- A version with background music is available for our channel members: https://youtu.be/djdVz6KLZtM
🌿📖 Welcome to Chillbooks, where timeless wisdom flows in a tranquil and immersive experience. Today, we present “The Tao Te Ching”, commonly attributed to Laozi, translated by WikiSource contributors and read by Mark Cassidy. This audiobook features full on-screen subtitles, allowing you to follow each verse of the Tao in a calm, meditative atmosphere.
🔖 About “The Tao Te Ching”
Composed over 2,500 years ago, the Tao Te Ching (also spelled Dao De Jing) is a foundational text of Taoist philosophy. In 81 brief chapters, it explores the nature of Tao (the Way) and Te (Virtue)—encouraging harmony with nature, effortless action (wu wei), humility, and inner peace. Its poetic and paradoxical verses have guided spiritual seekers, rulers, and philosophers across centuries and cultures.
🌟 About Laozi
Laozi, or Lao Tzu, is traditionally regarded as a 6th-century BCE Chinese sage and the founder of Taoism. Although much about his life is shrouded in mystery, his teachings in the Tao Te Ching continue to influence Eastern and Western thought, from personal well-being to political philosophy.
🎙️ Narrated by Mark Cassidy
This audiobook is read by Mark Cassidy, whose steady and contemplative narration complements the gentle flow and depth of the Tao’s wisdom.
🌄 Subtitled Audiobook for Meditative Listening
This audiobook includes full on-screen subtitles, inviting you to reflect on each line as it is spoken.
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Timestamps:
00:00 - Tao Te Ching by Laozi
00:11 - Introduction
00:52 - 1. The Mystery Beyond Naming
01:32 - 2. The Paradox of Opposites
02:28 - 3. Peace Through Simplicity
03:11 - 4. The Infinite Source
03:42 - 5. Nature’s Indifference
04:31 - 6. The Eternal Mother
04:46 - 7. Selflessness is Eternal
05:20 - 8. The Way of Water
05:58 - 9. The Wisdom of Restraint
06:25 - 10. Nurture Without Control
07:17 - 11. The Use of Emptiness
07:47 - 12. The Trap of the Senses
08:15 - 13. Fear Comes From Ego
09:02 - 14. The Invisible Dao
09:54 - 15. The Way of the Ancient Ones
10:55 - 16. Return to the Source
11:45 - 17. The Best Leaders Go Unseen
12:13 - 18. The Fall from the Dao
12:37 - 19. Abandon Cleverness, Embrace Simplicity
13:14 - 20. Alone in the Crowd
14:23 - 21. Formless Virtue
15:06 - 22. Wholeness Through Brokenness
15:56 - 23. Few Words, Great Power
16:40 - 24. Arrogance Cannot Stand
17:14 - 25. The Great Without a Name
18:06 - 26. Stillness as Strength
18:36 - 27. The Master Leaves No Trace
19:27 - 28. Return to the Root
20:16 - 29. Do Not Force the World
20:55 - 30. Victory Without Violence
21:43 - 31. Weapons Are Instruments of Misfortune
22:36 - 32. The Nameless Dao
23:18 - 33. Knowing Self is True Power
23:46 - 34. The Humble All-Pervading Way
24:24 - 35. Follow Peace Not Pleasure
24:54 - 36. Subtle Power Prevails
25:31 - 37. Non-Action Rules All
26:05 - 38. When Virtue Is Lost
27:25 - 39. Unity Is Life
28:44 - 40. Everything Comes From Nothing
29:01 - 41. Wisdom Sounds Like Folly
30:05 - 42. The Birth of All Things
30:51 - 43. The Soft Overcomes the Hard
31:12 - 44. Know When to Let Go
31:40 - 45. The Power of Imperfection
32:09 - 46. Peace or War
32:34 - 47. See the World Without Leaving
32:58 - 48. Less is More
33:26 - 49. Kindness Without Condition
34:03 - 50. Living Without Fear of Death
34:51 - 51. The Dao Gives All
35:32 - 52. Know the Mother, Know the Child
36:18 - 53. The Temptation to Leave the Path
36:53 - 54. Rooted in the Dao
37:54 - 55. The Strength of Innocence
38:50 - 56. Those Who Know, Do Not Speak
39:30 - 57. Lead by Letting Go
40:24 - 58. Fortune Hides in Misfortune
41:03 - 59. Conserve to Lead
41:39 - 60. Govern Lightly
42:07 - 61. Strength Through Humility
42:59 - 62. The Dao as Refuge
43:42 - 63. Greatness in Small Acts
44:33 - 64. Prevent Trouble Before It Starts
45:41 - 65. Lead With Simplicity
46:23 - 66. Lead From Below
47:15 - 67. Three Treasures
47:58 - 68. The Gentle Warrior
48:20 - 69. Win by Holding Back
48:56 - 70. Simple Truths Are Overlooked
49:22 - 71. Knowing You Don’t Know
49:46 - 72. Honor Without Oppression
50:13 - 73. The Net of Heaven
50:50 - 74. Leave Judgment to the Dao
51:24 - 75. Greed Breeds Suffering
51:56 - 76. Strength in Softness
52:35 - 77. The Dao Balances All
53:18 - 78. Water Defeats the Strong
53:54 - 79. Peace Over Payback
54:23 - 80. A Small, Contented World
55:11 - 81. Truth Is Not Always Pretty
📘 Contemplate the way of balance and simplicity with ‘The Tao Te Ching’ by Laozi, translated by WikiSource contributors and narrated by Mark Cassidy—fully subtitled for a peaceful experience at Chillbooks.