The Essential Tao : An Initiation into the Heart of Taoism Through the Authentic Tao Te Ching and the Inner Teachings of Chuang-Tzu

• Publisher:   HarperOne
• Number Of Pages:   176
• Publication Date:   1993-09-10
• ISBN-10 / ASIN:   0062502166
• ISBN-13 / EAN:   9780062502162

A deluxe paperback edition: Thomas Cleary's brilliant translation of the sayings of Confucius presented in the order of the 64 classic I Ching hexagrams.

Thomas Cleary presents original translations of the two ancient Chinese texts that describe the essential philosophy and practice of the Tao, or "universal way." The Tao Te Ching, Lao-tzu's classic anthology of sayings, poems, and proverbs, appears here in its entirety; Cleary's excellent, detailed notes to each of the 81 stanzas illuminate the more difficult verses and unfamiliar ideas. The first seven, or "inner" chapters of the Chuang-Tzu, those containing the essence of the Taoist master Chuang-tzu's teachings, are also presented, with accompanying notes explaining the philosophy and significance of the symbolic stories. Readers already acquainted with the two texts will find renewed enjoyment in the directness and simplicity of Cleary's translations, which are particularly pleasing to modern ears while losing none of the nuances of the originals. The well-known opening lines of the Tao Te Ching, for example, are given new life: "A way can be a guide, but not a fixed path; names can be given, but not permanent labels." And there is a clarity in the passages from the Chuang-Tzu not often found in other interpretations: "Who knows the unspoken explanation, the unexpressed Way? Among those who do know, this is called the celestial storehouse: we can pour into it without filling it, we can draw from it without exhausting it; and yet we don't know where it comes from." The subject matter of both texts ranges widely, from politics and economy to psychology and mysticism, addressing the needs and interests of a diverse readership. No less relevant today than when they were written more than 2,000 years ago, there is a "perennial currency" to these writings achieved by few of the world's great books. Cleary's readable introduction and notes provide an elegant frame that complements the quiet grandeur of these important texts. --Uma Kukathas

What I recommend to anyone who wants to learn about Taoism is: start by translating the Tao Te Ching yourself! That may sound absurd but it's not as difficult as it seems. You can go on-line and find the Chinese text with a click feature which directs you to the dictionary entry for each character. You can also find a website that has literally 50 or more different English translations, so you can pick 6 or 7 to display simultaneously, then compare your own reading of the characters with the various translations. And of course you don't have to translate the whole thing. Some sections are more famous and canonical than others. (Frankly, some of them seem to me to be pure mystical gobbledygook!) What you'll find is a rather remarkable diversity among the translations. You'll immediately appreciate how much subjective interpretation goes into translating. You'll see that some of the translators stick to more literal readings, whereas others indulge in quite fanciful interpretations which sometimes bear only a tenuous relationship to the literal text. Some translations are more poetical, others try to recapitulate the terseness and brevity of the original. There's one for every taste! Cleary's translation often tends to be of the more fanciful variety. When you see how many translations are already extant, it's clear that there's not much need for yet another one, so maybe he was trying to justify his effort by finding some original perspectives. Maybe he succeeded! You can decide for yourself. Ultimately, it's a matter of taste. You can make up your own mind which translation you like best. Maybe it'll be your own translation. Why not?

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My only complaint is that the book was described as "like new", and it was perfect, except the dust jacket was misaligned on the book. It's really not that big of a deal, my boyfriend still loves his Valentine's Day gift. I just wish I would have been aware of this instead of finding out when I received the book.
Other than the discrepancies between the product description and the actual product, I am happy with my purchase.

Most Western (and Eastern) studies of the Daoist texts translated in this volume have been limited by reference to an extremely small range of expository commentary. In these translations, of an altogether different stripe from the familiar, Cleary makes use of commentarial traditions hitherto unknown to Westerners, as well as to Easterners unfamiliar with the Quanzhen school of Daoism. Western scholarship in this area has been limited by preconceptions based on solipsistic, nihilistic, or fatalistic views of so-called 'philosophical' Daoism, as well as by overly simplistic concepts of Chinese grammar and vocabulary. Therefore what is known of this tradition in the West has been restricted by its sources and suppositions, while the enormous range and variety of native Chinese interpretations has largely been untouched. It is not to be wondered, therefore, that Cleary's extraordinary new renditions of these works, informed by Quanzhen Daoist tradition, are found enlightening by those unafraid of enlarging their views, while irritating to those who require reassurance.

Of the three translations/versions of the Tao Te Ching, and commentaries on it, that I have read to date, I recommend Cleary's. Some readers complain that Cleary's translation isn't as 'readable' as other translations of the Tao Te Ching. Stephen Mitchell's translation is more popularly admired, but this says more about readers than the integrity of the respective texts. Reason suggests that a close and accurate translation should indeed sound foreign and awkward to 21st century Western hearers. Cleary is highly regarded for his scholarship of ancient Chinese texts, and his translation also includes the Inner Teachings of Chuang Tzu, with commentary/notes on both texts. The Tao Te Ching is a well-known battery of apparently counter-intuitive assertions, overwhelming contrary to materialist / consumerist / modernist assumptions, sometimes opaque and generally suggesting a need for scholarly commentary. Again, Cleary seems to be a trustworthy guide, dispassionate and well informed. The Inner Teachings of Chuang Tzu are more fanciful and perhaps somewhat less interesting, but in part underscore one of the Tao's thematic threads, that of knowing and not-knowing:
"What is more, there is a great awakening, after which we know this is a grandiose dream. Yet fools think themselves to be awake. . . Even my saying you are dreaming is a dream too. This kind of talk is called extremely strange . . . Suppose I have a debate with you, and you beat me, I don't beat you--does that mean that you are actually right and I am actually wrong? If I beat you and you don't beat me, does that mean I am actually right and you are actually wrong? Are both right, or both wrong?" I won't feign any personal expertise or intimate knowledge of Taoism, but merely observe what seems fairly obvious to me--this volume is a sound "initiation into the heart of Taoism through the authentic Tao Te Ching and the Inner Teachings of Chuang Tzu."

Cleary is a very popular translator, and I assume it is because his scholarship is solid . I appreciate his choices of subjects for books and always want to learn from him, but I have a problem. I can't understand his translations well. This may be a purely personal mental quirk of mine, but when I read him I understand the words just fine but not the meanings. Or I understand basically, but still scratch my head, especially reading his Chuang-tzu. I will assume this is a fluke within my own head and not a problem of the author (though I have no such problem with any other author/translator).
What I like about this book is that it Cleary has chosen to deal with two essential Chinese Taoist classics together: the Tao Te Ching and Chuang-tzu. Further, he provides essential interpretations of Taoism in his commentaries. I read this cover to cover, but it was only because I am a disciplined reader; If I think the content is important (as with this book) I will concentrate and finish it even if it gets tedious or the translation leaves me bewildered in many places.

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