Wen-Tzu: Understanding the Mysteries: Further Teachings of Lao Tzu

Of the mountain of Cleary's translations, this translation of the Wen-tzu is by far my favorite. Really - belongs side by side with whatever edition of the Tao-Teh-Ching you own. Here Lao Tzu also says "Small people pursue undertakings on the premise of profit, exemplary people pursue undertakings on the premise of justice." "Life is what we temporarily depend upon, death is where we ultimately return. Therefore, when the world is orderly one protects oneself by justice, and when the world is disorderly one protects justice by oneself." "Sages cover everything like the sky, bear everything like the earth, and shine on everything like the sun and moon. They bring harmony like yin and yang, and foster development like the four seasons. They embrace all beings without being the same. For them there is nothing old, nothing new, nothing remote, nothing familiar." There's lots of stuff like these sayings in this book - a good one to curl up with, when you're in the mood for that sort of thing.

for years, i've been searching for the answers about the taoist principles such as the wu wei or the yin and yang. i had a very good collection of taoist books in my library such as the tao te ching (i got three versions), the chuang tzu (2 versions), a lieh tzu e book, and many more. i've been reading them but it is just so hard for me to learn how to use the taoist principles to my everyday life. tao te ching is too esoteric, chuang tzu is too complicated due to his story-telling and fables, lieh tzu is alright but i needed something direct. one day, i was walking in a bookstore and i saw the wen tzu. i asked myself, "what the hell is the wen tzu?" so as i looked at the cover, it says that it is the further teachings of lao tzu. now that adds more to the "what the hell" in my head. but i gave it a try. after reading a few passages, i am very happy to say that Wen Tzu is actually the book i've been waiting for. why? first of all, it's very direct like an "in your face" kind of explanation. second, wen tzu for me is actually an extension, more detailed version of the Tao Te Ching, not mentioning how big the book is. it's safe to say that this is the tao te ching, the director's cut, or the guide to the tao te ching. it is that good. believe me. even i believe that it was written by lao tzu because of its content. you'll just have to read it to believe it, and i'm happy to share this book to those who are looking for a great taoist book, or a book that can motivate you to live peacefully. always smile a lot and take care.

Written more than 2000 years ago, this book addresses subjects in a manner still relevant to modern problems. See Chapter 87 on the absurdity of get-tough laws, and on the impotence of intellectual social experimentation. See Chapter 89 for an ancient articulation of post-modern anti-foundationalism, Chapter 103 on why class-based laws ultimately fail. Chapter 107 advocates proactivism over reactionism. Chapters 111-112 explain why well-intentioned social programs often harm their beneficiaries. 125 explains why government is needed to protect minorities. 151 advocates environmentalism. 158 demostrates the dire results of partisan politics and poll-watching. All in all a remarkable text that makes modern politics and society stand up in new relief.

The Tao Te Ching is more poetic, but at times cryptic. Wen-Tzu goes into a bit more detail. The prose used, however, is in keeping with the ideal of Taoism that simplicity is better. Mr. Cleary also does an admirable job of setting it up in his introduction. Don't skip it! Although it can be thought of as the "companion" guide to the Tao Te Ching, it stands alone as a cornerstone of Taoist thought. A book of truth in its own right.