ChiDragon

Here are some good definitions for 仁(ren) that one should be referred to. benevolence / humanity / mercy / kindness / charity / kernel This is a very good and reliable source to look up the definitions of the characters. http://www.chineseetymology.org/CharacterEtymology.aspx?submitButton1=Etymology&characterInput=%E4%BB%81

It will not make any sense if one makes the interpretation in the modern way word for word. As classic, then I would interpret them this way: 不可㝵而利 If something which cannot be obtained, then it may be beneficial (like drugs). 亦不可㝵而害 Also, if something which cannot be obtained, then it may be harmful (like medicine). 不可㝵而貴 If something which is hard to be obtained, then it may be precious. 亦不可㝵而戔 Also, if something which cannot be obtained, then it may be something that was missing. Note: In the ancient, the character "戔" is a synonym for "殘 (lack of)." Like "殘缺": it is like missing an arm or a leg.

Dustybeijing.... It seems to me that you had left out the most important character "而" in you translation to throw the logic off. 亦不可㝵而戔 One cannot obtain poverty;, I would translate this line as: Also(亦), cannot be obtained, then(而), it is the lack of.

ATP.......!!!

Well, I agree that the category of wushu(武術) is to include all the martial arts. However, normally, Kung Fu are always with fast moves. Therefore, the Tai Ji practitioners would like to distinguish it from Kung Fu because of the slow movements. It was only a matter of preference when people talk.

● 亡 wú ㄨˊ 　◎ 古同“无”，没有。 In the ancient (古), 亡 is a synonym for “无” Please consider to look at the second definition in the following reference: Ref: http://www.zdic.net/z/15/js/4EA1.htm

行不言之教: Use the silent teaching(method). 行不言之學: Use the things from silent learning. 教不教: (Are you) going to teach or not? 學不學: (Are you) going to learn or not?

FYI.... Tai Ji is a special form of practice. It starts with slow motion to build up the muscles tone. The moves are coordinated with the breathing. The first move is to inhale and the second is to exhale. Thus this practice will improve the the body condition progressively. Those who practiced Tai Ji properly will know the difference in the physical strength after a long time practice. If one practice Tai Ji very fast at the beginning, then it would be considered Kung Fu but not Tai Ji. Hence, I dont think the fictional Monkey King had ever practiced Tai Ji Quan at all. Besides, he was born with divined super power.

In accord with the Yi Jing which it says: To stand up for the principle of men, it was said to be the benevolence and righteousness.(CD translation)

As a Chinese speaker, may I say a few words perhaps to clarify the comments above. 豫兮！若冬涉川 豫: take precaution; be careful; cautious 兮 this character was often used in classics as an exclamation mark. 若: seems like 冬: winter 涉: stepping; walking 川: a big river In order to make a logical interpretation of the first line, one would consider the latter metaphorically. 若冬涉川 : It seems like one is walking on a river in the winter. The phase "in the winter" has the implication that there are snows causing the river to be frozen. However, there are some thin ice spots on the river. Therefore, one must take precaution when walking on the river. Thus, the proper interpretation would be: 豫兮！若冬涉川 "Hey, be careful! It seems like you are walking on a river with thin ice." I think there is a similar statement in English: "Hey! You're on thin ice." Note: This philosophical line was written in a Chinese classic format. In order to interpret the classics, one must consider to look at the keywords; and try to link the logical thoughts together. In this case, the keyword is 冬 (winter) which implicate white snow. The second keywords is 川 (river). By common sense, we knew that the water in a river was frozen in the winter. There are some soft spots covered with thin ice. Thus, one must be careful when stepping on the river. What I am trying to say is that one should interpret the classics with logic rather than the direct translation for each character. Good luck in your classic study!

I would say that the "way of virtue" is describing the "virtue of Tao". De is to credit Tao for being impartial in its action. The virtue of Tao which makes Tao virtuous. The De section of the TTC describes how and why Tao is virtuous with many examples. Humans become virtuous by following the virtuous manner of Tao.

Yes, meditation is all about letting the body do whatever it needs to do internally too. ....and it does well.

As a Chi Kung practitioner, I had read something that the sensitivities of all senses will become more potent. Pretty soon, one will become eating light and stay away from strong tasty food. In my case, I am disliking the taste of pork, lamb and anything spicy. Especially, a slight taste of hot chilli pepper will cause my tongue to be burnt and bit myself on the lips and tongue. In addition, anything with oil like frying foods, my saliva rush out in the mouth with high rejection of the items. Immediately, the food has to be removed from my mouth.

"thirty spokes total on a hub, because of the empty space between the spokes, a cart may have its use." Note: Wu(無): "emptiness" was referring to the "space(無)" in between the spokes on the hub.

I do study the Taoist philosophy but not a believer of the Taoist religion. The main philosophy evolved from Lao Tzi's philosophy of Wu Wei(無為). His definition of Wu Wei is "to let Nature take its course". In other words, take no adverse action to interrupt the course of Nature. In life, take no action to cause any harm to a person mentally or physically. In the actual practice, it is to take good care of one's body by integrate oneself with Nature. Integrate with Nature is by eating the nutritious foods and breathe the fresh air which are provided by Nature. Fine tune one's body by practicing Chi Kung or Tai JI Quan to prolong life. Practice meditation for mental health and the inner being and Tai Ji Quan for good health and the physical being. These are the most basic concepts for the cultivation of the mind and body to attain the highest realm as a Taoist. To answer your questions: 1. What are the right and wrongs in your religion? Again, the philosophy of Wu Wei is not to create an adversity, such as interrupting or interfering with the course of Nature, then very thing would be turned out right. 2. Do you worship or meditate? I do not worship, but I do meditate by performing Chi Kung abdominal breathing. 3. How did the world come to be? No one can answer this question. 4. What happens after you die? I will become ash and return to earth. Note: Please be advised that this is only my understanding about the Taoist practice. The others may not follow my philosophy in their practices.

I own the Chinese edition of this book. Is there anything you would like to discuss....???

Basic on your definition above, a reasonable interpretation would be as follows: 為無為: .......for(為) the reason of being wu wei, therefore......

To a non Taoist, it's wu wei most of the time. To a Taoist, it's wu wei all the time.

I would say that you knew the multi-meaning of 為(wei) and its usage.

曾子曰：「吾日三省吾身─為人謀而不忠乎？與朋友交而不信乎？傳不習乎？」 曾子說“我每天多次自我反省：替別人謀划是否忠心？与朋友交往是否守信？學業是否時常溫習？” 曾子said: "I introspect myself many times a day: When I worked for others, was I loyal? When I associate with friends, was I trustworthy? Before I teach, did I prepare myself?"

道德經 (Tao Te Ching) 道德 can be interpreted as: 1. Tao and Te 2. The virtue of Tao. In Chinese, 道德經 (Tao Te Ching) is a classic about "Tao and Te". Then, in English, it is a Classic of Tao and Te. It is not a Classic about the "Virtue of Tao". However, the classic does talk about the Virtue of Tao in the Tao Te Ching. When one is talking about the Virtue of Tao, then it is 道德(Tao Te); and it was not interpreted as "Tao and Te". It was very explicitly defined in the Tao Te Ching that Te(德) is a product of Tao(道). Hence, Tao is before Te. One must cultivate or practice the principles of Tao, in order, to have the Virtue of Tao. Someone might say: hey! the term of 道德(Tao Te) is not in the classic. However, there were metaphoric examples had have been given for the readers to grok. Mentally, with those who have a thorough comprehension of the Tao Te Ching, the message about 道德(Tao Te) was loud and clear. PS..... Let's be serious, please don't take the OP as trolling or belittled someone. It is because I have no intention to do such thing but to get the point across.

有子曰：「其為人也孝弟，而好犯上者，鮮 矣；不好犯上，而好作亂者，未之有也。君 子務本，本立而道生。孝弟也者，其為仁之 本與！」 有子說：“孝順父母，尊敬兄長卻喜歡冒犯上司的人，是很少的；不喜歡冒犯上司卻喜歡造反的人，更是從來沒有過。君子致力于根本，根本确立了，道德原則就會形成。孝順父母，尊敬兄長，這就是實行仁道的根本吧！” YouTze said: "Those whom are serving the filial duty to their parents, respect the elder brothers; but they like to affront their superiors are very seldom. Those whom do not affront their superiors but like to rebel, even that had never happened. A gentleman puts all his effort on the fundamentals; after the fundamentals were established, then the principals of morality are formed. Thus serving the filial duty to the parents and respect to elder brothers are considered to be executing the fundamentals for the principals of kindness.

For those who are interested in translating it by parts or as a whole. Just do it at your own pace whichever chapter or phrase. Original Huang Ting Jing《黃庭經》

Classic Text: 子曰：「學而時習之，不亦說乎？有朋自遠 方來，不亦樂乎？人不知而不慍，不亦君子 乎？」 Modern native translation: 孔子說：“學習知識并按一定的時間去溫習它，不也是很高興的嗎？有同學從遠方來，不也是很快樂的嗎？不被別人了解而不抱怨，不也是很有君子風度的嗎？” English translation: Confucius said: "To obtain new knowledge by following a regular schedule, isn't it very happy...??? There were school mates visited from long distance, isn't it very pleasant....??? Others do not understand me and I wasn't muttered, isn't it an elegance of a gentleman.

During the course of Wu Wei in any discussion, I was merely suggesting what I believe is the truth by all means. I am not forcing anybody what to believe and what not. Nor force anybody what to do and what not. If we are setting rules to restrict ourselves in studying the TTC, then, we are really not learning the TTC at all. Why not let nature take its course as the TTC has been suggested. I do respect the highest officers of the forum but I also expect them to be more Wu Wei in conducting their administrative duties.