A Thousand Names for Joy: Living in Harmony with the Way Things Are

Book Description

In her first two books, Byron Katie showed how suffering can be ended by questioning the stressful thoughts that create it, through a process of self-inquiry she calls The Work. Now, in A Thousand Names for Joy, she encourages us to discover the freedom that lives on the other side of inquiry.
Stephen Mitchell—the renowned translator of the Tao Te Ching—selected provocative excerpts from that ancient text as a stimulus for Katie to talk about the most essential issues that face us all: life and death, good and evil, love, work, and fulfillment. The result is a book that allows the timeless insights of the Tao Te Ching to resonate anew for us today, while offering a vivid and illuminating glimpse into the life of someone who for twenty years—ever since she “woke up to reality” one morning in 1986—has been living what Lao-tzu wrote more than 2,500 years ago.
Katie’s profound, lighthearted wisdom is not theoretical; it is absolutely authentic. That is what makes this book so compelling. It’s a portrait of a woman who is imperturbably joyous, whether she is dancing with her infant granddaughter or finds that her house has been emptied out by burglars, whether she stands before a man about to kill her or embarks on the adventure of walking to the kitchen, whether she learns that she is going blind, flunks a “How Good a Lover Are You?” test, or is diagnosed with cancer. With her stories of total ease in all circumstances, Katie does more than describe the awakened mind; she lets you see it, feel it, in action. And she shows you how that mind is yours as well.

Customer Reviews:

A thousand ways it's fabulous.......2007-09-15

I usually buy these kinds of books but then only read the first and last chapters. I not only read this entire book, I truly enjoyed it. She's the real deal, Ms. Byron Katie. I've never attended a workshop of hers, but I feel like I know her already. And her exercises have really started to change my life.

Striking insight into the mind of a woman who lives beyond attachment.......2007-09-05

Mindfulness practices and philosophies often say, "Be happy, and accept what Is. Be present." *cynical snort* Easy to say, impossible to do. The Devil is daily life. Sure, the Dalai Lama is serene. He meditates seven hours a day, has all his physical needs provided for by others, and needn't deal with any daily details. And he's celibate--no spouse to help him get dressed ("Oh, Tenzin, surely you're not wearing the maroon robes, again!"), and no teenage kids. Who couldn't be serene with that gig?

What's remarkable about Byron Katie is that she's serene in the midst of the modern, 21st century world. She has kids, a husband, an ex-husband, and an international business.

In this book, she attempts to put into words what it's like, living in her world. Yeah, she talks about life and death and grand universal concepts. Yada yada yada. There are a thousand masters who'll tell you about that.

Katie offers something infinitely more valuable: a glimpse into daily life. What is it like to get out of bed when you're not attached to thoughts like "I have things to do?" What thoughts go through her mind? How about when she does the dishes? Or when she trips on her way to answer the front door? What if she's mugged at gunpoint? Or her child dies? Or what if she's struck by a degenerative eye disease while writing the book? How does that change (or not) her world?

Some of her perspectives on life are familiar. Some are vastly different from anything you've heard. Yet her world makes sense, and even though I'm not there yet, it sounds like an infinitely joyous, loving world worth living in.

If Katie isn't a truly free, non-attached woman, she does the most convincing imitation I've ever heard. Buy the audiobook for a look into her world.

This book does NOT teach you The Work, her method of inquiring into your thoughts to reach this state of joy. For that, check out her book/audiobook Loving What Is, which includes facilitation sessions with real people using The Work.

Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life

The Real Deal.......2007-08-25

Katie is the Real Deal, a clear mind experiencing heaven on earth and living with absolute integrity.

Her previous book, "Loving What Is", is the textbook which tells you in disarmingly simple terms how to get there yourself. In my opinion, it is the Alpha and Omega of all truth texts.

A Thousand Names For Joy gives a further glimpse into what life is like in that clarity. It gives me further incentive to go back to the simple instructions in the first book and Do The Work.

Caution: If you want to stay the same, read something else.
Once these concepts and questions start seeping into your consciousness, we're talking about a revolution.

Enjoy!

An Amazing Book.......2007-08-08

This is an amazing book from an enlightened woman...she tells you what it is like to see the world thru her perception. WOW!

Daily exercise.......2007-08-06

The chapters are small so this is a great book to read a chapter every day and get a positive jolt of energy. It's a wonderful way to transform one's life.

Average customer rating:

wow
Waste of A Tree
Can one understand Tao Te Ching without examples?
easy to read and understand tao
Inner Peace

Tao Te Ching, 25th-Anniversary Edition
Lao Tsu
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0679776192
Release Date: 1997-03-04

Amazon.com

Scholars say that the original Tao Te Ching is a poem. Like a poem, this version of the Tao Te Ching is not meant to be read in one breath from front to back, but is to be at intervals internalized and contemplated. Jane English's haunting black-and-white photos that undulate in and out on every page act as glycerin elixirs, helping the words slide into our souls for patient digestion. The photographs--of a glistening spider web, cloud-enveloped mountain tops, reflections on water, leaves in the sunlight--are as serenely lyrical as the ancient text, itself.

Book Description

Available for the first time in a handy, easy-to-use size, here is the most accessible and authoritative modern English translation of the ancient Chinese classic. This new Vintage edition includes an introduction and notes by the well-known writer and scholar of philosophy and comparative religion, Jacob Needleman.

Customer Reviews:

wow.......2007-09-21

its a great way to center your mind and reflect daily! No matter where you are in your life each passage pertains to you in one way or another. I hope everyone buys a copy and is as moved daily as I am!

Waste of A Tree.......2007-09-11

In the name of art (I assume) some poor tree gave its life for a lot of empty space, black and white photos, words of questionable value, and a book too large to fit most book shelves. All could have been done in a 59 cent pamphlet.

Can one understand Tao Te Ching without examples?.......2007-08-20

This is a nice translation, but I doubt that one can understand the essence of Tao Te Ching without knowing how to practice the philosophy. For example, I have been studying Tao Te Ching and practicing Tai Chi (which implements the philosophy of Tao Te Ching) and Qi-Gong (meditation) for two decades, and always thought I understood the essence of Tao Te Ching. However, only after I studied Warren Buffett's philosophy did I suddenly realize the real power of Taoism Warren Buffett and Tao Te Ching: A Modern Investor and an Age-Old Philosophy. While I am not sure whether Warren Buffett has ever read Tao Te Ching (he has never quoted Tao Te Ching), he practices essentially the same principles of Taoism (desirelessness, inactivity, thrift, contentment, noncompetition, humility, etc) in his daily life, business management and investment. I have read numerous annotations by ancient Chinese scholars and Taoists, and found no one has been able to put these principles into practice so successfully like Warren Buffett, (ironically) a western investor who has never read the original scripture of Tao Te Ching.

easy to read and understand tao.......2007-05-16

This is the most concise and practical version/translation of the tao I have yet to encounter. if you are interested in practical and insightful readings of the Tao this is your version. It is not complicated like some of the other versions. The authors english words are modern, not like other translations that require a translation of it to understand it (alister's version). Another bonus of this book is the amazing pictures that accompany each of the passages, these can really help with image meditation.

Inner Peace.......2007-05-13

The words and phrases cause thoughtful reflection and as one reads there is a feeling that evolves like brook water over stones - it is centering. A wonderful addition - bedside comfort at its best.

Tao Te Ching: A New English Version (Perennial Classics)

Average customer rating:

Always new
A fine translation if some fine thinking
A wonderful companion to A Thousand Names for Joy
mini tao
I love audio books!

Tao Te Ching: A New English Version (Perennial Classics)
Lao Tzu
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial Modern Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0061142662
Release Date: 2006-09-05

Book Description

In eighty-one brief chapters, Lao-tzu's Tao Te Ching, or Book of the Way, provides advice that imparts balance and perspective, a serene and generous spirit, and teaches us how to work for the good with the effortless skill that comes from being in accord with the Tao—the basic principle of the universe.

Stephen Mitchell's bestselling version has been widely acclaimed as a gift to contemporary culture.

Download Description

Lao-tzu's Tao Te Ching, or Book of the Way, is the classic manual on the art of living, and one of the wonders of the world. In eighty-one brief chapters, the Tao Te Ching looks at the basic predicament of being alive and gives advice that imparts balance and perspective, a serene and generous spirit. This book is about wisdom in action. It teaches how to work for the good with the effortless skill that comes from being in accord with the Tao (the basic principle of the universe) and applies equally to good government and sexual love; to child rearing, business, and ecology.

Stephen Mitchell's bestselling version has been widely acclaimed as a gift to contemporary culture.

Customer Reviews:

Always new.......2007-09-16

This book can be read over and over. Every time it is a fresh new experience.

A fine translation if some fine thinking.......2007-09-15

A fine translation. For the new entrant, perhaps seeking that second book to follow the Tao of Pooh, or for an old friend of the Master, Stephen Mitchell's contemporary English translation get's it right. From the comfortably blended gender pronoun usage, to it's succinct but engaging notes, Mitchell's translation carries Lao-tzu's wisdom to 21st century English speakers with grace. The pocket edition is entirely sufficient to the task.

A wonderful companion to A Thousand Names for Joy.......2007-09-03

The author is Byron Katie's husband, and she used this version of his book to provide the structure for her wonderful, poetic muse on life and The Work, her brilliant take on how to accept reality and set yourself free (first described in Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life.)

My wife and I read the section from the Tao, then the corresponding chapter from Katie's book (most are less than a page to 3-4 pages) every morning at breakfast. Always leaves us with a smile of insight and wonder, even in those times when we don't exactly know how we'd live the way she describes in a given chapter.

Unless you insist on a literal translation from the Chinese as mentioned above, this is a fresh and clean way to experience the Tao, and, if you get Katie's book (I'm buying both today for my daughter), you'll get a nice synergistic reward from experiencing the two together, day by day.

mini tao.......2007-09-01

A personal library must-have. Small enough to carry everywhere. Simple wisdom. Prerequisite to Wayne Dyer's "Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life"

I love audio books!.......2007-05-22

I like to listen in my car and always hear something new. What a beautiful book. thanks!

The Tao of Leadership: Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching Adapted for a New Age

Average customer rating:

The essence of modern leadership knowledge
If Only the Business World Would Read This Book
The Tao of Leadership: Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching Adapted for a New Age
Can't Lead Without It
Great Source, Bad Translation

The Tao of Leadership: Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching Adapted for a New Age
John Heider
Manufacturer: Humanics Publishing Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0893340790
Release Date: 2005-03-16

Book Description

The Tao of Leadership is an invaluable tool for anyone in a position of leadership. This book provides the most simple and clear advice on how to be the very best kind of leader: be faithful, trust the process, pay attention, and inspire others to become their own leaders. Heider's book is a blend of practical insight and profound wisdom, offering inspiration and advice.

Customer Reviews:

The essence of modern leadership knowledge.......2007-04-24

In this great book, you will find the essence of Level 5 leadership ("Good to Great" by Jim Collins), the core principles espoused by Steven Sample in "The Contrarian's Guide to Leadership," and the leader-as-water concept echoed in Peter B. Vaill's "Learning as a Way of Being: Strategies for Survival in a World of Permanent White Water." Indeed, this small text contains a bookshelf-worth of leadership wisdom. I only wish that the book editor and corrector were a bit more diligent and took out the numerous typos, before this book was published.

If Only the Business World Would Read This Book.......2007-04-08

Every person in a leadership role, every boss, every CEO--in fact, everyone needs to read this book. If big companies as well as small would practice the concepts in The Tao of Leadership, this world would be a much, much nicer place to live in. -- Sam Yulish, author of WHERE HAVE ALL THE HIPPIES GONE? and THE HESITANT PSYCHIC.

The Tao of Leadership: Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching Adapted for a New Age.......2006-07-25

Nice little book to keep on hand for those trying times. Has lots of very relevant points - you just have to stop, think and put it in context for you.
It's also a book that allows you to look at the world around you and see the impact others have on their environment (some good & some bad) - again you have to stop, think and observe.

Can't Lead Without It.......2003-12-20

I've used this book for over 10 years as my leadership support tool. As General Manager of a $200MM business, I need perspective and support on a daily basis - and Heider's book provides it. I love that the persective is NOT a management flavor of the week, but a view on leadership that stands the test of time.

I've given this book as a gift to peers, friends, and family for years - just purchased copies last week for my new staff. It provides us with a common framework and a vision of where we're taking our organization.

Thanks, Heider, for great thoughts, great lessons, and great leadership!

Great Source, Bad Translation.......2002-09-10

I have read several translations of the Tao Te Ching and was very disappointed in this read. I feel as if much of the strengths from the original text are lost in this author?s choice of words and examples. This translation loses the beauty and appreciation of nature that the original texts focused on. (He refers to calculators and computers in some instances) I was also bothered by his addition of the Christian understanding of God as a character in his translations. Over all I really recommend finding a better translation than this to read if you are a first timer. (such as translation by Victor H. Mair) It is a bit more of a heavy read but caries over the interesting paradoxes that make the ancient document so intriguing.

Customer Reviews:

A Cornerstone of Sorts.......2002-06-18

The three way comparison format (english translation, cultural translation, and reasoning for translation based on historical and linguistic fact) and the dry, reserved language give this book the cut to access unique tumblers in the most difficult of locks. LeFargue and his students (he mentions them adding their understanding) paint meaning and understanding like a watercolor, with each layer's contribution plainly visible, rather than the masking qualities of psuedo-scientists' day-glo acrylic or the holistic turtles' enamel pastels. Triangulating one's own understanding from a single source is an unusual treat. For a rational and restrained mind the fit is magic and the bolt of suspicion is thrown back (or a rough slide for some). All the same its the only book in its genre I've been able to wholly admire.

Meaningful text or Rorschach test?.......2001-03-17

Michael LaFargue says the Tao Te Ching is the former even though it's often treated as the latter.

According to LaFargue (my paraphrase), there are two ways to read the Tao Te Ching, just as there are two ways to read any text.

The first -- the one taken by any number of readers of Lao-Tzu, including some "translators" whom LaFargue doesn't name and I won't either -- is to point your face at it and sort of see how it makes you, like, _feel_, you know?

The second, and the one LaFargue favors, is to place the text in the context for which it was written and try to understand what its writer or speaker would have intended by it.

This is the approach LaFargue uses in order to produce his excellent (and thoroughly annotated and cross-referenced) translation of the Tao Te Ching. He also, in an extremely helpful essay on hermeneutics, discusses this approach at length and explains the context in which he believes the text to have been written.

I won't try to discuss every topic he covers, but one extremely helpful point is his identification of much of the text as what he calls "compensatory wisdom." On his view, some of the Tao Te Ching's pithy sayings are intended not as metaphysical speculation but only as counters to contrary human tendencies. (When we say that "a watched pot never boils," we surely do not mean that if you sit there and watch a pot, it will literally _never_ boil. We are merely warning against a common tendency to rush things that can't be rushed.)

This seems to me to be right on the money, and indeed to be pretty widely applicable to Oriental religious literature including the Bible. It is the right way, for example, to read the book of Proverbs, and some of Jesus's sayings from the Christian New Testament as well.

LaFargue's volume, then, may be of interest both to readers of Lao-Tzu and to readers of the Jewish and Christian Bibles. In discussions of "biblical inerrancy" and such, it is too often forgotten that the Bible is ancient Near Eastern literature and therefore not written to modern Western European standards. Inerrantists and religious "liberals" alike could surely profit from greater appreciation of this point; many apparent contradictions just disappear (and so do some theological creeds) once we understand that the text isn't _always_ offering us metaphysical principles.

In any event, widespread reading of LaFargue's book might spare us another spate of ill-considered screeds on "the Tao of" this, that, and the other thing. What a relief that would be.

Inspiring contextualisation and translation: perfect........2000-04-05

As an anthropologist, constantly confronted with hermeneutics and the interpretation of culturally unknown texts and social situations and as a former student of chinese language and philosophie I can only strongly recommend this book. It is -by far- the best translation and interpretation I have ever read. Crucial to the the understanding of teh tao te qing is a good and profound explanation of the historical and social setting of the work and its probable authors. Lafargue has achieved this wonderfully. Strongly recommended...

The Parent's Tao Te Ching: Ancient Advice for Modern Parents

Average customer rating:

A gentle reminder of our job as parents
a beautiful book
the best gift for new parents.
perfect
A Mom's Perspective

The Parent's Tao Te Ching: Ancient Advice for Modern Parents
William Martin
Manufacturer: Marlowe & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1569246629

Book Description

William C. Martin has freshly reinterpreted the Tao Te Ching to speak directly and clearly to the most difficult of modern tasks -- parenting. With its combination of free verse and judicious advice, The Parent's Tao Te Ching addresses the great themes that permeate the Tao and that support loving parent- child relationships: responding without judgment, emulating natural processes, and balancing between doing and being.

Customer Reviews:

A gentle reminder of our job as parents.......2007-07-12

I love this book and have started giving it as a gift to new parents. We get so caught up in our modern, busy lives and sometimes our children pay the price for that. This book is filled with wise words and insight that will help a parent, who may be questioning how to raise a child in this challenging world, see clearly and do what is right for their child.
Your child's journey is theirs to experience, whether you like the direction of their journey or not. The Tao will help you put into perspective what really matters in the relationship between parent & child. I keep this book by my bed and read it when I am need of some inspiration (translation - OFTEN!)

a beautiful book.......2007-07-05

I've read a lot of parenting books, and surprisingly enough this simple book has been the most helpful. I'm sending a copy to other mothers I know.

the best gift for new parents........2007-05-15

i can read this book daily and get something new out of it each time. a great gift for any parent.

perfect.......2007-03-13

I attempt to parent listening to my intuition as my primary guide. This is not to say that advice from friends and family and words from books can't be just the thing I need at any given time. Thing is, most of the books I've looked at just don't do it for me. I'm not saying they don't contain gems, even if they're Gina Ford!, but this book...

...is only gems. Every page opens at the perfect words I need...or my Baby father need. It's funny how we open the book ramdomly on such totally different pages.

Note: I'm sure you could read this book in order, but It's not that kind of book really.

p.s. another book I found very helpful as well is 'The Science of Parenting', by Margot Sunderland.

A Mom's Perspective.......2006-08-29

I love this little guide. It's so beautifully written and helps me return to the the really important aspects of parenting: honoring each child's individuality and letting go of control. I read one or two passages each morning to remind me that I have a choice in how I interact with my children. This little guide is a must have if you feel the world is spinning a little too fast.

Average customer rating:

A bargain at ten times its price
Nice overview but maybe too abstract
Great book.
I'll recommend this book to anyone interseted in improving your life and inner strength!!!
For Taichi players, meditators, chi healers, Tao seekers, et al ....

Chi: How to Feel Your Life Energy
Waysun Liao
Manufacturer: Taichi Tao Productions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 097654542X

Product Description

Master Liao takes you on a step-by-step journey allowing you to reconnect with your feeling of life energy. Once you can feel your Chi, you can learn to flow your life energy and strengthen it, using it to help yourself and others through healing, feng shui, spiritual readings, and more. Through the ancient wisdom of the Tao, explained in simple terms, Master Liao offers specific instructions in breathing techniques and moving meditation. Armed with the truth about Chi, you can regain your lost connection to your life energy and restore your True Self.

Customer Reviews:

A bargain at ten times its price.......2007-07-02

The transformative effect this book initiated in my Tai Chi/ Qigong practice of thirteen years has been invaluable. Master Liao's emphasis on chi awareness and cultivation stands in sharp contrast to that of many teachers who focus on a sequence of memory - stretching postures, i.e., placing quantity above quality. That being said, I would foreworn readers that at least several weeks to months of consistent practice may be necessary for most individuals to begin to realize the benefits of Master Liao's teaching.

Nice overview but maybe too abstract.......2007-05-27

To start with I cannot claim authority in Chi perception. I have had little experience of feeling my own chi energy through Taiji and Qigong practice over the past 4 years. So I am pretty much a novice. I have also practiced karate in the past and kenjutsu for a while but I stuck with taiji.

Being a novice could imply that I am generally impatient, but I do strive to put in hours of practice to feel my chi. However I do like PRACTICE instead of WORDS.

So, when it comes to books, I like those that cut through the generic comments and get to the point. I found that the book "Chi: how to feel your life energy" was a bit obfuscated with generic descriptions regarding how good it will be when I feel again my life energy. I found that the book would even get artistic at times describing the feeling of the chi. Comments like "Like a crystal of extremely pure diamonds, very dense and clear, when you reach high intensity of mind, it will be capable of reflecting light at full strength." (p. 88) are nice but kind of useless... I think. I would rate that the most important part of the book makes up for 50% of its volume. The practical exercises are effective but still very few and only appear at the very end of the book. I would expect this book to be filled with more exercises, but then I am warned in the book (p. 97) that I can "order a video or DVD " to help me learn these forms and others from [..] etc.

This latter part is also something I sensed about this book: it feels like a commercial teaser. You get the basics and you have to start buying more and more to learn more (if you, like me, live very far away from taichitaocenter's location). I do not like books that function as teasers. They seem to come again and again to the same point and never to the core theme.

I would expect a book like this to be probably slightly bigger in volume, cut some of the generic descriptions (we get the point alright?) and show more practice photos and descriptions to be taken on by the readers that want to try things out. Then maybe a DVD could come in handy and welcome if the reader cannot get the rhythm or other details for the exercises.

Maybe other people (like the other reviewers) feel differently... so make your own opinion ;-)

Kind regards

Ilias

Great book........2007-05-14

Easy read. I like the lay out of the book. It is very well organized and concise. It gets to the important stuff fast.

I'll recommend this book to anyone interseted in improving your life and inner strength!!!.......2007-01-16

I have been involved in several Martial Arts (=that always include the harmony of your inner spirit/Chi/QI/"Your Trueself" for over 30 years...
This book is easily read and yet comprehensive to understand for anyone (also readers without MA experience). Interesting, clarifying in a simple way, written by a master and if you use the recomended applications - they
will change your road in life forever.
Mats Fondelius, from USA/Sweden

For Taichi players, meditators, chi healers, Tao seekers, et al ...........2005-11-09

This book is probably the only one I've found that answers the real questions: "What is chi? Where did it come from? and, what can you do with it?" While the last section of the book illustrates some basic taichi exercises that anyone can do at home, the content would be valuable to those studying acupuncture, herbal medicine, meditation, or chi healing as well -- not just taichi students. Warning: This book looks and sounds deceptively simple, but inside are some pretty intense statements about the Tao, the nature of life and mind and the soul which aren't the usual stuff. It will definitely challenge you to expand your views on taichi and Taoism. Since I like that type of challenge, I give this five stars.

Average customer rating:

Simple, cheap....no suffering (-:
a very useful beginning
Simple is best.
Beautiful translation
If I were stranded on a desert island...

Tao Te Ching [Text Only]
Lao Tsu , Jane English , and Jacob Needleman
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0679724346
Release Date: 1989-08-28

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

Simple, cheap....no suffering (-:.......2007-07-06

Sample the taoic tradition and a nice price so your wallet
doesn't go thru samsara.

a very useful beginning.......2007-02-13

the tao is a beautiful book, i would love to be able to read it in its original chinese. it seems to me that this book is water elemental, it emphasies bending, descending, humility, gentleness. i say that it is a useful befginning because this book... worked at can really aid one in beginning to free up ones mind. it can also be a useful tool in showing one what the ego is.

i say that it is a beginning because water is not the only element. water represents life (the water of life) and peace, but requires the other three elements in order to avoid its stagnation. fire (love/male producing light 'penetrates' darkness), gold (beauty/stability/male/bright), air (freedom/female/sometimes darkness). water represents peace which primarily is about balance, since it is in the nature of water, when undisturbed by the other elements, to balance out, balance brings peace. the strength of water is its ability to compromise (bend in order to be straight), to become dirty and impure and then through the other elements to become repurified. water can never be totally corrupted. it can always be re-purified.

in my opinion, the tao misses out on the extremes and passions of loves fire, it ignores the potential of golds beauty and airs freedom (though it can be a useful tool in leading towards this freedom of thought). it is however very strong on the element of water. the tao helps you to take the 'obvious', what one takes as given truths about reality and life and to question them. through the tao, one can begin to see that there are benefits on both sides of an opposite. the tao would say... be foolish in order to be wise. for most people this is seen as ridiculous, but there really is something in this statement.

the tao would also say "he who speaks does not know" and there is truth in this, whilst common knowledge says "he who speaks knows", of course there is truth in both of these statements. when i speak, i learn more about my subject, in a sense, in giving i receive. at the same time though not speaking may be beneficial too. i think that there is a time to speak and a time not to speak. the tao can aid one in learning when not to speak. (this is akin to the silence of ''the mystical theology of dionysius).

the tao says that the more you know the less you know, there is truth in this too, and the philosopher Carl Popper was possibly influenced by this aphorism. however it would not do to forget that the emptiness of water (crystal clarity as with air) is only half of the equation. without knowledge one will lack warmth. the ''thought'' that generates clouds in the mind, also represents warmth of flames, and generates love or anger in the heart. if one can observe ones thoughts, one can also observe and thus influence ones feelings (without force).

i think that the important thing is not to take the tao blindly as some sort of cosmic or mystical truth of the universe. it is a tool, in my mind to help one see the benefits of both sides of any coin (though it tends to appear one sided), but especially in recognising the ego, and recognising our desire to protect ourselves. if you take the water element of the tao and fixate on it you will be out of balance, and in my opinion, restrained.

as i see it air's freedom is also implied in this book, like a leaf in the wind it is something the tao points/guides towards, it does not exclusively exemplify waters qualites, though as i have said it does extoll the virtues of water. "water is like the highest good, it does not resist its enemies and settles in places where no one else would (ie, low places)."

whilst extolling water in its liquid state, it does not look at the virtues of ice, snow or steam.

one of the problems with the tao te ching is that people can become entrapped in its web. initially it is very helpful, like a thorn used to remove a thorn, but if stuck to, one will find oneself living a life that is not natural. not thinking, not working, not speaking etc etc, all useful excercises in the short run, but very stifling if adhered to. i would say... once you have tasted this book, realise that it is not the tao, it only points towards the tao. if stuck to religiously you will be 10,000 miles from the true tao. if you seek to embody the real meaning behind this book, just be yourself, or dont be yourself, either way, you are still being yourself!

perhaps the tao te ching is a little simplistic and one sided, it can however be a very useful tool to initiate growth for someone young in the exploration of the mind, heart and life in general, a brilliant book to read. do not be discouraged by my words from reading this little book, this is why i have given it a high four stars. if one wishes to start a journey of a thousand miles it must begin with a single humble little step. one doesnt try to fly before one can walk.

i am not a taoist, but would love to know more about how taoists approach the tao te ching. how they interpret it etc etc. i guess that as with anything in this life, there are different schools that approach it and other scriptures in various different ways. if anyone could enlighten me on this... please post a reply at the bottom of this article. it must be remembered that i approach this text without any other taoist knowledge and so my understanding of the tao is probably misguided. i guess that the nearest i have come to real taoism is in zen/ch'an buddhism, but there may be big diffences in approach between zen and tao.

i found this translation was inspiring, i also enjoy the penuin translation.

love, snow-flake. xxx

Simple is best........2006-12-31

Of the many translations of the Tao Te Ching I've read, this is the one I consider to be the finest. It's not scholarly (for that Ellen M. Chen's version is worth looking at), it's not artificially modern (as are the versions by Ursula Le Guin or Stephen Mitchell), it's just a simple clean presentation of the text with a short, but useful, introduction and end notes to flesh out each verse. The introduction and end notes have a decidedly Judeo-Christian slant, which might turn off some readers who want their Tao Te Ching with a purely Eastern flavour, but the translation itself is clear and apparently faithful to the original text.

The book also includes a very handy bibliography that describes the strengths of other available versions.

The other version that I'd strongly recommend is Witter Bynner's "The Way of Life According To Lao Tzu," which is more of an interpretation rather than a straight translation.

Beautiful translation.......2006-03-19

I have always found the Tao Te Ching to be a very clear guide for life. I own a few different translations and this is the one that I always come back to. It is translated with a poetic style that highlights the simplicity of the way. Because you can plumb this work to any depth of understanding you want, anything more than the minimal bacground would be arbitrary.

Also, I am probably alone here, but I recommend the book without the pictures, which I think artificially establish a mood that may not be appropriate for the chapter you're working through.

I would also emphasize that this translation is not for scholars. It does not contain a great deal of commentary or references to the myriad ways a given word or phrase could be translated.

If I were stranded on a desert island..........2006-01-20

This would be the only book I need to keep for the rest of my days here on earth. This book illustrates in the mind those tingling feelings I get when wading into a river. Instructions on how to live life...simple. The translation is much better than many I have read, less mechanic and utility, more art and poetry. Motivating, inspiring, insightful, and all encompassing, these chapters bring about a spiritual feeling and connection with the natural world and those around you. This book also contains advice for those in positions of power...W could learn a lesson here. Take this book wherever you go, never know where it will take you...

The Tao of Watercolor: A Revolutionary Approach to the Practice of Painting (Zen of Creativity)

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Wow!
Contains 30+ pages of interesting combinations of wash techniques...
A Must for Watercolorists!
Beautiful!
Fauvist Watercolor Wash

The Tao of Watercolor: A Revolutionary Approach to the Practice of Painting (Zen of Creativity)
Jeanne Carbonetti
Manufacturer: Watson-Guptill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0823050572

Customer Reviews:

Wow!.......2007-09-27

I have changed my entire approach to watercolors because I read this book. Yes, I enjoyed painting, yes, I love watercolors, but this book helped me free my vision and use of colors in self expression. I honestly felt that painting started to become a chore because of some unspoken expectation (in myself). I paint more freely and expressively with the help of Jeanne and I actually enjoy it even more. New vision and inspiration...

Contains 30+ pages of interesting combinations of wash techniques..........2007-06-14

...and a handful of very nicely executed paintings. The "tao" part of the book, however, has little to do with watercolor per se, and some of prose is a little fuzzy: "Whichever paper you choose, get to know it well. Allow your paper to speak to you. It will tell you when it's ready to fulfill your desire."

The emphasis is on wet-in-wet techniques, and applied to forested landscapes - in Ms. Cabonetti's talented hands - they often produce stunning results. This approach doesn't work quite as well with most of her other illustrative examples, though. The general wash terms and techniques are better described in other watercolor books, so I would recommend this one mainly for its very innovative and easy to learn approach to forested landscapes.

A Must for Watercolorists!.......2007-03-29

Jeanne Carbonetti has a beautiful refreshing style. She gives us wonderful instructions that are inspiring to all watercolor painters. A truly wonderful book.

Beautiful!.......2007-02-05

A friend of mine who is an artist showed me this book, and I instantly fell in love with the beautiful illustrations in it. I plan to try most of the water color techniques in the book--They look like great fun as well as creating wonderful results. The book arrived in excellent condition.

Fauvist Watercolor Wash.......2006-05-07

If you have read the other reviews, then you realize that this book is about painting watercolor washes. It's a welcome book for those of us who cannot draw well, as the author's technique almost completely eschews drawing. Rarely is even an outline drawing done prior to the painting. Basically, the paper is first covered with a very wet wash of two or three colors suggesting only the most general shape, if any. When that first wash has dried, it is covered with a second wash that vaguely suggests some kind of form... perhaps of flowers in a vase. In order to refine that form into something recognizable, some of the color of the second wash is tinted with additional water, or supplemented by dropping in concentrated pigment, all while the second wash is still damp. There is also the possibility of adding color glazes atop the painting or some portion of the painting after the washes have dried. The author also recommends a separate wash... or even several separate washes... for the purpose of adding both diffuse spatter and opaque, harder-edge spatter. There doesn't seem to be anything uncommon about this wash technique, and I have read it explained more articulately in a book titled "Acrylic Watercolor Painting" by Wendon Blake. So I conclude that The Tao of Watercolor's subtitle "A Revolutionary Approach to the Practice of Painting" is not appropriate. But while Mr. Blake's book is very instructive, the heartbreaker is that only 16 of its 115 images are in color. Ms. Carbonetti's book also presents many images, all of them in intense color, and many of them filling the entire page. There are about a dozen startlingly lovely paintings among them, but it is also clear that Ms. Carbonetti's technique is pretty much restricted to abstract landscapes and the occasional still life with flowers. It is unfortunately evident that portraiture is not particularly well suited to this technique. I don't recommend this book to someone new to watercolor painting, as there is some terminology (such as the phrase "pull out the edges") whose meaning is not self-evident. Although I have yet to read them, there is at least one book on watercolor wash per se, and at least one book on watercolor glazing per se. You might want to look through those before investing your money in this book. That is especially recommended in the event that you are not particularly interested in Eastern philosophy, as the author tries mightily to relate her painting technique to ancient Chinese proverbs. That works for some readers, and not for others.

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Find Enlightenment
The Best translation ever!
pristine translation
My first translation of the Tao Te Ching
clean read

Tao Te Ching
Lao-Tzu , and Burton Watson
Manufacturer: Hackett Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0872202321

Amazon.com

With this edition of the Tao Te Ching, an unlikely team of a Japanese art expert and a Greek translator pull off a uniquely powerful version of the text. If one thing marks the language of the original Tao Te Ching, it is linguistic spareness. Stephen Addiss and Stanley Lombardo are the first to succeed in duplicating the language in English, and although their search for just the right word occasionally goes far afield, they are mostly successful. The effect can be quite liberating as the full ambiguity of meaning comes through and you are afforded the freedom to interpret in a variety of ways. The translators also enhance the atmosphere of the book with Addiss's expressive calligraphy and the two lines in the original Chinese that are retained in each chapter. Addiss and Lombardo's rendering of the Tao Te Ching gets you right down into the primary source, and from there you're free to wander where you will.

Customer Reviews:

Find Enlightenment.......2007-09-25

This is a lovely translation of the Tao Te Ching. It maintains the style of the original Chinese instead of trying to force a meaning into verbose English. It also peppers the text with Chinese characters so readers with a background in Asian languages can derive their own meaning from the writing as well.

The Best translation ever!.......2007-08-28

This is the best translation of the ancient Book, because it respect the original lay out and meaning, when you'll read it you'll find that Li Earl (Lao Tse) was talking about meditative states of mind, that unless you enter on them you will never understand the true meaning of his words. So buy this book, and do Zazen or Taichi and then read it again.

pristine translation.......2007-05-21

I was very impressed with this version of the Tao Te Ching...it avoided modern-day vernacular and felt much closer to the original text. Furthermore, the translator's addition of lines of the text in Chinese (as well as the glossary of Chinese characters in the back) helps readers see how the translator came up with the right words for the book. 5 stars

My first translation of the Tao Te Ching.......2006-11-05

As stated above this is my first reading of the Tao Te Ching and by no means a expert on whether or not it is a accurate translation or not. But what I can say is that this is a easy-to-read text that flows with poetic beauty and ancient wisdom. The art on the pages only adds to the great atmosphere this text brings when reading it. If this is your first reading of the Tao Te Ching, I think you can have no worries in buying this version, the way the words move in this scripture gives me a idea that the translators knew what they were doing when translating this text. Recommended.

clean read.......2006-07-13

Addiss & Lombardo do a fantastic job with this text. They start with four goals, explained in detail, and do their best to work from there to create one of the most enjoyable Tao Te Ching reads there is. Here's a very brief list of the goals;
1. "First, we wanted to translate rather than explain the text"
2. "Second, we found that earlier translations, because they often paraphrased the text, tend to be verbose, extending the concise text into much longe sentance patterns"
3. "Third, we have completely avoided gender specific pronouns"
4. Fourth, they have one carefully selected line of transliteration to each section to allow the user to interpret the meaning on their own.

The goals themselves are basic, but it shows what spirit went into the translation. By being concise and direct, book holds much of the mystery and nearly poetic form I can only assume the original texts held. Its just a delight to read. The intro in the beginning is also fantastic, as are the minimalist graphics and format. Maybe not for the scholars, but for anyone who wants to enjoy the Tao Te Ching, you cant go wrong with Addriss & Lombardo.

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