Interpretations of the Tao... My own kind of "Dude de Ching" thing.

[StAugustineDude]

This will either be interesting, or tiring to read.  Most certainly self-serving, but something I have been wanting to do in some form or another for awhile now. Even before finding Dudeism...  Rather than keeping it internal and it just ending up virtual scrap paper in the ether that falls victim to my next laptop rebuild, I thought I would put it out here and if someone can find wisdom or clarity from my words (unlikely) then so be it dudes....   Unlike the aforementioned "Dude de Ching" I am going to try to be sparing on the Lebowski'isms as after reading that book I think there may have been a bit too much emphasis put on trying to convert meaning to catchphrase to the point that it lost some message clarity for me.   Over the next several weeks (hopefully not months, as it's often been said that the Tao de Ching is something that can be read in a single sitting or over a lifetime).  I will try to tackle one verse at a time, but in places (where more appropriate) I will break things down by line.  I will provide a couple of different examples of verse translation from different sources (one will be the un-Lebowski'ized translation from "Dude de Ching") for reference before my interpretation of the message of the verse or line.

These are definitely "My interpretations" and I don't expect that everyone, or potentially anyone, would concur with my thoughts.  But given all of the new things that have come to light over the nearly five decades of my existence... I thought I would share for you to make your own interpretations or give this ole Duder a different perspective.  We are all imperfect and fallible and too are my views on life.   If you dig it cool... if not... "Well that's just your, you know... opinion man" but certainly don't be afraid to share your own views as well.

[StAugustineDude]

Translation 1 -
The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao.

Translation 2 -
The Tao that can be discussed is not really the Tao.

My Thoughts....

The first line is generally interpreted by most as meaning that something that can be described is not Tao, or that the Tao is something that is too complex to put into words.  I have a different interpretation of this line to mean that the Tao is not concrete or absolute.  There can be (and are) many interpretations and
That your experience of Tao will be different from another persons' understanding of it.  Whenever we burden ourselves in absolute truths, we limit our ability to find truths for ourselves and truly flow with Tao.   

A good example of this is in most modern religions today, not just in the religions that hold dogmatic divinities, but even in certain forms of Taoism, and Buddhism that have become so structured that there are many within them that believe that there is no room for interpretation on their tenants.  That the existing interpretations are divine, undeniable and unquestionable.  While what we know about these religion's instituters and revered figures would tell us otherwise. One that uses words and ritual to understand Tao will be prisoner to them. I believe that in both Buddhism and Taoism we find the cautions against structure and absolutes which constrain our thoughts in doctrines held sacred by others without finding and observing their words to hold true for ourselves. Whether it be Commandments, Prophecies, Noble Truths, Paths, or the I Ching, when the words and interpretations of the past are held as fact, unchangeable and not open to individual interpretation, we are working against Tao rather than flowing with it. Because with the Tao, all things, including ideas are impermanent and ever-changing.

[Brother D]

http://www.quotationof.com/images250_/dogma-quotes-2.jpg

[StAugustineDude]

http://www.quotationof.com/images250_/dogma-quotes-2.jpg

Dude that's awesome! I have watched Dogma several times and I guess I missed the clarity in the Rufus dialog, or didn't think about it at the time.

[Brother D]

In interpretation of truth/essence/nature, it is  a case of discovering it for yourself. What defines it for one person, is often not the same for another. Everyone has their own unique perspective on life and it's questions, to satisfy their natural curiosity and to find an understanding that gives them peace of mind.

The Unknowable Tao, to me, is a notion that there is no perfect truth, (as perfection can always be improved upon), no one definitive answer, (not even 42, as there is not as yet, a T.O.E), as we, as sentient beings of reason, (mostly), are a hugely diverse species with a myriad of experience. To know it, would be like knowing the Buddhist 10,000 things. (Some eastern thing wiser fellers than myself blather about).

As a very small part of the cosmic whole, we are seemingly the only ones wondering what it's all about. Why are we here, what is our purpose etc are things that humankind has tried to wrap its head around for aeons. For some, there is a universal life force, thats been keeping the whole thing going, for others, an almighty creator, that knocked up the universe in 6 days a few millennia ago, though that is something for/ from another thread.

My point is, that if you think too deeply about it, you drown in the myre of inquiry, instead of accepting it for what it is. I certainly don't know and have more interesting things to do, than to constantly figure it all out. Many have tried over the centuries and not one, has gotten any further than accepting that life just is.

[StAugustineDude]

Kind of backwards I know, but when I started looking back at this I realized a critical flaw in my methodology..  so I am putting the full verse translation versions in here, then I'll cut back through to pick out the lines when dissecting them for my own interpretation.... 

Translation 1 -
The tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao.
The name that can be named is not the eternal Name.
The unnamable is the eternally real.
Naming is the origin of all particular things.
Free from desire, you can see the hidden mystery.
Caught in desire, you see only what is visibly real.
Yet mystery and visible reality arise from the same source.
And the mystery itself is the gateway to all understanding.

Translation 2 -
The Tao that can be discussed is not really the Tao.
Things in the world are only temporary reflections of Tao.
The flow of Tao is all that really exists.
Our language, beliefs and categories are only fabrications which help us make sense of its flow.
In order to understand this, one has to first learn how to relax.
In order to experience this, one has to first learn how to unlearn.
The world is made of and by Tao.
And Tao is evidenced by the workings of the world.
Tao and the world may seem separate, but that is only because we have been shaped to see it that way.
To operate in greater harmony with the world.
We must begin to internalize this way and its perspective.

Translation 3 -
The Tao that can be told,
is not the eternal Tao.
The name that can be named,
is not the eternal name.
 
The Tao is both named and nameless
As nameless it is the original of all things
as named it is the Mother of 10,000 things
 
Ever desire-less, one can see the mystery;
Ever desiring; one sees only the manifestation.
And the mystery itself is the doorway to all understanding.

[StAugustineDude]

The Unknowable Tao, to me, is a notion that there is no perfect truth, (as perfection can always be improved upon), no one definitive answer, (not even 42, as there is not as yet, a T.O.E), as we, as sentient beings of reason, (mostly), are a hugely diverse species with a myriad of experience. To know it, would be like knowing the Buddhist 10,000 things. (Some eastern thing wiser fellers than myself blather about).

Absolutely man, I think this is an essential core in the meaning.  Perfection, and the pursuit of perfection is also one of the key things that lead to suffering (to take the Buddhist approach) as that pursuit can never be realized. Equally, investing yourself in the belief that there is such a thing as absolute truth, only leads to disappointment when you finally hold those truths to scrutiny and find that they are not in fact perfect.