Customer Reviews

Further Teachings of Lao-Tzu: Understanding the Mysteries

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Of the mountain of Cleary's translations, this translation of the Wen-tzu is by far my favorite. Really - belongs side by side with whatever edition of the Tao-Teh-Ching you own. Here Lao Tzu also says "Small people pursue undertakings on the premise of profit, exemplary people pursue undertakings on the premise of justice."
"Life is what we temporarily depend upon, death is where we ultimately return. Therefore, when the world is orderly one protects oneself by justice, and when the world is disorderly one protects justice by oneself." "Sages cover everything like the sky, bear everything like the earth, and shine on everything like the sun and moon. They bring harmony like yin and yang, and foster development like the four seasons. They embrace all beings without being the same. For them there is nothing old, nothing new, nothing remote, nothing familiar." There's lots of stuff like these sayings in this book - a good one to curl up with, when you're in the mood for that sort of thing.

I agree completely with Cvairag's review except to say it might be a better book to travel with than curl up with though you'll probably do both. Those familiar with Thomas Cleary's translations WILL find this one of his best and most enlightening, it's truly a gift to the mind. If you have any interest at all in Lao-Tzu you'll find yourself returning to this book over and over again. Of course, "understanding the mysteries" is one of those publisher's exaggerations if you take it to mean solving the mysteries. But in terms of clarifying, appreciating and finding terms for "the mysteries" this book is unsurpassable. A further virtue of this book, unmentioned by Cvairag and merely hinted at in the Tao Te Ching, is the sense/presence of community and dialogue that underlies the Tao Te Ching and that goes a long way in humanizing this great figure in world metaphysics.