Blog
Not Forcing “Tao Te Ching” verse 29 for Artists
Tao Te Ching Verse 29* Those who wish to take the world and control it I see that they cannot succeed The world is a sacred instrument One cannot control it The one who controls it will fail The one who grasps it will lose Because all things: Either lead or follow...
Accept Yourself “Tao Te Ching” verse 28 for Artists
Verse 28* Know the masculine, hold to the feminine Be the watercourse of the world Being the watercourse of the world The eternal virtue does not depart Return to the state of the infant Know the white, hold to the black Be the standard of the world Being the...
Master or Student? “Tao Te Ching” verse 27 for Artists
I want to share with you a "Tao Te Ching" verse 27 for Artists which resonates with me. Mor often then not when I read this verse I find myself pondering master or student relationship. Chapter 27* Good traveling does not leave tracks Good speech does not seek...
Remaining Centred “Tao Te Ching” verse 26 for Artists
Verse 26* Heaviness is the root of lightness Quietness is the master of restlessness Therefore the sages travel an entire day Without leaving the heavy supplies Even though there are luxurious sights They are composed and transcend beyond How can the lords of ten...
The Greatness of Everything “Tao Te Ching” verse 25 for Artists
Verse 25* There is something formlessly created Born before Heaven and Earth So silent! So ethereal! Independent and changeless Circulating and ceaseless It can be regarded as the mother of the world I do not know its name Identifying it, I call it "Tao" Forced to...
Self Promotion “Tao Te Ching” verse 24 for Artists
Verse 24 Those who are on tiptoes cannot stand Those who straddle cannot walk Those who flaunt themselves are not clear Those who presume themselves are not distinguished Those who praise themselves have no merit Those who boast about themselves do not last Those with...
Know When It Is Enough “Tao Te Ching” verse 23 for Artists
Verse 23* Sparse speech is natural Thus strong wind does not last all morning Sudden rain does not last all day What makes this so? Heaven and Earth Even Heaven and Earth cannot make it last How can humans? Thus those who follow the Tao are with the Tao Those who...
Yield To Be Whole “Tao Te Ching” Verse 22 for Artists
Verse 22* Yield and remain whole Bend and remain straight Be low and become filled Be worn out and become renewed Have little and receive Have much and be confused Therefore the sages hold to the one as an example for the world Without flaunting themselves – and so...
Beyond the Appearances “Tao Te Ching” Verse 21 for Artists
Verse 21* The appearance of great virtue Follows only the Tao The Tao, as a thing Seems indistinct, seems unclear So unclear, so indistinct Within it there is image So indistinct, so unclear Within it there is substance So deep, so profound Within it there is essence...
Alone, Yet Content “Tao Te Ching” Verse 20 for Artists
Verse 20* Cease learning, no more worries Respectful response and scornful response How much is the difference? Goodness and evil How much do they differ? What the people fear, I cannot be unafraid So desolate! How limitless it is! The people are excited As if...
Simplicity “Tao Te Ching” verse 19 for Artists
Verse 19* End sagacity; abandon knowledge The people benefit a hundred times End benevolence; abandon righteousness The people return to piety and charity End cunning; discard profit Bandits and thieves no longer exist These three things are superficial and...
Remembering The Way “Tao Te Ching” verse 18 for Artists
Verse 18* The great Tao fades away There is benevolence and justice Intelligence comes forth There is great deception The six relations are not harmonious There is filial piety and kind affection The country is in confused chaos There are loyal ministers This verse...
The Art of Leading “Tao Te Ching” verse 17 for Artists
Verse 17 The highest rulers, people do not know they have them The next level, people love them and praise them The next level, people fear them The next level, people despise them If the rulers' trust is insufficient Have no trust in them Proceeding calmly, valuing...
Returning to The Source “Tao Te Ching” verse 16 for Artists
Verse 16* Attain the ultimate emptiness Hold on to the truest tranquility The myriad things are all active I therefore watch their return Everything flourishes; each returns to its root Returning to the root is called tranquility Tranquility is called returning to...
Learning From the Masters “Tao Te Ching” verse 15 for Artists
Verse 15 The Tao masters of antiquity Subtle wonders through mystery Depths that cannot be discerned Because one cannot discern them Therefore one is forced to describe the appearance Hesitant, like crossing a wintry river Cautious, like fearing four neighbors Solemn,...
Tao Te Ching for Artists Links
To facilitate the access, I am creating this page of links to my interpretations of Lao Tzu's "Tao Te Ching" through my heart/mind (verse by verse), geared towards the artist, towards creating...But aren't we all Artists...isn't Creating what life is all about? As I...
Admiration of the Profound “Tao Te Ching” verse 14 for Artists
Verse 14* Look at it, it cannot be seen It is called colorless Listen to it, it cannot be heard It is called noiseless Reach for it, it cannot be held It is called formless These three cannot be completely unraveled So they are combined into one Above it, not...
Success or Disgrace? Tao Te Ching verse 13 for Artists
Verse 13* Favor and disgrace make one fearful The greatest misfortune is the self What does "favor and disgrace make one fearful" mean? Favor is high; disgrace is low Having it makes one fearful Losing it makes one fearful This is "favor and disgrace make one...
Less Is More “Tao Te Ching” verse 12 for Artists
Verse 12* The five colors make one blind in the eyes The five sounds make one deaf in the ears The five flavors make one tasteless in the mouth Racing and hunting make one wild in the heart Goods that are difficult to acquire make one cause damage Therefore the sages...
The Empty Space “Tao Te Ching” verse 11 for Artists
Verse 11* Thirty spokes join in one hub In its emptiness, there is the function of a vehicle Mix clay to create a container In its emptiness, there is the function of a container Cut open doors and windows to create a room In its emptiness, there is the...
Is It Possible? “Tao Te Ching” verse 10 for Artists
Verse 10* In holding the soul and embracing oneness Can one be steadfast, without straying? In concentrating the energy and reaching relaxation Can one be like an infant? In cleaning away the worldly view Can one be without imperfections? In loving the people and...
Moderation “Tao Te Ching” verse 9 for Artists
Verse 9* Holding a cup and overfilling it Cannot be as good as stopping short Pounding a blade and sharpening it Cannot be kept for long Gold and jade fill up the room No one is able to protect them Wealth and position bring arrogance And leave disasters upon...
Flow Like Water “Tao Te Ching” verse 8 for Artists
Verse 8* The highest goodness resembles water Water greatly benefits myriad things without contention It stays in places that people dislike Therefore it is similar to the Tao Dwelling with the right location Feeling with great depth Giving with great kindness...
To Create Selflessly “Tao Te Ching” verse 7 for Artists
Verse 7* Heaven and Earth are everlasting The reason Heaven and Earth can last forever Is that they do not exist for themselves Thus they can last forever Therefore the sages: Place themselves last but end up in front Are outside of themselves and yet...
The Creative Source “Tao Te Ching” verse 6 for Artists
Verse 6* The valley spirit, undying Is called the Mystic Female The gate of the Mystic Female Is called the root of Heaven and Earth It flows continuously, barely perceptible Utilize it; it is never exhausted The valley of the spirit (that quiet, pure space...
Never Exhausting Emptiness “Tao Te Ching” verse 5 For Artists
Verse 5* Heaven and Earth are impartial They regard myriad things as straw dogs The sages are impartial They regard people as straw dogs The space between Heaven and Earth Is it not like a bellows? Empty, and yet never exhausted It moves, and produces more Too many...
The Empty Space “Tao Te Ching” verse 4 For Artists
Verse 4* The Tao is empty When utilized, it is not filled up So deep! It seems to be the source of all things It blunts the sharpness Unravels the knots Dims the glare Mixes the dusts So indistinct! It seems to exist I do not know whose offspring it is Its image is...
Non Action “Tao Te Ching” verse 3 for Artists
Verse 3 Do not glorify the achievers So the people will not squabble Do not treasure goods that are hard to obtain So the people will not become thieves Do not show the desired things So their hearts will not be confused Thus the governance of the...
Opposites Create Each Other “Tao Te Ching”, verse 2 for Artists
Verse 2 When the world knows beauty as beauty, ugliness arises When it knows good as good, evil arises Thus being and non-being produce each other Difficult and easy bring about each other Long and short reveal each other High and low support each other Music...
No Name “Tao Te Ching”, verse 1 for Artists
Verse 1* The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao The name that can be named is not the eternal name The nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth The named is the mother of myriad things Thus, constantly without desire, one observes its essence...
Tao Te Ching for Artists
Happy Chinese New Year On the dawn of the Chinese New Year (the year of the Horse), I have decided to take a big challenge. I am going to try to interpret Tao Te Ching (or Dao De Jing), the ancient Chinese text by Lao-tzu. This will also help me to re-visit the...