Tao Te Ching: Text and Commentary

Here's the course titled "Tao Te Ching: Text and Commentary", designed for structured study and reflection on the Taoist classic.


Course Title: Tao Te Ching - Text and Commentary


Course Description:

This course offers a comprehensive exploration of the Tao Te Ching, the foundational text of Taoism attributed to Laozi. Students will engage with the original verses (in translation), line-by-line commentary, and interpretive insights from traditional and modern Taoist thought. Emphasis will be placed on applying the Taoist worldview to personal cultivation, governance, and understanding the natural world.

Course Objectives:

  • Understand the structure, themes, and philosophical foundations of the Tao Te Ching.
  • Explore various interpretations and commentaries, both historical and contemporary.
  • Develop a personal relationship with the text through reflection and discussion.
  • Apply Taoist principles to daily life and self-cultivation.


Course Outline

Module 1: Introduction to the Tao Te Ching

  • Origins and authorship of the text
  • Historical context and early Taoism
  • Major translations and interpretive traditions
  • Structure of the text: 81 chapters in two sections (Tao and Te)

Module 2: The Tao (Chapters 1–37)

  • Week 1: Chapter 1–5
    Themes: The ineffable Tao, emptiness, the mother of all things
    Commentary: Laozi's view of the unspeakable origin
  • Week 2: Chapter 6–10
    Themes: Female principle, return to the source, unity of opposites
    Commentary: Yin as the doorway to understanding Tao
  • Week 3: Chapter 11–15
    Themes: Usefulness of emptiness, formless wisdom
    Commentary: Wu Wei as a practical approach
  • Week 4: Chapter 16–20
    Themes: Stillness, natural order, the sage's detachment
    Commentary: Cultivating calm and impartiality
  • Week 5: Chapter 21–37
    Themes: Virtue of non-action, clarity, rootedness
    Commentary: Aligning life with the flow of Tao

Module 3: The Te (Chapters 38–81)

  • Week 6: Chapter 38–45
    Themes: De (virtue), decline of true Tao, paradox
    Commentary: Morality and decline from naturalness
  • Week 7: Chapter 46–55
    Themes: Contentment, danger of desire, clarity
    Commentary: The mind of a sage versus the restless world
  • Week 8: Chapter 56–65
    Themes: Knowing without speaking, returning, simplicity
    Commentary: Inner knowledge and hidden power
  • Week 9: Chapter 66–75
    Themes: Humility, leadership, wariness of excess
    Commentary: Taoist political philosophy
  • Week 10: Chapter 76–81
    Themes: Softness and strength, lasting peace, wisdom
    Commentary: Returning to simplicity and truth


Course Features

  • Weekly Readings: Text of ~8 chapters per week (Stephen Mitchell, D.C. Lau, or other translation)
  • Commentary Sections: Instructor-provided insights + selections from Wang Bi, Heshang Gong, and others
  • Discussion Forums: Reflect on paradoxes, poetic imagery, and life application
  • Journaling Prompts: Personal reflections and connections to the Tao
  • Live Sessions: Weekly group meetings to deepen understanding