Way of Life According to Lao Tzu : An American Version [MM0043]

1962 MMPB, eighth printing, in nice tight clean condition. "The eighty-one sayings in this volume shine like gems-cut clear and beautiful in every facet . . . . This translation will stand as the perfect rendering of a classic work."-John Haynes Holmes. Lao Tzu was one of the greatest mystics of all time. Legend tells us that he was immaculately conceived by a shooting star. Confucius, who met him only once, likened him to a dragon, the one creature in all creation whose ways he would never understand. Some hold that Lao Tzu was not one man but many men, and the work attributed to him, the Tao Teh Ching, the product of many minds over many centuries. But whether or not the Tao Teh Ching, here presented as The Way of Life, is the author's own matters little. From its original in sixth-century B.C. China it has come down to us as one of the most powerful testaments ever written to man's fitness in the universe.

The basis of Taoism, one of the world's great religions, the Tao Teh Ching has been translated more frequently than any other work besides the Bible. Articulating the way of poise, serenity, and complete assurance, it teaches us how to work with the invisible forces of nature, the psyche, and the soul for a more successful life. Not passive contemplation, but creative quietism is the Way of Lao Tzu, and it has never been more relevant than it is today.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Ancient wisdom for today. I sure wish the governments of today would read and learn from this slim volume of wisdom. Much, especially in the USA, would be different if our leaders had wisdom."; "I was first exposed to this translation more than 50 years ago. Interpreted by a Santa Fe poet, Witter Bynner, who had previously collaborated on other works from the Chinese language, this thin volume is a masterpiece. The language is often straightforward and simple, a distillation of subtle and profound thought that I have found to be largely obscured by most other English interpretations. Over the decades I have given copies as gifts to close friends on special occasions. This version may not resonate with everyone, but it has touched me and many others deeply. Whether this is your first exposure to Lao Tzu or you're an old hand, this book is not to be missed!"; "A great philosophy and approach to life packaged in a book that can be read in an afternoon, though I feel that it's going to take many afternoons of reflection for me to fully grasp some of the concepts discussed."; "there's so much wisdom in this book! a great read."