Tao Teh Ching

Lao Tzu Tao Teh Ching

Ok, this is it the book that all these other Eastern Philosophy books are rooted to in one way or another. I read it and reread it while going though the Combat Skills Training at Ft Bragg this last winter. It was a good companion for me and kept me calm when I needed to be. There is a lot of wisdom in this book but there is also a lot of craziness that truly flies in the face of decent God fearing democratic men and women. A few excerpts:

12
The five colors blind the eye
The five tones deafen the ear
The five flavors cloy the palate
Racing and hunting madden the mind
Rare goods tempt men to do wrong

Therefore, the Sage takes care of his belly, not the eye
He prefers what is within to what is without

38
...
Failing Tao, man resorts to Virtue
Failing Virtue, man resorts to humanity
Failing humanity, man resorts to morality
Failing morality, man resorts to ceremony
Now ceremony is the merest husk of faith and loyalty;
It is the beginning of all confusion and disorder
...