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Wu Wei, a phantasy based on the philosophy of Lao-Tse
Preface:
THE following study on Lao-Tse's "Wu-Wei" should by no means be regarded as a translation or even as a free rendering of the actual work of that philosopher. I have simply endeavoured to retain in my work the pure essence of his thought, and I have given a direct translation of his essential truths in isolated instances only, the rest being for the most part a self-thought-out elaboration of the few principles enunciated by him. My conception of the terms "Tao" and "Wu Wei" is entirely different from that of most sinologues (such as Stanislas Julien, Giles, and Legge), who have translated the work "Tao-Teh-King." But this is not the place to justify myself. It may best be judged from the following work whether my conception be reasonable or incorrect. Little is contained in Lao-Tse's short, extremely simple book, the words of which may be said to be condensed into their purely primary significance—(a significance at times quite at variance with that given in other works to the same words)—but this little is gospel. Lao-Tse's work is no treatise on philosophy, but contains, rather, merely those truths to which this (unwritten) philosophy had led him. In it we find no form nor embodiment, nothing but the quintessence of this philosop.
My work is permeated with this essence, but it is no translation of Lao-Tse. None of my metaphorical comparisons, such as that with the landscape, with the sea, with the clouds, are anywhere to be found in Lao-Tse's work. Neither has he anywhere spoken of Art, nor specially of Love. In writing of all this I have spoken aloud the thoughts and feelings instinctively induced by the perusal of Lao-Tse's deep-felt philosophy. Thus it may be that my work contains far more of myself than I am conscious of; but even so, it is but an outpouring of the thought and feeling called up in me by the words of Lao-Tse. I have made use of none but Chinese works on Lao-Tse, and of those only a few. On reading later some of the English and French translations, I was amazed to find how confused and unintelligible these books were. i adhered to my simple idea of Lao-Tse's work, and of my work I could alter nothing, for I felt the truth of it within me as a simple and natural faith.
--HENRI BOREL.
THE following study on Lao-Tse's "Wu-Wei" should by no means be regarded as a translation or even as a free rendering of the actual work of that philosopher. I have simply endeavoured to retain in my work the pure essence of his thought, and I have given a direct translation of his essential truths in isolated instances only, the rest being for the most part a self-thought-out elaboration of the few principles enunciated by him. My conception of the terms "Tao" and "Wu Wei" is entirely different from that of most sinologues (such as Stanislas Julien, Giles, and Legge), who have translated the work "Tao-Teh-King." But this is not the place to justify myself. It may best be judged from the following work whether my conception be reasonable or incorrect. Little is contained in Lao-Tse's short, extremely simple book, the words of which may be said to be condensed into their purely primary significance—(a significance at times quite at variance with that given in other works to the same words)—but this little is gospel. Lao-Tse's work is no treatise on philosophy, but contains, rather, merely those truths to which this (unwritten) philosophy had led him. In it we find no form nor embodiment, nothing but the quintessence of this philosop.
My work is permeated with this essence, but it is no translation of Lao-Tse. None of my metaphorical comparisons, such as that with the landscape, with the sea, with the clouds, are anywhere to be found in Lao-Tse's work. Neither has he anywhere spoken of Art, nor specially of Love. In writing of all this I have spoken aloud the thoughts and feelings instinctively induced by the perusal of Lao-Tse's deep-felt philosophy. Thus it may be that my work contains far more of myself than I am conscious of; but even so, it is but an outpouring of the thought and feeling called up in me by the words of Lao-Tse. I have made use of none but Chinese works on Lao-Tse, and of those only a few. On reading later some of the English and French translations, I was amazed to find how confused and unintelligible these books were. i adhered to my simple idea of Lao-Tse's work, and of my work I could alter nothing, for I felt the truth of it within me as a simple and natural faith.
--HENRI BOREL.
- GenresSpirituality
Nook
First published January 1, 1895
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 30, 2020
Cuando sepas ser Wu Wei, No Actuante, serás verdaderamente y cumplirás tu ciclo vital con la misma falta de esfuerzo que la ola que se mueve a nuestros pies.
HB
HB
January 23, 2022
La fama suprema consiste en no tener nada
Antes que cualquier cosa vale decir que al igual que el más mínimo rastro de sabiduría oriental, el Wu Wei también está siendo absorbido por la incesante maquinaria occidental o, tomando prestado el término del álbum de Gnod, Psycho Right-Wing Capitalist Fascist Industrial Death Machine. Sea para allanar el camino al "éxito" o como nota de compresión en el blog de alguna aseguradora. Todo bajo una visión humanista para que el individuo pueda descansar de producir para que se recargue de batería y vuelva a producir, todavía más, y si es con suerte, con un vago semblante de tranquilidad dibujado en su rostro. La lógica puede resumirse en el maravilloso título del álbum no-canónico de Spacemen 3: Taking Drugs To Make Music To Take Drugs To.
La prolija edición de Obelisco armoniza con esta versión ficcional del sinólogo neerlandés Henri Borel y las bellas ilustraciones. Dividida en tres secciones: Tao, Arte y Amor. Un diálogo entre un forastero con un anacoreta de avanzada edad que le expone la esencia del Tao y el fluir original, trastocando respuesta a respuesta las creencias del ignoto narrador. En los párrafos finales, cuando ambos se van alejando, me pareció sonar Erik Satie de fondo, como en la magistral 'My Dinner with Andre'.
La Felicidad Suprema es la No Felicidad
Antes que cualquier cosa vale decir que al igual que el más mínimo rastro de sabiduría oriental, el Wu Wei también está siendo absorbido por la incesante maquinaria occidental o, tomando prestado el término del álbum de Gnod, Psycho Right-Wing Capitalist Fascist Industrial Death Machine. Sea para allanar el camino al "éxito" o como nota de compresión en el blog de alguna aseguradora. Todo bajo una visión humanista para que el individuo pueda descansar de producir para que se recargue de batería y vuelva a producir, todavía más, y si es con suerte, con un vago semblante de tranquilidad dibujado en su rostro. La lógica puede resumirse en el maravilloso título del álbum no-canónico de Spacemen 3: Taking Drugs To Make Music To Take Drugs To.
La prolija edición de Obelisco armoniza con esta versión ficcional del sinólogo neerlandés Henri Borel y las bellas ilustraciones. Dividida en tres secciones: Tao, Arte y Amor. Un diálogo entre un forastero con un anacoreta de avanzada edad que le expone la esencia del Tao y el fluir original, trastocando respuesta a respuesta las creencias del ignoto narrador. En los párrafos finales, cuando ambos se van alejando, me pareció sonar Erik Satie de fondo, como en la magistral 'My Dinner with Andre'.
La Felicidad Suprema es la No Felicidad
November 9, 2009
A collection of quotes.
May 31, 2017
Taoism teaches a person to flow with life. Some of the practices of Taoism are philosophical in nature, others are religious. The truth taught in Taoism is to embrace life in actions that support you as a person.And simplicity of course one of it's core characteristics. It teaches a person to live to their heart.This book is about a man who aches for tranquility and peace and meets a wise man who makes him intelligible about simplicity of life and beautiful discourse on three fundamental issues Tao,love and art.This small book is a philosophical approach to life for seeking peace in life .A small yet not small guide to live in harmony with our own mind whilst living in chaos and people which are apparently same in a sense by the way.
However it's my own opinion that to obtain a state of mind where aesthetics and spirituality leads oneself to a tranquil march through the life is obviously desired but in reality life is not that positive and fair.Here it's not easy to think that our existence is a delusion.We crave for living ,it makes us feared that the life is so short.So no matter how full of foulness this life is we love it and this craving for life, we can't be that saintlike to think that it doesn't matter.If it's a delusion we like to live in that delusion. It matters so only a few can pass the gateway on the path of spirituality.
However it's my own opinion that to obtain a state of mind where aesthetics and spirituality leads oneself to a tranquil march through the life is obviously desired but in reality life is not that positive and fair.Here it's not easy to think that our existence is a delusion.We crave for living ,it makes us feared that the life is so short.So no matter how full of foulness this life is we love it and this craving for life, we can't be that saintlike to think that it doesn't matter.If it's a delusion we like to live in that delusion. It matters so only a few can pass the gateway on the path of spirituality.
January 17, 2025
In Wu Wei, de wijsheid van Lao Tsz's Tao Teh King, doet Henri Borel een poging de grondslag van het Taoïsme uit te leggen. In het verhaal gaat de hoofdpersoon naar een afgelegen eiland om met een monnik te spreken. Met de monnik leert hij de bijzondere lessen van het leven en het Taoïsme, dat in zijn essentie veel gemeen heeft met de spirituele boodschappen van moderne religies.
Een zeer poëtisch en makkelijk te lezen boek, wat je aan het denken doet zetten over de staat van zijn, leven en de omgang met de liefde, het leven, de natuur en de kunst.
Een zeer poëtisch en makkelijk te lezen boek, wat je aan het denken doet zetten over de staat van zijn, leven en de omgang met de liefde, het leven, de natuur en de kunst.
August 16, 2025
this is such a beautiful book. I read the translation by Shyam Sundar Jhunjhunwala.
One has to be in a receptive state while reading this book. This is spiritual knowledge without the intellectual drudgery. The author delivers to us an intuitive insight into the Tao, and extends our understanding through its expression in Poetry and Love.
this book can be re-read many times, and I'm sure I will have much more to say about it when I have read it again.
One has to be in a receptive state while reading this book. This is spiritual knowledge without the intellectual drudgery. The author delivers to us an intuitive insight into the Tao, and extends our understanding through its expression in Poetry and Love.
this book can be re-read many times, and I'm sure I will have much more to say about it when I have read it again.
January 2, 2025
Me encantó descubrir este importante escritor y periodista holandés. Con estudios literarios y un período de tiempo como intérprete en China además de amigo íntimo de Mark Twain. Me fascinó el orientalismo de sus viajes reales y literarios. Le seguiré la pista!
May 2, 2020
Een eindeloze toch om maar een wijsgeer te bezoeken en daar alle vragen kwijt te kunnen. Hoe zou dat mogelijk hebben plaatsgevonden? Zo, dus!
September 1, 2019
This book made me feel kind of sad.
It felt to me like the wise old man in this story, while he says at some point that we're all equals and what not, actually felt superior to others. The way he talked to the main character, who went to him seeking guidance and answers, was very confusing. The whole way in which he explained Tao was very confusing.
Weird book, don't know what else to say. I just felt like it was trying to make the reader feel tiny and ignorant.
It felt to me like the wise old man in this story, while he says at some point that we're all equals and what not, actually felt superior to others. The way he talked to the main character, who went to him seeking guidance and answers, was very confusing. The whole way in which he explained Tao was very confusing.
Weird book, don't know what else to say. I just felt like it was trying to make the reader feel tiny and ignorant.
September 6, 2018
“Deja de querer ser bueno y no te creas malo. Wu Wei, debes dejarte ir, no ser ni bueno ni malo, ni grande ni pequeño, ni alto ni bajo, no serás verdaderamente hasta el día en que, dejes de Ser.”
May 10, 2019
The rating is for the English translation of the book done by Shyam sunder Jhunjhunwala
July 18, 2012
A wonderful and poetic introduction to taoism.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews