The Tao has no biases, being unconditionally available to all beings who want to live according to its teachings.īecause it’s beyond the comprehension of human beings, the workings of the Tao can’t be described or understood, only experienced. It was never born or created, and, therefore, it can never die or be destroyed. Also known as the “Great Mother,” it paradoxically creates nothing while offering infinite energy to all beings, nurturing and caring for them.Īs an omnipresent entity, the Tao is eternal and infinite. It’s the guiding energy that lives within us and connects us to everything around us. Older than any deity, the Tao is the natural order of the universe. This summary is structured thematically, with each section pulling information from various sections of the text to best explain the ideas introduced in the work. The piece is written as poetry and, as such, even Taoist scholars have different perspectives on what the language represents. While we have done our best to research the text and offer an accurate representation of the Tao Te Ching, areas of this summary are based upon interpretation. This summary is based on the Stephen Mitchell translation, which modernizes much of the text.
The Tao Te Ching is one of the foundational texts of Taoism, written between the 4th and 6th centuries. The book discusses the nature of the Tao, objectivity and balance, non-action, and harmonious living.Ĭontinue on for more information about the Tao Te Ching. The spiritual text was written as a poem and has been translated and interpreted by many over the years. The Tao Te Ching is the foundational text of Taoism. What does the Tao Te Ching teach? What are the beliefs and virtues of Taoism?
TAO TE CHING TRIAL
Like this article? Sign up for a free trial here. Shortform has the world's best summaries and analyses of books you should be reading. This article is an excerpt from the Shortform book guide to "Tao Te Ching" by Lao Tzu.
0 kommentar(er)
