Post by stardustpilgrim on Dec 17, 2019 11:17:13 GMT -5
In January 1974 The Tao Te Ching, translation by Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English, was on the book list for a class. It was the large paperback with pictures by Jane English. I browsed a little, and bought at the college bookstore. When I got to my car I started at the beginning. I sat and read the whole thing, 81 short chapters. It grabbed me more than any other book initially found. (Think On These Things by J Krishnamurti was #1 up to that point, read about 1970). I recognized chapter 20 as myself, then and still. Since, I have looked at over 20 translations, the Gui-Fu Feng translation is still my favorite.
My paraphrase of chapter one. When you try to put the Tao into words, it becomes a tiny fraction of the Tao. (This is about minute 13 of the video, which begins with some history).
I was just looking up some Chuang Tzu quotes as response to a post, discovered these videos. English subtitles can be found bottom right, CC. I didn't really know Chuang Tzu until some years later reading Only Two Can Play This Game by G Spencer Brown (writing under the name James Keys, this found in notes at the end, from which I also discovered and ordered and read his Laws of Form). I then acquired and read Thomas Merton's The Way of Chuang Tzu, which he said was his favorite book. My favorite quote, (paraphrased), Words are used to convey meaning. When one understands the meaning, the words can be forgotten. Where is the man who has forgotten words? He is the one I would like to talk to. Other favorite stories, the turtle story, the story of the Woodwright, the useless tree, the empty boat, my favorite.
My paraphrase of chapter one. When you try to put the Tao into words, it becomes a tiny fraction of the Tao. (This is about minute 13 of the video, which begins with some history).
I was just looking up some Chuang Tzu quotes as response to a post, discovered these videos. English subtitles can be found bottom right, CC. I didn't really know Chuang Tzu until some years later reading Only Two Can Play This Game by G Spencer Brown (writing under the name James Keys, this found in notes at the end, from which I also discovered and ordered and read his Laws of Form). I then acquired and read Thomas Merton's The Way of Chuang Tzu, which he said was his favorite book. My favorite quote, (paraphrased), Words are used to convey meaning. When one understands the meaning, the words can be forgotten. Where is the man who has forgotten words? He is the one I would like to talk to. Other favorite stories, the turtle story, the story of the Woodwright, the useless tree, the empty boat, my favorite.