Gia-Fu Feng (1919–1985)
Author of Tao Te Ching: Text Only Edition
About the Author
Gia-Fu Feng was prominent as both an English translator (with his wife, Jane English) of Daoist classics and a Daoist teacher in the United States. (Bowker Author Biography)
Image credit: Photo of Gia-Fu Feng c.1984, by Hans Ruby
Works by Gia-Fu Feng
Associated Works
Chuang Tsu: Inner Chapters, A Companion Volume to Tao Te Ching (audio) (1981) — Translator, some editions — 737 copies, 7 reviews
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 1919
- Date of death
- 1985
- Gender
- male
- Education
- Southwest Associated University (BA|Liberal Arts)
Warton School|University of Pennsylvania (MA|International Finance) - Occupations
- banker
accountant
translator Chinese - English
Daoist teacher - Organizations
- American Academy of Asian Studies
California Institute of Integral Studies
Esalen
Stillpoint - Relationships
- English, Jane (wife)
Kerouac, Jack (friend)
Wilson, Carol Ann (sister-in-law) - Nationality
- China (birth)
USA - Birthplace
- Shanghai, China
- Places of residence
- Shanghai, China
Kunming, China
Pennsylvania, USA
Georgia, USA
California, USA
Manitou Springs, Colorado, USA (show all 7)
Wetmore, Colorado, USA - Place of death
- Colorado, USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- USA
Members
Reviews
We all have our morning rituals and routines. It might be a coffee and bagel, a jog around the block or a fervent Facebook scroll. My morning ritual is reading from Tao te Ching.
Tao te Ching is a game changer. In this simple book, Lao Tzu lays it all on the line as if the universe - the Tao itself - is speaking through him. There are no dogmas in Tao te Ching - it is not a holy scripture. Think of it more as a book of poetry in which Lao Tzu records his everyday thoughts.
Lao Tzu speaks show more about nature... "Nature nurtures all things with the wholeness of complete virtue.
It shows the greatest and perfect kindness by giving life to let all things grow and accomplish
them with the hastening of harvest.
Therefore, according to ancient custom, nature may seem unkind to regard all beings as a
traditional straw dog for sacrifice.
... Enlightenment, "A good knot uses no rope, yet it cannot be united.
Hence, a saint is always kind by saving other people and rejects no one.
He is always kind by saving all things and therefore nothing is being rejected.
This is the true enlightenment."
And his timeless wisdom on success... "He who wishes to take control of the world and acts upon it,
I can see that he will not succeed.
For the world is a divine vessel,
It cannot be acted upon as one wish."
I'm not sure if everyone will get as much value as I have from this book, but I am surely grateful for Lao Tzu's words of wisdom withstanding the test of time.
- Ryan Stabile show less
Tao te Ching is a game changer. In this simple book, Lao Tzu lays it all on the line as if the universe - the Tao itself - is speaking through him. There are no dogmas in Tao te Ching - it is not a holy scripture. Think of it more as a book of poetry in which Lao Tzu records his everyday thoughts.
Lao Tzu speaks show more about nature... "Nature nurtures all things with the wholeness of complete virtue.
It shows the greatest and perfect kindness by giving life to let all things grow and accomplish
them with the hastening of harvest.
Therefore, according to ancient custom, nature may seem unkind to regard all beings as a
traditional straw dog for sacrifice.
... Enlightenment, "A good knot uses no rope, yet it cannot be united.
Hence, a saint is always kind by saving other people and rejects no one.
He is always kind by saving all things and therefore nothing is being rejected.
This is the true enlightenment."
And his timeless wisdom on success... "He who wishes to take control of the world and acts upon it,
I can see that he will not succeed.
For the world is a divine vessel,
It cannot be acted upon as one wish."
I'm not sure if everyone will get as much value as I have from this book, but I am surely grateful for Lao Tzu's words of wisdom withstanding the test of time.
- Ryan Stabile show less
4.5 it’s romantic as hell but it did help me put a few things into perspective and it’s a pleasant listen on audio.
Makes a lot more sense now that I am older. Also fascinating to see how Taosim influenced Zen.
The path into the light seems dark,
the path forward seems to go back,
the direct path seems long,
true power seems weak,
true purity seems tarnished,
true steadfastness seems changeable,
true clarity seems obscure,
the greatest care seems unsophisticated,
the greatest love seems indifferent,
the greatest wisdom seems childish.
the path forward seems to go back,
the direct path seems long,
true power seems weak,
true purity seems tarnished,
true steadfastness seems changeable,
true clarity seems obscure,
the greatest care seems unsophisticated,
the greatest love seems indifferent,
the greatest wisdom seems childish.
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 5
- Also by
- 2
- Members
- 978
- Popularity
- #26,341
- Rating
- 4.2
- Reviews
- 17
- ISBNs
- 8
- Languages
- 1
