Revision as of 16:27, 13 April 2009

Project Overview

This project is an attempt to re-translate the Tao Te Ching with a zenarchist/discordian bent. Anyone that enjoys this stuff is welcome to help. In the end, it'll be published as a Kopyleft PDF.

Here's how it'll work. Grab a chapter of the Tao Te Ching. If you don't speak chinese (hah!), lift a translation from the web somewhere. Underneath the translation, write your own version of that chapter.

Since this is a wiki, we can all edit each others text until it WORKS.

We'll experiment with a tone until we find the right one. For now, be irreverant, mysterious, wise, or silly. Keep it dense, the Tao Te Ching is a simple book that doesn't need too much explaining. Our translation should be minimalistic. Also, brevity is the soul of wit. :-)

Background Reading Material

Zenarchy: http://www.mindcontrolforums.com/hambone/zenarchy.html

One translation of the Tao Te Ching: http://home.pages.at/onkellotus/TTK/English_Beck_TTK.html#Kap01 (C)?

Lysergic's Zenarchy Unmanifesto

zenarchy is what you think it is
or this
I come from the void to be thrown into this ocean of chaos, 
  to dance and sing, love and hate, to journey and explore, laugh and cry & to rest + die.
I do not know what is right or what is wrong, but I know what hurts.
I know there is no one who truly understands the universe better then I, 
  and I know I know so very little.
The authorities are so very sure, and I am so very confused, 
  yet I smile contently while they are grey-faced.
The religious tell me that I am a sinner, 
  I tell them if that is true, then I blame god.
The government has lied, cheated and stolen unto me, 
  and so I do unto others what has been done to me.
I am a zenarchist, looking for other zenarchists, are you one?
If you are unsure, you probably are.
I wouldn't know a zenarchist if I were staring at one in the mirror.

The Sacred Chao Te Ching

Chapter 1

Original:

The Way that can be described is not the absolute Way;
the name that can be given is not the absolute name.
Nameless it is the source of heaven and earth;
named it is the mother of all things.

Whoever is desireless, sees the essence of life.
Whoever desires, sees its manifestations.
These two are the same,
but what is produced has names.
They both may be called the cosmic mystery:
from the cosmic to the mystical
is the door to the essence of all life.

Our Translation:

The Universe that can be described is not the real Universe;
the name that can be given is not the absolute name.
Nameless it is the source of order and disorder;
named it is the mother of all things.

Whoever is desireless, sees the essence of life.
Whoever desires, sees its manifestations.
These two are the same,
but what is produced has names.
They both may be called the cosmic mystery:
from the cosmic to the mystical
is the door to the essence of all life.

Chapter 2

Original:

When the people of the world all know beauty as beauty,
there arises the recognition of ugliness.
When they all know the good as good,
there arises the recognition of bad.

Therefore being and non-being produce each other;
difficult and easy complete each other;
long and short contrast each other;
high and low distinguish each other;
sound and voice harmonize with each other;
beginning and end follow each other.

Therefore the wise manage affairs without interfering
and teach beyond the words.

All things rise, and they do not turn away from them.
They give them life, but do not take possession of them.
They act, but do not rely on their own ability.
They accomplish, but claim no credit.
Because they claim no credit,
their accomplishment remains with them.

Our Translation:

TK

Chapter 3

Original:

Do not exalt the worthy,
so that people will not compete.
Do not value rare treasure,
so that people will not steal.
Do not display objects of desire,
so that people's hearts will not be disturbed. 

Therefore the wise lead by keeping
their hearts pure, their bellies full,
their ambitions weak, and their bones strong,
so that the people may be purified
of their thoughts and desires;
and the cunning ones will not interfere.
By acting without interfering, all may live in peace.

Our Translation:

TK

Chapter 4

Original:

The Way is infinite; its use is never exhausted.
It is bottomless, like the fountainhead of all things.
It smoothes its roughness; it unties its tangles.
It softens its light; it calms its turmoil.
Deep and still, ever present.
I do not know its source.
It seems to have existed before the Lord.

Our Translation:

TK

Chapter 5

Original:

Nature is not humane.
It treats all things like sacrificial objects.
The wise are not humane.
They regard people like sacrificial objects.

How the universe is like a bellows!
While empty, it is never exhausted.
The more it is worked, the more it produces.
Much talk brings exhaustion.
It is better to keep to the center.

Our Translation:

TK

Chapter 6

Original:

The spirit of the valley never dies.
It is called the mystical female.
The door of the mystical female
is the root of heaven and earth.
It seems to be continuously within us.
Use it, and it will never fail.

Our Translation:

TK

Chapter 7

Original:

Heaven is eternal, and the earth is very old.
They can be eternal and long lasting,
because they do not exist for themselves,
and for this reason can long endure.

Therefore the wise put themselves last,
but find themselves foremost.
They are indifferent to themselves,
and yet they always remain.
Is it not because they do not live for themselves
that they find themselves fulfilled?

Our Translation:

TK

Chapter 8

Original:

The best are like water.
Water benefits all things and does not compete with them.
It flows to the lowest level.
In this it comes near to the Way.

In their dwellings, they love the earth.
In their hearts, they love what is profound.
In their friendship, they love humanity.
In their words, they love sincerity.
In government, they love peace.
In business, they love ability.
In their actions, they love timeliness.
It is because they do not compete
that there is no resentment.

Our Translation:

TK

Chapter 9

Original:

Stretch a bow to the very full,
and you will wish you had stopped in time.
Temper a sword-edge to its very sharpest,
and the edge will not last long.

When gold and jade fill your hall,
you will not be able to keep them safe.
To be proud with honor and wealth
is to cause one's own downfall.
Withdraw as soon as your work is done.
Such is heaven's way.

Our Translation:

TK

Chapter 10

Original:

Can you embrace the One with your soul,
and never depart from the Way?
Can you concentrate your vital force
to achieve the gentleness of a new-born baby?
Can you cleanse and purify your mystic vision
until it is clear?
Can you love the people and govern the state
without interfering?
Can you play the role of the female
in opening and closing the doors of heaven?
Can you understand all and penetrate all
without using the mind?

To give birth and to nourish,
to give birth without taking possession,
to act without obligation,
to lead without dominating---
this is mystical power.

Our Translation:

TK