Annotated & Explained (SkyLight Illuminations) - Tao Te Ching

I have been a lifelong follower of the Tao and student of the teachings of Lao Tsu and Chuang Tsu. I've read several translations of the Tao Te Ching in both english and Chinese and this is far and away the best translation and interpretation I've had the pleasure to read. One of the most vexing problems for anyone who attempts to explain the ancient teachings of the Tao Te Ching in the west is the barrier of language and culture, and Mr. Lin overcomes this challenge with grace and clarity that has never been achieved until now. I can see in the translated text his efforts to remain precise and true to the ancient chinese text, a very refreshing departure from more "interprative" translations, and the annotations convey a rich understanding of the teachings that are beatifully simple and useful to any reader. The wisdom contained in this book is worthwhile and wonderful to anyone, I recommend it heartily!

Everyone can translate a text, just buy a dictionary. But, translate a text and keep the translation as living as the origin is an art. And that art is what my Daoist Brother Derek Lin is a Master at.

I will recomend this Dao De Ching translation from my heart. The book is good both for persons who are not so familiar with Dao and Daoism and also for them who have study it for some time. Derek Lin's explanation of the text also make the text easy to understand and apply in the dayly life. He is breathing Dao and dont say that his understanding is the right and only understanding, what he do is offering his help to reveal the mysteries of the original text. I dont admire singel persons but i admire people who is offering their help without asking for anything back, and that i know Derek Lin is doing, not just in this book cause he is such a person. So thank you my dear Brother in Dao for that i have been given the possibility to read this fantastic work of yours.

Your Brother in Dao

Wei Yongheng

I knew very little about Taoism prior to purchasing this book, and I feel assured that this translation is precise and unbiased. It includes a brief history of the text that I found very helpful, and the format provides the text and contextual notes side by side. Derek Lin is a native speaker of both English and Chinese, and 'A Note on the Translation" outlines the painstaking process he followed in order to provide the most precise translation possible. Overall, it's a great scholarly guide. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the philosophy of the Tao.

I went to sunday english meeting, teach by Derek Lin, at the I-KUAN TAO temple in El monte.

I never really read any english version of TAO TE CHING before, because I just felt like I don't wanna get confused by the english translation, since I have so much to learn as it is from reading the chinese originals.

However, by attending his english meetings, I realised, I actually learn more and understood more from hearing him going over Tao Te Ching in english.

So, this is my first English translated book on Tao Te Ching.

I trust him completely with his translation, and I recommend this to all new readers. This book is not just a tranlation of Tao Te Ching, it explains all things you need to know and understand before you begin to read it.

DON'T skip right into reading the Tao Te Ching... read all the foreward, introduction and his note on translation first, and so Tao Te Ching will makes much more sense to you.

To people who already read Tao Te Ching many times before, maybe you can read many more ONE MORE time? :D

best wishes and luck

maggie

I am not a scholarly person but a translation still has to make sense, be accurate and it has to resonate with me. This translation of the Tao Te Ching with the author's annotations has been the easiest and most enjoyable version I have read. I read through it one year then put it on the shelf and did not look at it again. Then roughly a year later I decided to study the Tao Te Ching again but this time I went through each verse day by day along with two other versions by different authors using annotations in my quest to truly "get it" and in so doing this version hands down made the most sense to me. This book just puts it altogether in an understandable manner. Great book and I use it as a resource in my daily living.

This is an excellent literal translation of the Tao Te Ching. Like all literal translations, it needs to have a commentary. How else are we supposed to know what a "straw dog" means? I found the commentary to be informative and relevant to today. For a more exhaustive commentary, I recommend Ellen M. Chen. For an excellent translation and line by line commentary, I recommend Rodney A. Cooper. As for this translation and commentary, it is very relevant to our time. I rate it among the best.

Before picking up the Tao Te Ching, I had little to no interaction with Taoism. A healthy dose of curiosity and a strong desire for pluralistic-spiritual growth lead me to pick it up, and guided by the ratings I selected this translation. The commentary is thoughtful and helpful. Even when I disagreed on interpretation, I still found the translator's thoughts a good attempt at grasping the verses. A friend of mine who owns another translation was very excited to borrow my copy and found the translation to be less poetic, but more meaningful. It's easy to see why this work is so popular; it's an easy to read, concise and beautiful commentary on life that remains relevant today.

Generally, this is a fantastic work. Of course, the Tao Te Ching stands for itself as a classical philosophical work - albeit difficult to understand. This translation appeals to me as it is a very literal translation - but this does mean that the language can be a bit archaic at times & thus for some difficult to swallow - but that is the nature of the original , so that's fine by me.
The complaint(s) are about the annotations - they're a little smug at times; referring to "we" instead of "taoists" is a bit irritating I find, particularly when talking about how great the Taoists are...
The second point is that sometimes the annotations are not objective, when explaining the translation - they are neither the opinions of Lao Tzu, nor are they generally accepted taoist beliefs -they are beliefs of the Author. Obviously it's in the nature of an interpretation to reflect the opinions of the interpreter, but Derek Lin also goes on so much about how his translation is impartial, that I feel he should be more impartial in his commentary. So if this is your first excursion into this world, remember, like any philosophy, it's not written in stone - particularly as this is Taoism, where nothing is really written at all......
GCM

Being a one time pastor I can only tell you the importance of translations. This is true translating into English from Greek, Hebrew and every other dialect the original text sprang to life from. The smallest inaccuracy can lead a person into a wrong understanding of what the author really meant.

With all that said, Derek Lin has done a Tao great service. Not only are his insights illuminating and filled with the Tao, his knowledge and research of the original text shines like a beacon of truth where paraphrases and misinterpretations were sometimes found.

This is a translator's dream that would make Lao Tzu nod in appreciation.

There are a lot of Tao Te Ching translations out there, I own a few. But this one, I think is the best among them. Derek Lin has a Chinese culture background, he also works at The Great Tao foundation of America, that might be the reason his book can explain the Tao brilliantly.

Finally, Derek has made this ancient Chinese text accessible to an English audience with his accurate translation and insightful commentary. The best thing is (unlike other popular versions), the translation is precise -- it's all there, mystifying sections and all. No paraphrasing or (yikes!) omissions here. Derek's vast knowledge of ancient Chinese characters, phrasing, stories and meanings help his commentaries bridge centuries and cultures, distilling the true essence of this timeless wisdom. A must if you are a serious student of Eastern Religions. This book has helped immensely to guide my path in life. I can't say enough good things about this particular translation.

I have been studying the Tao for many years and felt truly blessed to come across such a wonderful and refreshing interpretation of the Tao. Derek demonstrates a level of understanding and depth to the Tao, which is communicated in such a manner that it resonates long after your initial reading (or rereading). I just pre-ordered the "The Tao of Success" and am looking forward to another great Tao adventure. In addition, my son, who is 13 years old, has thoroughly enjoyed Derek Lin's book, "The Tao of Daily Life." He looks forward to reading the stories and often applies them to his daily life.

I want to say a few things to those who are searching for a modern understanding that gives you an overall view of your humanity and the world. Derrick Lin's notes and explanations recognize personal uniqueness and offers expanded insights of human capabilities and potential that is inclusive of modern medicine, science and psychology from the East & West. It includes and encompasses your inner world, your relationships, work environments, your culture, your government, nature, and existence, whether you are a teenager, psychiatrist, scientist or CEO.

I have heard that every Fortune 1000 CEO has a copy of Sun Tzu's, "Art of War" on his desk. Derrick Lin's translation of the Tao Te Ching will have significance in this way. The distinction between the Art of War and the Tao Te Ching is that it is applicable for executives, managers and employees.

This specific translation of the Tao Te Ching is applicable to all management methods, models and theories in all corporate settings. These include, but not limited to: small enterprises, public (especially hospitals and senior care providers), not-for-profit organizations, all religious organizations, government institutions like HUD and large corporations.

I have lived a life of obscurity, yet I have provided lectures and training, from time to time, to Psychiatrists, Medical Doctors, scientists, trainers, and individuals, at hospitals, universities, corporate settings, conference venues, churches and counseling venues. I have appeared on television locally and nationally and on live radio throughout the United States in the field of Public Health.

I have traveled for many years, worldwide, searching for live teachers, when possible. I have meditated many hours each day for these 30 years. I bring my awareness to whatever I am doing, feeling and thinking, when it is practical and when I remember.

Somehow, I missed the Tao Te Ching until my 62nd birthday on June 16, 2007.

I could have saved a lifetime of searching.

Derek Lin provides readers with a translation that not only comes from an authentic source but delivers it in such a way that those who wish to follow the teachings will be able to understand with his translations that are simple enough to grasp. I would highly recommend this book and the rest of his books for those who wish to learn about the Tao and how following the Way can be a life changing experience. It has been for me.

It has been said that the Tao Te Ching is a book that is short enough to be read in one evening. This true, however Derek Lin's Annotations are so clear and compelling, that you will not want to skim or breeze through one page. After reading this book, I decided to keep it with me at all times. I'm relatively new to Tao, but have been applying these concepts to my everyday life and actually seeing amazing results. How can something so simple to understand, easy to practice, and require no financial investment make so much sense and become so valuable?

I became curious about Taoism about a year ago and began reading up on the subject. There is a lot of material out there but I had a hard time finding material that would help me understand Tao enough so that I could apply its principles in my life.

Derek's Translation of the Tao Te Ching (TTC) is one of my trusted sources for learning Tao. His translation of the TTC combined with his annotation makes the wisdom of the TTC accessible for me to use day-to-day.

Whereas some Tao Te Chings available in English are translations of translations, Derek Lin returned to the source, to the most authentic commentaries, to produce a translation and interpretation that can be trusted. He explains his methods and the difficulties he encountered, allowing the reader to make up his or her own mind about what follows. While I believe it is good to have more than one translation of the Tao Te Ching, I can say I believe this translation has a place of prominence in any collection.

There are so many translations out there and they all take on the Tao Te Ching differently. Of the ones I have read, I believe that Derek Lin's translation is the ultimate mix of accuracy and clarity. It is not so overly simple that you lose some meaning and it is not filled with explanations in an attempt to explain everything. The notes were a great addition and really helped to put some parts into perspective. This book is clearly a product of hard work.

I have read several translations of the Tao Te Ching and this is by far the best. Mr. Lin's attention to accuracy in the translation captures the "letter" of the original text. And his superb commentary beautifully captures the "spirit" and makes it relevant for today. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Taoism.

I have read several translations of the Tao Te Ching and this is by far the best. Mr. Lin's attention to accuracy in the translation captures the "letter" of the original text. And his superb commentary beautifully captures the "spirit" and makes it relevant for today. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Taoism.

Derek Lin's translation and explainations allow one to follow the text more easily then most interpretations.

I have read several translations and find this one to be the most succinct.

The layout of the text also helps to simplify the read. All in all, just a fine work that anyone interested in the Tao Te Ching should read.

One of the best books I've read! I find it very practical to our daily lives and as you read, it will guide you through many principles that has a connection to our life. Not only do you learn to understand the Tao of life but also learn more about yourself and those around you. I would definitely recommend reading this book!

Thank you for updating/repairing this kindle book! this format works much better than the old kindle edition. It is so much easier to follow and understand the translations as they intended to flow with the text.