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Introduction


This is an introduction to an archive of 'Seeing and the Tao', an exploration facilitated by Jim Clatfelter on the connections between Headless Seeing and the 81 verses of the Tao Te Ching. You will see the links to the verses and the discussions over to the left. This exploration took place between September 2007 and November 2009.

Jim prefaced the exploration with these thoughts: 

Was Lao Tzu writing about Seeing? Does Seeing help in understanding the deep meanings in the verses? Do Lao Tzu's words about the Tao help with Seeing? What other questions come to mind? We can go at our own pace here. The Tao is in no hurry. We'll add a verse or two each week. Some of us will be reading Wayne Dyer's new 'translation' and commentaries on the 81 verses. Feel free to refer to any version you like. I will post each verse as we go along - each time by a different translator of the 81 verses. That will give you an idea of the variety of ways Lao Tzu's verses have been interpreted. You will also find many translations of the Tao Te Ching on the Internet. 

Some initial responses to this initiative:


quillancamper
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007

Thank you for the opportunity to join in this forum.

I came across the Tao and the original Headlessness book at about the same time. Did you know Compendium Books in Camden Town, London? I was a young impressionable university student in those days. Now I have retired to the South of France and am older but still impressed.

These two ways of looking at the world: the headless way and the wayless way may be the one way and since I have the time and the interest to pursue this interesting possibility (what could be more interesting?) I should like, rather longwindedly, put in my request to join up.

Thank you.


Bill
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007

I've drafted a 'headless' commentary on the Tao Te Ching. The introduction and first few chapters are here:

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/billgillies/TaoIndex.html

I'm in the process of reworking it so that the Buddhist references are minimised.

I hope it might be of some interest.


From: jimclatfelter
Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007

Hello Bill,

Thanks for the link to your Tao/Headless pages. They are wonderfully thorough. I will be sure to look at them with each verse we consider. Your work will enrich my experience and understanding immensely.


From: Bill
Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007

Thanks Jim,

Maybe this forum will be a good inspiration for me to get cracking with the rewrite.

All the best.


From: Luc
Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007

Nice initiative ! I would like to join in.

I bought my first edition of the Dao De Jing in 1979. It was a Dutch translation with quite some explanations of the text. It fascinated me but I had no idea what it was all about.
Headlessness came much later, around 1998. Recently I read the Dao De Jing again, because I felt Headlessness would help me understand it better.
Didn't work as well as I had expected... So maybe now we can shed some light on it together ?

There is a book of Byron Katie : 'Tao, Living in Harmony with the Way Things Are'. Every chapter is linked to a phrase from Dao De Jing. I love it, because she sometimes makes This so clear, puts It in everyday life and explains how life is from Here.


Full book catalogue
Headless on Youtube


Click here for workshops with Richard Lang


Click here for information on online hangouts
Click here fora free e-course
Click here for our online shop
Click here to get the free Headless iPhone app
Click here for downloadable videos of Douglas Harding
Click here for the Latest News
Click here to Donate