Reddit Reddit reviews Lao-tzu's Taoteching

We found 14 Reddit comments about Lao-tzu's Taoteching. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.

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14 Reddit comments about Lao-tzu's Taoteching:

u/CaseyAPayne · 4 pointsr/taoism

Here's my favorite. Nice introduction. Included the Chinese. The best part is it has commentary to "great Chinese thinkers" which illustrates how multidimensional the text is. Even among greater historic figures in Chinese history there is no consensus. The power of the book is in its ability to turn your personal experience into principles to govern yourself.

https://www.amazon.com/Lao-tzus-Taoteching-Lao-Tzu/dp/1556592906

u/grayisthenewgrey · 4 pointsr/taoism

I like the red pine translation:

http://www.amazon.com/Lao-tzus-Taoteching-Lao-Tzu/dp/1556592906/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320331188&sr=8-1

and ursula le guin's:

http://www.amazon.com/Lao-Tzu-Tao-Te-Ching/dp/B001HZ1VOG/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1320331225&sr=1-2


in my opinion its always good to read a few different different translations of the same passage to really get at the thing. each translation is informed by the translators time place understanding and belief in the source material, which i find interesting to cross compare.

the daodejing is collection of classical chinese poems, and those are very modal for lack of better word. in a very rough description, classical chinese poems consist of loosely connected nouns and descriptors devoid of syntax leading to a purposive ambiguity necessitating the reader to in effect finish the poems themselves. so it is literally the entire point of the daodejing that it doesn't mean one exact thing in particular, but loosely describes a sentiment we finish in our minds.

u/hecha · 3 pointsr/taoism

For each chapter in Red Pine's book he includes the Chinese characters, his translation, and a page-full of select interpretations from well-known commentators. Just to clarify - a single translation but a handful of interpretations.

http://www.amazon.com/Lao-tzus-Taoteching-Lao-Tzu/dp/1556592906

u/TheFuzz · 3 pointsr/taoism
u/Ludakrit · 3 pointsr/MGTOW

Check out a book called "The Mind Illuminated". It's a pretty comprehensive roadmap.

As for gaining perspective in general, I'd recommend picking up a copy of the Taoteching. (My favorite currently is https://www.amazon.com/Lao-tzus-Taoteching-Lao-Tzu/dp/1556592906/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1518794667&sr=8-2&keywords=tao+te+ching+red+pine )

It's a book that has inspired many for thousands of years, and Taoism has many interesting influences in popular culture. (The Big Lebowski, The Matrix, Star Wars, etc...) Additionally Leibniz (The creator of Binary Code) was inspired by the I Ching. The Taoteching is a bit easier to get into though, and it's a book you can reference and re-read infinitely and keep getting new interesting insights from.

u/Coraticum · 2 pointsr/JordanPeterson

I really like Red Pine's translation:
https://www.amazon.com/Lao-tzus-Taoteching-Lao-Tzu/dp/1556592906/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1500945121&sr=8-1&keywords=red+pine+tao+te+ching
It seems to be that the popular Stephen Mitchell translation has a lot of embellishment and is not true to the original (among the Taoist scholars I have talked to). But there are many translations! So perhaps buy a few and see for yourself.

u/dharmadoor · 2 pointsr/zen

Unlocking the Zen Koan: A New Translation of the Zen Classic Wumenguam has been helpful. Also, reading Red Pine's translations and commentary on the The Platform Sutra: The Zen Teaching of Hui-neng, Heart Sutra and Diamond Sutra. Although many people speak of the influence of the Lankavatara on Zen, I find it very difficult to read, even Red Pine's fairly approachable translation. But, the idea of "no views" and "no perceptions" was helpful, and "to speak of [this] to to speak of not [this]". Those themes come up often in koans. And studying Lao Tsu helps. Despite what the "not zen" crowd says, a background in Mahayana Buddhism and Taoism, and some historical background really does help a lot. Currently reading Ordinary Mind as the Way: The Hongzhou School and the Growth of Chan Buddhism and The Hongzhou School of Chan Buddhism in Eighth- through Tenth-Century China to get some background on Mazu's lineage. Like many westerners, I used to think koans were just about derailing rational thought. While that is useful, now I also see some patterns, a certain amount of "sense", and more experiences of "of course". Easier koans like, it is your mind that moves help with the more difficult ones. Another helpful one is What are you doing? What are you saying?.

u/Chizum · 2 pointsr/taoism

This is the one I just got at the beginning of summer, translated by Red Pine.

u/ludwigvonmises · 1 pointr/zen

I always recommend engaging with primary source works (translated, naturally...), but some people are not ready to grapple with Yuanwu's collection of koans or with Linji yet.

Some initial works to start out:

u/somlor · 1 pointr/taoism

Consider the classic Daodejing. There are many, many translations. My personal favorites are Liu Ming, Red Pine and Ellen Chen.

u/ForestZen · 1 pointr/taoism

The red pine edition is excellent and has extended interpretations. https://www.amazon.com/Lao-tzus-Taoteching-Lao-Tzu/dp/1556592906

u/mostlygaming · 1 pointr/taoism

I recommend Lao-Tzu's Taoteching by Red Pine multiple perspectives on each passage.

u/On32thr33 · 1 pointr/askphilosophy

For Eastern thinkers, a good place might be Red Pine's translation of the Taoteching . He offers a lot of commentary from different sources next to each verse