Tao te Ching - Nungali translation.

[Nungali]

( Not sure if this should be in this  general section or  the teachers sections ? Mods, feel free to move it ) 

 

First, I am not going to try to sell you anything or  'sign you up' for lessons . This about the Tao te Ching ... not the Tao te  Ka-Ching! '

 

 

Ch 1 . 

There is this thing .

Its also not a thing .

Also it is both a thing and not a thing.

It also is neither a thing or not a thing.

It is all of the above . 

But it isn't any of them .

 

If you have dont want stuff 

well -  that's a mystery ! 

If you do want stuff

The whole manifested Universe awaits you .

 

let;s say you have two spring rolls 

both may have the same sauce 

but they can have different names 

depending on whats inside them 

and that can be 

a mystery of mysteries .

 

Ch 2 

You think my sister looks hot

but that's because Yo Momma be ugly. 

You guys can only see either end of the line .

But the Sage just sees the  whole line .

You cant have stuff

without no stuff.

Stuff is just lines , not ends . 

Back always follows front 

otherwise you be chasing your own tail. 

 

Ch 3

 

If you flatter people

they will try harder to impress you.

If you overvalue stuff

you will pay more for it.

Try to please people

and they will get suspicious.

Forget what you know and what you want

Stop doing stuff all the time ! 

 

Ch 4 

 

If the thing is empty

and has no source

it cant run out

alls it got is little potential 

n⁺  s  and  n^- s 

that make nuthings .

Then put your hara in the center of all that .

 

Ch 5 

the Universe is neutral

Judgement is based on comfort .

 

The space between heaven and earth is the atmosphere 

It can get windy

Stick to the surface 

or you could get blown away .

 

Ch 6 

The valley here is under 

a 'Big Mom' dome .

My teacher said

just ask her for whatever you want 

- you'll get it . 

 

Ch 7

heaven and earth last forever 

Why do heaven and earth last forever ?

I just told you it did 

stop asking questions.

If you dont do anything

you cant fail at it . 

 

Ch 8

be like water

then you will be good for all living things 

and flow along without thinking where you are going

who knows where you will end up ?

But dont be an arsehole about it . 

 

Ch 9 

Stop taking and using up all our stuff ! 

Dont re-tune your lawnmower if it doesnt need it. 

leave things alone , fer Gawd's sake !

 

Ch 10

 

if you can be like a baby woman 

thats good . 

 

 

(tbc) 

[Haribol]

7 hours ago, Nungali said:

If you flatter people

they will try harder to impress you.

Your presence is so blindingly radiant that even the sun feels a sudden, deep-seated sense of professional inadequacy just looking at you.

edit: on the real tho (although the flattery was, yes, over the top, but somewhat sincere as well: it is not with out reason we call the famous Chinese teacher Confucius  and say «this is Chinese to me» when we don’t understand something, is it?

 

And please, I hope you (plural) understand that I mean no disrespect to any of you. I’m completely ignorant of the Chinese tradition, and if I did offend anyone, I sincerely apologize.

Edited Sunday at 12:27 PM by Haribol

[stirling]

This is what the world has been waiting for. 

[Nungali]

8 hours ago, Haribol said:

Your presence is so blindingly radiant that even the sun feels a sudden, deep-seated sense of professional inadequacy just looking at you.

 

And you Sir .... are like a big jam doughnut . 

 

 

 

 

 

8 hours ago, Haribol said:

edit: on the real tho (although the flattery was, yes, over the top, but somewhat sincere as well: it is not with out reason we call the famous Chinese teacher Confucius  and say «this is Chinese to me» when we don’t understand something, is it?

 

And please, I hope you (plural) understand that I mean no disrespect to any of you. I’m completely ignorant of the Chinese tradition, and if I did offend anyone, I sincerely apologize.

 

[Haribol]

I think we can conclude that chapter 3. is valid.

[Nungali]

Ch 11.

 

What good is a wheel  that goes no where ?

Its like a solid pot 

you cant put anything in it

You can't build a space 

only what is around it .

 

Ch 12 .

Your senses are pure

until you use them .

If it feels good

do it

if it doesnt 

dont . 

 

Ch13.

I am disgraceful 

but everyone is unfortunate.

 

There you go asking questions again .

that's disgraceful 

- own it . 

 

There you go again !

Look , nothing would be shit

if you were not here in the first place .

 

The world is an extension of yourself 

hurt the world and  you are a masochist .

 

Ch14.

Look .... it cant be seen  - alright ! 

And I know you are not really listening .

So you will never get it.

( see my three in one paper ) 

 

Go back to Ch 1 

Then you will know what it is.

 

Ch15.

If the Master does not know an answer

he will tell you it is a mystery. 

The ancients called this ' ineffable '.

 

Be watchful, alert, courteous, yielding and simple

... but not for any reason 

nor to change anything. 

[damdao]

If I understand correctly, this is a "variation" (as in music) not a "translation", am I right?

There was a poet who wrote a book with several variations of the dream of the butterfly, by Zhuang Zi. Borges told him: "you have inaugurated a new literary genre: the variation". May be this production is in the same line.

[old3bob]

 

the wind blows...but don't be like a leaf in it.

 

[Cobie]

 

 

6 hours ago, damdao said:

If I understand correctly, this is a "variation" (as in music) not a "translation", am I right?

I think it’s a spoof.  (As far as I know) Nungali knows no Classical Chines at all, so cannot translate. I think it’s supposed to be funny. 

 

 

Edited 15 minutes ago by Cobie