Mig

I can only recommend what I have found useful as translations from Chinese to English: Wang Keping. The Classic of the Dao: A New Investigation. Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, 1998 The Tao Te Ching: A New Translation With Commentary. Translated and edited by Ellen M. Chen. New York: Paragon House, 1989 Tao Te Ching : Tao and Virtue Classic. Translation by Derek Lin Others are okay but mostly for the English style and few have explanations or full commentaries. At least all those 3 authors have good command of both languages, Chinese and English.

Could you give some examples on how to draw upon the principles? and how to apply them?

You don't need a van, a car and a tent is good enough, it is easier and faster and convenient. Catalina Island, I was not impressed, it is $100 ferry trip and there is no much to see there. Other islands are okay, IMO.

Is that really a fight? It was better than the kumite type but not close to a fight or street fight

I thought because 10 has limited possibilities while 12 has more prime numbers to work on it. The duodecimal systems seems to be more efficient than the decimal system. Any thoughts from mathematicians?

May be you don't need to know how to read Chinese and may be a good place to start here in this site is to check the Tao te ching study chapters as well as DDJ meaning contributions. As an example for what I say close to the original here below: Chapter 5 Derek Lin Heaven and Earth are impartial And regard myriad things as straw dogs The sage is impartial And regards people as straw dogs That's very close to the original and if you compare to other translations you may find some differences. Of course, there are other chapter that may present some difficulties for the translators and Lin does well at least much clearer than many I have read where I didn't understand the message and too vague to understand the meaning.

It seems to be a trend for long time what people say error of senior management. When there is less income you don't go spending more, either austerity or make different plans to avoid disaster. I see this mentality even at the individuals level where they live in debt until they pay the high price in interest rates. Wonder what people will do without chapter 7 or 13?

In my experience, after reading several different English translation from scholars or good translators, Lin is went beyond to render a close translation from the original. Granted he may follow interpretations from native scholars and understands what the text means or Chinese characters as he is a Mandarin-Min nan hua native speaker. I don't understand what do you mean by "chinese characters and meaning (as he sees it)" The way I understand of Lin's translation is a translation close to the original and its interpretation are from his Dao experience and from Chinese scholars or traditional interpretations. This work is not a philological project but hands on translation. There is no doubt that other translations or interpretations are necessary and good to compare. IMO the importance is to know what the book says and use it as a guideline for cultivation.

What makes you say is "very good translation" What are the few controversial interpretations of chapters from the DDJ?

I wonder what makes you say about his background related to his translation of the DDJ. Can you give examples of his ethical application? Just curious.

Isn't human nature that when you fall, you stand up?

Because is tiring after 20 miles and Sunday I did 50 miles with few pauses so I need to rest my arms. I can ride the bike just putting one finger but balance can trick me in seconds. And of course, my mind is all over while riding my bike or just meditating in the bike path by the ocean. Eventually, I will text while riding, wait and see.

It seems he had lived enough or he got caught in his own game of death

Not sure letting go is to compare with riding a bike. I am becoming a cyclist commuter by choice and the other day I decided to ride my bike without holding the front bar. Checked some videos and easy said than done. Or do you have a better way to learn how to ride without holding the bar? And now why do you want to be from novice to a master?

Why do you have to find that ultimate pay check if you manage well your money?

DDJ Chapter 8 1The highest goodness resembles water 2Water greatly benefits myriad things without contention 3It stays in places that people dislike 4Therefore it is similar to the Tao (Derek Lin translation) I think there is more in the interpretation and commentary on this one. But water, water is necessary to our survival but not many in this world has access to water like in some countries. Then flooding or tsunamis are not examples I can follow because I am insignificant in the water.

I thought the majority of people work to live and some other live to work. What do you practice, if I may ask? Are you saying you are in a Paycheck to paycheck situation?

If I look in Chinese history, it seems Daoist were popular when there was prosperity and those who were Daoist practitioners were not from impoverished areas, at least the intellectuals. Today, I don't see Daoists teaching as popular in remote areas but in cities as spirituality getaway. Don't know if those are true Daoist practitioners.

Don't remember where I saw it, the close word may be "enigma". As usual one has to be careful in checking the context where the words is used and what was written before in this chapter. For some this is the first chapter for others it is not depending the commentaries.

So what happened with the Chinese learners? Did they get better in Mandarin? How is their learning curve? Or do they speak it fluently now? Also, found out that today, there are more choices in learning Mandarin, the resources are just phenomenal from the web or phone apps. I started using Hello Talk to meet Chinese fellows, mostly young adults, who are willing to help you out in your learning process. The features are extremely helpful. Also, Hi Native, if I need to ask a question and get an answer in less than 24 hours, sometimes on the fly. Chinese skill is a great phone app to learn all you need as a beginner. Last but not least, Wechat and What'sapp are useful to interact directly if you know someone as a friend. And don't forget flashcards from Quizlet, very interactive and useful. That's all folks, this is my new experience re learning Mandarin Chinese. HTH

When I see luxury in some places is just another way of people looking what they see but don't know necessarily knows if it is luxury, all they know is that is a nice picture with nice picture. Again, what is to keep them simple? simple as what?

What is simple approach to life? What's simple? In the world we live in I have hard time to say to live simply, we live in societies and ain't nothing simple wherever I have lived in the Far East, Europe and Americas.

A fish? really, what do we know a fish make rational choices to live in or out of the water, we human have the mental capacity to pretend making choices based on the conditions that are presented to us, some stay some leave a situation, fish or other animal live to survive and I guess have no choice. Why humanize animals?

I guess we walk always forward, even if we fall down, we either retreat or keep going forward, thus giving the impression to follow. Now if we follow the Dao, and I would assume in this case, nature, then what happened when there is a natural catastrophe? Do we still follow, or what do we do? Survival for the fittest? As catastrophe, I am thinking an earthquake, a lightning, hurricane or something out of our control or nature control. I can imagine, people will say, when you shouldn't be there then I would respond but I am following the Dao. Am I clear?

If that is the question, should we ask, why the Dao doesn't follow you? If there are imperfections in our nature and we are a cheat copy of nature, why should we follow, it is there or within us??