Tao of Power.'

Did Allan Watts do a translation? Sounds like the kind of thing he would do.