Whatcha readin'

[Stickyhands Man]

Originally posted by Graag

Interesting, I used to read it religiously (pun), and decided to dig it up again a couple of days ago. I love that sh*t!

41. Taoism
----------

When the strong learn Tao, they practice it diligently;
When the average learn Tao, they practice it sometimes;
When the weak learn Tao, they laugh out loud;
Those who do not laugh do not learn at all.

Therefore it is said:
Who understands Tao seems foolish;
Who progresses in Tao seems to fail;
Who follows Tao seems to wander.

So the greatest force appears vulnerable;
The brightest truth appears coloured;
The richest character appears incomplete;
The strongest heart appears meek;
The most beautiful nature appears fickle;

So the square, perfected, has no corner;
Art, perfected, has no meaning;
Sex, perfected, has no climax;
Form, perfected, has no shape.

So Tao can not be sensed or known:
It transmits sensation and transcends knowledge.

Tao Te Ching (Interpolation by Peter A. Merel)

I've just started The book of Chuang Tze and I've got The book of Lieh Tze to read as well.

[Graag]

I've just started The book of Chuang Tze and I've got The book of Lieh Tze to read as well.

What are these books you speak of?
My understanding is that the Tao Te Ching was (probably) written by Lao Tzu. If I remember correctly that Chuang Tze bloke wrote some more on the subject several centuries later... think I didn't like his stuff when I read it though. Bit convoluted.

[Stickyhands Man]

The book of Chuang Tze
Synopsis
A Chinese classic, the "Chuang Tzu" was written sometime in the 14th century BC, and consists of original teachings, stories, tales and jokes told by Master Chuang, as well as others which have coalesced round his name. It is considered second only to the "Tao Te Ching", but the two books coundn't be more different. Where the "Tao Te Ching" is distant and proverbial in style, the "Chuang Tze" buzzes with life and with insights, often with considerable humour behind them. "Chuang Tzu"'s development of what later became known as Taoism lies in his advocacy of change as fundamental to life, and of the desire to cling on to things as being the basic problem of suffering and fustration. His writing combines wisdom and wit, and does not present a case so much as engage in argument and debate with the reader

The book of Lieh Tzu
Reviewer: John Scott (bubastis@btinternet.com) from Ireland
Just about everyone knows about Lao-Tzu and his Tao Te Ching. Not so many know of Chuang-Tzu and his crazy wisdom. But fewer still seem to move on to the work of Lieh-Tzu. Written much later than the other works, it seems somehow less distant and an easier intro for the Western mind. While the tone has been described as darker, there's nevertheless a large helping of typically Taoist humour.

I'm ignorant of ancient Chinese, so I'm not really qualified to discuss the ability of the translator - but I do know that the result is easy to read, enjoyable, and seems to me to capture the spirit of the ol' wind-rider, Lieh-Tzu.

To those interested in what comes after Lao-Tzu and Chuang-Tzu, here is the answer - highly recommended!


From amazon.co.uk

[Graag]

Sounds inaaresting, Stickyhands, but I'm happy with the Tao Te Ching for the moment
What do you think of the Chaung Tze book?

[Immortal Wombat]

Bored of the Rings, I agree with monlith. Crap. It's funny for the first few pages, but it just goes on with the same jokes over and over again. The last half of it made me laugh once.

But Good Omens? I thought that was fairly good. There were a lot of much cleverer jokes in there as well as the more childish stuff.

[MattyBoy]

MattyBoy, yup. I've looked at something like 7 or 8 paperback forms of the Tao Te Ching, but I haven't bought any of them as I find Mr Merel's the most poetic.

Thankyou. I will come back to that link from time to time.

[Stickyhands Man]

Originally posted by Graag
Sounds inaaresting, Stickyhands, but I'm happy with the Tao Te Ching for the moment
What do you think of the Chaung Tze book?

The first chapter isn't bedtime reading, too confusing with all the 'this is, which also is not' etc

[monkspider]

Garfield has Nermal, the greatest comic strip character ever!

[mindseye]

Anthony Trollope, "Orley Farm"

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by monkspider
Garfield has Nermal, the greatest comic strip character ever!

Bill the Cat might have something to say about that.

ACK

[MattyBoy]

Graag, thanks for the Merel tip off.
I am changing my footer as a tribute to it.

[Zero]

Pornography. Because "I need to learn how to read. (w/ pornography)". - Master Shake, Auqa Teen Hunger Force-

[monolith94]

Good Omens was better than Bored of the Rings, but then again my expectations for it were much higher as well. Remember that this is NEIL GAIMAN and TERRY PRATCHETT we're talking about here!

[Graag]

Pleasure MattyBoy. Like the new sig, btw
I'm thinking of starting a Tao Te Ching thread at some point, I'd love to hear from other Taoists, and also some other people's opinions on the Tao Te Ching.

[devilmunchkin]

i was reading two at once, but i finished one today:
Good Scripts, Bad SCripts by Thomas Pope
and i'm working on
The vampire armand by anne rice