The Tao of Jesus
Mar 12th, 2009 by Brian Robertson
If you haven’t spent time with the ancient Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu, a remarkable book which has been translated into English more times than any other book — save the Bible — you’re missing something. You can read the briefest of explanations here. I can promise this — to journey through the book and the story behind it’s origins is a delightful discovery.
I’ve always loved the simplicity that does not spell out things like a grocery store list, but, rather, maintains the attitude of someone pointing at a very great and profound truth which is poetry rather than prose, marveling at rather than a checklist of dogma.
Never heard of the Tao? Tao (pronounced “Dào” ) is a concept found in Taoism and more generally in ancient Chinese philosophy. While the character itself translates as “way,” “path,” or “route,” or sometimes more loosely as “doctrine” or “principle,” it is used philosophically to signify the fundamental or true nature of the world. The concept of Tao differs from conventional (western) ontology, however; it is an active and holistic conception of the world, rather than a static, atomistic one. Lao Tzu’s book, then, Tao Te Ching means, roughly, “The Way and It’s Power.” (Tao = The Way; Te = Power; Ching = Book)
It was also interesting to find a Chinese painting depicting Jesus and the Rich Man:
I thought I’d offer a few excerpts from the Tao Te Ching which echo some of the quotes attributed to Jesus. It can help us to remember that God speaks without regard to time, place or particulars.
“What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose their souls?” Luke 9:25
“To be proud with wealth and honor is to sow the seeds ofyour own downfall.” Tao Te Ching 9
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21
“The sage wears rough clothing and holds the jewel in his heart.” Tao Te Ching 70
“The least among all you of is the greatest.” Luke 9:49
“The best of people is like water. Water gives life to all things and does not compete with them. It flows in places people reject and so is like the Tao.” Tao Te Ching 8
“Do not resist an evildoer. If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, offer him the other also.” Matthew 5:38
“Respond to anger with virtue.” Tao Te Ching 63
“The Son of Man came to save, not condemn.” Matthew 18:11
“People may not be good, but do not reject them.” Tao Te Ching 62
“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” Luke 6:27
The sages is good at helping everyone. For that reason there is no rejected person. Therefore the good man is the teacher of the bad and the bad man is the lesson of the good.” Tao Te Ching 27
“Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ Jesus said, ‘You say so.’ But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. Then Pilate said to him, ‘Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?’ But he have them no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.” Matthew 27:11-14
“The softest thing in the world overcomes the hardest. Something that has no substance penetrates even where there is no space. This teaches the value of non-action. Teaching without words and work without doing are understood by very few.” Tao Te Ching 43
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The Tao Te Ching is an excellent set of books. I believe you are in error to suggest that it would be translated “the way and its power”. The Tao Te Ching is actually two books: the Tao ching and the Te ching. They get their name from the first word in each book. Tao or the way in the first book and Te or virtue in the second book (although the first word of the second book is actually shang which is an adjective with no special significance). O hope this doesn’t come across wrong (not trying to disrespect you) I just recently read a history of the books and Lao Tzu so it is fresh in my mind. Thought you would like to know.
Anyway, Love your site and I was very pleased to see you had returned from your long hiatus.
I love the Tao and I love the teachings of Jesus. Is there a book that marries the two. Like what you did in this article. I feel like I’m a recovering christian fundamentalist and have taken to eastern teachings like a starving child. But I don’t want to leave Jesus and I thrill when I find the coinciding truths from each. I’m thankful that I’ve found your website/blog.
THANK YOU! Janet
First off, thanks for your comment!
The best I’ve found (and it’s an old book so I’m not sure whether or not it’s still around) is Jesus and Lao Tzu: The Parallel Sayings by Martin Aronson, published by Seastone.
I suspect others may have some suggestions?
Blessings,
Brian
Well, it’s true that there is a school of thought that the work known is the Tao Te Ching may have originally been two books and there may be some evidence to support that they certainly could have been edited together, but the copies discovered from as far back as the 2nd Century B.C. show the document to have been one. At the same time, it is possible that the two sections were reversed from what we know to day (in one manuscript), making it the Te Tao Ching (with the Te section coming before the Tao section). Overwhelmingly, though it’s been seen as a single work, so outside of the occasional scholar I’ve never heard it maintained there were two “books” or parts.
Wikipedia, in a remarkably good entry, states:
Ancient Chinese is notoriously slippery, but, as I said, the title’s translation is roughly as I gave it — The Book of the Way and the Power. Obviously, it has been translated in other ways but that’s one of the most standard ways and gives a fairly good idea since I was more interested in the words than the history of the document itself.
The sublime beauty of the Tao Te Ching is that it’s a book that offers no answers. Answers must be found by each of us in our own way in our time.
Thanks for the post about the book. I just picked up my copy today. I’m a little new to mysticism but I am finding some good things in the book. Very interesting.
Yes, the beauty of both Christ and LaoTzu is that they used parables and simple sayings to help us “get it” with our spirits instead of just our heads. I love the parallels you wrote between the two men’s sayings. It adds so much to each one. Lao Tzu can be very funnyl, I think. Light-hearted and free. Our dear Jesus, to me, so serious and concerned. Together they make a great team! I also wanted to say a word of support to the writer who is a “recovering fundamentalist”. Been there, still working on it, never stopped loving Jesus. Studying Christian Mysticism has helped me a lot because it shows that Jesus was a true mystic - not dogmatic. Have you read “The Gnostic Gospels” by Elaine Pagels? I found it really liberating. Perhaps you would too. Bless you all!
Christ the eternal tao is a very good book written by an orthodox monk, fr. damascene