Dao De Jing
The Dao De Ching is a Chinese classic text traditionally credited to the 6th-century BC sage Laozi, though the authorship, date of composition and compilation are in debate. In LP terms, the Teo Te Ching is part Aligment Manual and part Book of Emanation.[1]
Notes
Dao is a PROCESS as much as it is a thing. It is " most often translated as the “way”; according to various passages in the DDJ, Dao appears to be the way of nature (or the universe), the process of being in harmony with that way, the source that creates and nourishes all things, and absolute ultimate reality itself (and according to the opening lines of the first chapter, this description is completely inadequate);"
Three alternative Translations
Bruce Linnell - the most literal and careful, with lots of great notes. the author avoids as much as possible imposing his own systems of belief. Also includes a brief account of debates about authorship, multiple versions, etc.*
The Dao opens with an explicit statement on the nature of Dao and its relation to creation (i.e., it is the mother of all things)
"The Dao that can be trodden is not the enduring and unchanging Dao. The name that can be named is not the enduring and unchanging name. (Conceived of as) having no name, it is the Originator of heaven and earth; (conceived of as) having a name, it is the Mother of all things."
and continues with the guidance on how to attain Connection, whereby one might
The Dao De Ching is heavily filtered through a mind intent on using insights in defence of systems of government administration. The veracity of pronouncements may, as a consequence, be in question.
Elitism: "The ancients who showed their skill in practising the Dao did so, not to enlighten the people, but rather to make them simple and ignorant. The difficulty in governing the people arises from their having much knowledge. He who (tries to) govern a state by his wisdom is a scourge to it; while he who does not (try to) do so is a blessing. He who knows these two things finds in them also his model and rule. Ability to know this model and rule constitutes what we call the mysterious excellence (of a governor). Deep and far-reaching is such mysterious excellence, showing indeed its possessor as opposite to others, but leading them to a great conformity to him."[2]
Alignment: Various pronouncements on Right Action and Right Thought.
Cosmology: Pronouncements on the nature of Dao indicate it as a syncretic term for Undifferentiated Consciousness.
Footnotes
