The Essential Tao [Hardcover]

Thomas F. Cleary (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1998

Composed of two ancient Taoist classics that are proving remarkably appealing and relevant today, The Essential Tao delves into topics such as politics and economy, managing stress and health, and psychology and mysticism. "It is magnificent and grandiose, outrageous and funny, sharp and acerbic, dreamy and playful".--David Steindl-Rast, OSB.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Thomas Cleary presents original translations of the two ancient Chinese texts that describe the essential philosophy and practice of the Tao, or "universal way." The Tao Te Ching, Lao-tzu's classic anthology of sayings, poems, and proverbs, appears here in its entirety; Cleary's excellent, detailed notes to each of the 81 stanzas illuminate the more difficult verses and unfamiliar ideas. The first seven, or "inner" chapters of the Chuang-Tzu, those containing the essence of the Taoist master Chuang-tzu's teachings, are also presented, with accompanying notes explaining the philosophy and significance of the symbolic stories. Readers already acquainted with the two texts will find renewed enjoyment in the directness and simplicity of Cleary's translations, which are particularly pleasing to modern ears while losing none of the nuances of the originals. The well-known opening lines of the Tao Te Ching, for example, are given new life: "A way can be a guide, but not a fixed path; names can be given, but not permanent labels." And there is a clarity in the passages from the Chuang-Tzu not often found in other interpretations: "Who knows the unspoken explanation, the unexpressed Way? Among those who do know, this is called the celestial storehouse: we can pour into it without filling it, we can draw from it without exhausting it; and yet we don't know where it comes from." The subject matter of both texts ranges widely, from politics and economy to psychology and mysticism, addressing the needs and interests of a diverse readership. No less relevant today than when they were written more than 2,000 years ago, there is a "perennial currency" to these writings achieved by few of the world's great books. Cleary's readable introduction and notes provide an elegant frame that complements the quiet grandeur of these important texts. --Uma Kukathas

From Library Journal

This is a useful introduction to Taoism which incorporates the two major books on Chinese philosophy, Chuang Tzu and Tao Te Ching . The section on Chuang Tzu's teachings and the notes on the historical background of Taoism are excellent. However, in the translation of the Tao Te Ching , Cleary incorporates many words like passionless , inexhaustible , trustworthiness , frugality , uncontrived , presuming , domineering , etc. Simpler terms, as in Witter Bynner's rendering ( The Way of Life According to Lao Tzu , Putnam, 1989) or Jane English's translation ( Tao Te Ching , Random, 1989), seem to more clearly communicate the essence of this intuitive philosophy. However, this translation is still better than most available versions. This, with the combination of the two texts in one volume, makes Cleary's edition a desirable book for large collections. Notes on individual lines of text are included.
- Del Cain, V.A. Medical Ctr. Lib., Bedford, Mass.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 168 pages
• Publisher: Castle Books (January 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785809058
• ISBN-13: 978-0785809050
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,109,278 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #28 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Other Eastern Religions > Taoism
  • #28 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > Philosophy > Eastern > Taoism

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Way, April 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Essential Tao (Hardcover)

Any chance to read the Tao Te Ching, as well as get the essentials of Chuang Tzu under the same covers, must be celebrated. Unless you can read the Chinese original, you need many interpretations to gather a sense of the ineffable Dao, the Way of Life, and Cleary's is a worthy attempt. I like Feng/English and Mitchell's translations too, but in this case you also get a concise introduction to the whole of philosophical Daoism.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My intro to the Way..., June 10, 2003

By 

A. Ort "aorto" (Youngstown, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Essential Tao : An Initiation into the Heart of Taoism Through the Authentic Tao Te Ching and the Inner Teachings of Chuang-Tzu (Paperback)

This book holds fond memories for me. I carried it for a long time, perusing it occasionally, trying to get a hold of this thing called 'the Tao'. But, as with the Way of the Tao, one day I simply 'got it'. And this entire book made complete sense. My life would never be the same. There is before and after that moment. So for that I hold it in high regard.

As I've matured a bit and have become familiar with other translations, this one shows its limitations. It is a great introduction and Cleary obviously knows his stuff. But it is written with a Western (American?) audience in mind.

While all translations carry interpretation as well, this one leans more toward an interpretation, one tailored to a Western audience (though definitely not as tailored as others, e.g. Stephen Mitchell's). So while it does makes sense of the text it also rides that edge of losing something as well.

The inclusion of Chuang-Tzu also makes the book a great value. Chuang-Tzu brings great humor and insight to the Tao Te Ching. Cleary's translation is clear but is a bit scholarly (though I suppose it is difficult for anyone to bring out the playfulness of the text, thus Lao-Tzu's concept that 'if it can be explained it ain't the Tao').

There are some translation of certain lines that I prefer and find brilliant. For example, 'when everyone knows good as good, this is bad' adds a different twist to the traditional rendering of 'when everyone knows good as good, this is because bad is already there'. But there are other translations that yield the same gems. I literally have seven different translations. Yikes. For a Way that is supposed to be unspoken, there are certainly a lot of words about it.

All in all, though, this is a great starter. Make sure to add it to or add to it other translations to really seek the essence and, more importantly, to live it.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finding the Way, April 25, 2003

By 

FrKurt Messick "FrKurt Messick" (Bloomington, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Essential Tao : An Initiation into the Heart of Taoism Through the Authentic Tao Te Ching and the Inner Teachings of Chuang-Tzu (Paperback)

Thomas Cleary, a recognised and respected scholar on Eastern religions and philosophies, is an acknowledged master also of translation from classic Chinese and Japanese tests. If one seeks out English translations of `The Taoist I Ching' or `The Art of War,' Cleary's version is probably the edition most likely to be found.

Thus, the work in this book, `The Essential Tao,' an initiation into the heart of Taoism through the authentic `Tao Te Ching' and the inner teachings of `Chuang Tzu,' carries a great pedigree. It fully lives up to expectations. These two works, which together describe the essentials of the philosophy and practice of Tao, impart great wisdom and insight, and Cleary's translation keeps much of the distinctiveness of the original Chinese.

The `Tao Te Ching' and `Chuang Tzu' cover a wide array of topics, from traditionally religious subjects such as mysticism, spirituality, morality, and cosmology, to more practical matters such as politics, economics, and even how to manage stress in a stress-filled world (which may account for the rise in popularity of Eastern philosophies as we hurry toward a 24-hour non-stop economy).

`Few of the world's great books have achieved the perennial currency of these writings. Countless readers have found endless fascination and enlightenment in the pregnant aphorisms and fantastic allegories of these ancient texts.'

Those who mastered the teachings of the Tao Te Ching, the teachings and wisdom of Lao-tzu, the Old Master, were sought after as advisors, spiritual leaders, mentors, and administrators. According to the ethos of Tao, the developments, insights and wisdom gained from following Tao must be shared, put to the service of all.

`The Way is unimpeded harmony;
its potential may never be fully exploited.
It is as deep as the source of all things:
it blunts the edges,
resolves the complications,
harmonises the light,
assimilates to the world.
Profoundly still, it seems to be there:

I don't know whose child it is,
before the creation of images.'

Some of the aphorisms read as proverbs:

`To speak rarely is natural.
That is why a gusty wind doesn't last the morning,
a downpour of rain doesn't last the day.'

and

`Be tactful and you remain whole;
bend and you remain straight.
The hollow is filled,
the old is renewed.'

These are hopes and promises of many religions, and the goal of many sciences and philosophies.

The second work, the `Chuang Tzu,' is a great work of Chinese literature, in addition to being a source of Taoist wisdom. Written by Chuang Chou, the first Taoist master and scholar of the teachings of Lao-tzu, this work has allegories and symbols that have been contemplated since it was first written. Chuang Chou lived at a rather more turbulent time than Lao-tzu, and because of his learning, was sought after as advisors to kings, but declined, preferring not to become, as he put it, a sacrificial animal.

Chuang Chou looked for freedom in many ways, psychological and social as well as political. He looked for freedom from tyranny of emotions, social convention, intellect, and even from death. `Chuang Tzu' consists of three sections, the inner, outer and miscellaneous chapters. This work of Cleary's contains the inner chapters, a basic core of his philosophy and symbolism.

`If all is one, can anything be said? Once it has been said that all is one, can nothing be said? Unity and speech make two; two plus one make three. What follows cannot be grasped even by skilled calculators, much less by ordinary people. Therefore when you go from nonbeing to being, you thereby come to a third point. How about when you go from being to being! It is simply for this reason that there is no getting anywhere.'

Chuang Chou recounts the tale of the maestros, who each knew his field (a harpist, a tuner, and a philosopher) -- they were successful, and known to posterity. Their devotion set them apart. However, they wanted to teach, but tried to explain what they could not fully understand, and thus slipped into sophistry. Thus, when their culture died, so did their memory. Can this, Chuang Chou asks, be counted as success?

However, `the aim of sages is for diffused brilliance: they do not employ it for affirmation, but entrust it to the constant. This is called using clarity.'

Cleary concludes with translation notes -- Chinese being quite distinct from English, and the concepts here being subtle, the possibility for confusion is magnified moreso than a translation from another European language into English. These translator notes are useful to see the complexity of thinking in the simplest thoughts.

May this help you find your Tao, your Way.