Of all religions the teaching of Lao-tzu is by far the most female

[Guest guest]

The Tao that can be told

is not the eternal Tao.

The name that can be named

is not the eternal Name.

The unnamable is the eternally real.

Naming is the origin

of all particular things.

Free from desire you realize the mystery.

Caught in desire, you see only the manifestations.

Yet mystery and manifestations

arise from the same source.

This source is called darkness.

Darkness within darkness.

The gateway to all understanding.

 

Tao Te Ching: Chapter 1

translated by Stephen Mitchell

 

 

The Tao is called the Great Mother

empty yet inexhaustible,

it gives birth to infinite worlds.

It is always present within you.

You can use it any way you want.

 

Tao Te Ching: Chapter 6

translated by Stephen Mitchell

 

The " Tao Te Ching, " " The Book of the Way and its Virtue, " is one of

the major source texts in Chinese Taoism. It contains 81 short poems

or " chapters, " and was probably compiled in the 6th-5th c. B.C.E., as

a collection of sayings passed down from a much older, oral

tradition. The name of its anonymous auther, Lao-tzu, means

simply " old master. " According to the commentator Ellen M. Chen, " of

all the ancient classics still extant, the Tao Te Ching alone draws

its inspiration from the female principle. "

 

" The reader will notice in the many passages where Lao-tzu describes

the master, I have used the pronoun 'she' at least as often as 'he.'

The Chinese language doesn't make this kind of distinction; in

English we have to choose. But since we are all, potentially, the

Master (since the Master is, essentially, us) I felt it would be

untrue to present a male archetype, as other versions have,

ironically, done. Ironically, because of all the great world

religions the teaching of Lao-tzu is by far the most female. Of

course you should feel free, throughout the book, to substitute 'he'

for 'she' or vice versa. "

 

From the introduction to the translation

by Stephen Mitchell

 

 

" One important aspect of thought in the Tao Te Ching, the

significance of which has been so far neglected, is its emphasis on

the feminine. Of all ancient Chinese classics, the Tao Te Ching

stands alone in explicitly speaking of Tao as the Mother of the World

(25): It is the dark female animal (6); to reach union with Tao man

need to abide by the female (28); the female animal overcomes the

male animal by its stillness (61). "

 

Tao as the Great Mother and the Influence of Motherly Love in the Shaping of

Chinese Philosophy

Ellen Marie Chen, History of Religions, Vol. 14, No. 1 (Aug., 1974),

pp. 51-64

 

 

Tao The Ching

Ch. 25 Sentence 1

 

Beck:

There is something mysterious and whole which existed before heaven

and earth, silent, formless, complete, and never changing. Living

eternally everywhere in perfection, it is the mother of all things.

 

Blackney:

Something there is, whose veiled creation was Before the earth or sky

began to be; So silent, so aloof and so alone, It changes not, nor

fails, but touches all: Conceive it as the mother of the world.

 

Bynner:

Before creation a presence existed, Self-contained, complete,

Formless, voiceless, mateless, Changeless, Which yet pervaded itself

With unending motherhood.

 

Byrn:

Before the universe was born there was something in the chaos of the

heavens. It stands alone and empty, solitary and unchanging. It is

ever present and secure. It may be regarded as the Mother of the

universe.

 

Chan:

There was something undifferentiated and yet complete, Which existed

before heaven and earth. Soundless and formless, it depends on

nothing and does not change. It operates everywhere and is free from

danger. It may be considered the mother of the universe.

 

Cleary:

Something undifferentiated was born before heaven and earth; still

and silent, standing alone and unchanging, going through cycles

unending, able to be mother to the world.

 

Crowley:

Without Limit and Perfect, there is a Becoming beyond Heaven and

Earth. It has nor motion nor Form; it is alone; it changes not; it

extends all ways; it has no adversary. It is like the All-Mother.

 

Hansen:

There is a thing-kind made up of a mix. It emerges before the cosmos.

Solitary! Inchoate! Self grounded and unchanging. Permeating all

processes without extremity. We can deem it the mother of the social

world.

 

LaFargue:

There was a chaotic something, yet lacking nothing born before Heaven

and Earth. Alone. Still. Standing alone, unchanging. Revolving,

endlessly. It can be thought of as Mother of the World.

 

Legge:

There was something undefined and complete, coming into existence

before Heaven and Earth. How still it was and formless, standing

alone, and undergoing no change, reaching everywhere and in no danger

(of being exhausted)! It may be regarded as the Mother of all things.

 

Lindauer:

A presence of a thing mixed completely Before the birth of heavens

and earth So lonely, so deserted Standing alone yet without deviating

Working everywhere yet lacking danger Action of the mother of the

world can happen.

 

LinYutan:

Before the Heaven and Earth existed There was something nebulous:

Silent, isolated, Standing alone, changing not, Eternally revolving

without fail, Worthy to be the Mother of All Things.

 

Mabry:

Before Heaven and Earth were born There was something undescribable.

Perfectly still, having no form, It stands alone, and does not

change. It acts perpetually, yet never tires. It could very well be

the Mother of the Universe.

 

McDonald:

Before heaven and earth here was something nebulous, formless yet

complete; without sound, without substance, isolated, free from all

form; standing alone and depending on nothing, unchanging, operating

everywhere, all pervading, revolving and without fail. One can think

of it as the mother of all

 

Merel:

There is a mystery, Beneath abstraction, Silent, depthless, Alone,

unchanging, Ubiquitous and liquid, The mother of nature.

 

Mitchell:

There was something formless and perfect before the universe was

born. It is serene. Empty. Solitary. Unchanging. Infinite. Eternally

present. It is the mother of the universe.

 

Muller:

Which is born before Heaven and Earth. So silent and desolate! It

establishes itself without renewal. Functions universally without

lapse. We can regard it as the Mother of Everything.

 

Red Pine:

Imagine a nebulous thing here before Heaven and Earth silent and

elusive it stands alone not wavering it travels everywhere unharmed

it could be the mother of us all

 

Ta-Kao:

There is a thing inherent and natural, Which existed before heaven

and earth. Motionless and fathomless, It stands alone - and never

changes; It pervades everywhere and never becomes exhausted. It may

be regarded as the Mother of the Universe.

 

Walker:

Something mysterious and perfect existed before even heaven and earth

were born. Silent, immeasurable, standing alone and unchanging,

moving without end or exhaustion, it is the mother of the known and

unknown universe.

 

Wieger:

There is a being, of unknown origin, which existed before heaven and

earth; imperceptible and undefined, unique and immutable,

omnipresent, the mother of everything there is.

 

Wu:

There was Something undefined and yet complete in itself, Born before

Heaven-and-Earth. Silent and boundless, Standing alone without

change, Yet pervading all without fail, It may be regarded as the

Mother of the world.

 

Sri Lalita Sahasranama 1-200

 

1) Sri Mata

— Sacred Mother (feminine); the Seer, the Seen and the Seeing.

— The Knower; the Measurer (masculine)

— " For Whom all creatures are born. " Taittiriya Upanishad 3. 2

 

2) Sri Maharajni

— Great Empress

— " By Whom all creatures live. " Taittiriya Upanishad 3. 1

 

4) Sri Cidagni-Kunda-sambhuta

— Born from the Pit of the Fire of Consciousness.

— Burns out ignorance and confers Immortality.

 

5) Sri Deva-Karya-Samudyata.

— Emerges for a Divine Purpose.

— Appears to answer the prayer of Gods (Divine Beings) for help.

— Battles for the spiritual emancipation of Her devotee.

 

58) Sri Panca-Brahmasana-sthita

— Seated above the Five: Sri Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Isna and Sadasiva.

 

59) Sri Maha-padmatavi-samstha

— Dwells in the Great Lotus Forest.

 

61) Sri Sudha-sagara-madhyastha

— Ocean of Nectar.

— Abode of Bliss.

 

64) Sri Devarsi-gana-sanghata-stuyamanatma-vaibhava

— Gods and Seers perceived Her Cosmic Form.

— Seers realised unity of individual and Cosmic Selves.

 

65) Sri Bhandasura-vadhodyukta-sakti-sena-samanvita

— Confers powers to devotees to conquer their egos.

— Grants true realisation of Ultimate Reality.

 

68) Sri Chakra-raja-ratha-rudha-sarvayudha-pariskrta

— Mounted on Sri Chakra inside body with all weapons i.e. Powers.

— Enlightens mind to realise Ultimate Reality as an All Pervading-

Consciousness.

 

70) Sri Chakra-ratharudha-dandanatha-puraskrta

— Mounted on Kiri Chakra, led by Sri Varahi, commander of Her armies.

— Controls forces inside body and marshals them towards God

realization.

 

78) Sri Mahaganesa-nirbhinnavighna-yantra-praharsita

— Delighted at Sri Ganesha destroying obstacles of Her devotees.

— Enables devotee overcome impediments by Her presence in body and

Cosmos.

 

80) Sri Karanguli-nakhotapanna-Narayana-dasakrtih

— 10 avataras of Sri Vishnu emerge from Her fingernails to fight Her

battles

against Forces of Darkness.

 

83) Sri Brahmopendra-Mahendradideva-samstuta-vaibhava

— Her splendour praised by Sri Brahma, Vishnu and Indra.

— " You are verily that which cannot be uttered. " Sri Brahmadeva (Devi

Mahatmyam)

 

99) Sri Muladharaika-nilaya

— Dwells in Muladhara Chakra inside body.

 

101) Sri Manipuranta-rudita

— Appears then in Manipurna Chakra; devotee feels unreality of

wakeful state.

 

102) Sri Visnu-granthi-vibhedini

— Cuts Knot of Sri Vishnu; devotee perceives unreality of

individuality.

 

104) Sri Rudra-granthi-vibhedini

— Cuts Knot of Sri Rudra; devotee becomes one with Cosmic

Consciousness.

 

105) Sri Sahasrarambujarudha

— Dwells in Sahasrara Chakra of liberated souls as Saksi or Witness.

 

110) Sri Kundalini

— She is coiled like a serpent. She is stated to assume 31/2 coils

- the form in which Sri Lalita resides in sacrum bone of every human

as potential state.

 

112) Sri Bhavani

— Giver of Life to Universe.

 

114) Sri Bhavaranya-kutharika

— Confers moksa from samsara i.e. freedom from cycle of rebirths.

 

136) Sri Nitya

— Eternal.

 

137) Sri Nirakara

— Formless

 

143) Sri Nirupaplava

— Indestructible.

 

154) Sri Nirupadhih

— Alone

 

155) Sri Nirisvara

— Supreme.

 

167) Sri Papanasini

— Dispels all ignorance, or destroys sins.

— " By mere concentration on Her, sin becomes virtue. " Brahmanda

Purana

 

173) Sri Samsayaghni

— Destroys doubts of devotees.

 

174) Sri Nirbhava

— Unborn.

 

175) Sri Nirnasa

— Deathless.

 

196) Sri Sarvajna

— Omniscient.

 

198) Sri Samanadhika-Varjita

— Supreme; none to equal or excel Her.

 

199) Sri Sarva-Sakti-Mayi

— The Mother of all Powers and Energies such as Mahakali, Mahlaksmi

and Mahasaraswati.

Sri Lalita Sahasranama

(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Ass. Advertisers and Printers,

1989.)

 

 

Ch. 25 Sentence 2

 

Beck:

I do not know its name; I call it the Way. If forced to define it, I

shall call it supreme.

 

Blackney

I do not know its name: A name for it is " Way " ; Pressed for

designation, I call it Great.

 

Bynner

Though there can be no name for it, I have called it 'the way of

life.' Perhaps I should have called it 'the fullness of life,'

 

Byrn

Because I do not know its name, I call it the Tao. If forced to give

it a name, I would call it 'Great'.

 

Chan

I do not know its name; I call it Tao. If forced to give it a name, I

shall call it Great.

 

Cleary

I do not know its name; I label it the Way. Imposing on it a name, I

call it Great.

 

Crowley

I do not know its Name, but I call it the Dao. Moreover, I exert

myself, and call it Vastness.

 

Hansen

I don't know its name. When put in characters we say dao. Forced to

deem it as named, we say 'great.'

 

LaFargue

I do not know its name, one can call it 'Tao.' The name of its

powerful presence: One can call it 'The Great One.'

 

Legge

I do not know its name, and I give it the designation of the Tao (the

Way or Course). Making an effort (further) to give it a name I call

it The Great.

 

Lindauer

I have no knowledge of its name Giving a word, I say tao. Stubbornly

trying to name it I say great

 

LinYutan

I do not know its name And address it as Tao. If forced to give it a

name, I shall call it " Great.

 

Mabry

I don't know its name, so I just call it the Tao. If forced to give

it a name, I would call it Great.

 

McDonald

I don't know its true name. I call it dao. " Way " is the by-name. If

forced to give it a name I can call it great (ta) .

 

Merel

It has no name, but I call it " the Way " ; It has no limit, but I call

it " limitless " .

 

Mitchell

For lack of a better name, I call it the Tao.

 

Muller

There is something that is perfect in its disorder I don't know its

name. Hence, when forced to name it, I call it " Tao. " When forced to

categorize it, I call it " great. "

 

Red Pine

Nnot knowing its name I call it the Tao forced to name it I name it

Great

 

Ta-Kao

I do not know its name. If I am forced to give it a name, I call it

Tao, and I name it as supreme.

 

Walker

I don't know its name, so I call it by an alias: Tao. Forced to

describe it, I only say, " It is great. "

 

Wieger:

I do not know it by its own name. I designate it by the word

Principle. If it were necessary to name it, one would call it the

Great,

 

Wu

I do not know its name; I style it " Tao " ; And, in the absence of a

better word, call it " The Great. "

 

 

Sri Lalita Sahasranama 201-400

201) Sri Sadgati-Prada

— Leads devotee to Highest Truth or Reality which is Herself.

 

203) Sri Sarvamayi

— Immanent in All.

 

207) Sri Manonmani

— Highest state of Consciousness.

— Secret name of Sri Durga.

 

208) Sri Mahesvari

— One with Him, God Almighty.

 

209) Sri Mahadevi

— The Greatest Goddess.

 

212) Sri Maharupa

— The Supreme Form.

 

213) Sri Maha-Pujya

— Worshipped by the Highest i.e. Sri Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

 

214) Sri Maha-Pataka-Nasini

— Destroys the greatest of sins.

 

216) Sri Maha-Sattva

— Supreme Existence.

— Supreme Energy.

 

217) Sri Maha-Saktih

— The Greatest Power.

— " To the Devi who abides in All beings in the form of Power. "

Sri Durga-Saptasati 32-34

 

218) Sri Maharatih

— The Greatest Bliss.

 

221) Sri Mahavirya

— The Greatest Might.

 

222) Sri Mahabala

— The Greatest Strength.

 

223) Sri Mahabuddhih

— The Greatest Intelligence.

 

— " To the Devi who abides in All beings in the form of Pure

Intelligence. " Sri

Durga-Saptasati 20-22

 

232) Sri Mahesvara-Maha-Kalpa-Maha-Tandava-Saksini

— Silent Witness to the dissolution of the Universe.

 

252) Sri Paramananda

— The Ultimate Bliss.

 

254) Sri Dhyana-Dhyatr-Dhyeya-Rupa

— In the form of meditation, meditator and meditated.

 

256) Sri Visvarupa

— Universe is Her From.

 

263) Sri Sarvavastha Vivarjita

— Beyond all states. She is one with those who are beyond all those

states

mentioned above.

 

265) Sri Brahmarupa

— Of the Form of Sri Brahma, the Creator.

 

267) Sri Govindarupini

— Of the form of Sri Vishnu, the Sustainer.

 

268) Sri Samharini

— Destroyer of Universe.

 

285) Sri Abrahma-Kita-Janani

— Mother of all Life.

 

296) Sri Anandinidhana

— Having neither Birth nor Death.

— Eternal.

 

297) Sri Hari-Brahmendra-Sevita

— Served by Sri Vishnu, Brahma and Indra, being Their Overlord.

 

317) Sri Raksakari

— The Saviour.

 

325) Sri Jagatikanda

— Root of the Universe.

 

326) Sri Karunarasa-Sagara

— Ocean of Compassion.

 

329) Sri Kanta

— Ultimate Form of Reality.

 

338) Sri Veda-Janani

— Mother of the Vedas.

 

339) Sri Visnu-Maya

— Produces an illusion of limitation, even to Visnu who is limitless.

 

340) Sri Vilasini

— Universe is for Her Pleasure.

— Opens or closes way to Self-Realization.

 

358) Sri Taruni

— Ever Young

 

359) Sri Tapasaradhya

— Worshipped by Penance.

— Beyond those incapable of meditation and penance.

 

361) Sri Tamopaha

— The Remover of Ignorance.

 

366) Sri Para

— The Ultimate.

 

367) Sri Pratyak-Chiti-Rupa

— Inner Consciousness or Knowledge.

 

369) Sri Para Devata

— The Ultimate Godhead.

 

373) Sri Kamesvara-Prananadi

— Life-breath of Sri Shiva.

— " Without Her, He is unable to move. " Saundhara-Lahari 1.

 

374) Sri Krtajna

— Witness and Judge of all.

 

389) Sri Nirupama

— Unequalled.

 

390) Sri Nirvana-sukha-dayini

— Giver of the Bliss of Liberation.

 

396) Sri Paramesvari

— The Ultimate Ruler.

 

397) Sri Mulaprakrtih

— The Original Nature.

Sri Lalita Sahasranama

(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Ass. Advertisers and Printers,

1989.)

 

Ch. 25 Sentence 3

Beck

Supreme means absolute. Absolute means extending everywhere.

Extending everywhere means returning to itself.

 

Blackney

Great means outgoing, Outgoing, far-reaching, Far-reaching, return.

 

Bynner

Since fullness implies widening into space, Implies still further

widening, Implies widening until the circle is whole.

 

Byrn

Because it is Great means it is everywhere. Being everywhere means it

is eternal. Being eternal means everything returns to it.

 

Chan

Now being great means functioning everywhere. Functioning everywhere

means far-reaching. Being far-reaching means returning to the

original point.

 

Cleary

Greatness means it goes; going means reaching afar; reaching afar

means return.

 

Crowley

Vastness, the Becoming! Becoming, it flies afar. Afar, it draws near.

 

Hansen

Being great, we say 'comprehensive.' Being comprehensive, we say 'far

reaching.' Being far reaching, we say 'reverting.'

 

LaFargue

Great means going forth going forth means going far away going far

away means turning back.

 

Legge

Great, it passes on (in constant flow). Passing on, it becomes

remote. Having become remote, it returns.

 

Lindauer

Great, I say passing by Passing by, I say far-reaching Far-reaching,

I say returning.

 

LinYutan

" Being great implies reaching out in space, Reaching out in space

implies far-reaching, Far-reaching implies reversion to the original

point.

 

Mabry

Being Great, I call it eternal. Being eternal, I call it infinite.

Being infinite, I call it Reconciliation.

 

McDonald

Now such greatness implies reaching out in space, and also means

functioning everywhere, or passing on; Space-yielding or functioning

everywhere signifies far-reaching. And passing on means going far

away, To go really far is to return to the original point. To reach

far is a return. To go far away means to return.

 

Merel

Being limitless, it flows away forever; Flowing away forever, it

returns to my self:

 

Mitchell

It flows through all things, inside and outside, and returns to the

origin of all things.

 

Muller

Greatness entails transcendence. Transcendence entails going-far.

Going-far entails return.

 

Red Pine

Great means ever-flowing ever-flowing means far-reaching far-reaching

means returning

 

Ta-Kao

Supreme means going on; Going on means going far; Going far means

returning.

Walker That which is great continues. That which continues goes far.

That which goes far returns.

 

Wieger:

Great going forth, great distance, great return. (The principle of

the great cyclic evolution of the cosmos, of the becoming and ending

of all beings).

 

Wu:

To be great is to go on, To go on is to be far, To be far is to

return.

 

 

 

 

Sri Lalita Sahasranama 401-600

400) Sri Vyapini

— All Pervading.

 

414) Sri Sva-prakasa

— Self-Illuminated; nothing illuminates Her as She is `Svayam-jyoti'.

 

415) Sri Mano-vachamagochara

— Beyond grasp of mind and speech.

— " Where words turn back. " Annapurna Upanisad 2

 

419) Sri Jadatmika

— Entire Creation has no power of knowing Her.

 

423) Sri Dvija-Vrnda-nisevita

— Pacified by the twice-born.

 

442) Sri Kumara-gana-nathamba

— Mother of Sri Kumara and Sri Ganesha, Commanders-in-Chief of the

Divine Forces.

 

457) Sri Mata

— Mother.

 

463) Sri Suranayika

— Leader of Gods.

 

470) Sri Vayovastha-vivarjita

— Ageless.

 

528) Sri Sahasra-dala-padmastha

— Resides in the Thousand-Petalled Lotus.

 

543) Sri Punya-labhya

— Attained by the meritorious or righteous.

— Worshipped due to good actions in previous births.

 

552) Sri Agra-ganya

— Primordial.

 

552) Sri Achintya-rupa

— Form inaccessible to thought.

 

555) Sri Kali-kalmasa-nasini

— Destroys sins in this Kali age.

 

563) Sri Mukhya

— The First One.

 

573) Sri Prajnana Ghana-rupini

— Supreme Wisdom

— State of Consciousness where nothing else is experienced except

Self.

— " Like the taste of salt in the sea (It) is everywhere; Prajnana is

All

Pervasive. " Brahadaranyaka Upanisad

 

591) Sri Sirahsthita

— Dwells inside head near Brahmarandhra.

Sri Lalita Sahasranama

(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Assoc. Advertisers and

Printers, 1989.)

 

Ch. 25 Sentence 4

 

Beck:

Thus the Way is supreme. Heaven is supreme. Earth is supreme. And the

person is supreme. There are four supremes in the universe, and the

person is one of them.

 

Blackney

The Way is great, The sky is great, The earth is great, The king also

is great. Within the realm These four are great; The king but stands

For one of them.

 

Bynner

In this sense The way of life is fulfilled, Heaven is fulfilled,

Earth fulfilled And a fit man also is fulfilled: These are the four

amplitudes of the universe And a fit man is one of them:

 

Byrn

Tao is great. Heaven is great. Earth is great. Humanity is great.

Within the universe, these are the four great things.

 

Chan

Therefore Tao is great Heaven is great. Earth is great. And the king

is also great.

 

Cleary

Therefore the Way is great, heaven is great, earth is great, and

kingship is also great. Among domains are four greats, of which

kingship is one.

 

Crowley

Vast is this Dao; Heaven also is vast; and the Holy King is vast

also. In the Universe are Four Vastnesses, and of these [one] is the

Holy King.

 

Hansen

So our dao is great; Nature (heaven) is great, Earth is great, and

kings are also great. Within a region are four 'greats.' And the King

occupies one of those [lofty] statuses.

 

LaFargue

Yes: Tao is great Heaven is great Earth is great (the king is also

great in the universe there are four great ones and the king takes

his place as one of them).

 

Legge

Therefore the Tao is great; Heaven is great; Earth is great; and the

(sage) king is also great. In the universe there are four that are

great, and the (sage) king is one of them.

 

Lindauer

So tao is great, heavens are great, earth is great Kings are also

great. In the center of the universe are four greatnesses Yet kings

stand still, blending them into one.

 

LinYutan

Therefore: Tao is Great, The Heaven is great, The Earth is great, The

King is also great. There are the Great Four in the universe, And the

King is one of them.

 

Mabry

Therefore, the Tao is Great. Heaven is Great. The Earth is Great.

Humankind is

Great. In the Universe there are these four things which are Great,

And humankind is one

of them.

 

McDonald

So dao is great and far-reaching, and so is heaven, earth and the

king. For just as dao, earth and heaven each has its subtle

greatness, so does the ruler. There are four great things in the

universe, and the king is one of them. So within the realm there are

four portions of greatness " , and one belongs to the king.

 

Merel

The Way is limitless, So nature is limitless, So the world is

limitless, And so I am limitless.

 

Mitchell

The Tao is great. The universe is great. Earth is great. Man is

great. These are the four great powers.

 

Muller

Hence, Tao is great, Heaven is great, the Earth is great And the

human is also great. Within our realm there are four greatnesses and

the human being is one of them.

 

Red Pine

the Tao is great Heaven is great Earth is great the king is also

great the realm contains four greats of these the king is one

 

Ta-Kao

Therefore Tao is supreme; heaven is supreme; earth is supreme; and

man is also supreme; There are in the universe four things supreme,

and man is one of them.

 

Walker

Therefore Tao is great, heaven is great, earth is great, a person of

Tao is great. These are the four greatnesses in the universe.

 

Wieger

The name Great befits (proportionally) four (superimposed) beings:

The emperor, the earth, heaven (the classical Chinese triad), and the

Principle.

 

Wu

Hence, " Tao is great, Heaven is great, Earth is great, King is

great. " Thus, the king is one of the great four in the Universe.

 

Sri Lalita Sahasranama 601-800

603) Sri Gurumurtih

— Of the Form of Guru.

— Leads devotee to Highest state of Liberation

 

615) Sri Adi-Shaktih

— Primal Power.

— The First Cause.

 

616) Sri Ameya

— Immeasurable.

 

618) Sri Atma

— The Ultimate Cosmic Soul.

 

620) Sri Aneka-koti-brahmanda-Janani

— Mother of all Universes.

— Her mind creates Universes at Will.

 

621) Sri Divya-vigraha

— Represents the Battle of the Divine Forces against Evil.

 

646) Sri Satyananda-svarupini

— Of the Nature of Truth and Bliss.

 

651) Sri Vijnatri

— Source of All Knowledge.

 

654) Sri Yogada

— One who gives Union of individual soul with Cosmic Spirit.

 

658) Sri Icchasakti-Jnana-Sakti-Kriya-Sakti- Svarupini

— The Power of Will, Knowledge and Action.

— The Force that Creates and Moves the Universe.

 

661) Sri Sadasad-rupadharini

— The Form of Existence and Non-existence.

— The Source of Reality and Unreality.

 

664) Sri Loka-yatra-vidhayini

— The One who determines the Life-Cycle of the Universe.

 

665) Sri Ekakini

— Alone.

 

668) Sri Dvaita-varjita

— The Ultimate Reality beyond All Duality.

 

673) Sri Brhati

— The Immense Truth.

 

678) Sri Bhasa-rupa

— In the Form of Languages.

 

681) Sri Sukharadhya

— Easily worshipped without putting body to strain.

— Internally worshipped.

 

683) Sri Sobhana-sulabha-gatih

— The Easiest Path to Self-Realization.

 

692) Sri Samrajya-dayini

— The Giver of Empires.

— Bestower of the Empire of Liberation.

 

700) Sri Saccidananda-rupini

— The Truth, Knowledge and Bliss unconditioned by Time and Space.

— The basic components of the Ultimate.

 

701) Sri Desa-kala-paricchinna

— The Truth unbroken by Time and Space.

— The All Pervading Eternal Truth.

 

702) Sri Sarvaga

— Present Everywhere and in Everything.

 

705) Sri Sastramayi

— The Mother of all Scriptures.

 

706) Sri Guhamba

— The Mother that dwells in the Heart.

 

707) Sri Guhya-rupini

— Beyond the Senses.

— Unseen and Secret.

 

713) Sri Guru-mandala-rupini

— The Unbroken Line of Divine Messengers.

— The Succession of Gurus that is She Herself.

 

718) Sri Mahi

— The Mother Earth.

— Giver of all Life and Food.

 

719) Sri Ganamba

— The Mother of Sri Ganesha.

 

725) Sri Daksinamurti-rupini

— The Form of Sri Daksinamurti, The Cosmic Guru.

— The Treasure-House of All Knowledge.

 

736) Sri Muktida

— The One who confers Liberation.

 

737) Sri Mukti-Rupini

— The Form of Liberation.

— The Supreme Knowledge of Liberation.

 

739) Sri Layakari

—The Fifth State beyond Turiya.

—The State where individual and Cosmic Consciousness merge.

 

742) Sri Bhava-Dava-Sudha-Vrstih

— Ambrosial rain which extinguishes the forest fire of Samsara.

— Ends the cycle of births and death.

 

755) Sri Candika

— Angry with evil forces.

 

757) Sri Ksara-Ksaratmika

— Eternal and Indestructible.

 

759) Sri Visva-Dharini

— The One who contains all Universes.

 

765) Sri Suddha

— Pure Knowledge.

 

768) Sri Dyuti-Dhara

— The Light.

 

777) Sri Viraradhya

— Worshipped by the valiant.

 

783) Sri Pranada

— The Giver of Life.

 

788) Sri Jayatsena

— Having victorious armies of Divine Forces.

Sri Lalita Sahasranama

(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Assoc. Advertisers and

Printers, 1989.)

 

Ch. 25 Sentence 5

Beck:

The person reflects the earth. The earth reflects heaven. Heaven

reflects the Way. And the Way reflects its own nature.

 

Blackney:

Man conforms to the earth; The earth conforms to the sky; The sky

conforms to the Way; The Way conforms to its own nature.

 

Bynner:

Man rounding the way of earth, Earth rounding the way of heaven,

Heaven rounding the way of life Till the circle is full.

 

Byrn:

Humanity follows the earth. Earth follows Heaven. Heaven follows the

Tao. The Tao follows only itself.

 

Chan:

Man models himself after Earth. Earth models itself after Heaven.

Heaven models itself after Tao. And Tao models itself after Nature.

 

Cleary:

Humanity emulates earth, earth emulates heaven, heaven emulates the

Way, the Way emulates nature.

 

Crowley:

Man follows the formula of Earth; Earth follows that of Heaven, and

Heaven that of the Dao. The Formula of the Dao is its own Nature.

 

Hansen:

Humans treat earth as a standard. Earth treats constant nature as a

standard. Constant nature treats dao as a standard. Dao treats being

so of itself as a standard.

 

LaFargue:

Earth gives the rule for people Heaven gives the rule for Earth Tao

gives the rule for Heaven the rule for Tao: things as they are.

 

Legge:

Man takes his law from the Earth; the Earth takes its law from

Heaven; Heaven takes its law from the Tao. The law of the Tao is its

being what it is.

 

Lindauer:

Man is an offshoot of earth Earth is an offshoot of the heavens The

heavens are an offshoot of tao Tao is an offshoot of the natural.

 

LinYutan:

Man models himself after the Earth; The Earth models itself after

Heaven; The Heaven models itself after Tao; Tao models itself after

nature.

 

Mabry:

Humankind follows the Earth, The Earth follows Heaven, Heaven follows

the Tao, And the Tao just acts like itself.

 

McDonald:

The ways of men are conditioned by those of earth. The ways of earth,

by those of heaven. The ways of heaven by those of dao, and the ways

of dao by the Self-so's Dao in turn models itself after Nature.

 

Merel:

For I am abstracted from the world, The world from nature, Nature

from the Way, And the Way from what is beneath abstraction.

 

Mitchell:

Man follows the earth. Earth follows the universe. The universe

follows the Tao. The Tao follows only itself.

 

Muller:

Human beings follow the Earth. Earth follows Heaven Heaven follows

the Tao The Tao follows the way things are.

 

Red Pine:

Man imitates Earth Earth imitates Heaven Heaven imitates the Tao the

Tao imitates itself

 

Ta-Kao:

Man follows the laws of earth; Earth follows the laws of heaven;

Heaven follows the laws of Tao; Tao follows the laws of its intrinsic

nature.

 

Walker:

A person of Tao follows earth. Earth follows Heaven. Heaven follows

Tao. Tao follows its own nature.

 

Wieger:

The emperor owes his greatness to the earth (his theater), earth owes

its greatness to heaven (of which it is the fruit), heaven owes its

greatness to the Principle (of which it is the principal agent).

(Greatness borrowed, as one can see, whereas) the Principle owes its

essential greatness to its underived, uncreated existence.

 

Wu:

Man follows the ways of the Earth. The Earth follows the ways of

Heaven, Heaven follows the ways of Tao, Tao follows its own ways.

 

Sri Lalita Sahasranama 801-1000

800) Sri Rasa-sevadhih

— The Ocean of Bliss.

 

802) Sri Puratana

— The Primordial One.

— The Ancient One.

 

806) Sri Param-jyotih

— The Ultimate Light.

— " There (in the Great Lotus Forest) the sun, moon and stars do not

shine because She illumines the mind that illumine all of them. "

Kathopanisad 5.15

 

808) Sri Paramanuh

— The Ultimate Atom.

— The Minutest Atom.

 

809) Sri Parat-para

— The Ultimate of the Ultimate.

— The Ultimate beyond the Trimurti — Sri Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

 

814) Sri Amurta

— Beyond sense perception.

— Formless.

 

816) Sri Muni-manasa-hamsika

— Ever dwelling in the minds of Yogis.

— The Female Swan in the Lake of the Great Lotus Forest.

 

817) Sri Satya-vrata

— Dedicated to the Food of Truth.

 

819) Sri Sarvantaryamini

— The Spirit

 

822) Sri Brahma-janani

— The Ultimate Mother of All.

 

824) Sri Bahu-rupa

— Of Multiform Manifestations.

— " There are many forms of Her: the divine, human, animal, static and

mobile. Hence She is known as Bahurupa. " Devi-Purana

 

826) Sri Prasavitri

— Entire Creation emanates from Her.

 

828) Sri Ajna

— The Command.

— " In the beginning from My Mouth, By My Command were born. " Linga

Purana

 

831) Sri Pranesvari

—The Ruler of All Forms of Life.

—The Life of Life.

 

836) Sri Vira-mata

— The Mother of the Forces battling the forces of evil.

 

839) Sri Mukti-nilaya

— The Abode of Liberation.

 

840) Sri Mula-vigraha-rupini

— The Primordial Power.

 

841) Sri Bhavajna

— The Knower of All Thoughts.

 

845) Sri Sastra-sara

— The Power behind all Scriptures.

 

851) Sri Janma-mrtyu-tapta-jana-visranti-dayini

— Bestower of Peace and Solace on those consumed by evils of life,

death and old age.

— Endows True Knowledge of their Selves.

 

852) Sri Sarvopanisadadudghusta

— Proclaimed by all the Upanisads.

 

854) Sri Gambhira

— The Bottomless Lake.

— " The Ultimate Mother is to be visualised as a great and deep lake of

Consciousness, uncomprehended by Space and Time. " Siva Sutra 1.23

 

858) Sri Kalpana-rahita

— Pure Consciousness.

 

859) Sri Kastha

— The Final Truth.

— " She is the End and She is the Ultimate Path. "

Kathopanisad 3.11

 

861) Sri Kantardha-vigraha

— Having half the form which is Female.

 

866) Sri Aja

— The Unborn One.

— The One without Birth.

 

870) Sri Antarmukha-samaradhya

 

— Worshipped by those with Inner Vision.

— Worshipped by those with introspection.

 

871) Sri Bahirmukha-sudurlabha

— To be sought within.

 

879) Sri Sudha-srutih

— Ambrosial Stream of Bliss.

 

880) Sri Samsara-panka-nirmagna- samuddharana-pandita

— Rescues those drowning in Samsara; cycle of births and death.

— " Just as the tusk of Sri Varahavatara rescued the submerged earth,

so also She rescues those drowned in the Sea of Births. " Saundarya-

Lahari 3

 

891) Sri Vidrumabha

— The Tree of Knowledge

 

893) Sri Visnurupini

— Sri Vishnu is one of Her Forms.

— The Primordial Power of Sri Mahesha has four different forms.

 

902) Sri Vijnana-Kalana

— The Knower.

— The Perceiver.

 

907) Sri Tattvamayi

— The Mother of the Ultimate State of Consciousness.

 

911) Sri Sadasiva-Kutumbini

— The Matriarch of His Family.

— The Matriarch of Creation.

 

920) Sri Sadodita

— Ever Present in minds of devotees.

 

925) Sri Kaulini-Kevala

— The Power behind Time.

 

940) Sri Paramoda

— The Form of the Ultimate Bliss of Realization.

 

952) Sri Sasvataisvarya

— Having the Eternal Kingdom

 

960) Sri Lokatita

— Seated above Sahasrara or Sadashiva

- Loka in body.

— Transcends all Universes.

 

965) Sri Bala

— The First Movement towards Creation.

 

980) Sri Jnanagamya

— Reached only by Knowledge.

 

995) Sri Sarvanullanghya Sasana

— Whose command none i.e., not even Trimurtis can transgress.

 

1000) Sri Lalitambika

— The Mother Sri Lalita.

— " Since the Mother transcends the universe She sports, She is said

to be Sri Lalita. " (Padma Purana)

 

Sri Lalita Sahasranama

(Sri Lalita Sahasranama, C. S. Murthy, Assoc. Advertisers and

Printers, 1989.)