I stumbled upon this 'modern interpretation' of the Tao. It's written in street language with some saucy words thrown in - so warning.
I actually thought it cut through some of the complexity of standard translations - of which I've read a few. And it's actually funny in parts.
Some examples
1
If you can talk about it, it ain't Tao.
If it has a name, it's just another thing.
Tao doesn't have a name.
Names are for ordinary things.
Stop wanting stuff;
it keeps you from seeing what's real.
When you want stuff,
all you see are things.
Those two sentences mean the same thing.
Figure them out, and you've got it made.
4
How much Tao is there?
More than you'll ever need.
Use all you want,
there's plenty more where that came from.
You can't see Tao, but it's there.
Damned if I know where it came from.
It's just always been around.
15
The ancient Masters were damn impressive.
They were deep.
Real deep.
Words can't even begin to describe how deep they were.
You can only talk about how they acted.
They were careful, like a man walking on thin ice.
They were cautious, like a soldier behind enemy lines.
They were polite, like a guest at a party.
They moved quickly, like melting ice.
They were as plain as a block of wood.
Their minds were as wide as a valley, and their hearts as clear as spring water.
Can you wait for that kind of openness and clarity before you try to understand the world?
Can you hold still until events have unfolded before you do the right thing?
When you act without expectations, you can accomplish great things.
42
Chapter 42 starts out with some cosmic mumbo-jumbo
about Tao making one, one making two,
two making three, and three making everything else.
I don't know what it means,
and frankly,
I wouldn't worry about it too much.
Let's get to the practical part:
Men hate to be called powerless, insignificant, or unworthy,
but that's how Masters describe themselves.
Because when we lose, we've won.
And when we succeed, we've failed.
Other people will tell you what I'm telling you now:
"Live by the sword, die by the sword."
That's pretty much what Chapter 42 boils down to.
(See Chapter 46 for more details.)
I don't know how much truth or wisdom is in the Tao, but there seem to be some good bits - worth remembering.
Version download: _http://www.beatrice.com/TAO.pdf
I actually thought it cut through some of the complexity of standard translations - of which I've read a few. And it's actually funny in parts.
Some examples
1
If you can talk about it, it ain't Tao.
If it has a name, it's just another thing.
Tao doesn't have a name.
Names are for ordinary things.
Stop wanting stuff;
it keeps you from seeing what's real.
When you want stuff,
all you see are things.
Those two sentences mean the same thing.
Figure them out, and you've got it made.
4
How much Tao is there?
More than you'll ever need.
Use all you want,
there's plenty more where that came from.
You can't see Tao, but it's there.
Damned if I know where it came from.
It's just always been around.
15
The ancient Masters were damn impressive.
They were deep.
Real deep.
Words can't even begin to describe how deep they were.
You can only talk about how they acted.
They were careful, like a man walking on thin ice.
They were cautious, like a soldier behind enemy lines.
They were polite, like a guest at a party.
They moved quickly, like melting ice.
They were as plain as a block of wood.
Their minds were as wide as a valley, and their hearts as clear as spring water.
Can you wait for that kind of openness and clarity before you try to understand the world?
Can you hold still until events have unfolded before you do the right thing?
When you act without expectations, you can accomplish great things.
42
Chapter 42 starts out with some cosmic mumbo-jumbo
about Tao making one, one making two,
two making three, and three making everything else.
I don't know what it means,
and frankly,
I wouldn't worry about it too much.
Let's get to the practical part:
Men hate to be called powerless, insignificant, or unworthy,
but that's how Masters describe themselves.
Because when we lose, we've won.
And when we succeed, we've failed.
Other people will tell you what I'm telling you now:
"Live by the sword, die by the sword."
That's pretty much what Chapter 42 boils down to.
(See Chapter 46 for more details.)
I don't know how much truth or wisdom is in the Tao, but there seem to be some good bits - worth remembering.
Version download: _http://www.beatrice.com/TAO.pdf