Cobie

Translations of the Tao-te-ching by … popularisers … are not, in fact, translations. For example, Mitchell and LeGuin do not know classical Chinese. From https://media.bloomsbury.com/rep/files/9781441168733_commonmisconceptions_daoisttradition.pdf

PWT Popular misconceptions concerning Daoism are numerous and increasingly influential in the modern world. … they may best be understood as part of a new religious movement called “Popular Western Taoism” (PWT) … Popular publications like The Tao of Pooh (Benjamin Hoff) as well as Change Your Thoughts and Living the Wisdom of the Tao (Wayne Dyer) … Such works have no place in a serious inquiry into and an accurate under- standing of the Daoism. They are part of popular Western culture, New Age spirituality, as well as self-help and pop psychology. They are part of … a new form of alternative spirituality best understood as “Popular Western Taoism” (PWT) … That movement has little to no connection with the religious tradition which is Daoism. From https://media.bloomsbury.com/rep/files/9781441168733_commonmisconceptions_daoisttradition.pdf

經 - sacred texts Daoist scriptures (jing 經) are sacred texts written in classical Chinese. Moreover, there are various Daoist views about the origin, nature and meaning of such texts. Many jing [scriptures (jing 經)] are considered to be revealed or inspired. From https://media.bloomsbury.com/rep/files/9781441168733_commonmisconceptions_daoisttradition.pdf

德道 經 - The Way of Virtue Scripture.

Is that the same as saying, a Saint is "at one with Dao"?

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I find the Hindu chakra system very helpful and have been using it for 50 years now.

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I think so too. : )

I think so too.

Laozi did not speak the way you currently speak. Language and the meaning of characters evolved over time.

Those who do not understand write a commentary.

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Kroll dictionary 治 includes the meanings < heal, cure (sickness); solve (difficulties) >

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哪裡哪裡 … thank you.

Comparing the MWD B characters with the WB, I found meaningful differences in 3 places: 不 上 賢 bu4 shang4 xian2 ~~> 不 尚 [ shang4 - to value ] 賢 使 民 不 亂 shi3 min2 bu4 luan4 ~~> 使 民心 [ min2xin1 - will of the people ] 不 亂； 弗 為 而 已 則 无 不 治 矣 fu2 wei2 er2 yi3 ze2 wu2 bu4 zhi4 yi3 ~~> 為 也。為 無 為，則 無 不 治。

I don’t think the DDJ addresses the ‘ruler’.

Yes, that’s what I noticed too.

Exactly, I totally agree with everything you say here. Yes, 德 ‘virtue’ is the ‘core value’ and comes first. Indeed, the DDJ is people-oriented, not cosmology-oriented. That’s exactly what I noticed too when I started reading the DDJ a bit from the transcripts. Thank you for your reply. : )

I like to think so. Welcome to the forum, great intro. : )

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