my ramblings

dao de jing

In January 1999, I went to San Francisco with my friend Matt. We arrived without any idea of what we were going to so - we had bought the tickets in a travel agents next to the airport the day before. But we met a lad called Vinh who started to chat to us in a bar, and then spent the week driving us round the area, showing us the sights. Before I left, he gave me a copy of the Dao De Jing - and just asked that I pass it on when I had finished with it. I forgot about it - but, almost a year later, I came across it again. I read it, and it helped. And I have now passed the copy he gave me on.

Here is a link to Stephen Mitchell's translation of the Dao De Jing. It is not the most faithful translation - but it is one of the most accessible. I hope he won't mind it being posted here. I am slowly trying to do my own translation. So come back in a few years time and it might be finished!

I think it can be quite interesting to wave the mouse around the links at the top of the pages and click randomly! But I'm a bit daft like that.

You can also read some of my ramblings about the Dao De Jing, if you want.

p.s. If Vinh ever happens to read this - thanks! And please e-mail me to say hello. Matt and I tried to get in touch - Matt even went back to the book shop the next time he was there - but you'd moved on!