Does it make it harder or easier for you to find meaning?.

Does the sparseness of the writing leave the text more open to interpretation?.

Note that everyone may hear different things and find different meanings in any given reading. Invite the group to offer other interpretations. Have participants each read their favorite to the group and share their interpretation of it. Allow the youth a few minutes to read their slips, then ask them to select their favorite. Pass out slips, giving no more than three to each participant. Share the name of the translator of the text you are using. Tell the youth this activity involves reading from the Tao Te Ching. Participants are introduced to a Taoist holy book, the Tao Te Ching. You could also purchase copies of the Tao Te Ching in book form. Some of the many websites with well-accepted translations are Brooklyn College of the City University of New York (the Stephen Mitchell version is respected, and accessible) and Sacred Texts (translated by J.

Optional: Choose chapters from different translations.Cut individual chapters into strips, making sure that the chapter numbers are included with each chapter.Leader Resource 2, Random Tao Te Ching Chapters (enough copies for each participant to have two or three chapter slips).Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity

The tao te ching