Theoriginalmindfulnessbook,inalandmarknewtranslationbytheaward-winningtranslatoroftheIChingandTheArtofWarAPenguinClassicsDeluxeEdition,withflapsanddeckle-edgedpaperThemosttranslatedbookintheworldaftertheBible,theTaoTeChing,or“BookoftheTao,“isaguidetocultivatingalifeofpeace,serenity,andcompassion.Throughaphorismsandparable,itleadsreaderstowardtheTao,orthe“Way“harmonywiththelifeforceoftheuniverse.TraditionallyattributedtoLao-tzu,aChinesephilosopherthoughttohavebeenacontemporaryofConfucius,itistheessentialtextofTaoism,oneofthethreegreatreligionsofancientChina.Asoneoftheworld’sgreatworksofwisdomliterature,itstillhasmuchtoteachustoday,offeringapracticalmodelbasedonmodestyandself-restraintforlivingabalancedexistenceandforopeningyourmind,freeingyourthoughts,andattainingenlightenmentandself-awareness.Withitsemphasisoncalm,simplicity,purity,andnon-action,itprovidesatime-testedrefugefromthebusynessofmodernlife.ThisnewtranslationseekstounderstandtheTaoTeChingasaguidetoeverydaylivingandencouragesaslow,meditativereadingexperience.TheTaoTeChing’seighty-onebriefchaptersareaccompaniedbyilluminatingcommentary,interpretation,poems,andtestimonialsbythelikesofMargaretMead,UrsulaK.LeGuin,andDr.WayneW.Dyer.SpeciallycommissionedcalligraphyformorethantwohundredChinesecharactersillustratesthebook’sessentialthemes.
