Tao Te Ching

Creativity Poetry & Quotes
#1

Fifteen

The ancient masters were subtle, mysterious, profound, responsive.
The depth of their knowlege is unfathomable.
Because it is unfathomable,
All we can do is describe their appearance.
Watchful, like men crossing a winter stream.
Alert, like men aware of danger.
Courteous, like visiting guests.
Yielding, like ice about to melt.
Simple, like uncarved blocks of wood.
Hollow, like caves.
Opaque, like muddy pools.

Who can wait quietly while the mud settles?
Who can remain still until the moment of action?
Observers of the Tao do not seek fulfillment.
Not seeking fulfillment, they are not swayed by desire for change.

#2

In the last few months I’ve enjoyed the ‘Tao Te Ching’ translated by Jonathan Star.
My favorite verse from Tao Te Ching is Verse 9.

Grabbing and stuffing-
there is no end to it

Sharpen a blade too much
and its edge will soon be lost
Fill a house with gold and jade
and no one can protect it
Puff yourself with honor and pride
and no one can save you from a fall

Complete the task at
Be selfless in your actions
This is the way of Heaven
This is the way to Heaven

P.S. The last word in the Verse is ‘Heaven’ and I haven’t read other translations of the ‘Tao Te Ching’ but I wonder if other translaters (this one was Jonathan Star) chose a different word.

#3

Thank You

Translation by Gia Fu Feng

Nine

Better stop short than fill to the brim.
Oversharpen the blade, and the edge will soon blunt.
Amass a store of gold and jade, and no one can protect it.
Claim wealth and titles, and disaster will follow.
Retire when the work is done.
This is the way of heaven.

translation by S. Mitchell

9
Fill your bowl to the brim
and it will spill.
Keep sharpening your knife
and it will blunt.
Chase after money and security
and your heart will never unclench.
Care about people’s approval
and you will be their prisoner.

Do your work, then step back.
The only path to serenity.

  1. Retire
    Fill a cup to its brim and it is easily spilled;
    Temper a sword to its hardest and it is easily broken;
    Amass the greatest treasure and it is easily stolen;
    Claim credit and honour and you easily fall;
    Retire once your purpose is achieved - this is natural.

One of the best translations I have, and I have about 3 or 4, came from Beijing, but I do not have it with me at the moment so I cannot give the translation of 9 form it in this post

Note that when you are talking a Chinese Translation into English it can get very confusing to English speakers when translated. It translates to Heaven but it is not the same as what we think of by the western definition of heaven.

Much the same when Chinese gets translated into English and it reads as “Spirit” English speakers tend to take this as meaning spiritual but to the Chinese it is thought of as "mind

Also there are Translations that change the numbers around as well

#4

One

The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao.
The name that can be named is not the eternal name.
The nameless is the beginning of heaven and earth.
The named is the mother of ten thousand things.
Ever desireless, one can see the mystery.
Ever desiring, one can see the manifestations.
These two spring from the same source but differ in name;
this appears as darkness.
Darkness within darkness.
The gate to all mystery.