The simple child again, free from all stains.Many people draw similarities between philosophical Taoism and Christianity. While I believe a great many of these so-called congruencies are manufactured out of thin air, this particular line is reminiscent of one or more attributed to Jesus.
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~
Become as a little child once more.
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~
Return to the state of the infant
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~
It's like a whole new life.
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~
In both philosophic traditions, the state of infancy is viewed as simple and pure. It is the time immediately after birth when we have yet to be unduly influenced by external sources. The world we behold is new and fresh; we haven't had the chance to become manipulated and jaded.
This is the life phase that Lao Tzu, Chuang Tzu and Jesus hold up as the pinnacle of humanity -- to be fully human in the rawest and most essential sense of the word.
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