Tao Te Ching

The Essential Translation of the Ancient Chinese Book of the Tao

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About this listen

The original mindfulness book, in a landmark new translation by the award-winning translator of the I Ching and The Art of War

The most translated book in the world after the Bible, the Tao Te Ching, or “Book of the Tao,” is a guide to cultivating a life of peace, serenity, and compassion. Through aphorisms and parable, it leads readers toward the Tao, or the “Way”: harmony with the life force of the universe. Traditionally attributed to Lao-tzu, a Chinese philosopher thought to have been a contemporary of Confucius, it is the essential text of Taoism, one of the three major religions of ancient China. As one of the world’s great works of wisdom literature, it still has much to teach us today, offering a practical model based on modesty and self-restraint for living a balanced existence and for opening your mind, freeing your thoughts, and attaining greater self-awareness. With its emphasis on calm, simplicity, purity, and non-action, it provides a time-tested refuge from the busyness of modern life.

This new translation seeks to understand the Tao Te Ching as a guide to everyday living and encourages a slow, meditative reading experience. The Tao Te Ching’s eighty-one brief chapters are accompanied by illuminating commentary, interpretation, poems, and testimonials by the likes of Margaret Mead, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Dr. Wayne W. Dyer.

Lao TzuJohn Minford - translatorJohn Minford - introductionJohn MinfordEdoardo BalleriniPenguin Audio

Other Religions, Practices & Sacred Texts

Philosophy

Taoism

China

Ancient History

Eastern Philosophy

Other Religions, Practices & Sacred Texts Philosophy Taoism China Ancient History Eastern Philosophy

Critic reviews

“The power of the Lao-tzu’s imagery and, ultimately, the simplicity of its message seem to be able to overcome the problems of language and of distance in time and place, so that at the end of the twentieth century, this has become one of the most influential of texts, cherished by people in all walks of life throughout the world.” –from the Introduction by Sarah Allan

Most relevant

The actual Tao Te Ching (or Dao De Jing) is only 5,000 words, the length of a University essay. However, the meaning is abstract and if not difficult to decipher, at the very least difficult to absorb.
Therefore, Daoism, as the major indigenous religion of China is widely known, but comparatively less understood. The basic notions within Daoism is a philosophy of Harmony with nature, Harmony with others and this is to be achieved by subtlety and the concept of non-action.
Daoism in itself is not completed with the Tao Te Ching, the other texts are the book of Zhuang Zi and the book of Lie Zi, which receive mention within this text.
Daoism is not easy to understand, and simply reading the Tao Te Ching is far from enough, however the expansion and commentary take the reader further toward understanding Daoism than a simple reading if the text would.
The audio is very calm and nicely read, although is a little slow at times and can make it difficult to maintain interest at times.
Overall an interesting read or listen, and helps someway toward understanding Daoism, no easy task in itself.