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| essential taoist books: Taoism Eva Wong, 2011-03-08 A leading scholar feng shui master presents the great depth and diversity of Taoist philosophy, practices, and history in this accessible manual to the oft-misunderstood spiritual tradition. Millions of readers have come to the philosophy of Taoism thanks to the classics Tao Te Ching and the I Ching, or through the practices of t'ai chi and feng-shui, but the Tao is less known for its unique traditions of meditation, physical training, magical practice, and internal alchemy. Eva Wong, a leading Taoist practitioner and translator, provides a solid introduction to the Way. All of Taoism’s most important texts, figures, and events are covered, as well as its extraordinarily rich history and remarkable variety of practice. Sections include: • The History of Taoism traces the development of the tradition from the shamans of prehistoric China through the classical period (including the teachings of the famous sage Lao-tzu), the beginnings of Taoism as a religion, the rise of mystical and alchemical Taoism, and the synthesis of Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. • Systems of Taoism explores magical sects, divination practices, devotional ceremonies, internal alchemy, and the way of right action. • Taoist Practices discusses meditation, techniques of cultivating the body, and rites of purification, ceremony, and talismanic magic. This roadmap to the spiritual landscape of Taoism not only introduces the important events in the history of Taoism, the sages who wrote the Taoist texts, and the various schools of Taoist thinking, but also gives readers a feel for what it means to practice Taoism today. A comprehensive bibliography for further study completes this valuable reference work. |
| essential taoist books: Essential Taoist Texts Various, 2011-09-21 Three Essential Taoist Texts in one volume for convenient reading and study. The texts contained in this volume: The Tao Teh King (Tao Te Ching) of Lao Dze (Lao Tsu) Translated by James Legge, 1891 The Writings of Kwang-dze (Chuang-tse) Translated by James Legge, 1891 The Yi King (I Ching) Translated by James Legge, 1882 These three texts are considered fundamental to the study of Taoism. |
| essential taoist books: The Classic of the Way and Virtue Laozi, 1999 A new translation of the Tao-te Ching of Laozi as interpreted by Wang Bi--whose commentaries following each statement flesh out the text so that it speaks to the modern Western reader as it has to Asians for centuries. |
| essential taoist books: The Essential Koran Thomas Cleary, 1994-03-11 THOMAS CLEARY is the pre-eminent translator of Buddhist and Taoist texts, including 'The Essential Tao', 'The Essential Confucius', 'The Secret of the Golden Flower', and the best-selling 'The Art of War'. For Muslims the whole of the Qur'an is |
| essential taoist books: Pocket Taoist Wisdom Thomas Cleary, 2019-06-18 This compact collection of Taoism's greatest masterpieces introduces its most fundamental teachings and reveals the essential spirit of Tao. From the time of its earliest sages in prehistoric China, Taoists have looked to the underlying Way of all things (the Tao) as the essential guide to life. For them, the patterns of nature revealed the answers to their deepest spiritual questions and provided the inspiration for their unique teachings. Over the centuries, Taoism has blossomed into a profound tradition with a variety of forms—all united by a single, core philosophy of radical simplicity and natural living. Today, Taoism is most widely known through the Tao-te Ching, yet its corpus of literature is vast—ranging from philosophical dialogues and essays to astonishing fables, legends, proverbs, and more. This compact collection of Taoism’s greatest masterpieces introduces its most fundamental teachings and reveals the essential spirit of Tao. This book was previously published under the title The Taoism Reader. This volume includes: Tao-te Ching: The foundational source of Taoist thought by the legendary Lao Tzu Chuang-tzu: Philosophical dialogues from one of Taoism's most famous sages Huai-nan-tzu: Teachings from the time of the Han dynasty on affairs of state, natural science, and Taoist psychology Wen-tzu: Records of further sayings by Lao Tzu on the art of living Tales of Inner Meaning: Fables, stories, and jokes from the Lieh-tzu and others on the subtleties of Taoist philosophy Sayings of Ancestor Lu: Teachings from Lu Yen, a seminal figure in the founding of the Complete Reality school of Taoism and master synthesizer of China's classic spiritual traditions This book is part of the Shambhala Pocket Library series. The Shambhala Pocket Library is a collection of short, portable teachings from notable figures across religious traditions and classic texts. The covers in this series are rendered by Colorado artist Robert Spellman. The books in this collection distill the wisdom and heart of the work Shambhala Publications has published over 50 years into a compact format that is collectible, reader-friendly, and applicable to everyday life. |
| essential taoist books: Teachings of the Tao , 1996-12-17 The Tao that can be spoken of is not the real Way, reads a famous line from the Tao-te-ching. But although the Tao cannot be described by words, words can allow us to catch a fleeting glimpse of that mysterious energy of the universe which is the source of life. The readings in this book are a beginner's entrée into the vast treasury of writings from the sacred Chinese tradition, consisting of original translations of excerpts from the Taoist canon. Brief introductions and notes on the translation accompany the selections from the classics; books of devotional and mystical Taoism; texts of internal alchemy; stories of Taoist immortals, magicians, and sorcerers; ethical tracts; chants and rituals; and teachings on meditation and methods of longevity. |
| essential taoist books: Tao Te Ching Laozi, 1972 |
| essential taoist books: The Taoist Classics, Volume Two Thomas Cleary, 2003-02-11 This collection of translated texts includes: • Understanding Reality: A Taoist Alchemical Classic: A tenth-century text on the principles of inner alchemy. • The Inner Teachings of Taoism: The essentials of self-transformation according to the Complete Reality School of Taoism, with commentary by Liu I-ming. • The Book of Balance and Harmony: These essays, conversations, poetry, and songs about the secrets of Taoism teach how to live a centered and orderly life. • Practical Taoism: A collection of the most accessible of the texts on inner alchemy. |
| essential taoist books: Cultivating Stillness , 1992-11-24 A principal part of the Taoist canon for many centuries, this Lao-Tzu classic is an essential overview of the Taoist practice of internal alchemy, or qigong Equanimity, good health, peace of mind, and long life are the goals of the ancient Taoist tradition known as “internal alchemy,” of which Cultivating Stillness is a key text. Written between the second and fifth centuries, the book is attributed to T’ai Shang Lao-chun—the legendary figure more widely known as Lao-Tzu, author of the Tao-te Ching. The accompanying commentary, written in the nineteenth century by Shui-ch’ing Tzu, explains the alchemical symbolism of the text and the methods for cultivating internal stillness of body and mind. A key text in the Taoist canon, Cultivating Stillness is still the first book studied by Taoist initiates today. |
| essential taoist books: Lao-Tzu's Treatise on the Response of the Tao Li Ying-Chang, 2003 Taoists and non-Taoists alike consider Lao-Tzu's Treatise on the Response of the Tao, written by the twelfth-century sage Li Ying-Chang, an essential guide to living. Presenting foundational teaching and practices of the Action and Karma school of Taoism, it is replete with stories illustrating the teachings and an introductory essay that discusses the more esoteric meanings of the passages. Told with clarity and depth, these seminal Taoist teachings offer guidance on leading a balanced, healthy life. Sponsored by the Fung Loy Kok Institute of Taoism |
| essential taoist books: Original Tao Harold David Roth, 2004 Presents a translation and commentary to the oldest known extant Taoist text, Inward Training (Nei-yeh), which is composed of short poetic verses devoted to the practice of breath meditation and its resultant insights about human nature and the cosmos. Roth argues that Inward Training is the basis of early Taoism, and suggests that there may be more continuity between early philosophical Taoism and later Taoist religion than scholars have thought. |
| essential taoist books: The Tao of Pooh Benjamin Hoff, 1998 |
| essential taoist books: Effortless Living Jason Gregory, 2018-03-13 A guide for achieving an enlightened mind through the art of non-doing • Details meditation practices, focused on stillness of the mind, along with Patanjali’s yoga methods to maintain a consciousness referred to as “being in the zone” • Builds on Taoist, Confucian, and Hindu principles along with scientific findings to support wu-wei--the art of non-doing, non-forcing--as a way of life • Explains how wu-wei practitioners cultivate intelligent spontaneity and effortless action to allow the natural harmony of the cosmos to prevail The practice of non-doing, non-forcing is an essential aspect of Taoism known as wu-wei. Attributed to the great sage Lao-tzu, the philosophy of wu-wei teaches you how to develop a natural state of consciousness not bound by thought or preconceived limitations. Experienced by the greatest artists, athletes, musicians, and writers, this heightened state of consciousness, referred to as “being in the zone,” is where intelligent spontaneity and effortless action flourish via a practice rooted in permitting the natural harmony of the cosmos to prevail. Merging Taoist philosophy, Hindu principles, and Confucianism along with scientific findings, Jason Gregory outlines the practice of wu-wei as a vehicle to realize our innate freedom, revealing that when we release our ego and allow life to unfold as it will, we align ourselves more closely with our goals and cultivate skill and mastery along the way. Equating “being in the zone” with a stillness of the mind, Gregory shares meditation practices coupled with yoga exercises from Patanjali that allow you to approach life with a mastery of acceptance, releasing deluded beliefs of how to achieve success that make your mind “sticky” and poised for conflict. The author shows how practicing wu-wei paradoxically empowers you to accomplish all that you desire by having no intention to do so, as well as allowing you to become receptive to nature’s blueprint for expressing beauty. Revealing wisdom utilized by renowned sages, artists, and athletes who have adapted “being in the zone” as a way of life, the author shows that wu-wei can yield a renewed sense of trust in many aspects of your daily life, making each day more effortless. As an avid wu-wei practitioner, he provides keen insight on how you, too, can experience the beauty of achieving an enlightened, effortless mind while reveling in the process of life’s unfolding. |
| essential taoist books: Being Taoist , 2015-03-03 A beautifully clear and accessible explanation of how to live a Taoist life—with an overview of Taoist philosophy—by a renowned Taoist master Taoism isn’t a spiritual extracurricular activity, it’s an integral practice for living all of life to the fullest. Taoist living rests on four pillars—the public, the domestic, the private, and the spirit lives. Not only do Taoists strive to live these four aspects fully and in a balanced way, they also believe there is an outlook and an art to each of them. Here, modern Taoist adept Eva Wong is your guide to living well according to the wisdom of this ancient system. Drawing from ancient Taoist texts, she explains in simple terms the Taoist masters’ approach to the four aspects of life, asking readers to reflect on the balance of their own lives and demonstrating how that balance is the secret infusing your life with health, harmony, and deep satisfaction. |
| essential taoist books: The Taoist Body Kristofer Schipper, 1993 This elegant and lucid introduction to the traditions of Taoism and the masters who transmit them will reward all those interested in China and in religions. |
| essential taoist books: The Te of Piglet Benjamin Hoff, 2003-02-01 Taoist philosophy explained using examples from A A Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh. |
| essential taoist books: Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching Lao Tzu, Ursula K. Le Guin, 2019-05-14 A rich, poetic, and socially relevant version of the great spiritual-philosophical classic of Taoism, the Tao Te Ching—from a legendary literary icon Most people know Ursula K. Le Guin for her extraordinary science fiction and fantasy. Fewer know just how pervasive Taoist themes are to so much of her work. And in Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching, we are treated to Le Guin’s unique take on Taoist philosophy’s founding classic. Le Guin presents Lao Tzu’s time-honored and astonishingly powerful philosophy like never before. Drawing on a lifetime of contemplation and including extensive personal commentary throughout, she offers an unparalleled window into the text’s awe-inspiring, immediately relatable teachings and their inestimable value for our troubled world. Jargon-free but still faithful to the poetic beauty of the original work, Le Guin’s unique translation is sure to be welcomed by longtime readers of the Tao Te Ching as well as those discovering the text for the first time. |
| essential taoist books: Lieh-Tzu Eva Wong, 1995-12-01 The Lieh-tzu is a collection of stories and philosophical musings of a sage of the same name who lived around the fourth century BCE. The subjects of Lieh-tzu's teachings range from the origin and purpose of life, the Taoist view of reality, and the nature of enlightenment to questions about training the body and mind, communication and understanding, and the importance of personal freedom. This distinctive translation presents Lieh-tzu as a friendly, intimate companion speaking directly to the reader in a contemporary voice about life and death, fortune and misfortune, gain and loss, and questions and problems that we want to solve in our everyday lives. Why do things run smoothly for some people and not for others? How can we deal with stress and anxiety in our daily lives? How can we learn more effectively? What brings happiness? Why are there so many problems in our world? By providing answers to these practical questions, Lieh-tzu builds the foundations that are necessary for the higher levels of Taoist training. |
| essential taoist books: Taoist Classic Complete Works Chuang Tzu, Lao Tzu, 2019-10-19 Lao Tzu is the founder of Taoism, the writer of Tao Te Ching. Chuang Tzu is Lao Tzu's important successor and disseminator of the Taoist theories. Chuang Tzu and Tao Te Ching, I Ching called three mysteryin ancient China.Tao Te Ching tell us the simple philosophy of human, nature and society, and defined Taoist concepts. Chuang Tzu is concrete explanation of Tao theories. Chuang Tzu's content is rich, extensive and profound, involving philosophy, life, politics, society, art, the generative theory of the universe and many other aspects.It has a profound influence on the development of Chinese culture |
| essential taoist books: The Book of Balance and Harmony Thomas Cleary, 1989-08-22 If one can be balanced and harmonious in oneself, then the being that is fundamentally so is clear and aware, awake in quietude, accurate in action; thus one can respond to the less changes in the world. The Book of Balance and Harmony is a classic thirteenth-century anthology of Taoist writings, including essays, conversations, poetry, and songs from the School of Complete Reality. The writings combine the essences of Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism into an alchemical elixir teaching Vitality, Energy, and Spirit -- the three treasures of Taoism that promise mental and physical well-being. This first translation into English of a major text of Taoism is rered and introduced by Thomas Cleary, who has been called the premier translator of Buddhist and Taoist texts. Among his many published works are original translations of monuments of Oriental spirituality, such as The Flower Ornament Scripture, the most sophisticated and comprehensive of primary Buddhist sourcebooks; The Blue Cliff Record, one of the major literary classics of Zen Buddhism; and Understanding Reality, the definitive classic of Taoist spiritual alchemy. |
| essential taoist books: The Tao of Love and Sex Jolan Chang, 1977 The Tao of Love and Sex is a revealing and vivid account of the ancient Chinese sexual teachings and techniques banned by the invading Mongols in the 13th century. The book describes, through text and contemporary illustrations, the ways in which Taoist teachings about sexual love can be used as a means to achieving ecstasy and as a therapeutic and healing force.The modern Western reader can here discover the ancient Eastern methods of ejaculation control, types of thrust, love-making positions, erotic kissing, the conquest of impotence and about sex and longevity.Frank and explicit, yet inseparable from the Taoist spiritual tradition, The Tao of Love and Sex will enrich the variety, subtlety and sheer sexual pleasure of all who read it. |
| essential taoist books: Sex, Health, and Long Life Thomas Cleary, 1999-03-02 The benefits of sexual bliss were not lost on the ancients, who knew well its powers to enhance health, concentration, and peace of mind. These ancient Chinese Taoist texts explain the transformative effects sex can have when properly and wisely practiced, demonstrating Taoism's emphasis on cultivating life's three treasures—vitality, energy, and spirit—in all the activities of daily life. The texts are part of the famous Mawangdui finds, Han Dynasty tombs that yielded the richest cache of ancient medical manuscripts ever found in China. The first three texts, Ten Questions, Joining Yin and Yang, and Talk on Supreme Guidance for the World, deal with physical health and sex lore, including diet, exercise, sleep, and techniques of lovemaking. The last two, A Course in Effectiveness and A Course in Guidance, concentrate on the psychological factors of good health and well-being, especially the reduction of stress and cultivation of wholesome social relations. |
| essential taoist books: Tao Te Ching Stefan Stenudd, 2015-06-04 Tao Te Ching is the 2,500 years old source to Taoism, written by the legendary Taoist philosopher Lao Tzu. In 81 short chapters, he presented the world according to Tao, the Way, and how mankind should adapt to it. The book has become one of the foremost world classics of wisdom - maybe even more relevant today, than it was to Lao Tzu's contemporaries. This translation of the text focuses on the clarity and simplicity by which Lao Tzu expresses his fascinating cosmology and profound ethics. Each chapter is thoroughly explained, also regarding how this old wisdom can be understood and applied today. Stefan Stenudd is a Swedish writer of both fiction and non-fiction. As a historian of ideas, he studies the thought patterns in creation myths around the world. He is also a high-grade instructor of the peaceful martial art aikido, which he has practiced for almost 40 years. |
| essential taoist books: Cultivating the Tao Yiming Liu, 2013-12-01 Cultivating the Tao is a complete translation of one of the main works by the renowned Taoist master Liu Yiming (1734-1821). Divided into 26 short chapters, this book provides a comprehensive overview of the basic principles of Taoism and an introduction to Taoist Internal Alchemy, or Neidan, authored by one of the greatest representatives of this tradition. Liu Yiming was an 11th-generation master of the Longmen (Dragon Gate) lineage. Having recovered from severe illness in his youth, he undertook extended traveling that led him to meet his two main masters. In 1780, he settled in the Qiyun mountains, in the present-day Gansu province. Since then until his death he devoted himself to teaching and writing. His works mainly consist of writings on Neidan and of commentaries on major Neidan scriptures. Liu Yiming grafts Internal Alchemy onto the teachings of the Book of the Way and Its Virtue (Daode jing) and of the later Taoist tradition. Few other masters have illustrated the relation between Taoism and Internal Alchemy as clearly as he does in this book. |
| essential taoist books: Tao: the Watercourse Way ALAN. WATTS, 2019-07-11 Following Alan Watts' acclaimed book on Zen Buddhism The Way of Zen, he tackles the Chinese philosophy of Tao. The Tao is the way of man's cooperation with the natural course of the natural world. Alan Watts takes the reader through the history of Tao and its interpretations by key thinkers such as Lao-Tzu, author of the Tao Te Ching. Watts goes on to demonstrate how the ancient and timeless Chinese wisdom of Tao promotes the idea of following a life lived according to the natural world and goes against our goal-oriented ideas by allowing time to quiet our minds and observe the world rather than imposing ourselves on it. By taking in some of the lessons of Tao, we can change our attitude to the way we live. Drawing on ancient and modern sources, Watts treats the Chinese philosophy of Tao in much the same way as he did Zen Buddhism in his classic The Way of Zen. Including an introduction to the Chinese culture that is the foundation of the Tao, this is one of Alan Watts' best-loved works. |
| essential taoist books: Tao Quotes Stefan Stenudd, 2015-06-04 Primary source to the gentle Chinese philosophy Taoism is the 2,500 years old book Tao Te Ching, written by the legendary first Taoist Lao Tzu. It has become one of the foremost world classics of wisdom, maybe even more relevant today than it was to Lao Tzu's contemporaries. Here are 389 quotes from the Tao Te Ching, sorted into 51 topics. In this way, the teachings and principles of Lao Tzu stand out with particular clarity, even for those just starting to explore Taoism. Stefan Stenudd has also published a complete translation of Lao Tzu's classic, with extensive comments and explanations: Tao Te Ching: The Taoism of Lao Tzu Explained. |
| essential taoist books: The Way of Tao Osho, 1978 |
| essential taoist books: Essential Writings of Taoism , 2008 The two classics of Chinese philosophy. Together, they form the basic texts of Taoism. |
| essential taoist books: Tao Te Ching Lao Tzu, 2020-05-04 This book contains the 37 most important and interesting chapters of the 81 in the Tao Te Ching. The selected chapters cover Lao Tzu's philosophical and spiritual concepts. The chapters not selected are mostly political and social. This version stays close to the original text of Tao Te Ching. The goal is to convey LaoTzu's thoughts clearly and coherently to a 21st century reader. No added comments or notes are necessary. This translation is actually new, written in 2020. The language is idiomatic American english. People say my Tao teaching is great, but it's strange. Being strange is what makes it great. If it's familiar, it's not worth much. - Lao Tzu, chapter 67 |
| essential taoist books: The Essential Tao , 1991 This is Thomas Cleary's translation of two classic Chinese books describing the essential philosophy and practice of Tao, written long ago as maps of the Way: Tao Te Ching and Chuang-tzu. Cleary's bold new translations restore, as no other translations have yet done, the remarkable power and mind-opening distinctiveness of the original Chinese. Composed in China over two thousand years ago and widely regarded as classics of world literature as well as honored for their practical wisdom, the Tao Te Ching and Chuang-tzu cover a wide range of subjects, from politics and economy to psychology and mysticism, from strategies for managing stress and maintaining health to ways to strengthen one's consciousness in a turbulent world. Together, these texts present the philosophical and practical core of classical Taoism while making Taoism's teachings more accessible than ever before to the western reader. Few of the world's great books, writes Cleary in his Introduction, have achieved the perennial currency of these writings. Countless readers have found endless fascination and enlightenment in the pregnant aphorisms and fantastic allegories of these ancient classics. Over the centuries the Tao Te Ching in particular has inspired many social and spiritual movements as well as a vast body of exegetical literature. At one time, state colleges of mysticism were established by the Chinese government for the study of the philosophy of the Tao Te Ching, and individuals who had mastered it were sought as advisers by people of all classes, from emperors to peasants. Even when the Taoist canon was torched by order of the Mongol ruler of China in 1280, the Tao Te Ching alone was spared destruction. Here is wonderful, insightful reading, richly enhanced by Cleary's introduction and commentary.--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved |
| essential taoist books: Essential Tao Thomas Cleary, 1992-03-12 This is a collection of the author's translations of Tao Te Ching and his presentation of The Inner Teachings of Chuang Tzu. The introduction explains how these texts expose the reader to the heart of Taoism. |
| essential taoist books: Taoism Laozi, Liezi, Zhuangzi, 2021-07-03 This book brings the three main books of the Taoist tradition: Tao Te Ching, Lieh Tzŭ, and Chuang Tzŭ, translated by the great sinologists James Legge, Lionel Giles, and Herbert A. Giles. The introduction will contextualize the works for you, explaining from the influence of Taoism in the West to the main concepts of the Taoist tradition. Tao Te Ching: Probably the most important book in Chinese philosophy alongside Confucian Analects, Tao Te Ching, popularly translated as Book of the Way and Virtue, written around the 6th century BC by Lao Tzŭ, is the fundamental book of of Taoism. Although it has only 81 brief chapters, it ranges from personal relationships to politics. This is the the most translated book in the world after the Bible. The translation presented here is the translation of early sinologist James Legge. The Book of Lieh Tzŭ The third book from Taoism in relevance, behind Tao Te Ching and Chuang Tzŭ only, often highlighted by its practical aspects, Lieh Tzŭ is both entertaining and enlightening, giving the reader positive reflections on life and death. The book is believed to have been compiled around the 4th century BC. The translation presented here is made by the sinologist Lionel Giles, son of the great sinologist Herbert A. Giles, creator of the Wade-Giles system. Chuang Tzŭ The most important Taoist book after Tao Te Ching, Chuang Tzŭ, written around the 3rd century BC, presents us with profound reflections, from our own conscience, as in the case of the butterfly dream, to politics, which is extensively discussed by the author. The translation presented here is made by the sinologist Herbert Allen Giles. |
| essential taoist books: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Eastern Philosophy Jay Stevenson, 2000-01-01 You're no idiot, of course. You know Eastern philosophy encompasses many countries and concepts, but when it comes to breaking down the basics—to discuss with others or for your own enlightenment—you can't tell Confucius from Krishna. Don't nix nirvana just yet! The Complete Idiot's Guide® to Eastern Philosophy is an extensive, reader-friendly guide that maps out the terrain along the various paths of knowledge. In this Complete Idiot's Guide®, you get: |
| essential taoist books: HANDBOOK OF THE PRACTICAL APPLICATONS OF TAOISM SULI Daniel Johnson, 2025-01-30 This is the companion handbook to ‘Practical Applications of Taoism.’ It contains skills and exercises that will assist you in learning to Live the Tao. Living the Tao or experiencing Reality at a fundamental level requires a process of change. Understanding it at an intellectual level, although stimulating, will not be sufficient. This is the companion book to Practical Applications of Taoism. Both books are essential in helping you understand and begin the process of change required to live the Tao. The first, Practical Applications of Taoism, explains the concepts and the process that is required to make the shift. A process of change is still required in order to Live the Tao. This book, The Handbook of Living, contains skills, exercises, and observations that will assist you in the transformation. Ideally, an interactive process with a qualified master is required. In this information-heavy world where, for many, time is at a premium, a self-guided approach is perhaps all most are ready for. The transformation is not intuitive and straightforward. Interacting with a master and a community that can get you there may not be feasible for most. The combination of this book and the first book, however, may suffice to give you a taste of what it means to live the Tao and experience the Reality beneath all things. Even though this book contains a wealth of exercises and skills you can use to experience Tao, it does not give a detailed account of what Tao is and what is required to live it. Together, both books will give you a chance to work towards it. The most effective way of learning to Live the Tao is to be guided through a process of change by a Taoist community led by a qualified master. In this modern world, this is rare. Taoism is poorly understood by most, and it is not taught well. The author offers regular classes and workshops that will help you along the path. “Taoism is very poorly understood by most people. Most of what is written about it is confusing and misleading.” Suli Daniel Johnson, SBN Gaining a cognitive understanding of living the Tao is not that difficult. Many of the concepts may seem surprisingly simple. Connecting and understanding it on a level where you can live it is not so straightforward. To understand this, consider the following. You learn how to play the game of golf in five minutes. Learning how to actually play it and gaining insight as to what is involved in becoming proficient requires much more time and effort. In the end, the only way to really understand how to play golf is to play it. Learning to apply the Tao as a practical force in your life requires not only an understanding but a process of change. Master Johnson offers workshops and classes and has developed a community of people interested in living the Tao. For more information on this, go to Selfmastery dot com or email him at daniel@selfmastery dot com. I live the Tao, I have helped others to live it. The reason why it's so difficult to describe the Tao is that people are attempting to do so through the lens of cognitive understanding and science. The Taoist perspective is something completely different, and for this reason, it does not lend itself well to be described through science or logic. A thorough understanding of this can be found in Book 1, Practical Applications of Taoism. In attempting to cast Taoism in terms of logic or science, most of what makes it unique and effective is lost. In China during the Cultural Revolution, the ideas of Taoism were banned, and many intellectuals, including my master, fled the country. In order to understand the Tao, you need to live it. This sounds like one of those nebulous or illusionary things that you will find in many books on spirituality. In this case, the Tao cannot be explained. My motive in writing this book and its companion is to help people understand what it is and how it can be applied to making fundamental and powerful changes within your life. I teach aspects of this system to individuals and businesses. On the surface, the system is simple and fundamental. For this reason, many people are tempted to pass it off as being nothing more than insubstantial fluff. However, Taoism is much more than this. I will attempt in this book to explain what Taoism is. I will explain its different perspectives, how to experience it, and how to use it as a functional tool in your life. I will explain why it is incompatible with the system of logic and science that most of us have grown up with. This is not to say that Taoism is no less effective at defining the world and making you successful within it. It is merely a different approach. In order to understand Taoism and apply it, you have to stop trying to compare it to logic and science. You need to look at it from its very unique perspective. Within this book and the first one, I will also teach many skills and techniques to develop your Taoist insight. This will help you operate more effectively within the world around you. I will teach you how to use it to make very pragmatic changes in your life. This can include things such as improving your lifestyle and developing better relationships with the people around you. It can also be applied to improving business skills and other applications within your jobs or careers. Its applications can span creativity to organizational development. When Taoism is practiced correctly, it is not just some strange esoteric philosophy. The Tao is something dynamic and intricate. |
| essential taoist books: Tao Te Ching Lao Tzu, 2018-12-04 The original mindfulness book, in a landmark new translation by the award-winning translator of the I Ching and The Art of War The most translated book in the world after the Bible, the Tao Te Ching, or “Book of the Tao,” is a guide to cultivating a life of peace, serenity, and compassion. Through aphorisms and parable, it leads readers toward the Tao, or the “Way”: harmony with the life force of the universe. Traditionally attributed to Lao-tzu, a Chinese philosopher thought to have been a contemporary of Confucius, it is the essential text of Taoism, one of the three major religions of ancient China. As one of the world’s great works of wisdom literature, it still has much to teach us today, offering a practical model based on modesty and self-restraint for living a balanced existence and for opening your mind, freeing your thoughts, and attaining greater self-awareness. With its emphasis on calm, simplicity, purity, and non-action, it provides a time-tested refuge from the busyness of modern life. This new translation seeks to understand the Tao Te Ching as a guide to everyday living and encourages a slow, meditative reading experience. The Tao Te Ching’s eighty-one brief chapters are accompanied by illuminating commentary, interpretation, poems, and testimonials by the likes of Margaret Mead, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Dr. Wayne W. Dyer. Specially commissioned calligraphy for more than two hundred Chinese characters illustrates the book’s essential themes. |
| essential taoist books: Road to Heaven Red Pine, 2009-08-10 A preeminent translator of Chinese poetry and Buddhist texts explores the traditions of Chinese hermits in the aftermath of the Cultural Revolution. A fascinating slice of Chinese life for armchair travelers—with insights into the history of Taoism, Buddhism, and Zen in modern China. In 1989, Bill Porter, having spent much of his life studying and translating Chinese religious and philosophical texts, began to wonder if the Buddhist hermit tradition still existed in China. At the time, it was believed that the Cultural Revolution had dealt a lethal blow to all religions in China, destroying countless temples and shrines, and forcibly returning thousands of monks and nuns to a lay life. But when Porter travels to the Chungnan mountains—the historical refuge of ancient hermits—he discovers that the hermit tradition is very much alive, as dozens of monks and nuns continue to lead solitary lives in quiet contemplation of their faith deep in the mountains. Part travelogue, part history, part sociology, and part religious study, this record of extraordinary journeys to an unknown China sheds light on a phenomenon unparalleled in the West. Porter’s discovery is more than a revelation and uncovers the glimmer of hope for the future of religion in China. |
| essential taoist books: Cultivating Stillness Eva Wong, 1992-11-24 A principal part of the Taoist canon for many centuries, this Lao-Tzu classic is an essential overview of the Taoist practice of internal alchemy, or qigong Equanimity, good health, peace of mind, and long life are the goals of the ancient Taoist tradition known as “internal alchemy,” of which Cultivating Stillness is a key text. Written between the second and fifth centuries, the book is attributed to T’ai Shang Lao-chun—the legendary figure more widely known as Lao-Tzu, author of the Tao-te Ching. The accompanying commentary, written in the nineteenth century by Shui-ch’ing Tzu, explains the alchemical symbolism of the text and the methods for cultivating internal stillness of body and mind. A key text in the Taoist canon, Cultivating Stillness is still the first book studied by Taoist initiates today. |
| essential taoist books: Seven Taoist Masters , 2004-10-26 History and legend are interwoven in this classic folk novel that both entertains and explores the philosophy and practices of Taoism Written by an unknown author, Seven Taoist Masters is the story of six men and one woman who overcome tremendous hardships on the journey to self-mastery. These characters and their teacher, Wang Ch'ung-yang, are all historical figures who lived in the Southern Sung (1127–1279) and Yuan (1271–1368) dynasties. Wang is regarded as the greatest patriarch of the Complete Reality school, a highly purified branch of Taoism having a strong affinity with Zen Buddhism. At once an entertaining novel and a Taoist training manual, Seven Taoist Masters brings to life the essentials of Taoist philosophy and practice, both through the instructions offered by Wang—on topics such as the cultivation of mind and body, meditation techniques, and overcoming the obstacles to enlightenment—and through the experiences of its unforgettable characters. |
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