![]() Though unlikely to displace Stephen Mitchell's popular rendering of the Tao, this volume will delight spiritual seekers and devotees of Taoism, while also making a lovely gift. The most widely translated book in world literature after the Bible is Lao-tzu's Tao Te Ching, or Book of the Way, the classic manual on the art of living. Hamill's poetry is complemented by Kazuaki Tanahashi's dramatic calligraphy, with 18 original representations of words or characters. ![]() The Tao-literally, "the way"-resists being nailed down or put in a box and mastered. To wit, this lovely meditation: "It's best to be like water, nurturing the ten thousand things without competing, flowing into places people scorn." And yet Hamill does not seek to drain the text of its mystery. Hamill has rendered the Tao Te Ching afresh his translation from the Chinese is achingly poetic. People should "cling to no treasures," but rather devote themselves to a pure disinterestedness, becoming most truly themselves when they achieve selflessness. Lao Tzu meditates on breath, enjoining the reader to practice breathing like a baby reflects on hsu, or emptiness juxtaposes heaven and earth and soberly reminds readers of their mortality. Pico Iyer The most widely translated book in world literature after the Bible, Lao-tzus Tao Te Ching, or Book of the Way, is the classic manual on the art. Lao Tzu's classic Chinese text from the sixth century BCE has much to teach us today. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |