This is the first in my “Bodacious Books” series, in which I review books that have inspired me to live a more satisfying life. This week’s Bodacious Book: Tao Te Ching, by Lao Tzu, translated by Stephen Mitchell.
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Written by Lao Tzu, the ancient Tao Te Ching (roughly pronounced “dow deh jing”) touches on social ideals and esoteric definitions of “The Way,” but its central message concerns what translator Stephen Mitchell calls “the art of living.” Its numbered poetic verses each address one or two Taoist ideals.

The Tao Te Ching encourages us to live by “non-doing” (without forcing anything), an attitude which peacefully coexists with the values and beliefs of a wide range of religious and spiritual traditions. So while not a holy or religious text, I consider it a source of spiritual and philosophical guidance.

I’m skeptical of any highly acclaimed or “classic” book—especially one whose title translates to something as definitive as “The Book of the Immanence of the Way.” But having benefited from the teachings of other spiritual traditions, I had long been curious to explore Taoism.

So when I read James Frey’s inspirational memoir A Million Little Pieces, I was intrigued by his depiction of the Tao Te Ching as crucial to his survival of the most difficult period of his life: recovery from addiction. The apparent power of the book moved me from contemplation to action.

I purchased the same version that Frey relied on during his recovery, the paperback translated/adapted by Stephen Mitchell. As soon as I read the first few chapters, I was under its spell. I surrendered to the Tao Te Ching’s philosophy because it seemed obvious and eloquent, commonsensical and layered with meaning. Its ideas resonated with my efforts to live a more peaceful life: letting go, yielding, suppleness, non-attachment, acceptance, and effortlessness. Stillness. Simplicity.

This was the ultimate expression of the process I had already initiated to cultivate peace, genuineness, and awareness of the present moment. The Tao Te Ching’s verses opened my eyes to the possibility of just being—not trying to influence, control or act. Just be.

I can easily imagine how the Tao Te Ching helped someone like Frey through the excruciating process of recovery from drug addiction. Yet its teachings transcend the language of recovery to offer an alternative to many of the vices this world, including the quest for power, control, and money. The Taoist principle of non-attachment renders craving and desire unnecessary; in the same way, it reveals how the stress and effort that we have come to accept as natural is, in fact, akin to swimming upstream.

I don’t claim to fully understand or to have mastered every ideal of the Tao Te Ching, but that is part of its appeal. I learn more with each reading and find that its relevance grows along with each new development in my life. If you’re looking for a change or just a little taste of peace, consider seeking solace in the Tao.
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While I have since purchased several translations of the Tao Te Ching, I love the portability of this pocket version:


If you want a more lighthearted and humorous treatment of a similar philosophy, let loveable Winnie-the-Pooh be your sage with Benjamin Hoff’s The Tao of Pooh .