[Suska]

The Tao Teh Ching is partly a political treatise

Thats a stretch, I wouldn't mind hearing why you think so.

[ninurta]

If the only thing we have that is connected to Lao Tzu is the Tao Te Ching, why should I bother looking up what I already own and read? The Tao Te Ching is 100% a philosophical treatise, though it may hint at politics possibly, its 100% philosophuy of nature.

[DubiousDan]

Suska:

Quote:
The Tao Teh Ching is partly a political treatiseThats a stretch, I wouldn't mind hearing why you think so.

Me:
From the Archie J. Bahm translation of the Tao Teh King, which I use because it was recommended to me by Chinese whom I respected greatly.

Rivers and seas dominate the landscape,
Because by being good at seeking the lowest places, they fill and
spread over everything.
Likewise the intelligent man is superior to others,
Because he admits that he is inferior,
And he is a leader of others because he is a follower.
Thus although he is superior to others, they do not feel depressed.
And when he leads them, they do not feel that they are being forced to obey.
So all are happy to give him their support.
Since he competes with no one, no one competes with him.

In the back of the book, Bahm gives his views on the Tao Teh Ching,
Which he calls the Tao Teh King in the old style.
It is not the final word. There is no final word on the Tao Teh Ching.
No one understands it, but some of us try.

In Bahm’s work, and the reason it was recommended to me,
Tao is interpreted as Nature, and Teh as Intelligence.
Bahm shuns mysticism and strives for simplicity at the expense of poetic imagery.
I have read other versions, but I keep my old battered copy, though I fear I will have to replace it soon, that is, if I live.

Yes, and if this is not political, what is?
The Tao Teh King, Archi Bahm translation.

The ideal state is a small intimate community
Where all the necessities of life are present in abundance.
There everyone is satisfied to live and die without looking around for greener pastures.
Even if they have cars or boats, they don’t use them for traveling
Even if they have police and fortifications, these are never put to use.
Business transactions are simple enough to be calculated on ones fingers rather than requiring complicated bookkeeping.
The people are satisfied with their food,
Contented with their clothing,
And happy with their customs.
Even though neighboring communities are within sight,
And the crowing of the neighbor’s cocks and barking of the neighbor’s dogs are within hearing,
They grow old and die without ever troubling themselves to go outside of their own communities.