Today’s Recommendation: Tao Te Ching as a Guide to an Awakened Spiritual Life

A Path and a Practice:
Using Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching
as a Guide to an Awakened Spiritual Life
by William Martin
★★★★★

The Tao Te Ching—one of the most loved and widely translated books in human history—has appeared in countless English-language versions. But no modern translation has yet captured the essential thrust of Lao Tzu's work as a practical guide to living an awakened life. Now William Martin, whose acclaimed previous reinterpretations of the Tao (for parents, couples, and elders) have introduced or reacquainted this classic text to thousands of readers, strikingly translates the Tao's eighty-one chapters to uniquely address someone on a Tao—or path—with a practice. Martin frames his new translation with two illuminating, groundbreaking sections: "A Path," which introduces the Tao's nonlinear construction and explains how it works its themes; and "A Practice," which provides practical guidance for readers exploring each of the Tao's themes in depth. Martin's genius in this new translation uncovers how directly the Tao speaks to readers on or about to embark on a spiritual journey.

read more

review ad 201205

Today’s Recommendation: Sitting with Lao-Tzu

Sitting with Lao-Tzu:
Discovering the Power of the Timeless,
the Silent, and the Invisible
in a Clamorous Modern World
by Andrew Beaulac
★★★★★

This book is about a way of return to one’s own true life.

In any society, ancient or modern, which has made busyness a virtue, lost itself in pursuing the accumulation of power, knowledge, and material goods, and finds its only way forward to be into increasing complexity and a one-sided quest for incessant growth, people find their lives displaced, and long for a return to authenticity, freedom, and simplicity. Returning to one’s true life is returning to pure being-ness. This book will introduce anyone newly exposed to Lao Tzu to a wisdom that we already know on at our deepest level, but seem to have forgotten on the turbulent and distracted level of everyday living. Includes a new translation of the Tao Te Ching with attention to the recently discovered Ma-Wang-Dui texts.

read more

review ad 201108

Daily Insight: The Extraordinary Will Take Care of Itself

“Do not ask your children
to strive for extraordinary lives.
Such striving may seem admirable,
but it is the way of foolishness.
Help them instead to find the wonder
and the marvel of an ordinary life.
Show them the joy of tasting
tomatoes, apples and pears.
Show them how to cry
when pets and people die.
Show them the infinite pleasure
in the touch of a hand.
And make the ordinary come alive for them.
The extraordinary will take care of itself.”

― William Martin, The Parent's Tao Te Ching:
Ancient Advice for Modern Parents

book ad recommendation 200619z

Words of Wisdom for Dec. 19, 2019: Lao Tzu: Die Without Loss

“If you understand others you are smart.
If you understand yourself you are illuminated.
If you overcome others you are powerful.
If you overcome yourself you have strength.
If you know how to be satisfied you are rich.
If you can act with vigor, you have a will.
If you don't lose your objectives you can be long-lasting.
If you die without loss, you are eternal.”

― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

post ad 191219z

Words of Wisdom for Dec. 3, 2019: Tao Te Ching on Humility and Leadership

“All streams flow to the sea because it is lower than they are.
Humility gives it its power.

If you want to govern the people, you must place yourself below them.
If you want to lead the people, you must learn how to follow them.”

― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

review ad 191203z

Words of Wisdom for Nov. 17, 2019: Tao Te Ching on Knowing Yourself

“Knowing others is intelligence;
knowing yourself is true wisdom.
Mastering others is strength;
mastering yourself is true power.”

― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

ad 191117z

Words of Wisdom for Oct. 17, 2019: Lao-Tzu on Simplicity, Patience, Compassion

“Simplicity, patience, compassion.
These three are your greatest treasures.
Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of being.
Patient with both friends and enemies,
you accord with the way things are.
Compassionate toward yourself,
you reconcile all beings in the world.”

― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

ad 191017z

Words of Wisdom for Aug. 13, 2019: Lao Tzu on Self Mastery

“Knowing others is wisdom;
Knowing the self is enlightenment.
Mastering others requires force;
Mastering the self requires strength;
He who knows he has enough is rich.
Perseverance is a sign of will power.”

― Lao Tzu
Tao Te Ching

19031

Daily Dharma July 14, 2019 Lao-Tzu

“When the Master governs, the people
are hardly aware that he exists.
Next best is a leader who is loved.
Next, one who is feared.
The worst is one who is despised.

If you don't trust people,
you make them untrustworthy.

The Master doesn't talk, he acts.
When his work is done,
the people say, "Amazing:
we did it, all by ourselves!”

― Lao-Tzu, Tao Te Ching

19001