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Fame or integrity: which is more important?
Money or happiness: which is more valuable?
Success or failure: which is more destructive? If
you look to others for fulfillment,
you will never truly be fulfilled.
If your happiness depends on money,
you will never be happy with yourself. Be
content with what you have;
rejoice in the way things are.
When you realize there is nothing lacking,
the whole world belongs to you. Lao-Tsu,
Tao Te Ching (44)
Lao-Tzu, meaning 'Old Sage', was an
ancient Chinese philosopher, who is attributed with the book 'Tao-te-Ching'
(tao- the way of all life, te-the use of life by
men, ching-text or classic). Accordingly, he is considered the
father of Taoism.
The specific date of
birth of Lao-Tzu is unknown, however scholars believe he was born
between 600 and 300 B.C.E.
Lao Tzu's wisdom
attracted many followers who urged him to write down his words of
wisdom, however, he believed that written words might solidify into
dogma, and therefore preferred to pass on his teachings verbally. Lao
Tzu wanted his philosophy to remain a natural way to live life with
goodness, serenity and respect. He did not pursue a rigid code of
behavior, and believed a person's conduct should be governed by instinct
and conscience.
Lao Tzu believed that
human life is constantly influenced by outside forces. He believed
simplicity to be the key to truth and freedom. Lao Tzu encouraged his
followers to observe and understand the laws of nature; to develop
intuition and build up personal power; and to use that power to lead a
life of love, and without force.
According to legend, at
the age of eighty, Lao Tzu, disillusioned and saddened by the evil of
men, set off into the desert, leaving civilization behind. When he
arrived at the final gate of the great wall protecting the kingdom, the
gatekeeper persuaded him to record the principles of his philosophy for
posterity. He then composed in 5,000 characters of eighty-one sayings,
the Tao Te Ching. This ancient Chinese text is the world's most
translated classic next to the Bible.
Read
More on the Tao Te Ching at Questia.com, The World's Largest Online Library
 Tao
Te Ching
By Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching (The
Book of the Way) is a timeless guide to the art of living.
Its central figure, the Master, lives in harmony with the
Tao, the irreducible essence of the universe. Surrendering
to it as the Master teaches, we feel whole. Emptying
ourselves of judgment and desire, we discover universal
truths within. Without wanting, we find peace, if we let go
of what we love, our love becomes present.
 Tao
Te Ching - The Definite Edition
By Laozi, Jonathan Star
In a new approach to
the Tao Te Ching, this acclaimed translator explores the full range of meaning
for each Chinese character, allowing readers, in effect, to interpret the
ancient wisdom book for themselves. Not only is Ancient Chinese a challenge to
translate, but it contains a minefield of arcane terms and expressions that
often have no counterparts in English. So while the Tao Te Ching is one of the
most widely read books in the world, it remains also one of the most
misunderstood.
Tao Te Ching: The Definitive Edition helps to remedy this situation. In addition
to his own masterful translation, Jonathan Star supplies the multiple meanings
of each Chinese character. Readers can use Star's translation in the first half
of the book, can create their own by using the multiple definitions in the
second half, or can combine the two to discover the most profound. Star's work
elucidates how translators arrive at diffuse meanings, as well as how the
ancient Chinese regarded different concepts and what they meant within the
context of the Tao. The volume also includes useful commentary, a character
dictionary, and other tools that illuminate the different meanings of the Tao.
This definitive edition enables Westerners to comprehend the Tao more deeply
than ever before.
 Hua
Hu Ching : The Unknown Teachings of Lao Tzu
By Lao Tzu, Brian Walker
The perfect companion to
Stephen Mitchell's version of the Tao Te Ching, this
is the astonishing rendering of Lao Tzu's further writings.
Each of the eighty-one teachings presented by Taoist scholar
and poet Brian Walker are rich with wisdom, mystery, and
startling enlightenment.
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Our
Recommended Book on This Week's Inspiration
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 Happiness:
The Nature and Nurture of Joy and Contentment
By Dr. David Lykken
What
makes us happy? Is it money, a fancy car, a nice house? Or is it
something less tangible, something we have no control over? Is happiness
in our blood? In this fascinating look at the world's most sought-after
emotion, Dr. David Lykken recounts a series of extensive studies
conducted on identical twins reared miles apart. The studies reveal
that, no matter where we live or what we do, we have a consistent
"Happiness Set Point": our overall levels of happiness remains
the same. But
our quest for constant contentment doesn't necessarily end there. While
there's nothing we can do to change our genetic makeup, there's a lot we
can do to make the most of our Happiness Set Point. As kind and candid
as a good friend, Lykken reveals aspects of our lives that allow us to
overcome our genes, that bring us pleasure. Whether it's a faithful pet,
an interesting career, or the perfect lemon meringue pie, being what
Lykken calls "an epicure of experience" is the key.
Furthermore, Lykken outlines the emotions that deprive us of happiness,
such as fear, anger, and shyness, and the ways that we can counteract
them. With
unfailing good humor and fascinating scientific research, Happiness
explores the surprising truth behind our moods, and presents a new way
of thinking, guaranteed to put a smile on even the most somber face.
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the link below to visit this inspiration at our Circle
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