Why I Translated “TAO TE CHING” and Wrote A Book About the BIBLE

It never occurred to me that I would write a book about Tao Te Ching and the Bible—two of the world’s most translated and extensively read books of all time. I have neither the background nor the credentials to take up this huge literary challenge. But I have done it nevertheless. Maybe if there is a will, there must be a way somehow.

Where did my will come from?

My first contact with Tao Te Ching was probably when I was a 5^th or 6^th grader back in Hong Kong, prior to my coming to the United States. In those days, ancient Chinese classics were taught in Chinese classes; students were occasionally given a few verses from some famous Chinese classics, including Tao Te Ching, to commit to memory. In the texts from Tao Te Ching, the phrases taken were usually short and easy to remember, and the words rhyming and catchy; they were much like lyrics from a Chinese pop song. Other than those memories, the content made little sense to the students, including me.

Several decades later, when I began writing The Book of Life and Living, I did some research on Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching. With Internet access, I was surprised to find that there are thousands of translations of the immortal classic of Lao Tzu.

I must say that many of the translations available in the Internet are imperfect (however, it does not imply that mine is in any way near perfection, or even good enough when compared with many of them). The reason is that the text of Tao Te Ching is in itself one of the most difficult ones in the world for intellectual understanding, let alone translating it into a different language. Without a sound knowledge of the Chinese language (which, to me, is extremely difficult to learn, not to mention to master) and a thorough understanding of the cultural background, any attempt to express its profound content in a language other than the original Chinese without any punctuation mark is an insurmountable literary challenge.

To me, the main reason for the imperfections in nearly all the translations, including mine, of Tao Te Ching is best explained by the famous Indian fable of the blind men describing an elephant. Like the blind men in the fable, each translator or interpreter of Tao Te Ching is always looking at the text from his or her own perspective. That explains why there is no perfect translation of Tao Te Ching: none of us is Lao Tzu, and each of us is striving to probe into the mind of the great sage according to our own perspectives and interpretations. But, by the same token, that is also the beauty of the book: it is open to any interpretation. For that reason, it is timeless; its value changes with the change of perspective of its readers.

Tao Te Ching is not meant to be read in a single sitting, and then forget about it; it is a book to be read, re-read, and then re-read as often as needed. Michael Crichton, the best-selling author and acclaimed film-producer, once said in interview with Amazon.com that if he were stranded on an island the only book he would take with him would be Tao Te Ching. His comment speaks volumes of the substantial intrinsic merit of this ancient Chinese classic.

Yes, Tao Te Ching is one of the world’s most difficult and yet most intriguing masterpieces. By design, the book is riddled with unexplained perplexities and contradictory possibilities through the deliberate use of simple, but vague and ambiguous words. The real essence of the book is its absolute and pure wisdom of living a life of balance and harmony, and thus enabling us to reassess our own lives through the many life lessons that we undergo in varying stages of life. Therefore, its unique content is eternal and timeless. That is why I would like to introduce Tao Te Ching to you, if you have not already read it.

Stephen Lau

Copyright© by Stephen Lau

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The Role of Spiritual Wisdom

The Role of Spiritual Wisdom

“Life lives itself in us, when we focus on the Creator.

From that focal point, around which all of life revolves.

We watch everything come and go,

with no judgment, no preference.

Everything that is, was, or ever will be,

will return to its origin: the Creator.

Understanding the comings and goings of things,

we fret not, and judge not.

Focusing on the Creator,

we are open to all of life.

Opening to all of life,

we embrace all with thankfulness for what we get,

with gratitude for not getting what we deserve.

Discovering the true nature of things,

we live with compassion and loving-kindness.

All endings become beginnings, all returning to the Creator.”

(Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching, chapter 16)

        

To seek the Creator, take a look at nature. You will see why it lasts: the reason is that everything does not exist for itself, and that is why it can last forever—they are all inter-connected with one another for existence and survival.

So, focus on others, and not just on yourself. By doing so, you may discover the true meaning of love and loving-kindness.

Opening to all, you learn to appreciate others and connect with them.

“In the absence of the Creator, we forget who we really are.

Then we turn to other things to define who we are, what is good and moral.

In the presence of the Creator, we act according to our hearts,

instead of relying on rules and regulations from those above us.

Rules and regulations may bring fairness and justice,

but no more than a pretense of life.

A pretense of life is our inability to love indiscriminately.

Then we insist on those above us to heal our suffering,

which originates from ourselves.”

(Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching, chapter 18)

Living in the world means following all the rules and regulations that are made exclusively for the world.

If you are in the world but not of the world, these man-made rules and regulations are no more than a pretense of life—abiding by them is not what you would seek in your search for the TAO of living for life.

Stephen Lau        

Copyright© by Stephen Lau

Everything Is Nothing; Nothing Is Everything

Everything is nothing

Remember, life always begets death. What goes up must also come down. This is the natural cycle of everything in this world. Many people live without thinking of death or deliberately ignoring its existence, while others live but always with death on their minds—especially those elderly. Death is inevitable, but one need not anticipate it as if it is imminent, even if one is advanced in years. Nobody knows when death may descend. Just live your life as if there is no tomorrow, and live in the now, and live as if everything is a miracle.

Remember, whether you would like letting go or not, you came from dust, and dust you shall return to.

Remember your Creator before you return to the dust you came from. Remember him before your spirit goes back to God who gave it.

(Ecclesiastics 12: 7)

The bottom line: remember your Creator, or where you came from; everything is nothing in the end. So, why hold on to, and why not let go of, everything that eventually becomes nothing? Just let go to let God, who is in absolute control; everything must return to Him as nothing. Indeed, the wisdom of everything is nothing is the wisdom of letting go.

Nothing is everything

The realization that nothing is in fact everything gives you freedom and liberation from all attachments. Letting go to let God is self-enlightenment. Returning to dust is actually the only pathway to everything; physical death is just a way station on the road to paradise. Christ's resurrection is a testament that death can be a rite of passage to life eternal, and that nothing ultimately becomes everything in the life to come.

Believe that God brought you here for a purpose that you may not know. He will keep you in His love as long as you trust Him. To demonstrate that trust, you have to be obedient, which means you have to let go of all attachments that are no more than just distractions from your fear of the unknown ahead of you. He will make any trial in your life a blessing, teaching you a lesson He intends you to learn from it. He is giving you His grace to be bestowed on you. In His good time, He will deliver you—how and when you may not know, and this is the trust, without which there is no letting go. An inflated ego does not solve your life problems; it only increases them with more attachments. Letting go of your ego is the way to go. Attachments are no more than your emotional dependence on things, people, and thoughts that make your reluctant to letting go. Only letting go can create the “emptiness” to be filled by God’s wisdom to help you let go to let God.

Stephen Lau        

Copyright© by Stephen Lau

The Impermanence of All Things

Everything is impermanent, and nothing lasts.

“Letting go is emptying the mundane,

to be filled with heavenly grace.

Blessed is he who has an empty mind.

He will be filled with knowledge and wisdom from the Creator.

Blessed is he who has no attachment to worldly things.

He will be compensated with heavenly riches.”

(Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 9)

According to Lao Tzu’s wisdom, impermanence holds the key to the art of living well. The reality, whether we like it or not, is that everything in this world is impermanent  because everything is forever changing. So, why do you fight a battle that has no chance of winning? Just be an observer of the combats of others, instead of becoming a participant yourself.

“The Creator seems elusive amid the changes of life.

At times, He seems to have forsaken His creations.

In reality, He is simply observing the comings and goings of their follies.

Likewise, we watch the comings and goings

of our likes and dislikes, of our desires and fears.

But we do not identify with them.

With no judgment and no preference,

we see the  mysteries of creation.”

(Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 7)

TAO is the only way through anything and everything in life. Understanding that everything is impermanent, we may begin to appreciate what we already have, instead of complaining the lack of what we desire or what others are having. More importantly, we may even have the wisdom of letting go of what we value. 

Stephen Lau

Copyright© by Stephen Lau

Understanding Biblical Wisdom

TAO: The Way to Biblical Wisdom

Understanding Biblical wisdom may not be as easy as you think: it requires wisdom --  human wisdom to seek knowledge to understand the role of man in this world, such as finding out his self-worth, and his contributions to humanity. Reading the Bible may not lead you anywhere unless you have an open mind, Reading Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching, the ancient immortal classic from China, may be the way to understanding Biblical wisdom.

Interestingly enough, both Tao Te Ching and the Bible are among the most translated and extensively read books in the world. There is a fundamental connection between the two books, though some critics may disagree. Tao Te Ching is about human wisdom, and the Bible is about the wisdom of God. The former was written hundreds of years before the New Testament was even conceived. Both books are about wisdom, and true wisdom is universal and timeless, often sharing some common attributes. 

TAO The Way to Biblical Wisdom contains the complete translation of Tao Te Ching in simple English (the original text has only 5,000 words), as well as the essentials of Tao wisdom (which is the profound wisdom of Lao Tzu,  the author of Tao Te Ching). This book also explains the subtle connection between human and Biblical wisdom. 

Even Michael Crichton, the best-selling author and acclaimed film-producer, said in interview with Amazon that if he were stranded on an island the only book he would take with him would be Tao Te Ching. If you have not read Tao Te Ching, it is time you do so.

Stephen Lau

The Attributes for a Better and Happier You

To become a better and happier individual, you need love, compassion, and altruism. These are the attributes necessary not only for redeveloping or reshaping your personality but also for sustaining yourself in this aggressive and ever-changing world. They are the daily foods for your soul to provide you with happiness, inner satisfaction, and joy.

Humanity and Self

Without compassion, you lack self-confidence, which often gives way to anxiety, fear, and insecurity. Compassion enables you to see your own connectedness with others, and you are not alone all by yourself. Once your inner world becomes imbalanced and disharmonized by a lack of self-confidence, you lose your inner calmness, without which you cannot properly utilize your wisdom. Without wisdom, you mind becomes obsessed with negative thoughts of self, leading to wrong actions and toxic consequences. This is where Tao wisdom may come into play by diminishing your ego-self and letting you focus more on others, rather than solely on yourself. Letting go of the ego-self may help you develop compassion and cherish a sense of responsibility for humanity.

Anything and Everything

Awareness of your own responsibility for humanity may enable you to rein in your temper and inhibit your anger. Better understanding of humanity lets you acknowledge the destructive forces of anger, and thereby instrumental in reducing their strength. Your short temper can benefit from Tao wisdom, which shows you the importance and necessity of embracing all—the easy and the difficult, as well as the pleasant and the unpleasant. In life, difficult and unpleasant experiences not only train but also enhance you mental stability to control your temper, which often undermines your compassion for others. Tao wisdom teaches you not to pick and choose but to embrace anything and everything in life because any situation in life can make you become either a teacher or a student. Life is about anything and everything that you can learn from, and this is where true wisdom comes from.

Understanding that anything is everything may also make you see things very differently. People and things do not exist independently. When there is long, there has to be short; they do not exist simply because of their own nature. Everything in life is not only relative but also related. Viewing any life situation—whether it is good or bad—with this profound human wisdom may help you see that anything is everything, In other words, any life situation is not under its own power but depends on many present causes and conditions, as well as many past causes and conditions; otherwise it could not have come into being. With this perspective, you can see much more of the whole picture, and thus you can see the reality of the situation.

Stephen Lau     

Copyright© by Stephen Lau

An Empty Mind for Longevity

TAO wisdom is anti-aging in that it provides blueprint for living in balance and harmony, that may enable you to live to 100 and beyond. Of course, living a long life is contingent on many other factors, such as genes, disease vulnerability, lifestyle, and among many others. TAO wisdom begins with an empty mindset. 

"An empty mind with no craving and no expectation helps us letting go.

Being in the world and not of the world, we attain heavenly grace.

With heavenly grace, we become pure and selfless.

And everything settles into its own perfect place."

(Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching, chapter 3)

With an empty mind, you begin to look at everything with totally different perspectives,

An empty mind is like letting go. If you don't let go, you would not be able to receive. Remember, it is always more blessed to give than to receive. If you hold on to something,  you would not be able to receive -- just like if your mind is loaded with pre-conceived ideas, you would not be able to accept new and unconventional ideas. 

An empty mindset not only provides clarity of thinking, but also frees us from the many shackles of life that enslave us, keeping us in bondage without our knowing it. Are you the master or just a slave of your own life? Often times, we think we are masters of our lives and we are in total control, but in fact we are no more than slaves. You are the master only when you have complete control over your life, or rather your way of thinking. Remember, your mind controls you, especially your subconscious mind—what you do, or how you act and react in different circumstances and situations in life.

How do you gain or re-gain control over your life in terms of your career, human relationships, time management, and daily stress, among others? It is not easy because most of us have a pre-conditioned mindset that we must do this and do that in order to succeed in life. To illustrate, in our subconscious minds, we want to do well, and, to do well, we must set life goals; to reach our life goals, we must exert efforts; after accomplishing one life goal, we need to set another higher one, and yet another one higher than the previous ones. In the end, our lives get more complicated and even out of control; as a result, we are no longer masters but only slaves to what we have accomplished for ourselves. As a further illustration, Lance Armstrong, the once-famous-and-now-disgraced cyclist, used performance-enhancing drugs to win his races in order to sustain his ego to win, which is compounded of his winnings, that ultimately brought about his own downfall. 

With an empty mind, we live in the present. The past was gone. Never look back in anger or with regret. Only the present is real. Do what you can with what you have, but with no expectation -- unlike Lance Armstrong, who expected to repeat his winnings, and he did more than what was necessary. Let go of all expectations in life. Letting go holds the key to the art of living well, even at any age. 

Tao wisdom teaches that all things follow a natural order: what goes up must also come down, just like life is inevitably followed by death.

Essentially, TaoAO wisdom shows you how to live a stress-free life. Remember, stress is the enemy of longevity. Let go of your ego-self to let God take over the control. Understandably, it's not that easy. But with both human and spiritual wisdom, everything is possible.

Tao wisdom with an empty mind is anti-aging. Live your life as if everything is a miracle.

Stephen Lau

Copyright© by Stephen Lau

Living with Tao Wisdom

Living with Tao Wisdom

Wisdom is an important aspect of living because we need it not so much to make a success of living as to live well. In order to live well, understanding the ancient Tao wisdom plays a pivotal role, especially in its application in contemporary living. Understanding the ancient Tao wisdom is to live well.

What is Tao wisdom? It seems its too profound for human understanding. As a matter of fact, over the centuries, many people have found it intriquing and controversial, to say the least.

The ancient Tao wisdom is expressed in the book Tao Te Ching, an ancient Chinese classic. "Tao" means "The Way" to understanding the human wisdom in living; "Te" means "virtuosity" and "Ching" means "classic." The book, written by Lao Tzu (meaning "old master"), contains 81 short chapters (only 5,000 Chinese characters), expressing succinctly the wisdom of the great Chinese philosopher. According to the legend, Lao Tzu, who was born with gray hair (a sign of wisdom related with age and experience), was stopped at the city gate when he was riding backwards on an ox; he was just about to leave the ancient capital of China for another country. Lao Tzu was "forced" to record the essence of his teachings; at first, he was reluctant to put anything in writing because he believed that true human wisdom was ineffable and inexpressible, and anything that could be expressed in words would be self-limiting.

Tao Te Ching, written around the 6th century B.C., has become one of the most translated works in world literature because it is regarded by many scholars as one of the wisest books in the world.

Why is it difficult to understand Tao wisdom?

Tao wisdom in simple but profound; it is paradoxical but illuminating. It is all-embracing in that it is applicable to every aspect of life and living. Tao wisdom is universal and timeless wisdom. To fully understand and internalize Tao wisdom in living, you must, first and foremost, have an open mind or an empty mind that would be receptive to unconventional thinking. In fact, you must not only think out of the box but, more importantly, to create your own box of thinking. Your mind must not have any preconditioned ideas about anything. That is to say, you must have an empty mind for reverse thinking before you can intuit the true wisdom of Tao.

"Ever desireless, one can see the mystery.

Every desiring, one sees only the manifestations.

And the mystery itself is the doorway to all understanding."

(Lao Tzu, "Tao Te Ching," Chapter One)

To fully understand the wisdom of Tao, with an empty mind ready for reverse thinking, you must be "ever desireless" because your desires, once conceived, will "dictate" how you "would" like to live, rather than "knowing" the true wisdom of how you "should" live your life. In other words, if you have set your goals in life, you are in fact shaping your own life according to your goals; however, this may not be the true life that God has intended for you. Therefore, "ever desiring" will let you see only the manifestations of your life, not the "mystery" which holds the key to unlocking your understanding of true wisdom. In real life, if you are too preoccupied with what you want, you will miss the essence of life and the true meaning of living.

Visit my website: Wisdom in Living.

Stephen Lau

Copyright© by Stephen Lau