Tao Books - Liberation As Affirmation

Scott Bradley

I have just finished Ge Ling Shang's Liberation As Affirmation: The Religiosity of Zhuangzi and Nietzsche (Suny Series in Chinese Philosophy and Culture) and this brings me to that place where I presume to make a final critique.

On the negative side, I have already mentioned that some parts, particularly in the important foundational beginning, seem to have escaped the editor's scrutiny; not only is the grammar sometimes so poor as to render meaning obscure, but there are also times, irrespective of grammar, when meaning is opaque beyond my powers (at any rate) to decipher with any degree of confidence. For instance, though I have attempted an interpretation, I still do not understand what he means by "Dao throughs as one", a pivotal concept in his overall argument.

That does it for the negative. I found the book very helpful and insightful overall. I admit that this is largely a result of discovering that we agree in so many ways and because the affirmation of a scholar is encouraging.

Most importantly, and still more subjectively, I will presume to say that Ge seems to have really "got it" in terms of the spirit and intent of Zhuangzi. This is, in my experience, a rarity. Most translators and commentators, though perhaps quite knowledgeable about the Zhuangzi, do not seem to have made that spiritually appreciative connection with it that takes their understanding to that next, not quite definable, level. This, I suppose, is understandable. Scholarship is largely defined by its supposedly objective, and therefore un-involved, analysis. Yet, the nature of the subject, a spiritual transcendence that sets reason on its ear, requires a spiritually sensitive appreciation in order to be truly 'understood". One need only consider the numerous peculiar interpretations of wu wei to get the sense of this necessity.

I'll close with a one of Ge's partial summations of the Zhuangzian vision:

Everything, every moment in this world and this life, body, instinct, chaos, contradiction, appearance, all condemned and marginalized in the history of conventional philosophy and religion, should be affirmed and celebrated as sacred and divine.

Zhuangzi's call is ultimately to an affirmation of the human experience in its totality.

You can check out Scott's writings on Zhuangzi here.

Tao Books - From Tao to Psychology

Ta-Wan

For those with a passing interest in Taoism or psychology to the more scholarly amongst you, the book, From Tao To Psychology: An Introduction to the Bridge between East and West, by Julián Laboy will have something for you. Written originally as a university paper, the book follows standards in preparing, arguing and concluding a case with many references. This format is not unique to psychology, but it is rare that Taoism is treated in such a way.

Given the format, the information is solid and trustworthy. For those interested in Taoism, Chapter 2 (which introduces it to the reader) is very well done. It covers the differing approaches people and time have given to Taoism and draws the reader to understand the philosophical bent. We are introduced to eastern and western thought, then psychology is introduced in the same approachable and informative format.

Once the groundwork is laid and all facts and disclaimers are in place, we are then shown the similarities between the two subjects and how they can benefit from another. We are shown clearly how the more effective modern approaches to psychology are extremely Taoist, in nature. There are several interesting conclusions, but you'll need to read the book to find out what they are.

On a personal note, as a person interested in psychology and related fields such as neuroscience, I really enjoyed the whole journey.

Tao Books - Tao Te Ching Annotated and Explained

I'm going to do something that I usually don't do: Review a book I haven't finished reading yet! However, Tao Te Ching Annotated & Explained by Derek Lin has proven to be such an excellent resource in the Line by Line series that I can attest to the fact it is filled with a multitude of keen insights about this ancient text.

For each verse, Lin offers several notes that explain, sometimes obscure, historical references. He takes some of the lines that don't exhibit an easy to understand phraseology and brings them to life in popular wording. And, because of his knowledge of Chinese history and language, his translation of the Tao Te Ching is fresh and inviting.

If you use the link in right sidebar or with each day's post in the Line by Line series, you are one click away from reading his translation for free online. The advantage to purchasing the book (or obtaining it from your local library) is, of course, the notes themselves for each verse.

With my reviews, I typically offer snippets to provide a brief introduction to the book. However, since Lin's translation is featured in the ongoing series and I have and will continue to quote from the book, I see no need to repeat that process here.

There are many excellent translations of the Tao Te Ching around. I submit that Lin's effort should be in your Top 5.

Tao Books - Do Nothing: Inner Peace for Everyday Living

Of the two chief volumes of classic texts for philosophical Taoism, the more difficult of the two to understand is the Book of Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu). While the Tao Te Ching (Daodejing) is 81 short verses of poetry, Zhuangzi is a much longer book of 33 chapters and nearly 300 pages. While Lao Tzu (Laozi) makes reference to a few historical and mythic figures, this is Zhuangzi's primary vehicle.

So, as I continue my study of Zhuangzi, I've been on the lookout for authors who both understand the Chinese language as well as possess a far greater understanding of Chinese history than I do. Utilizing both my local library (very limited when it comes to Taoism) and two online booksellers -- Amazon.com and Powells.com -- I have slowly begun collecting books on the topic.

One of the first books in this genre, Do Nothing: Peace for Everyday Living: Reflections on Chuang Tzu's Philosophy by Siroj Sorajjakool is a real gem! I've already featured snippets from the book in the following posts:

• Beyond the Logical Mind
• Hooray for Nothing
• The Nature of Nature
• Pathologically Yours
• Zhuangzi - As We Are

Don't be shocked at all if you find me referencing this book again in the future! In fact, you should expect it.

What Sorajjakool has done in this short volume -- a little more than 100 pages in the main section of the book -- is to take some of the revolutionary aspects of Zhuangzi's thought and to concentrate his focus on these themes alone. He does so through an engaging and easy-to-read writing style filled with personal experiences and insights as well as pulling together numerous other source material.

It's a book of deep thought presented, at times, in a very playful way. While it would have been easy for me to polish it off in a day or two, I chose instead to read it slowly over the course of one month. It wasn't uncommon for me to read three or four pages, then set the book aside for a day or two as I allowed his insights to permeate and settle in my being. When the spirit moved me, I would jump back in to read the next few pages.

I would recommend this book to both novices and those more familiar with Zhuangzi's thought. I certainly wouldn't characterize it as light reading because Siroj challenges us to view life through a new lens -- a lens that can help us to see the inner peace that already resides within each of us!

[Note: To see what the author is thinking and writing about now, check out his blog, The Sacred and the Space In Between.]

Tao Books - Gift: Meditations from a Spiritual Journey

People are going to start thinking I'm a paid lobbyist or pr man for HK Stewart! I've featured his blog Christian Taoism on the Spotlight series. I run an rss feed to that blog on my Tumblr blog. I've also quoted his blog several times. And now, I'm going to give his book, Gift: Meditations from a Spiritual Journey, a glowing review.

The book is a compilation of his poetic prose from his blog. It's filled with soulful questions, elusive answers and all that falls in between. More often than not, a person will find themselves nodding in silent agreement or screaming out, "Yes, that's it!"

Here are but two selections to give you a taste of what you will find throughout this 106 page book.

No Claims
Sunset reflects off the surface of a long river, and
yet the river doesn't claim to be the sun.

Clouds drift across the face of a calm lake, yet
the lake doesn't claim to be the sky.

Gusts rattle the leaves of autumn trees, and yet the
forest doesn't claim to be the wind.

The Divine shines on every spiritual path, so why
would any path claim to be the only one?

The Perfect Illusion
Maybe perfection is an illusion.

How can anything be perfect
when everything is different?

How can anyone be perfect
when everyone is one of a kind?

How can one moment be perfect
when every moment is unique?

If perfection exists, how can it be
anything but what already is?

The ONLY negative thing I can tell you about this fine work is that, unlike his blog, his unique and exquisite photos don't adorn each stanza. As I've written before, the way his prose and photos meld on his blog both is breathtaking and awe inspiring.

But this isn't even a true negative because the images painted by his words don't need photos. The reader will end up painting their own pictures in their mind!

If you're looking for a book to inspire you, you can't go wrong with this one.

Tao Books - Wen Tzu

I wanted to step back from my 6 month series before offering a brief review of Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries by Thomas Cleary. I thought about describing the difference between it and the Tao Te Ching in poetic terms. It could be said that the latter is the melody, while the former is the back beat or, possibly, the harmony.

I decided, however, not to go there.

In many ways, it's difficult to compare the works that feature the so-called words and thoughts of Lao Tzu. For one thing, as I've mentioned many times before, it is VERY unclear whether or not Lao Tzu existed at all and, even if he did walk this earth, if any of the philosophy ascribed to him actually came from him. In actuality, anytime someone refers to the perspective of Lao Tzu what we're really referring to is a general philosophy that was developed by countless individuals and groups over a long period of time.

In this same vein, I think it's rather obvious that the TTC and the Wen Tzu were not written by the same set of authors! While they share many themes, imagery and concepts, there is also a bit of divergence. It appears to me that the authors of the Wen Tzu set out to put the "meat on the bones", so to speak, of the poetic and, sometimes, mysterious renderings of the Tao Te Ching.

As those of you who followed my series on the book surely noted, the one chief drawback to the Wen Tzu is its repetitious nature. Many phrases were used again and again and again. In all frankness, there were a few times I found myself talking to the book, "Okay, we've covered this point before. No sense grinding it into the ground."

Overall, however, this book was an interesting, thought provoking and enjoyable read; it will have a permanent place on my nightstand. It well illustrates the evolution of philosophical Taoist thought and I think it should be added to the library of any serious Taoist reader.

Tao Books - Zhuangzi Speaks

Zhuangzi Speaks gets two thumbs up or five stars from me!! It's a delightful book that really captures the basic essence of the philosophy of Chuang Tzu (Zhuangzi). It's written in the format of a comic book replete with outlandish characters and easy to read text. Most of the stories end with the character of Chuang Tzu summing up the key points discussed.

Because Chuang Tzu speaks in parables and fantastic stories, his writings can be quite a challenge for the western reader. This book, however, makes the stories come alive and far easier to understand. I would recommend it especially for those of you who have had little exposure to Chuang Tzu. My guess is that this small volume (the comic book section spans a mere 125 pages) will whet your appetite to read one of the many English translations of the Chuang Tzu itself.

Here are four little snippets from the book to provide you with a little food for thought.

The principles of music and wood carving are alike -- when a wood carving is finished, it has been created at the expense of all the wood that has been carved away.

Standards are different from all things, so the standard set by man is by no means the only "certain" standard. If you mistake what is relative for something certain, you have strayed far from the ultimate Dao.

Principles can always be used toward evil ends, so maybe if these principles never existed, the bad person wouldn't be able to do so much harm.

High positions may be necessary to society, but a wise person views them as he would a cheap inn -- no reason to stick around.

If that wasn't enough, there is a superb afterword written by Donald J. Munro of the University of Michigan. It provides both a thumbnail sketch of the history of China around the time the Chuang Tzu was written plus it pulls together many of the major themes exhibited to present us with a tapestry of thought.

Here's a review from Amazon.com:

During a period of political and social upheaval in China, the unconventional insights of the great Daoist Zhuangzi (369?-286? B.C.) pointed to a way of living naturally. Inspired by his fascination with the wisdom of this sage, the immensely popular Taiwanese cartoonist Tsai Chih Chung created a bestselling Chinese comic book. Tsai had his cartoon characters enact the key parables of Zhuangzi (pronounced jwawngdz), and he rendered Zhuangzi's most enlightening sayings into modern Chinese. Through Tsai's enthusiasm and skill, the earliest and core parts of the Zhuangzi were thus made accessible to millions of Chinese-speaking people with no other real chance of appreciating this major Daoist text. Translated into English by Brian Bruya, the comic book is now available to a Western audience.

The classical Chinese text of the selections of the Zhuangzi is reproduced in the margins throughout. Evoked by the translation and the playful cartoons is the spontaneity that Zhuangzi favors as an attitude toward life: abandon presuppositions, intellectual debates, and ambitions, he suggests, and listen to the "music of nature." With the writings attributed to Laozi, the Zhuangzi contributed to an alternative philosophical ideal that matched Confucianism in its impact on Chinese culture. Over the centuries this classical Daoism influenced many aspects of Chinese life, including painting, literature, and the martial arts. It had a particularly strong effect on Chan Buddhism (Japanese Zen). For this book, Donald Munro has written an afterword that places Daoism and the Zhuangzi in historical and cultural context.

Tao Books: Learning the Tao - Chuang Tzu as Teacher

Like most westerners who become interested in philosophical Taoism, most of my readings to date have concerned the words of Lao Tzu. While I have also read portions of the Lieh Tzu and Chuang Tzu, I've spent far more hours contemplating the Tao Te Ching and related works.

I think one of the reasons that Lao Tzu is more accessible to the western eye is that his words are more poetic and deal directly with metaphysical concepts and ideas. Chuang Tzu, on the other hand, shares his take on Taoism through fantastic stories filled with names and places that few of us have ever heard of.

However, after just finishing Learning the Tao: Chuang Tzu as Teacher by Keith Seddon, I am now very anxious to take another crack at the Chuang Tzu! In his slim 84-page book, Seddon lays out the key points that he believes Chuang Tzu wishes to impart to us.

When I was first exploring the classic Taoist texts, I read that the first work was the Tao Te Ching and it was followed latter by the Chuang Tzu. However, in the Preface, Seddon writes,

The traditional view, now rejected by modern scholars, is that Chuang Tzu as a disciple of Lao Tzu carried on the tradition of the Tao Te Ching. This is almost certainly false. Even though the text of the Chuang Tzu as we have it today was restructured, added to, and commentaries inserted by Chuang Tzu's students and heirs in ancient times, there is reason to believe that a coherent core text, perhaps written by Chuang Chou, was in circulation by the latter half of the fourth century BC -- earlier than the Tao Te Ching which is unattested until 250 BC.

Perhaps this means that the works of Lao Tzu are a distilled version of the school of thought associated with Chuang Tzu. Of course, it may also be that these two schools of thought began independently and were later merged. But I will leave that debate for others!

Far from dealing with solely esoteric concepts, Seddon presents Chuang Tzu as a sage concerned with how to live one's life within the confines of human civilization. Each short chapter deals with a central concept (e.g., living in society, attaining the Tao, wu wei, etc.) by which the author presents one or more stories by Chuang Tzu and then a brief explanation of the main points of the story.

I really enjoyed this book and I'm sure I will reference it again and again.

Here's some information about the author from Warnborough College (Ireland).

Professor Seddon’s area of expertise is Philosophy in general, but specifically Philosophy of Religion, Metaphysics, Ancient Philosophy, Stoic Ethics, Classical Chinese Philosophy (including Taoism), and Applied Philosophy. Until 1996 he was the Director of Studies and editor of The Philosopher for the Philosophical Society of England. He has taught a wide range of Liberal Arts topics in further education colleges and correspondence colleges. Since 1987, he has been actively mentoring students via distance learning for Warnborough College. Professor Seddon has had his work published in books, and has published numerous articles and reviews in several periodicals including: Practical Philosophy, the Volga Journal of Philosophy and Social Sciences, Philosophy Now, and The Philosopher.

Professor Seddon serves on the International Editorial Board of Practical Philosophy and is a Fellow of the Philosophical Society of England.

Before diving back into the Wen Tzu tomorrow, I will share some quotes from this book throughout today. For one, this will give you a chance to see Seddon's writing style and thought process. For another, it will give you some ideas to chew on.

Tao Books: Dao De Jing: A Philosophical Translation

Today's book review is for Dao De Jing: A Philosophical Translation by Roger T. Ames and David L. Hall. This work is different than the previous books reviewed. While Diane Dreher and Ursula LeGuin are poetic, Raymond Smullyan is whimsical, John Lash is straightforward and easy to read, and Alan Watts is...well...Alan Watts, this book is more scholarly in approach.

It offers a very strong introduction which speaks to the historical context of the early "Taoist" writers as well as providing a very clear analysis of the difficulties in transforming Chinese into English. Each chapter is presented in English alongside the written Chinese. A commentary accompanies each verse.

Here's a review from Publisher's Weekly via Amazon.com:

The authors offer two reasons for a new English version of the classic Chinese Daodejing, better known as the Tao te ching. First, the translators have the benefit of recent archeological finds of earlier versions of the text, particularly a portion discovered only in 1993, "The Great One Gives Birth to the Waters," included in an appendix. Second, as philosophers-Ames is a University of Hawai'i professor of Chinese philosophy and editor of the journal Philosophy East & West, and the late Hall was professor of philosophy at the University of Texas, El Paso-the translators wish to correct previous translations that, in their view, distorted the text by either "Christianizing" it or "locating it within a poetical-mystical-occult worldview." In contrast, Ames and Hall take a secular, pragmatist view indebted to Whitehead, Wittgenstein, James and Dewey. Their view is laid out through historical and philosophical introductions, a chatty glossary, an elegant and "self-consciously interpretive" translation and a chapter-by-chapter commentary. Any textual language that might seem to smack of God or a metaphysics of essences is reinterpreted to lose such trappings. Instead, Ames and Hall insist that the Daodejing aims to "prescribe a regimen of self-cultivation that will enable one to optimize one's experience in the world" and that its title should best be translated as Making This Life Significant. These claims are not completely persuasive: too often it seems that they are replacing one distorting set of Western spectacles with another. But their unconventional renderings -- for example, translating dao not as the "way" but as "way-making"-- provoke the reader to see the text with fresh eyes. This is a valuable find for anyone who wants to reengage a foundational work.

In their own words, here's a brief snippet which discusses the underlying difference between Taoism and other belief systems.

The compilers of the Daodejing seek rather explicitly to develop a contrast between the glimpses of insight this text strives to impart, and the substance of other philosophical doctrines. Many if not most doctrines evolve with their antecedents in an elaborate genealogy of values and ideas. These philosophical doctrines are often hierarchically structured by precepts and governing principles, and they may well require an extended course of study for their mastery and transmission. The precepts that form these "doctrines" are professionalized by their learned "doctors," and within their marble academies these erudites -- for appropriate status and recompense -- are only to glad to amaze the hoi poloi with the flashing dexterity of their philosophic thrusts and parries.

As you've probably noted, I've quoted from this book several times throughout the series on the TTC. Even when I don't cite it directly, I always read their commentary of the verse I'm working on. There's no question that they come at these verses differently than many of the others authors.

I will grant straight off that this book is not for everyone. As I stated at the outset, it's more scholarly, in nature, and not everyone enjoys and finds resonance with this sort of approach. That said, if you are the type of person who likes that style, then I highly recommend this book. Soon I will need to return this copy to the library, but it's going on my "books to purchase in the future" list!

Tao Books: Six by Alan Watts

If you're interested in exploring the ways of Tao or Zen, you could find no better author than Alan Watts. According to Wikipedia,

Alan Wilson Watts (January 6, 1915 – November 16, 1973) was a British philosopher, writer, speaker, who held both a master's degree in theology and a doctorate of divinity. Famous for his research on comparative religion, he was best known as an interpreter and popularizer of Asian philosophies for a Western audience.

He wrote more than 25 books and numerous articles on subjects such as personal identity, the true nature of reality, higher consciousness, meaning of life, concepts and images of God and the non-material pursuit of happiness. In his books he relates his experience to scientific knowledge and to the teachings of Eastern and Western religion and philosophy.

I happen to have 6 of his books in my personal library:

• Beyond Theology: The Art of Godmanship
• What is Tao?
• The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are
  
• Tao: The Watercourse Way
  
• The Tao of Philosophy
  
• Taoism: Way Beyond Seeking.

Of all the various book I've read on Taoism over the last decade, the ones by Watts have caused me to look at the world anew. He asks many hard questions about our everyday existence and understanding of who we are and how we understand ourselves. To give you a taste of what I'm referring to, here's a video I found on YouTube.

For me, Watts is funny, irreverent, mystical, probing and intellectual. I've thoroughly enjoyed every book by him that I've read and, in fact, have read each of them at least twice. Each of his works is an experience to behold!

The only people who I believe would not understand the benefit of reading Watts are those who steadfastly refuse to think outside the box. Such individuals would be terrified each time he pushes the envelope of consciousness to its furthest extremes. It certainly might do such folks some good, but they might just self-combust in the process!

If you're interested in seeing yourself and the world around you in a new light, I can think of no better guide than Alan Watts!!!

Change Your Life

Many years ago my mother had a book by a guy named Dr. Wayne Dyer on foot reflexology. It showed how massaging various points on a person's foot could alleviate pain in various parts of the body. We both tried it and I can't say I noticed any substantive results -- but foot massages sure felt good!

It's been a decade or two since I saw Dyer's name attached to a book. In recent years, it seems that Dr. Dyer has discovered Taoism and this resulted in the book, Change Your Thoughts - Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao. I haven't read it, but the YouTube video below has me a bit intrigued.

Have any of you read this book? If so, please leave a short or long review in the comments section. It might be another book to add to my growing Taoist library.

Tao Books: The Tao is Silent

Up until this juncture, all the books on Taoism I've reviewed either have been poetic or philosophical. Raymond M. Smullyan's book, The Tao Is Silent, is both of those PLUS it's damn funny too! When I say funny, I mean it's the kind of book that, from time to time, will cause you to fall out of your chair laughing hysterically. It's sort of like a fusion of Bill Maher, Ellen DeGeneris, George Carlin and Aristotle, if that makes any sense.

A mathematician by trade, Smullyan is the Oscar Ewing Professor of Philosophy at Indiana University and Professor Emeritus of the City University of New York-Lehman College and Graduate Center. As far as I know, this book is the only one he ever wrote on Taoism.

I haven't reference this book directly very often in my series on the TTC because a good deal of it involves imaginary conversations between moralists and Taoists or God and Mortals. To give you a taste of the latter, here's a snippet from the chapter, Is God a Taoist.

Mortal: And therefore, O God, I pray thee, if thou hast one ounce of mercy for this thy suffering creature, absolve me of having to have free will!
God: You reject the greatest gift I have given thee?
Mortal: How can you call that which was forced on me a gift? I have free will, but not of my own choice. I have never freely chosen to have free will. I have to have free will, whether I like it or not!
God: Why would you wish not to have free will?
Mortal: Because free will means moral responsibility, and moral responsibility is more than I can bear!
God: Why do you find moral responsibility so unbearable?
Mortal: Why? I honestly can't analyze why; all I know is that I do.
God: All right, in that case suppose I absolve you from all moral responsibility but leave you still with free will. Will this be satisfactory?
Mortal (after a pause): No, I am afraid not.
God: Ah, just as I thought! So moral responsibility is not the only aspect of free will to which you object. What else about free will is bothering you?
Mortal: With free will I am capable of sinning, and I don't want to sin!
God: If you don't want to sin, then why do you?

You'll have to the read the book, to find out the answer!

Via Amazon.com, here's one brief editorial review:

Much more than a book on Chinese philosophy, THE TAO IS SILENT is a series of ideas inspired by Taoism that treats a wide variety of subjects about life in general. Readers will be charmed and inspired by this witty, sophisticated, yet deeply religious author, whether he is discussing gardening, dogs, the art of napping, or computers who dream that they're human.

If you'd like to read a biography of Smullyan, go here.

If I haven't whetted your appetite for this wonderful book yet, here's another snippet of whimsical dialog.

Chinese Sage: Laotse said, "The good man does not argue; he who argues is not good."
Western Logician: I disagree!
Sage: You disagree with what?
Logician: With what you said!
Sage: And what was that?
Logician: That the good man does not argue.
Sage: Wrong!
Logician: What do you mean "wrong"?
Sage: I never said the good man does not argue.

You'll have to read the book to find out what he did or did not say.

What can I say? I LOVE this book. That said, it's not a good introductory one if you don't know a thing about Taoism. It's more of a companion piece once you have the basic philosophy down. It will help you take a look at most of the basic concepts in a new light and your understanding will be deeper for the experience.

This post is part of a series. For an introduction, go here.

Tao Books: The Spirit of Tai Chi: Essential Principles

Of all the various books I've borrowed from the public library for resource help with the series on the TTC, The Spirit of Tai Chi: Essential Principles by John Lash is my favorite. In fact, I plan to use some of my birthday money in October to purchase a copy for myself!

Lash, American born and bred, runs the Harmonious Dragon Tai Chi School in Berne, Switzerland. As of the publish date for this book (2002), he had over 30 years experience studying and practicing Tai Chi. The text on the book's back cover really resonates with me.

Tai Chi is very much more than simply a form of exercise. It is a way of being, which combines the inner self and outer experience in a single unified expression of existence -- the Tao.

Aside from two or three introductory chapters, Lash goes through most of the TTC verse by verse and, sometimes, line by line. He explains how the sentiments express themselves in Tai Chi. In one section, he states that without embracing "love and compassion, Tai Chi becomes mere gymnastics."

While there is no question that the health benefits derived from the practice of Tai Chi can help anyone, understanding the foundational principles of Taoism enriches those benefits exponentially. In essence, Tai Chi becomes the physical expression of our innermost harmony and contentment.

After writing these words, it would seem like a safe assumption that I too am a long time practitioner of Tai Chi. It's not true! It's merely one of the things on my to do list! I would love to learn it, but I seem to live in an area now with a dearth of Tai Chi instructors.

And so, while I'm certain this book would speak deeply to anyone who practices the art of Tai Chi, I'm here to tell you it speaks just as eloquently to those of us who don't practice it all. Any of us would do well to become the Tao person that John Lash depicts.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Tao Te Ching and Taoism, in general.

Here's a brief bio I found on Lash from the website of the Harmonious Dragon:

Tao Shih John Lash is a certified instructor of the Yang Style Tai Chi system of Shaolin Master Yin Bai Hsia and has been studying with Master Chang-Wei Lin of Taipei, Taiwan since 1969. He is a White Crane Taoist of the Tao Chia.

John was born in 1948 in Arizona in the USA. He studied religious philosophy at Texas A&M University and the University of New Mexico. He finished his university studies with a Master's Degree and two years of post-Master's work.

John has studied and practiced Tai Chi and Taoism since 1969. During his personal spiritual journey, he has lived with Sikhs, Hindus, and Jewish people. On his travels, he has visited the holy places of Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism, the Ba'hai's, and Native Americans. He is Tao Shih of the White Crane Taoists and has operated the Harmonious Dragon Tai Chi School and Tao Center since 1982. John is the author of The Tai Chi Journey, The Spirit of Tai Chi, The Yin of Tai Chi and The Way of the White Crane series which includes Vol.1 Tai Chi: the Moonlit Path to Mother Tao, Vol.2 Wu Chi: the Womb of Mother Tao, and Vol.3 White Crane Taoist Meditation. Two more volumes are in the process of being edited for publication.

John lives on a farm near Bern with his wife and four children.

Tao Books: The Living Tao: Meditations on the Tao Te Ching to Empower Your Life

Up to this point in my review of books on Taoism, I've written about three I have thoroughly enjoyed. In this case, however, my feelings for Stephen Kaufman's The Living Tao: Meditations on the Tao Te Ching to Empower Your Life are a bit ambivalent.

There's no question that Kaufman's take on the TTC is different than many. As I check my sources for each day's verse, his interpretation often varies from everyone else. Different doesn't always mean bad, but it's...well...just different. Some of his observations strike me as very odd and they simply don't seem to fit with the verse cited. That said, I have indeed found several valuable insights and I will continue to cite this book from time to time.

I certainly wouldn't recommend it for a Taoist novice or someone taking a first look to try to get a feel of the land. My personal opinion is that it is better suited for those who are more familiar with Taoist terminology and have read several translations previously.

Kaufman is known as the founding father of American Karate. Here's a brief bio I found:

“Habu” Hanshi Kaufman has enjoyed an extensive career in the martial arts world since the middle 1950’s. An acknowledged Founding Father of American Karate, he is, along with his rank and title Hanshi 10th dan, Shodai soke, 1st generation founder of Dojo no Hebi-School of the Snake (Hebi-Ryu Budo) considered by many masters to be one of the most formidable and realistic martialist methods in the world. He began serious study of Ishinryu karate in Naha, Okinawa while serving in the United States Air Force and was one of the first USAF karate instructors as part of the American Karate Federation (Accredited by the Japan Karate Assn: Messrs. Shuji Masutani, Masotomo Takagi, Hidetaka Nishiyama, Charles R. Collinsworth.)

Continually striving to learn more of the bushi arts, Hanshi practices daily: karate, weaponry, and iaido with a select group of “shosei” students. He also teaches self-defense for many national security agencies, senior citizen groups, community centers, corporations, and private clients. He travels the world as a Good Will Ambassador.

Recognized as a master speaker and seminarist, he conducts business management and motivation seminars and is widely sought out by major institutions and global groups. He is considered one of the more functional and productive strategy facilitators on the contemporary circuit.

Books on Taoism

I've added a new section to the right sidebar, Books on Taoism. Some of them I own. Some of them I've checked out from the library. Some of them I haven't read, but would like to.

All the links go to Amazon.com. Why? Amazon is a Washington-based company and I believe in supporting local and/or regional economies. No, it's not based in South Bend -- actually we have NO book stores here -- but it is out of the Seattle metro area.

If you know of a good book on Taoism -- particularly one you've read and it spoke to you -- please mention it in the comments section and I will add it to the sidebar.

As with all things Tao, there is no definitive book on the subject. Each one has strengths and weaknesses. Each one speaks to different people in different ways.

Of course, some are better than others, but that's a personal decision for each of us to make.

Tao Books: A Book about the Way and the Power of the Way

I have to be honest: Until I checked out a copy of Tao Te Ching: A Book about the Way & the Power of the Way from my local library, I had never heard of Ursula K. LeGuin. But doing some research for this post, I discovered that she is quite the accomplished novelist, poet and writer. As the short bibliography on her website illustrates, this incredible woman has written over 50 books!

Most of her work has not been explicitly about Taoism, but Taoist themes run through many of her stories. In fact, I found the following excerpt from an interview in 2000.

The moral core has been strengthened by Taoism, which besides feminism is the other major influence on her work. Le Guin says her first memory of Taoism was of watching her father read a book with Chinese characters all over the cover -- "and I knew he didn't know Chinese." The book was Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching.

Thus, it's hardly surprising that Le Guin's new novel, The Telling, should be inspired by Mao Tse-tung's attempt to destroy Taoism in China. Mao pretty much succeeded in his own country, eradicating three thousand years of spiritual tradition in the name of communism. This fact inspired Le Guin to write a story in which a time-honored religion is obliterated just as quickly and brutally.

Next to feminism, Taoism has been the system of thought that most influenced her work. It is most evident in the many stories in which her characters' strength lies not in their action but in their inaction. The principle of yin and yang operates in her work, and the traditional Western dichotomies -- black and white, good and evil -- become much more complicated and intertwined.

I can't tell you a thing about any of her books except this one about Lao Tzu's 81 verses. While it is NOT a translation, it is the most poetic rendition I have found yet. Her notes typically add even more flavor to her lyric renderings. I would certainly recommend it to the person who is first exploring Taoism because it makes many of the concepts a bit more accessible to the western mind.

Here are some reviews listed on the product page at Amazon.com.

"Reading [Le Guin's] translations is like taking a shared walk down a familiar trail where we discover rocks and water that we somehow missed before. . . . undeniably refreshing, capturing a language that is casual and clear, reflective and pointed, full of the wise humor of the Way."—Parabola

"A student of the Tao for several decades, Le Guin has created an English text that will speak to modern readers in a fresh and lively way, while conveying the humor, insight and beauty of the original."—Shambhala Sun

"Ursula K. Le Guin's translation of the Tao Te Ching is a personal and poetic meditation. Through her own careful study of these ancient teachings, she brings the Way into contemporary life. Each day, I open this book at random and receive a contemplative gift. These words are akin to water in the desert."—Terry Tempest Williams, author of Refuge

"Among the many translations of Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching , Ursula K. Le Guin's new version is a special treasure—a delight. There is something startlingly fresh and creatively alive here, brought forth by Ms. Le Guin's intuitive and personal ingenuity. Her rendering has moved me to return to the original Chinese text with rejuvenated fervor, rejoicing in the ineffable sageness that lies in and between Lao Tzu's lines."—Chuangliang Al Huang, founder of the Living Tao Foundation, coauthor (with Alan Watts) of Tao: The Watercourse Way

Tao Books: The Tao of Leadership

The subtitle to John Heider's The Tao of Leadership is Leadership Strategies for a New Age. Ostensibly, the book is aimed at business and professional leaders, but Heider's take easily applies to everyone across the board. That said, if more corporate honchos heeded Heider/Lao Tzu's advice, we would live in a far more humane and peaceful world.

What I genuinely like about Heider's rendition of the Tao Te Ching is its readability. It's written in everyday language in such a way that almost anyone can understand the message and this message is very true to the original text. The illustrations are simple, but each one corresponds nicely with the selected verse.

However, what I view as the best aspect of this book is the fact that each verse is its own commentary. Unlike most other books of this genre, there isn't the division of the verse here and then the commentary there. You don't have to do any of this back-and-forth. It's all in one place!

In looking around the internet for some information about the author, here's what I found:

John Heider lives in Lawrence, Kansas with his wife, Donna Luckey. He has taught at Esalen Institute for over 30 years. He is best known as the author of The Tao of Leadership, which has sold some 500,000 copies worldwide. John has a small psychology practice in Kansas and gives workshops designed to foster spiritual health.

John's interest in Taoism and Oriental studies began when he was at Harvard College in the mid-1950's. His doctoral research at Duke University explored the effects of meditation on creativity. After an internship in clinical psychology, he traveled to California and spent four years (1967-1971) at Esalen Institute. Esalen nourished his interest in the meeting of Western psychology and Eastern spiritual practices.

Since publishing The Tao of Leadership in 1985, Heider has written a second book, The Tao of Daily Living. It employs the use of stick figures to help the reader more easily grasp the concepts of Taoism. If the book is as good as The Tao of Leadership, then I'll be on the lookout to get a copy for myself.

Tao Books: The Tao of Inner Peace

Since I've been quoting from quite a few books while doing this series on the Tao Te Ching, I got to thinking that some of you may be interested in reading something about the authors, a book review or two and what I happen to think of each book. I'll try to intersperse these posts over the course of the next two months. If you aren't interested in this kind of information, then you might want to stop reading this post beyond this point. : )

The first book I thought I'd tell you about is The Tao of Inner Peace by Diane Dreher. The version I'm using was published in 1991, but an updated version hit the shelves in 2000. The earlier version has 301 pages and is in paperback.

According to Dreher's website,

Diane Dreher is the author of the bestselling, The Tao of Inner Peace as well as her new book, Your Personal Renaissance, The Tao of Personal Leadership, The Tao of Womanhood, and Inner Gardening. Her books have been published in ten languages and distributed throughout the world.

Diane has been a teacher, spiritual counselor, workshop leader, and retreat director for over twenty years. In her writing, teaching, and counseling, she has helped thousands of people discover their life's work. Her latest book, Your Personal Renaissance, draws upon her research on the lives of over one hundred Renaissance artists, writers, scientists, and saints as well as leading research in positive psychology to show how people can discover their own callings today.

Diane has a Ph.D. in Renaissance English literature from UCLA as well as credentials in spiritual counseling and holistic health. She is Professor of English and Research Associate at the Spirituality and Health Institute, Santa Clara University.

I have enjoyed reading The Tao of Inner Peace for a second time. In my opinion, Dreher does a very good job of highlighting portions of the TTC and relating each to important contemporary themes. She often provides real-life examples of how incorporating Taoist principles have had a positive impact on a person's life.

The only part of the book I'm not as keen on are the various Personal Exercises peppered throughout the book. I skipped over every single one of them.

Here's the review from the Quality Paperback Book Club (please note that the original title of the book, mentioned below, is The Tao of Peace):

With the exception of the Bible, no book has been translated into more languages than the Tao Te Ching--the classic Chinese spiritual guide written 25 centuries ago by Lao Tzu. The Tao ('the Way') shows how to 'seek personal balance and integration with the cycles of nature.' But it has never been applied to the challenges of modern life so comprehensively--until now. In the inspirational and practical The Tao of Peace, Diane Dreher explains how Taoist principles can be used by readers to establish inner peace and, by extension, transform the world.

Lively, informative and accessible, The Tao of Peace is filled with case histories, provocative insights and positive affirmations. Also included are meditative and physical exercises (such as creative visualization, breathing and stretching exercises, and writing activities) which enable readers to face fears, release tensions, resolve conflicts, recognize life cycles and harmonize their lives with the rhythms of nature. Dreher also draws upon the humanistic insights of Carl Jung, Dag Hammarskjold, Norman Cousins, and others to illustrate how spiritual beliefs can further the cause of world peace.

Diane Dreher has written numerous articles on meditation, personal growth, and nonviolence. In The Tao of Peace she has employed all of her talents and experiences to create a powerful tool for finding peace of mind and engendering positive social change.