Meet my Tao Friend

Derek Lin

  • Which translation is the best and most accurate?
  • Who can best explain the metaphors and nuances from the ancient texts?
  • Who knows the meaning of the ancient metaphors that Lao Tzu uses?
  • Most importantly, how to use the Tao in everyday life to find contentment and create a long successful life.

Many academic scholars are translating the Tao but are not giving accurate results through mistranslation. This is because they have not truly studied ancient Chinese as opposed to modern dialects, whose meanings have changed over the last few thousand years. Thus, it is especially important to learn from someone accurately.

I am honored and delighted to share with you the work from my Tao friend, Derek Lin. What I find so authentic and beneficial with Derek Lin is how he translates each chapter, each verse, character by character, telling both the ancient meaning and context as well as the current meaning in his translations. He is a Chinese who immigrated here from Taiwan when he was a child and knows both Chinese and American culture intimately. He has trained and studied ancient Chinese and Taoism for many years and consults Tao Masters and Sages to bring us the most accurate translation and meanings of ancient Tao Teachings. His most powerful gift is simplifying the Tao and showing how to effectively use it in everyday life, especially within our culture.

He offers free Tao lessons several times per month, plus he has an extensive online video library on YouTube for anyone to view the lectures.

However, when you go to read the Tao Te Ching, several important questions will arise.

Now is an especially crucial time to attend his classes.

He will begin again at the beginning of Chapter One of the Tao Te Ching on June 25th.

The Online Venue: Goto Webinar, Sundays 10:30 Am Pacific Time

To enroll: Go to his website under the Tao Meeting tab and follow the instructions.

  • 1 day prior, you will get an email reminding you of the upcoming class
  • 1 hour prior, you will get an email reminding you of the class and a link to click for the webinar.
  • Live lessons are best but if you cannot attend, you can watch a recording of the video recording here. There are many previously recorded lessons to watch.

This is a powerful opportunity to learn the power of following the Tao from someone so gifted. When you sign up, tell him that Sam Beasley sent you. That way, he knows that you are arriving by way of one of his students.

His book can be purchased on Amazon here. If the link does not work, go to Amazon Books and look up Derek Lin, Tao Te Ching: Annotated and Explained.

I have both the Paperback and Digital versions. I use the digital version mostly because you can search and click links to find what you want very quickly. I hope that you will join us for Sunday Classes online. If you have difficulty or questions, leave a comment below and I will try to help solve the issue.

Learning Meditation, Mindfulness, and following the Tao saved my life. Because of my earlier inability to control my ego self, I made many poor choices and gave my ‘self’ two life-threatening chronic diseases. While meditation and mindfulness were essential in the beginning, it was following The Tao that turned my life around. This is because even though I learned to wake up and pay attention to my choices, I still did not know which to make. There were many moments when I would ponder what to do but not know the best choice. This is where the Tao as a spiritual path becomes immensely powerful.

Meditation and mindfulness are necessary. Being self-aware prepares us for the next step, or right action as the Buddhists tell us. Taoism is a spiritual path that teaches how to use virtue as the means to a successful life. Mindful of choice, you can use the wisdom of the Tao to guide you in your next steps.  It is through a lifestyle that we implement the right actions and those wise choices.

Thank you and see you in class!

Sam Beasley, The Dixie Taoist