The Second Book of the Tao [Paperback]

Based on Chuang Tzu's (CT's) "Inner Chapters" & Confucius' grandson's "Chung Yung" (CY), this work consists of
a short introduction,
pp. 1-130 with even pages of highly "adapted" text & facing page commentary,
pp. 131-82--endnotes on both text & commentary,
pp. 183-200: endnotes on the adaptation (left out/added words).
It's an awkward structure IMHO--one must continually flip back & forth between these 3 parts. I particularly liked his introduction's summary of CT--p. xiii: "simply someone who doesn't linger in any mental construct about reality, someone who lives as effortless action & peace of heart, because he has freed himself from his own beliefs." The text/commentary section's pages are hardly full--padding the number of pages. Further, CT & CY are intermixed, unmarked as to source, out of order, & lack a discernible (to me) logical order.

Though I'd already read Lao Tze (e.g. Tao Te Ching), Chuang Tzu: The Inner Chapters, & Blofeld's Taoism: The Road to Immortality, I had few problems with the loose adaptation of the text except when a bit heavy-handed--e.g. important lines left out. I admired SM's 3rd section which explains the omissions/additions. While SM makes some valuable observations in his commentary (e.g. p. 61: "The Master lives a life of appropriate action because he doesn't believe his own thoughts, there is no barrier between his mind & reality" & p. 81: "Some people have an Atlas complex: they carry the world on their shoulders"), as another reviewer said, he has lowered these exalted teachings to his own level. Much of the somewhat inane commentary/notes demonstrates IMHO a rather superficial understanding & his attempts at humor are often silly. Perhaps he's learning by doing/writing? Still, it's worth reading.

Antithetically, SM has chosen some excellent quotes for his endnotes, notably:
p. 144: Shakespeare, Hamlet II ii--"There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so,"
p. 149: Epictetus "We are disturbed not by what happens to us but by our thoughts about what happens,"
p. 177: William Blake--"He has observed the golden rule Till he's become the golden fool" & delightful:
p. 171: Shunryu Suzuki Roshi --"Everything's perfect, but there's a lot of room for improvement."

Of course, Chuang Tzu's text is awesome (better than CY). My favorite lines (in SM's rendering) are:
p. 96: Let go of all your assumptions & the world will make perfect sense.
p. 82: "Only when you are truly unattached to words or to silence can you express the truth.
p. 192: When I talk about having no feelings, I mean that a man doesn't allow likes or dislikes to get in & do him harm. He just lets things be the way they are & doesn't try to help life along" & his paradoxical/fun:
p. 166: "Where can I find someone who has penetrated beyond words? That's whom I'd like to have a word with." But, Mitchell hasn't done so--there's a great difference between childish & childlike.
For possible further reading: Taoist Healing Imagery & The Tao of Psychology: Synchronicity and Self

This is an incredible book. Stephen's book is really in sync with his wife, Byron Katie's, work. There are some very timeless qualities that he references with his poetry - such as impermanence, or that life is precious and doesn't go on forever. In his commentary, he links up these philosophical concepts with the modern world in very specific ways which I could relate to easily.
I found his book relaxing to read especially after a hectic day when I am too tired to concentrate on anything. I could savor each word and read slowly because he writes in such a succinct clear way.
If you like metaphysical books and you have challenges in your daily life that you want to look at from a more spiritual perspective, this book is an excellent choice for inspiration and support.

Translations and Versions of the OldBoy's, Lao Tzu/Laozi, Tao Te Ching/Dao De Jing, are as numerous as the stars in the Galaxy UFO777V8. So, why not a Second Book of the Tao that will never be translated. No offense Stephen, but no one is ever going to translate Tao Te Ching 2. But then you already know this.

No, this is simply one man's collection of thoughts about the nature of the eternal Tao from the perspective of one that has read and thought about such things extensively. A Poet's account of the Tao from the perspectives of the trickster Chuang Tzu and Confucius' grandson Tzu-ssu, as well as his own.

Stephen gives us his version of something said long ago in a land far, far away. Or just around the corner. Or maybe even right in front of us all along. Whatever is before you is your teacher.

Stephen knows that the Whole cannot be said. "The great tao cannot be named, great discernment cannot be seen, great benevolence is not gentle, great modesty is not meek, great courage is not aggressive. When you truly understand the Tao that cannot be named, you become rooted in not-knowing. This is called inner radiance. Add to it, it is never full: take from it, it is never depleted. Who can tell where it comes from? It is the inexhaustible treasury."

The course that can be discoursed is not the eternal Course.

Stephen Mitchell's Tao is open to all possibilities and yet fixed on the underlying unity of existence. The Right Here and the Right Now of every place and every time. Zen.

I highly recommend "The Second Book of the Tao".

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