Laotzu's Tao and Wu Wei (Tao Teh King)
Laozi 老子 and Lao Tzu
Read by LibriVox Volunteers
The classic of the Way and of High Virtue is the Tao Teh Ching. Its author is generally held as a contemporary of Confucius, Lao Tzu, or Laozi. The exact date of the book's origin is disputed. The book is divided into two parts, the Upper Part and the Lower Part. The Upper Part consists of chapters 1-37, and each chapter begins with the word "Tao," or the Way. The Lower Part consists of chapters 38-81, and each chapter begins with the words "Shang Teh," or High Virtue. This 1919 edition names the Lower Part as the Wu Wei, or translated variously as "not doing," "non-ado," or "non-assertion." This edition also contains a history of the book and its author, Lao Tzu, along with a discussion of the Wu Wei. Lao Tzu's classic has been cherished as suggestions, rather than commandments, for finding one's path to beauty, goodness, and quality of life through a non-assertive understanding of the Way. (Summary by Melanie McCalmont) (3 hr 23 min)
Chapters
Introduction | 15:48 | Read by Melanie Schleeter McCalmont |
Tao Teh King, Chapters 1-18 | 17:05 | Read by Melanie Schleeter McCalmont |
Tao Teh King, Chapters 19-37 | 19:14 | Read by Melanie Schleeter McCalmont |
Tao Teh King, Chapters 38-50 | 13:21 | Read by Melanie Schleeter McCalmont |
Tao Teh King, Chapters 51-81 and Valedictory | 28:38 | Read by Jc Guan |
Wu Wei, Preface and Chapter 1: Tao | 45:37 | Read by Jc Guan |
Wu Wei, Chapter 2: Art | 34:32 | Read by Jc Guan |
Wu Wei, Chapter 3: Love | 29:23 | Read by Jc Guan |
Reviews
The Best Book Ever
Ron Antoine Gooden
This is more than a book. It is Tao. The stillness of the Void. The Infinity of the formless. The form of silence. It is the detachment of all things carnal. The profound simplicity. The Great Bliss beyond all temporal happiness. It is joy eternal, and everlasting reverence. Immortal fortitude and the liberation of solitude. It is the effortless thought of repose. The poise of selflessness and service born of Divine integrity. It is beyond Enlightenment. The Purity of Love, and even above it.
fantastic!
A LibriVox Listener
I found this immeasurably beneficial to me. I look forward to listening again!
mem2atl
Both readers do an excellent job on this version.
wow
LPH (aka Lou Homer)
Shockingly fresh and beautiful. 2500 years young.
need a flag for abuse in reviews.
Carmen P.
i hope that person discovers karma in a big way. perhaps it will come in a way that underscores their obviously inferior IQ. people like that "bill crosby" never know respect because they lack self-reflection and self-respect. people like that are small, feeble, and low, and it is seen from afar. reading vulgar scummy, lowlife, hypocritical, illiterate, nonsense hate that i am too far above ever spewing and shouldnt be subjected to reading, put me off trying this one for now. hope i can retry when the app has developed a community moderation of vile hate that should be opposed in every instance.
Deep Wisdom
Gregory Geddes
A beautiful work which expresses deep spiritual truth in great detail. It is amazing how much it agrees with Christ's teachings.
Well read & filled with wisdom.
Todd Mullen
I greatly enjoy listening to these words in the calm of morning & evening.
Incredible perspective
Alex
An absolute must for anybody who wants to take spiritual understanding seriously.