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A review by narendradityanalwa
Hua Hu Ching: The Unknown Teachings of Lao Tzu by Brian Walker
3.0
The dangers of translation
Much is lost in this calamitous exercise of translating eastern texts into English, chiefly due to the lack of sufficient jargon to express complex spiritual concepts to their fullest meaning. Even while acknowledging the utility of English and appreciating it's global appeal, one cannot fail to notice the gross inability of the language to absorb new words to enrich itself. It simply doesn't render itself useful to a comprehensive treatment of high eastern ideals, most of all Hindu. A cursory glance at the translations of Vedas will suffice to corroborate my argument. Such injustice has been done to the millenias-old sacred Hindu texts in the name of Oriental studies.
Having said that, the philosophical merit of this ancient Taoist work stands out despite all ills of translation.
Much is lost in this calamitous exercise of translating eastern texts into English, chiefly due to the lack of sufficient jargon to express complex spiritual concepts to their fullest meaning. Even while acknowledging the utility of English and appreciating it's global appeal, one cannot fail to notice the gross inability of the language to absorb new words to enrich itself. It simply doesn't render itself useful to a comprehensive treatment of high eastern ideals, most of all Hindu. A cursory glance at the translations of Vedas will suffice to corroborate my argument. Such injustice has been done to the millenias-old sacred Hindu texts in the name of Oriental studies.
Having said that, the philosophical merit of this ancient Taoist work stands out despite all ills of translation.