A common space for harmonic peacemakers

81 Verses of Tao Te Ching

Information

I have personally been studying the 81 Verses of the Tao Te Ching since August 2007, choosing to gain a broader perspective by reading different versions by a diversity of authors.

In this group is an Index of links for each verse that will take you to any verse you wish to explore.

Members of this group are welcome to add their own favorites or comment upon those versions shared by me.

I have also included biographies for each of the various authors I have selected.

I recommend to you also the other Daoist/Taoist group here at PFTS, where you may gain an even broader perspective on Taoist thinking.

I have personally found studying these ancient 81 verses quite satisfying. I hope to write my own version of the Tao Te Ching from a naturalist/mystic's perspective someday.

It has been a joy to share the Tao Te Ching with you here. I have a deep appreciation of it's wisdom.

Deep Bows to ALL

who travel the Way -

Deb

Deborah Hart Yemm

Location: own way
Members: 10
Latest Activity: 1 minute ago

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Taoist Musings

I hope to someday write a version of the Tao Te Ching for my own self. I think that is a really great way to contemplate and absorb its deeper truths and wisdom. The "digital" format of other author's versions that exists here will be of help to me whenever I get around to that work. I am happy to be able to share these verses and the diverse versions with our PFTS community.

Even the well known Taoist, Deng Ming-Dao who lives in SF CA, admits that the Tao path attracts few followers. However it has attracted me strongly from my very first awareness of it. I find it to be a great complement to my practice of metaphysics. I have found the Tao to be very nature and metaphysically oriented. No wonder it has interested me !! I deeply appreciate any wisdom that can endure for so long - actually since ancient times - and yet is still relevant today.

I have found that by comparing several different versions I can comprehend the concepts at a deeper and more expansive level. Members here can chose to study the Tao by focusing only on one author's version at a time, or one verse at a time, or even jump around randomly using the index to zero in on a "key" word (the descriptive title for each verse came from Dr Wayne Dyer's version, which is my "foundation" for this study, augmented by other authors as Dyer did in his own study).

Feel welcome to simply go to whatever verse attracts you and begin you own study. You may also find that it is a worthwhile endeavor.

Discussion Forum

Verse 47 - Living by Being

Started by Eva Libre. Last reply by Eva Libre 2 minutes ago. 8 Replies 0 Likes

47th Verse Without going out the door,know the world.Without looking out the window,you may see the ways of heaven.The farther one goes,the less one knows. Therefore the sage does not venture forth and yet knows,does not lookand yet names, does not…Continue

Tags: Dr Wayne W Dyer, Verse-47, Tao-Te-Ching

Verse 46 - Living Peacefully

Started by Eva Libre. Last reply by Eva Libre 23 hours ago. 9 Replies 0 Likes

46th Verse When the world has the Way,running horses are retired to till the fields.When the world lacks the Way,warhorses are bred in the countryside. There is no greater loss than losing the Tao, no greater curse than covetousness,no greater…Continue

Tags: Dr Wayne W Dyer, Verse-46, Tao-Te-Ching

Verse 45 - Living Beyond Superficialities

Started by Eva Libre. Last reply by Eva Libre 23 hours ago. 9 Replies 0 Likes

45th Verse The greatest perfection seems imperfect,and yet its use is inexhaustible.The greatest fullness seems empty,and yet its use is endless. Great straightness seems twisted. Great intelligence seems stupid.Great eloquence seems awkward.Great…Continue

Tags: Dr Wayne W Dyer, Verse-45, Tao-Te-Ching

Verse 44 - Living by Knowing When to Stop

Started by Eva Libre. Last reply by Eva Libre yesterday. 9 Replies 0 Likes

44th Verse Which means more to you,you or your renown ?Which brings more to you,you or what you own ? I say what you gainis more trouble than what you lose. Love is the fruit of sacrifice.Wealth is the fruit of generosity. A contented man is never…Continue

Tags: Dr Wayne W Dyer, Verse-44, Tao-Te-Ching

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Comment by Rosmarie Heusser on Monday: ∼ Thank You, Eva for the invitation to join this group ∼

There is so much to read here that I feel quite overwhelmed!

I also studied the Tao Te Ching a bit many years ago...

Comment by Eva Libre on August 29, 2024 at 12:27pm: Happy to see you joining us, Janice, and all, in this study of very ancient wisdom that resonates as cleanly today, as it did so long ago . .

Comment by janice wilson on August 29, 2024 at 11:57am: wonderful group , sharing you have made

Comment by janice wilson on August 29, 2024 at 11:48am: I have several versions of the Tao Te Ching-- good wisdom .

Wisdom is within all our hearts, and we can find it when we live from our true being

Comment by Eva Libre on August 29, 2024 at 8:49am: This is so nice; and a fond reminder that I got my first taste of the Tao in the book by Benjamin Hoff - The Tao of Pooh and The Te of Piglet. I was astounded at the similarities in perspective, that Hoff pointed out. So, the image reminds me of my Taoist origins.

Comment by Eva Libre on August 29, 2024 at 8:48am: “To know the way,
we go the way,
we do the way.
The way we do,
the things we do,
it's all there in front of you.
But if you try too hard to see it,
you'll only become confused.
I am me and you are you.
As you can see;
but when you do
the things that you can do,
you will find the way.
The way will follow you.”

Benjamin Hoff ~The Tao of Pooh

Thank you for having this group. This was my first Tao introduction that I follow to help my career. It works. I look forward to learning the 81 verses.

Comment by Eva Libre on August 29, 2024 at 8:47am: 38

The Master doesn't try to be powerful;
thus he is truly powerful.
The ordinary man keeps reaching for power;
thus he never has enough.

The Master does nothing,
yet he leaves nothing undone.
The ordinary man is always doing things,
yet many more are left to be done.

The kind man does something,
yet something remains undone.
The just man does something,
and leaves many things to be done.
The moral man does something,
and when no one responds
he rolls up his sleeves and uses force.

When the Tao is lost, there is goodness.
When goodness is lost, there is morality.
When morality is lost, there is ritual.
Ritual is the husk of true faith,
the beginning of chaos.

Therefore the Master concerns himself
with the depths and not the surface,
with the fruit and not the flower.
He has no will of his own.
He dwells in reality,
and lets all illusions go.

Comment by Eva Libre on August 29, 2024 at 8:45am: In absolute Taoist fashion, it is said . . .

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
~ Lao-tzu, Chinese philosopher (604 BC - 531 BC)

Comment by Eva Libre on August 29, 2024 at 8:44am: Welcome. It will take some time to fill in content here. I am grateful to have company along The Way.