Dao De Jing: Thematic Index of Verses

      There are four major themes evident in the teachings transmitted in the Dao De Jing.   The following index lists the relevant verses that fall under each of the four major thematic categories.  Due to the non-discursive manner in which the teachings of the Wisdom tradition are presented, verses can and often do appear in more than one of the four categories.

I.   The Cosmological theme of the Constant Way [chang dao] called “great” [da], which the processes of nature (Heaven and Earth) are said to “follow” [fa]:  DDJ 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. 10, 14, 16, 21, 22, 23, 25, 29, 32, 34, 35, 37, 39, 40, 41, 42, 51, 55, 56, 62, 67, 73, 77, 78, 79, 81. 

II.  The Ecological theme of the Wisdom Way or “way of the sages” [sheng-ren zhi dao] that is modeled on the constant “balancing” pattern of the Great Way, as it is observed in the “Way of Heaven” (tian zhi dao) and “practiced” (wei dao) by those who teach the wei wuwei method of harmonizing human designs (wei) with the non-designed processes (wuwei) of the natural world:  3, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, 35, 39, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 48, 50, 51, 52, 54, 55, 59, 62, 63, 64, 67, 77, 80, 81. 

III. The Self-cultivation theme of higher attainment (shang de) through inner training leading to enlightened insight regarding the oneness of life and the necessity of caring for the world:  1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 16, 20, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 33, 38, 41, 47, 48, 49, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 64, 67, 71, 81.   

IV.  The Political Ecology theme, which treats the attempt by people of higher attainment (shang de) in the historical context of the late “Spring and Autumn” period of ancient Chinese history, to teach political rulers the meaning of “greatness” in governing:   3, 4, 5, 6. 7. 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 24, 26, 28, 29, 31, 32, 34, 35, 37, 39, 42, 46, 48, 53, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68. 69, 72, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79,

PUBLICATION ANNOUNCEMENT:

     THE ORIGINAL WISDOM OF THE DAO DE JING

                                                 A New Translation and Commentary

                                              by P. J. LASKA

The Dao De Jing is a classic of ancient Chinese philosophy and one of the great wisdom texts of world literature.   To recover its original meaning P. J. Laska sets aside traditional mystical interpretations and views the work as a coherent and profound body of thought concerned with the "constancy" of life's capacity for renewal.  In this new translation the ancient "Way of the Sages" is presented as a bio-centric political ecology teaching that "Great governance does not cut," but acts to protect human communities and the natural world from the "excess, extravagance and extremes" involved in designs for power, wealth and privilege. The accompanying commentary links each verse translation to the holistic understanding of the world-process used by the ancient sages in guiding human activity toward simplicity and integration with nature and away from unsustainable efforts at domination and control.  

Publisher: ECCSBooks                                                                                                                                                     Publication Date: February, 2012.                                                                                                                                  Format & Price:  Paperback, 162 pp.,  $12.95.