Lao Tzu’s Poetic, Philosophical Treatise Tao Te...
Transcript of Lao Tzu’s Poetic, Philosophical Treatise Tao Te...
Page 1 of 49
Adaptation – of Volume 3 (chapters 13 - 18)
Lao Tzu’s Poetic, Philosophical Treatise
Tao Te Ching Volume 3 of 14 (Chapters 13-18)
Translated by Stephen Mitchell,
adapted and annotated
by Terton Lama: Jigme Gyatso, Rime Rinpoche
2019-a01-27b
Page 2 of 49
Adaptation – of Volume 3 (chapters 13 - 18)
Contents
Chapter 13……………………………………………....pg. 3
Chapter 14……………………………………………....pg. 13
Chapter 15……………………………………………....pg. 21
Chapter 16……………………………………………....pg. 31
Chapter 17……………………………………………....pg. 39
Chapter 18……………………………………………....pg. 46
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Adaptation – of Volume 3 (chapters 13 - 18)
Tao Te Ching
chapter Thirteen
Success
is as dangerous
as failure.
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Hope
is as hollow
as fear.
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What does it mean
that success
is as dangerous
as failure?
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Whether you
go up the ladder
or down it…
your position
is shaky.
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Adaptation – of Volume 3 (chapters 13 - 18)
When you stand
with your two feet
on the ground…
you
will always keep
your balance.
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Adaptation – of Volume 3 (chapters 13 - 18)
What does it mean
that hope
is as hollow as fear?
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Hope and fear
are both phantoms
that arise
from thinking
of the self.
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When we do NOT see
the self as Self,
what do we have
to fear?
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See the world
as your Self.
Have faith in the way
things are.
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Love the world
as your Self;
then you can care
for all things.
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Adaptation – of Volume 3 (chapters 13 - 18)
Tao Te Ching
chapter Fourteen
Look,
and it can NOT be seen.
Listen,
and it can NOT be heard.
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Reach,
and it can NOT be grasped.
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Above,
it is NOT bright.
Below,
it is NOT dark.
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Adaptation – of Volume 3 (chapters 13 - 18)
Seamless,
unnamable,
it returns
to the realm of nothing.
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Adaptation – of Volume 3 (chapters 13 - 18)
Form
that includes all forms,
image
without an image…
subtle,
beyond all conception.
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Approach it
and there is NO beginning;
follow it
and there is NO end.
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You can NOT know it,
but you can be it,
at ease
in your own life.
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Just realize
where you come from:
this
is the essence of wisdom.
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Adaptation – of Volume 3 (chapters 13 - 18)
Tao Te Ching
chapter Fifteen
The ancient Masters
were profound and subtle.
Their wisdom
was unfathomable.
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There is NO way
to describe it;
all we can describe
is their appearance.
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They were careful
as someone crossing
an iced-over stream.
Alert as a warrior
in enemy territory.
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Adaptation – of Volume 3 (chapters 13 - 18)
Courteous
as a guest.
Fluid
as melting Ice.
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Shapeable
as a block of wood.
Receptive
as a valley.
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Clear
as a glass of water.
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Do you have the patience
to wait
until your mud settles
and the water is clear?
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Can you remain
unmoving
until the right action
arises by itself?
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The sage
does NOT seek
fulfillment.
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NOT seeking,
NOT expecting,
she is present,
and can welcome
ALL things.
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Tao Te Ching
chapter Sixteen
Empty your mind
of all thoughts.
Let your heart
be at peace.
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Watch
the turmoil
of beings…
but contemplate
their return.
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Each separate being
in the universe
returns
to the common source.
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Returning
to the source
is serenity.
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If you do NOT realize
the source,
you stumble
in confusion
and sorrow.
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When you realize
where you come from,
you naturally become
tolerant, disinterested, amused…
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kindhearted
as a grandmother,
dignified
as a king.
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Immersed
in the wonder of the Tao,
you can deal
with whatever life brings you…
and when death comes,
you are ready.
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Tao Te Ching
chapter Seventeen
When the sage
governs…
the people
are hardly aware
that he exists.
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Next best
is a leader
who is loved.
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Next,
one
who is feared.
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The worst
is one
who is despised.
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If you do NOT
trust the people,
you make them
untrustworthy.
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The sage
does NOT talk,
he acts.
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When his work
is done
the people say:
“Amazing:
we did it,
all by ourselves!”
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Tao Te Ching
chapter Eighteen
When the great Tao
is forgotten,
goodness and piety
appear.
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When the body’s
intelligence
declines…
cleverness
and knowledge
step forth.
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When
there is NO peace
in the family…
filial piety
begins.
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When the county
falls into chaos,
patriotism
is born.