Mig

Don't know if the concept word is the right translation. IMHO as you travel around the world and being exposed to languages it is not about the concept but the experience you live using those words. If I haven't experience, I can only know the word by concept but would have never experienced so I can not really relate with the right word at the right situation.

So when you say, you are learning English, aren't you chasing the details of every word? I am not fascinated by words or secret words, I want to understand the meaning of each chapter and how is interpreted by Chinese or Chinese scholars to learn what is meant in Chinese culture, then I read the English version to understand the meaning of each chapter though I find that interpretations are merely subjective point of view. Could you tell us, how did you learn the DDJ in the beginning of your study or practice?

Thanks and I think I understand the way someone may read the translation. The problem I have had is how can you interpret a text not knowing the Chinese culture, language and cosmology behind the original? It is not about what the ancients thought since we don't have resources to capture what was said during those days. As for this line Note and sound harmonize with each other音聲相和 all I read is the contrast then I found here in this forum a good explanation by ChiDragon: the human voice combines with the musical tones become in harmony. It 's like singing a song with music.Then that makes me think to elaborate my thoughts and better understand. Same goes for The high and the low incline towards each other;高 下 相 盈: The nobles and the peasants are mutually encompassing with each other. 盈in this phrase means encompass. Annotation: The high class people(nobles) and the low class people(peasants) are getting along with each other. Then I understand that based on those explanations I understand to learn to appreciate and totolerate those differences and live with them. Makes sense?

仙 saint? How is it a saint?

I have an elementary question: When you are talking about the understanding of each chapter, is it based on the English translation or the original interpretation from Daoist Chinese scholars. Is it paraphrasing each chapter?

It seems to be a one stop shop and wonder what this academy is different from other places?

8 may be is just a coincidence. If you say original, and I agree, why most translations in English have "mysterious"though I see it also means the dark color of water or the sky, is that right?

Could you give an idea the way you cultivate it?

I was wondering if those called Daoist practitioners, instructors or Masters in the West are more trained in reading books in western languages on religion, philosophy and Daoism than having a full training in Chinese language from native Masters in Daoism. I have noticed some westerner scholars have written a plethora of books on Daoism and wonder how proficient they are in both classical Chinese, written Chinese or spoken Chinese. Or would you consider language proficiency is not necessary? Thanks,

Any new feedback about this site and his teachings?

Why asking someone age is a taboo? What's the meaning of that taboo?

Is this about to find out what English translations fits you well? Is that the style of each translation you want show it resonates better to you? I am a beginner in reading the DDJ and I understand some classical Chinese as I read each line so bear with me. The translations that has helped me to understand better are the ones with commentaries instead of recycled translations. My goal is to understand the original text, its grammar and its cultural context. Maybe someone can help me understand.

All right there are 3 words both in the original text and in the translation, how did you understand?:Turn down your light so that others can see clearly.

I asked myself the same question and glad someone dared to ask it. It seems that both monkeys are eating apples and how do you one is male and the other female? What is the meaning of the two Chinese character on the right bottom side of the banner?

Thank you again. Let me give you an example of Chapter 4. I understand each chapter has some connections with other chapters and there is some structure in each chapter. Off I go: line 7 dull the brightness. If I read that line without any explanation, all I have are words. As soon as there is a commentary then I can see clear the meaning and I read somewhere it will mean do not expose yourself too open before getting into an unpleasant situation or give others the chance to shine. Is this the way you read or did you have another strategy in reading each chapter?

Happy 2017 and soon Happy Rooster Year, I am pretty much in a similar situation as yours and I am curious to hear your experience in reading the DDJ. If you are reading without notes, what do you understand? Pick a chapter and let us know. In my case, not reading commentaries, I am totally lost and all is left is my imagination. At this point I read Hellen Chen's, Wing's and Duyvendak's (in French) and some online texts in English. Next step will adventure in reading Chinese commentaries in Chinese. Cheers,

Excellent posting and I think I understand what you just wrote. I wonder if the interpretations, good or less good are matched what the Chinese understand in their culture??

No way, are we going to die? All that to say that?? maybe there is something in the previous text or in this chapter that tells more than that, or am I reading too much into?

So what's your opinion as you read JL translation? I have always wondered how these scholars learned where the only resources they had was a library, an appointed Chinese scholar and certainly students. Still don't know if this an accurate information though.

As I am reading some notes on this chapter I was wondering if someone knows why Mitchell translated the following: Ordinary men hate solitude but the sage makes use of it embracing his aloneness, realizing he is at one with the whole universe I still can not find how that relates to the original Chinese text. Thanks,

In the past, one could say this happened, that happened. But my ex-wife was a super psycho douche biatch and that took up 60% of it the other half was the fact I did not have the balls because I was way too nice to tell her to phuq off or go kill herself. Instead of manning up and going ape over what had happened, I left the state which was a good decision. Edit: One last time. I also speak on co-dependent relationships now. It turned out to be a big positive for me. It helped reshape all my relationships. Here is to happy endings. As for anything related to Mak.... Do we have any students still here? I would recommend getting first hand accounts. Naturally, this is the way things on the forum have gone for years. Good for you about liberation and finding the way you reshape yourself. As for Mak, I am not quite sure he has students. It is easy to made up whatever we want online and claim whatever we want too. I wonder which lineage is he from, a lineage one can see in real life??

How do you explain expletive in Chinese? Or how it is said in the spoken language to explain fu? Is it in all DDJ having the same meaning? Thanks

I am wondering the way you translate: Ch 2 夫唯弗居 Ch 3 使夫1知者不敢為也 夫 : Originally read: "天" Or how do you explain the position of "fu" in those instances from a grammatical perspective. Thanks,

As I navigate in the ocean of digital information, I started to notice that there is now Chinese Daoism 道教 and apparently American Taoism. Is there such terms and how different are they from each other? Thanks, Mig

Finally I had little time to check this voluminous site full of information especially about DDJ. I was able to download old translations of the DDJ and I wonder how the scholars of that time before and after 1900's were able to translate the DDJ. It is my understanding that during those times the majority of scholars sinologists or not, didn't speak the common language or had very little command and they had a Chinese scholar who, most likely, was bilingual or proficient enough in western languages to help those scholars in their translation of the DDJ among other classics. I read over and over, their translation was not accurate, meaning those scholars didn't understand the meaning of a word or the meaning of a sentence in Classical Chinese. Or the translation is not good, etc. Do somebody has an example to show how different those translations are wrong or inaccurate from scholars as Wieger, Julien, Remusat, Legge, Henricks among many others.