Book Description
This extraordinary collection of teachings and commentaries illuminates the many profound mysteries of inner alchemy, one of the most important dimensions of the Taoist tradition. The science of inner alchemy consists of meditation practices that enable the individual to have a more intimate, energizing, and inspiring relationship with life. Although these techniques are described in the sourcebooks of ancient Taoism, they are often couched in cryptic symbolic language, making it difficult for today's seekers t put these teachings into practice. Some classical Taoist writers, however, did adopt a more explicit manner of expression. Practical Taoism is a collection of writings from these more accessible commentators on the traditional alchemical texts, compiled by a seventh-generation master of the Northern Branch of the Complete Reality School of Taoism known as the Preserver of Truth. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

another classic rendered for our sake
I found this collection of translations to be very helpful.I read Cleary's books from a student's perspective and not from a Taoist scholar'sperspective.The insights gleaned from this book are priceless.It is agreat wonder how our present age and society has fallen into such a moraldecline even though these scriptures have been around since man's earlydays.Read and apply.These teachings may seem cryptic but they turn intotruths once they are applied to our lives.

Practical Taoism by Tom Cleary
The culmination of Cleary's work in Taoism and Life. A guide to the Way in today's world. ... Read more

Book Description
Taoist inner alchemy is a collection of theories and practices for transforming the mind and refining the self. The Inner Teachings of Taoism includes a classic of Chinese alchemy known as Four Hundred Words on the Gold Elixir. Written in the eleventh century by a founder of the Complete Reality School, this text is accompanied by the lucid commentary of the nineteenth-century adept Lui I-ming. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

alchemy review
One of the best books written on taoist alchemy you will ever find. If you are a serious practitioner i think this book is a must have. Genuinely puts to rest the age old ideas people have that there is some mystical pill for immortality. Very well written and translated. Great read for anyone interested in the deeper meanings of taoist alchemy or willing to give the tao a try.

a wonderful book.
it is difficult to get lost along the way when you have a book like this in your possession. i've given away a couple copies as gifts. i've recommended this book to several people. this book is sold in taoist temples throughout china. buy this book! a great handbook for taoists everywhere, and people everywhere.

Taoist Alchemy
This is a great taoist alchemy treatise. The root text by Chang Po Tuan is presented along with enlightening commentaries. It has helped me understanding the "Secret of the Golden Flower" translated by Richard Wilhelm and introduced by C.G. Jung and revealed the meaning of so many symbols of taoist alchemy.
Not a very easy reading but it's worth the effort.

Inner Teachings of Taoism
Cleary did a remarkable translation of this complicated topic giving the reader an opportunity to comprehend the alchemical symbolism of Taoism. ... Read more

Book Description
A religion with roots stretching back nearly five thousand years, Taoism combines elements of folklore, occult sciences, cosmology, yoga, meditation, poetry, and exalted mysticism. Mysterious and charmingly poetic, it is a living remnant of a way of life which has almost vanished from the world. In this comprehensive study, John Blofeld explains the fundamental concepts of Taoism, tells many stories of ancient masters, and provides incisive reflections on Taoist verse. He writes in a colorful and unique way about his visits to Taoist hermitages in China and his interchanges with contemporary masters. Taoist yoga, a little known aspect of Taoist practice, is also discussed in detail. This book captures the spirit of the Tao, communicating the serenity and timeless wisdom of this tradition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Dogmatising a No-Dogma Perspective of Taoism
Obviously written in 1976, this book had been published originally in 1978. I have read the print of 2000. If you have ordered this version, make sure you haven't got a misprint: In my book, the last chapter is missing, instead the end of another book was included. Accordingly, this review is based on the first 9 chapters only.

I do not know the next best thing about Taoism. I am interested in mysticism in all branches of religion, as mysticism is virtually identical, no matter where you look. The title suggested mystic content, and indeed, it gets included. Yet, not as extensively as I had hoped. Of course, there are other reasons to read this book. Obviously, the author himself wasn't that much interested in mysticism or intended his book to be more general about Taoism, i.e. for a broader readership. Besides somewhat more blunt words of mysticism in the beginning and the end, in between, you have to know mysticism already to catch some hints. I am not even sure, the author meant these as hints or wether he wrote them "accidentally", while describing Taoism. (Occasionally, he writes that he isn't sure himself wether he interpreted everything as intended by the Tao masters.) These "mystic hints" include indirect references to the non-existence of the separation of genders, no dualism, butoneness, no individual existence and no death.

Yet, when he writes about immortality, he takes that issue rather "literally", in the sense of longevity, with some Tao masters supposedly having lived some 130-160 years. Mystics know, of course that this is NOT meant with immortality. Additionally, on first glance such a life as advertized appears to be rather dull. Imagine 160 years of no sex, no spices in your food, no emotions, no tear running laughter, etc. In 2006, the Scandinavians made a film sounding similar to this: "The Bothersome Man". Paradise to some, it appears like hell to the protagonist. I say: As death does not exist to mystics, it is irrelevant, how long the individual body functions, i.e. it isn't necessary to deprive oneself from all the joy of living in a body in order to live "longer". I catch, what the author and the Taoist teachings are getting at. Yet, these guidelines aren't necessarily meant to be under-taken by all levels of believers/mystics. And as European mystic Master Eckhart once said, we aren't meant to be in a state of completely lived oneness with God 100% of the individual's lifetime. Just don't forget that automatic state while you are living.

There's a special point in this book about not having sex, especially spilling a certain male fluid. Though the author is rather describing some Tao approaches to that, it seems that he is agreeing. Spilling the seed isn't viewed as evil, but life-shortening. (Which again should be irrelevant to a mystic.) "When the oil is used up, the light goes out!" Nice adage, though it doesn't work: A lamp isn't reproducing it's oil by itself and the oil doesn't go dead/unusable in some 5 days, when not used and isn't reabsorbed by the lamp after that, if not used. This is rather another meme pool of misguided religious sex hostility (all religions are linked). Proof of that is the author's notion that all of the abstinence talk would apply to women as sick. He doesn't know from any Taoist text, but naturally assumes as much. So it isn't about some loss of life fluid after all, but dusty morals "explained" via superstitions/lacking knowledge.

The author's personal quest about a branch of Buddhism, the Bodhisattva of Compassion: The Mystical Tradition of Kuan Yin (Shambhala Dragon Editions) was more lively and accessibly written, yet, if you are interested in Taoism in a general way, this is probably a good start.

A beautiful view
This book presents a beautiful view of the Taoist landscape.There is more original writing than translation of other sources in this book and Blofeld writes very well.It is almost as though he were of the very tradition of Taoist alchemy to which he alludes - culling, refining and transmuting materials of the Tao to produce a pill or an elixir it may do us well to sample.

A Road Less Traveled
This was one of the first books I read on Taoism which described the Taoist life as it actually was lived. Although a scholarly work at heart, like all of Blofeld'd books, it never ceases to delight with wonderfulanecdotes and descriptions. Blofeld has a gift for taking what seems attimes to be dry, esoteric stuff, breathing life into it and making itshine. ... Read more

Book Description
This guide 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 the reader a feel for what it means to practice Taoism today. The book is divided into three parts: "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. A comprehensive bibliography for further study completes this valuable reference work. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Uninspiring book - but at least it's short
This book looks like it was written from a bunch of lecture notes and encyclopedia excerpts - without any kind of personal input.At least it's short, covers a little bit of everything from shamanic rituals to feng-shui, and will give you enough to make a good impression on the new-agey, spiritual types (after a few drinks).

Did I mention that it's mercifully short?

For a more personal introduction see Taoism: The Road to Immortality

Uninspired introduction
Author Eva Wong notes in the Introduction to her survey of Taoism that by design guides are not complete.Once you've dipped into this volume, you'll quickly find exactly what's missing.

Ms Wong appears well read on Taoism and provides a fine bibliography, from which nearly any selection is bound to be more lively than this cadaverous, book-length encyclopedia entry. Here Ms Wong has taken one of the world's great philosophical and religious traditions and turned it into a parched prose recitation of lists - historical periods, great thinkers and leaders, philosophies, practices.A typical example from page 130 reads like this:

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The Nine Palaces is the pa-k'ua set in motion.With the Nine Palaces, the trigrams of the pa-k'ua are no longer tied to a direction.Their positions will move according to the cycles of the year, month, day and season.The Nine Palaces are the eight directions and the center.Each palace is designated by a pair of number and color.They are one-white, two-black, three-jade, four-green, five-yellow, six-white, seven-red, eight-white, and nine-purple.Each number-color combination is called a star, and each star is associated with a trigram in the pa-k'ua.Thus, one-white is k'an (water), two-black is k'un (earth), three-jade is chen (thunder), four-green is sun (wind), five-yellow is the center (chung-kung), six-white is ch'ien (sky), seven-redis tui (lake), eight-white is ken (mountain), and nine-purple is li (fire)The numbers in the following grid illustrate the "root structure" of the Nine Palaces:

4 9 2
3 5 7
8 1 6

The root arrangement is also known as the Magic Circle, because the numbers are so arranged that the rows, columns, and diagonals all add up to fifteen.In the root structure of the Nine Palaces, five is always located in the center.The root structure of the Nine Palaces is also the Later Heaven pa-k'ua.
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There's not a spark of life in this text, no hint that Ms Wong is fascinated by the Tao, that she shares any of the awe and wonder that inspire and inspired the subjects over which she labors.In her Introduction she notes that a good guide provokes interest and inspires further research.This guide makes you wish you hadn't taken the trip.

For a more interesting and enlightening introduction to the subject, try Alan Watts'What Is Tao?

#

A painful reading experience
I don't know what Eva Wong was thinking when she wrote this. Although her style of writing was painful to read, I finished the entire book and by the end I realized it wasn't worth it. It's hard to follow her style of writing and she drops so many names and dates that you get lost in her sentences.
You will not get any insight into taoist philosophy and thought by reading this tiresome book.

Shonky schoolarship
Eva Wong is quite generic in her approach to Taoism and the book reads like something written to make money. There is a lot of Chinese people out there seeking to cash in on the Western interest in Taoism. Due to the "Cultural Revolution", being of Chinese nationally is no longer a guarantee of knowledge of Chinese Culture, as most modern Chinese know little of Ancient Culture because the Communists where so effective in wiping it out. Her book covers an extremely broad overview of Taoism with almost no citations. I cannot know how many errors and assumtions she makes in her book, but as far has her information on Ba kua zhang and internal martial arts in general, I would not trust a word she has to say. I suspect that she is coming from a Post-Communist "Wu shu" perpective that has very little creditality with tradional Chinese martial artists. If you want to get a general overview of Taoism you would be far better off reading Liva Kohn's works on the subject.

Comprehensive and serious introduction to Taoism
Those new to Taoism, or confused by it, will almost certainly find Eva Wong's book immensely helpful.It immediately addresses the problems most people experience when they first become interested in this tradition, i.e. "Why do there seem to be so many different versions of Taoism, some of them quite contradictory?What are the differences and similarities between these 'schools' and how did they arise?If someone is 'practicing Taoism' today, what does that actually mean?"By dividing her book into three sections - History of Taoism, Systems of Taoism, and Taoist Practices - Wong clearly articulates the development and varieties of Taoist thought, its key figures, texts, beliefs, concepts, principles and practices.She does this in short, well-focused chapters, and uses a very clear and concise style.Each chapter ends with a "Further Readings" section offering what I've found to be very useful pointers into the immense body of Taoist literature, sometimes even referring to specific chapters of books and pointing out which ones are more general or more academic, and which translations she prefers.Wong also includes a detailed index, a solid bibliography, and two useful appendices containing a map of China and a chronology of the dynasties.What you won't find here is the kind of nonsense that plagues so many books about ancient traditions that have recently become more popular - Wong gives you no detailed instruction on how to conduct ceremonies or create talismans or wield "magic".Rather, she respects Taoism as a serious and living tradition and recommends that if you are interested in learning the specifics of any particular Taoist sect then you must find a Taoist master and complete the necessary training.Wong refuses to treat Taoism as a New Age novelty.Moreover, her honesty about the limits and relativity of her work is admirable.As she notes at the outset, she is acting here as a guide: someone who offers knowledge arising out of personal experience; who offers a perspective, not necessarily rigorous objectivity; and who does not pretend that what she is saying can ever be complete.Having said that, I think Wong's book comes as close as you're likely to get to a comprehensive introductory text.It certainly answered all of my questions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Unduly vague
Lots of info presented here but the authors have made it too esoteric and vague.You should not have to reach and re-read to comprehend the Tao.

You are sitting in the forest against a large, old tree.A graceful yet timid deer approaches you cautiously.If you ignore it, the deer draws nearer.If you acknowledge it's presence, it moves away from you. The deer is the Tao.

I recommend "The Tao of Pooh" by B. Hoff.

not bad at all
I was expecting a complete wishy-washy new-agey mosaic of pseudo-science, pseudo-history, pseudo-scholarship; but actually the scholarship and historical information in this book were pretty darn good.

It's a good introduction to ancient Chinese philosophy, the context of Zhuangzi and Laozi. The philosophy isn't watered down too much, and fortunately (thanks no doubt to Chad Hansen's contribution) it's not mixed in with unrelated stuff from the Upanishads or anything like that.

There is a misprint on the back, "ying-yang" which must be slang for the padding surrounding one's gluteus maximus; inside the book the spelling is correct. The explanation of yin-yang is also correct and simple.

I would've wanted a lot more information on religious Taoism: information about modern movements and so on. Which deities are most commonly worshipped in Taiwan, which in Hong Kong, which in Beijing? And, how are they worshipped? I'd like information about Taoist pilgrimages, Taoist sacred places, and so on. The book doesn't touch any of that: minus one star.

Also, the bit on quantum physics could be greatly, greatly improved. Maybe they could've asked a few grad students at a physics dep't for commentary? It would have greatly helped: minus one star.

However, I just couldn't give the book 3 stars; the chapters on politics and ecology were surprisingly good, the internet links are too helpful, and as I said earlier the explanation of ancient Chinese philosophy was too good. So, maybe there's a little grade inflation here.

In sum, it's a good introduction to Taoism, and it'll prepare you to move on to deeper stuff, and help you find it.

If, like, you're already a Taoist immortal or something, this book isn't for you, and you can't really criticize it for that. I'd expect you to realize that already.

Not recommended
I have been studying taoism for about 2 1/2 years now, and while I'm no expert, there was plenty I disagreed with in this book.I felt that the authors were incorrect (at least in their explanations) about some of the key points of taoist philosophy, and one of the authors gives his own translation of the first verse of the Tao Te Ching which I also found to be off-base.The back cover also promises "in-depth" information on tai chi and the I Ching, yet the book actually only gives brief information on these subjects -- in fact, INSIDE the book it says "Here's a brief overview" -- no in-depth information.To make matters worse, the section on the I Ching contrasts the methods of eastern divination versus western divination, but the example it gives of a question in eastern divination is INCOMPATIBLE with the I Ching, suggesting an infamiliarity with it.

While the back cover was probably written by the publisher and not the authors (it even mentions "ying-yang" instead of the correct "yin-yang"), the material inside the book is what counts.But because of the faults I mentioned with the material inside, I found myself taking everything else I read in the book with a grain of salt because I was unsure of its accuracy.And while it does provide some information on the history of taoism, chinese dynasties, and taoist religion, I'm concerned that this book would mislead those new to taoism.

If you are new to taoism and would like to learn more, I recommend picking up a good translation of the Tao Te Ching and starting there."Tao Te Ching: The Definitive Translation" by Jonathan Star is my personal favorite translation because it includes a verbatim, word-for-word translation of the text.Also recommended is the translation by Brian Browne Walker.

A Good Introduction
I knew little about taoism, and while I feel that this book does a good job with introducing one to it, I realize now, after reading this book, that I still know little about taoism. I rated the book four stars because it served it's purpose well but falls short of a truly excellent book. It also seemed to be redundant in certain areas regarding tai chi, fung shuei, and Chinese medicine. Overally, I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a solid, comprehensive guide to taoism. Just realize that, as Lao Tsu says about the journey of a thousand miles, this book is only the first step!

Very enjoyable and broad introduction to Taoism
This book was my introduction to Taoism, and I am deeply grateful to the authors for writing such a splendid guide to the Way. /The Complete Idiot's Guide to Taoism/ starts out by working through the difficulties of defining "Tao" and introducing the reader to the works of Lao-Tzu and Chuang-Tzu, the two sages of Taoism. The book moves on to offer an overview of key Taoist concepts like wu-wei, de, the yin-yang polarity, etc. All of this is done in a relaxed, enjoyable manner, making for a quick and fun read.

This /Idiot's Guide/ also has chapters on Taoist thoughts on nature, skill, and life and death. These chapters illuminate the Taoist perspective on many aspects of life, and do so a lot more effectively than a list of dry, fixed "shall" and "shall not" items would be able to. The book also includes some thought-provoking overviews of the links between Taoism and Christianity, modern physics, popular culture (i.e. The Matrix), and so forth.

This book is not page after page of dogmatic rules on how you should or should not think, or should or should not live. Anyone looking for such things will be disappointed with /The Complete Idiot's Guide to Taoism/, and indeed Taoism itself. The authors went to great lengths to provide a cohesive intro to the history of Taoism, as well as the core ideas that make it a viable philosophy (or religion) to this day. I think the main goal when writing this book was to get the reader to actively *think* about life, and how traditional Taoist perspectives match up with the experiences of daily life.

If you're up to the challenge of genuinely thinking about Taoism, and how it can be applied to all aspects of the world, this book will definitely satisfy you. As the authors say in their introduction, "Think of /The Complete Idiot's Guide to Taoism/ as a flashlight; judge its effectiveness by what it helps you see more clearly as you make your own way along the path." ... Read more

Book Description
Simple Taoism is designed to help the reader understand what Taoism is about and to help apply its best aspects to everyday living. Divided into three parts, the book outlines the background and development of the philosophy, illustrated with stories to bring history to life. It explains key concepts and shows ways to incorporate the insights fo Taoism into one's life through such activities as meditation, breathing exercises, and exploring the natural world.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

A good book
Simple Taoism: A Guide to Living in Balance is a simple book with simple ideas

Good Introduction to Taoism

The book is organized into three parts: 1. History of Taoism, 2. Definition of Taoist Concepts, and 3. Taoism in Practice.

The second section is easily the best, most objective and least analytic.The authors define Tao, Te, wu-wei, ying and yang, p'u and chi. Taoism *is* "simple"; it isn't easy to practice, but far too many authors tend to analyze and over-analyze while defining, which is the precise antithesis of Tao.The second section of this book takes a solid Taoist approach by simply defining the terms; you use them your Way.

The third section, Taoist Practice, represents the authors' mindset. It is how they practice Taoism -- they write about some Taoist arts but not others and don't mention that this was their writing approach. Likewise for The first section, Taoist History. It reads as well-researched but speaks only of certain elements.

The problematic part is that book is written as though all concepts presented are in equal measure the essence of--and necessary to--Taoism,with no mention of elements left out. I bought this for a friend who was interested in the basics of Taoism, and I picked it up to see what I'd be giving him. I ended up reading it; it's very short and fast and I liked it a lot.I thought highly of it.Then when I gave it to him I found that I wanted to explain which elements could be appropriate or not for him, or what he doesn't need to take as "fact" of Taoism as it's presented here.

I've considered Taoism indespensible in my life for over a decade and while this book is quite a good introduction, it has a somewhat one-sided view that's presented as universal, which makes this a good primer course but requires supplemental information. It's unfortunate because the material is good -- if only they would have written that the third chapter, for example, is about the ways *they* practice: e.g., martial art is one of the Toaist arts, much detail is given to it while other Taoist arts go unmentioned. As a first book about Taoism it might be difficult to differentiate between their thoughts and others'.

Overall: Good book. The 2nd section section is worth the price of admission, easily, for its simple definitions of typically over-described concepts. But parts one and three should be taken as the less objective of the three sections.

Every line in 'simple taoism' will click.
'Simple Taoism' is an essential book for the person seeking peace in an ever growing world of technology and distractions. Stuck in a stuffy shopping centre one morning waiting for the car to be fixed, a sudden desire to escape to the library for a bit of peace and quiet brought me to the book 'Simple Taoism'. I read almost half the book in 2 hours and was so taken by it, I spent a considerable some of money photocopying the rest of the book to read later. 'Simple Taoism' explains itself in such a pure and simple way, you can not fail to understand its message. The book fills you with inspiration and helps you realise that you can experience true life-long happiness if you just stop trying so hard. Everyone is lead to believe that they will reach a point in their lives when they will have every thing they need to be happy, but how long will it take? .If you understand Taoism you will realise that you can be happy now. Through this book you will see that Taoism is just pure wisdom. Taoism is simply derived from observing the ways of nature

Simple Taoism provides a hand book for life.
Simple Taoism provides a handbook for life. Deceptively brief, it explains in plain language the basics of Taoism and builds on these with simple exercises to help you put the theory into practice. It gently persuades you to look at your life again. Stand back and let things take their course - let your true nature emerge. A book that was meant to find its way onto my shelf. Feet on the ground stuff, but providing spiritual insight. An inspiration!

I loved this book!
This is a beautiful little book that is a pleasure to read. It answered many of my questions about Taoism and gave me some good ideas about how to apply it to my life. Taoist philosophy has a lot to offer for living calmer, with less stress while still getting things done. I highly recommend this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (2)

A Compendium of Resources
This is one of two volumes: the other bears the same title and is also published by Dover (available through Amazon.com). There are many texts in these two books which are of use to the student of Taoism. There is littlesense in buying one volume without the other, since the writings ofChuang-Tzu are spread across the two volumes. These are excellenttranslations from the end of the 19th century, with copious notes. Part ofan original series published by Oxford, called "The Sacred Books ofthe East". James Legge translated all of the Chinese classics in sixvolumes of the fifty volume series. Dover have published some of the moreuseful and popuar volumes. If you want to preview it, any major citylibrary should have a copy of the whole set. These two volumes are a hugelyrewarding investment for anyone inserested in learning about Taoism. Theonly downside is that here and there Legge expresses in the notes a certainhesitance to accept the full great wisdom of the texts (he himself was aCatholic missionary in China).

Taoism is a philosophy (and religion,even today) which has application for anyone who seeks to better theirability to cope with today's difficult environment. These translations arefrom this perspective not outdated at all.

A Compendium of Resources
This is one of two volumes: the other bears the same title and is also published by Dover (available through Amazon.com). There are many texts in these two books which are of use to the student of Taoism. There is littlesense in buying one volume without the other, since the writings ofChuang-Tzu are spread across the two volumes. These are excellenttranslations from the end of the 19th century, with copious notes. Part ofan original series published by Oxford, called "The Sacred Books ofthe East". James Legge translated all of the Chinese classics in sixvolumes of the fifty volume series. Dover have published some of the moreuseful and popuar volumes. If you want to preview it, any major citylibrary should have a copy of the whole set. These two volumes are a hugelyrewarding investment for anyone inserested in learning about Taoism. Theonly downside is that here and there Legge expresses in the notes a certainhesitance to accept the full great wisdom of the texts (he himself was aCatholic missionary in China).

Taoism is a philosophy (and religion,even today) which has application for anyone who seeks to better theirability to cope with today's difficult environment. These translations arefrom this perspective not outdated at all. ... Read more

Book Description
In this deeply learned work, Toshihiko Izutsu compares the metaphysical and mystical thought-systems of Sufism and Taoism and discovers that, although historically unrelated, the two share features and patterns which prove fruitful for a transhistorical dialogue. His original and suggestive approach opens new doors in the study of comparative philosophy and mysticism.
Izutsu begins with Ibn 'Arabi, analyzing and isolating the major ontological concepts of this most challenging of Islamic thinkers. Then, in the second part of the book, Izutsu turns his attention to an analysis of parallel concepts of two great Taoist thinkers, Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu. Only after laying bare the fundamental structure of each world view does Izutsu embark, in the final section of the book, upon a comparative analysis. Only thus, he argues, can he be sure to avoid easy and superficial comparisons. Izutsu maintains that both the Sufi and Taoist world views are based on two pivots--the Absolute Man and the Perfect Man--with a whole system of oncological thought being developed between these two pivots. Izutsudiscusses similarities in these ontological systems and advances the hypothesis that certain patterns of mystical and metaphysical thought may be shared even by systems with no apparent historical connection.
This second edition of Sufism and Taoism is the first published in the United States. The original edition, published in English and in Japan, was prized by the few English-speaking scholars who knew of it as a model in the field of comparative philosophy. Making available in English much new material on both sides of its comparison, Sufism and Taoism richly fulfills Izutsu's motivating desire "to open a new vista in the domain of comparative philosophy." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

well worth the price
An invaluable resource for Sufis, Daoists, and anybody interested in mysticism and philosophy. Well written and profound.

Prompt Delivery
I do not appreciate Amazon's aggressive marketing and their inquiry to my life and purchasing habits or requirements.

A practical help
This is an excellent book for those who are looking for historical background and structure for their experiences of, as Al-Qudat Hamadani calls it, the "domain of the supra-sensible order of things."Exploring both Sufism and Taoism, Izutsu reveals his qualifications of scholarship, language, and personal experience.Although there is repetition, one realizes before long that this is his way of emphasizing certain aspects and making sure their importance has been registered, much like a good teacher would.

Of particular value is his extensive explanation of dual and non-dual thinking found in Toward a Philosophy of Zen Buddhism and Creation and the Timeless Order of Things.For this reason I would recommend reading those books first.His explanation of what happens when a person experiences the "existential transition to an entirely different plane of consciousness from that of sensation and rational thinking", is a very useful and convincing analysis.

His work toward developing a comprehensive philosophy originating in the "school of the unity of existence" provides the reader with much help with their own understanding of this domain.I would recommend his books to anyone of any religion who views existence with the utmost seriousness.

A good book to read
This is a good book in comparing Moslem mysticism with that of Taoism. The author seem to have a good understanding of the topic. After reading some other popular book showing a kinship between modern physics and easternphilosophies by some over excited writers, one has to be careful drawingtoo much conclusions on these type of comparative studies even if it isdone by a skillful writer.

A step towards meta-historical dialogue
An excellent comparative analysis of the ideas of Ibn Arabi and Lao Tzu. Izutsu very clearly and sytematically presents the underlying metaphysical concepts which serve as the substrate for IA's and LT's respectiveworld-views. Relying on Qashani, a classical Ibn Arabi interpretor, toexpound IA's otherwiseelliptical and obscure theosophy, the authorsuceeds in simplifying IA's difficult and mind-boggling ontology which hasriddled Muslim scholars for centuries. By bringing to light the profoundsimilarites between IA's and LT's doctrines, some interesting questions areraised which probably can't be answered exclusively by historicalscholarship. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Does not investigate Taoism's growth or Philosophical vs. Religious Taoism
The first thing to understand is that the book was originally written in French and most of Robinet's works are not available in English. I am not sure whether the translator caused problems in the layout of the text, or just Robinet's organization/thesis was poor to begin with, though I'd like to believe it was a poor translation.

This work lacks a cohesive purpose and never really gets into what Taoism is all about and certainly says nothing about its growth as a religion. If you knew nothing about Taoism going into this reading, you would be absolutely lost. The writing assumes you have substantial knowledge and explains very little along the lines of its references.

As it stands, it's useful to a person extremely well versed in this religion, Chinese tradition/medicine in general and also someone who knows the five-agent theory along with the I Ching. If you do not have this knowledge, steer clear of this rambling and sophomoric listing of other references (there are reference notes on almost half the pages).

Robinet's book here is touted on the back cover as investigating what the difference is between Philosophical and Religious Taoism, something it never truly does - that was the most glaringdefect I found in this work. I purchased it to get into that division, which I have always been interested in. This work simply lists out most Taoist texts, the time they were written and by whom.

It also spends the majority of the text going into shamanistic ritual in useless detail. Meaning, it does not clearly explain what was practiced, but lists out a rough procedure that was followed by adherents of Taoist related beliefs. It's also obvious that Robinet holds some disdain for both the religious aspect and its past followers, as there is a general negative overtone to the book regarding most older Taoist practices.

If this book had contained timelines and charts to clarify the inordinate amount of dates and works, I may have given it two stars. It also references diagrams that were not included in the translation and makes the almost unforgivable mistake twice in the text of mixing Yin and Yang concepts up (probably bad translation issues, but still questionable). It does have a great explanation of Yin and Yang in the beginning and also of the concept of Hun and Po soul division.

Here's who would benefit from this book: a serious scholar who owns many works on Taoism and lacks a general knowledge of when texts were written and an overall high level understanding of older Taoist rituals. Others will find much more value in almost any other work on Taoism, for founding history and a good background of Taoism's early development go with Elements of Taoism (Martin Palmer).

A key text on Taoism
A highly recommendable scholarly discussion of the origin and development of Taoism up to the 14th century CE. I have long been frustrated by the popular distinction between 'philosophical' and 'religious' Taoism, sincesuch a distinction could in principle be made of any religion. The dangeris that what westerners like they call 'philosophical' and what they don'tlike they label 'religious'and then dispense with. The idea that somemetaphysical 'essence' of Taoism deserves to be taken seriously, while therituals and practice of Taoism do not is fundamentally bad scholarship.Fortunately then, Robinet challenges the popular view head on by claimingand showing that 'religious' Taoism is simply the practice of'philosophical' Taoism. One without the other is senseless. This is animportant work, but for a general introduction to Taoism for the interestedbeginner I would also recommend Martin Palmer's 'The Elements of Taoism'.Palmer sems to be aware of and in sympathy with Robinet's position.

A must for serious students of Chinese religious history
This is simply an excellent volume, a solid overview of one thousand years of Daoism from THE expert on the Shangqing school of southern Daoism (4th-5th c.AD).The bibliography alone makes this book worth it, bothextensive and broken down by period. I'm just finishing up a master'sconcerning Ge Hong's "Baopuzi" and I'm about to start a Ph.D.project on the "Huainanzi," and I must say that even though I'veread many excellent texts on Daoism, Robinet's provides some excellentdefining concepts as well as a good introduction to many of the strengthsof French scholarship in my field. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A stimulating concise overview of the essentials of Taoism.
Philosophical Taoism, although an extremely profound system of thought, is not especially complex.Unlike Advaita Vedanta, for example, which revels in complexity and has a very extensive Sanskrit philosophic terminology, Taoism is much more straightforward and there are few technical terms for the student to wrestle with.

Its two main texts, the Tao Te Ching and Chuang Tzu, can be read quite easily by anyone in unannotated bare-text versions such as those of Lin Yutang and John C. H. Wu.Most of what these texts have to tell us will be clear enough - though a lifetime could be spent pondering some of it - and most readers will probably be content to remain with the texts.

For those, however, whose curiosity has been aroused, and who would like to know something of Taoism's historical and philosophicalcontext and to read a brief scholarly analysis of its key ideas, I doubt there could be anything better than the present book by French Sinologist Max Kaltenmark.

Originally published in 1965 under the title 'Lao tseu et le taoisme,' it's a small book of just 158 pages and has been beautifullytranslated into clear and vigorous English by Roger Greaves.After a brief Introduction we are given separate Chapters on Lao Tzu, The Teaching, The Holy Man, Chuang Tzu, and The Taoist Religion (the magico-religious system which should not be confused with philosophical Taoism proper).The book is rounded out with a brief Conclusion, a Selected Bibliography of both English and French sources, and an Index.

Professor Kaltenmark tells us in his Preface that, because oflimitations of format, he was "forced ... to deal almost exclusivelywith essentials" (page v).His book, in consequence, provides us with a concise but wonderfully readable overview of Taoism, in both its philosophic and magico-religious manifestations, and nothing of real significance seems to have been overlooked.

In addition, the book is considerably enriched by its many striking and well-translated excerpts, not only from Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu, but also from commentators such as Ho Shang Kung and other less familiar sources.Kaltenmark's is one of those books that oneconstantly returns to.I'm pretty sure that you would enjoy it too. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

To all the aformentioned reviewers
I have not read this book but the aforementioned complaints make no sense to me.
Ninjutsu and Taoism(which is a form of shamanism) Started in Tibet/China.
While being seperate paths, they originated of one source thus I can see connections just from my own research.

Just a comment
I haven't read the book but I am about to buy it so this isn't a review it's just a comment on the other reviews.

I don't know exactly how the writing linked Taoism and Ninjutsu as I haven't read the book. I just wanted to say this isn't the first time I have heard of this.

It was in one of either of these two books I can't remember which (I would bet on the first):

Mind Manipulation
The Ninja - Steven Hayes

They discuss the development of alot of the psychoogical aspects from the Taoist 5 elements and there was a reference to some "5 element ninjas." There was even a Japanese word for them.

I remember this clearly coz at the time I was doing XIng Yi Luihe a Taoist art with the 5 elements at its heart. Also the 5 element ninja idea sounded cool.

I am not concluding anything...just offering a bit of info in passing.

PS. My rating was just to try and not mess up the rating by others.

Not Accurate
I just would like to add my support to the previous review, who is right on target. Most notibly, he was waaay far off when he linked the infamous japanese Ninja to Taoism.

Very in-accurate. I suggest nobody wastes their time reading further about this book. Very bad. Avoid.

Thelemic Taoism? .....interesting but not accurate.
If you're into Thelema, Aliester Crowley, The Golden Dawn, OTO, or similar topics, this may be a book for you. If, on the other hand, you want I book on Taoism, I would recommend any other but this one.

With the core topic about Taoism and the I ching, the author has wrapped them in a veil of Neo-Paganism and other-Asian practices. This book reads as a compilation of texts that others have previously written, with introductions into chapters quoting Aliester Crowley's text. If you are into Eastern philosophy and thinking, you'll easily discern that this book is not written with the type of focus or commitment to preserve that Asian flavor (some Asian practices blended with neo-pagan practices and presented as western thought).

The material presented herein is spread to thin and over to great of subject matter to have any solid foundation as a book on Taoism. Simply, the material presented is inaccurate.

The exercises he gives within this books pages are Shamanic at best (not Asian or Taoist) and a lot of detail is left out about these things he has decided to include.

The mis-use of mudras and associated practices demonstrates this sort of hodge podge approach, as does the using the "Assuming the form of Fudo" for everything....... Fudo is Japanese Buddhism, Taoism is Chinese Taoism. Also, Fudo's attributes are mis-represented in this text as is the symbolism that is associated with him (for example, his sword in this text is not drawn with the symbolic Vajra handle, nor is the definition of the weighted rope, held by Fudo, accurate). The "Diamond Thunderbolt" Mudra (which is Japanese Buddhist) is mis-used, and, the specific practices associated with its use are not included. I could go on.

If you are looking for good books on Taoism, please refer to books written by an actual Taoist Priest. I would recommend:
Taoism and the rite of cosmic renewal by Michael Saso
Blue Dragon White Tiger by Michael Saso

...... and interestingly, Fudo isn't mentioned in these text, nor is Aliester Crowley. ... Read more

Book Description

The Encyclopedia of Taoism provides comprehensive coverage of Taoist religion, thought and history, reflecting the current state of Taoist scholarship. Taoist studies have progressed beyond any expectation in recent years. Researchers in a number of languages have investigated topics virtually unknown only a few years previously, while others have surveyed for the first time textual, doctrinal and ritual corpora. The Encyclopedia presents the full gamut of this new research.

The work contains approximately 1,750 entries, which fall into the following broad categories: surveys of general topics; schools and traditions; persons; texts; terms; deities; immortals; temples and other sacred sites. Terms are given in their original characters, transliterated and translated. Entries are thoroughly cross-referenced and, in addition, 'see also' listings are given at the foot of many entries. Attached to each entry are references taking the reader to a master bibliographyat the end of the work. There is chronology of Taoism and the whole is thoroughly indexed.

There is no reference work comparable to the Encyclopedia of Taoism in scope and focus. Authored by an international body of experts, the Encyclopedia will be an essential addition to libraries serving students and scholars in the fields of religious studies, philosophy and religion, and Asian history and culture.

Product Description
'In Islam,' Guénon wrote, 'tradition is of a double essence: religious and metaphysical. The religious side of the doctrine, which is most outward and is within reach of everyone, can be qualified quite precisely as exoteric, and the metaphysical, which constitutes its deeper meaning and, furthermore, is regarded as the doctrine of the elite, as esoteric. This distinction indeed conserves its proper meaning, since these are two faces of one and the same doctrine.'Asked what he thought of esoteric teaching, the great Sufi master al-Hallaj responded: 'Of which do you wish to speak, the true or the false (batin al-batil aw batin al-Haqq)? If it is a question of true esoterism, the exoterism (shari'ah) is its exterior aspect and whoever follows it truly discovers its interior aspect, which is none other than the knowledge of Allah (ma'rifah bi'llah); as for false esoterism, its exterior and interior aspects are both equally horrible and detestable. Therefore hold yourself aloof from it.'It is fitting to add that for Guénon, esoterism is always and everywhere the same, whatever name is given it according to the variety and diversity of countries and traditions. If true knowledge of ultimate Reality is the final object of esoteric inquiry, the methods utilized, although often analogous, are not necessarily identical; they may vary just as languages or individuals vary. 'The diversity of methods,' Guénon wrote, 'corresponds to the very diversity of individual natures for which they were made; there is a multiplicity of ways all leading to a unique goal.' ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Guénon on Sufism and Taoism
First published in 1973 as "Aperçus sur l'ésoterisme islamique et le taoisme" (Gallimard, Paris), this book is a posthumous collection of articles that Guénon (who died in 1951) wrote for various french journals. As such, there is no overiding theme to the book as one finds in the works of Guénon that were conceived as books in the first place. However, as Guénon says on several occasions, his "sole interest" being the universal and timeless metaphysic or "wisdom" that lies at the heart of every tradition, and which he calls the "Primordial Tradition", the diverse articles of this collection hang together like the beads of a necklace, of which the cord is metaphysical truth. One may use this analogy, indeed, to describe the ensemble of Guénon's work, which are partly characterised by their lack of "development", as if they were all conceived at the same moment and simply written out over the years; and this because true ideas, as Guénon reminds us, do not change or "develop" but remain as they are in the timeless "present".
Eight of the articles presented in this collection are devoted to the islamic tradition, in particular to various aspects of islamic esoterism or "Tasawwuf", the arabic term for what is popularly called "Sufism" in the West and which literally means "initiation". Subjects covered in these articles include: the relationship between the exoteric and esoteric dimensions of Islam, which Guénon shows to be inseperable and reciprocal; the doctrine of Unity (at-Tawhid); the notion of "spiritual poverty" (al-Faqr); the Spirit (ar-Ruh); the angelogy of the arabic alphabet; the islamic science of hand-reading; and the influence of the islamic civilization on the West.
After these comes an essay on the important difference between the religious doctrine, or dogma, of "creation" and the metaphysical doctrine of "manifestation", which Guénon shows to be two ways of expressing the same fundamental truth, namely, the absolute dependence of all created or manifested things upon the divine and supreme Principle.
The final chapter deals with the Chinese tradition in which the exoteric and esoteric domains are represented by Confucianism and Taoism respectively. Commenting on the more or less complete destruction of the former under the communist regime, Guénon reminds us that, while Confucianism, as the exterior aspect of the Chinese tradition, may disappear, Taoism, being the interior aspect of the tradition, never will, for it is in essence beyond all contingencies like the Truth itself.
The islamic articles give a precise and masterful summary of what constitutes, essentially, islamic esoterism and are obviously written by someone who, while recognising the truth in all traditional forms, nevertheless had a personal attachment to one form in particular, namely Islam. As such, this book will serve as a refreshing antidote to the "pseudo-Sufi" literature that is now circulating in the modern world, the productions of individuals who call themselves "Sufi" without, however, having any fidelity to the Islamic tradition. But Sufism, or better, Tasawwuf, as Guénon shows, is the internal dimension of Islam, with initiatic chains that go back all the way to the Prophet Muhammed himself. "Sufism," writes Guénon, "is arab like the Qu'ran itself, in which it has it's direct principles".
In short, without adherence to Islam, Guénon is saying, there is no real Tasawwuf, hence no real spirituality. After reading this book, one will be left in no doubt of this and one will have a much deeper understanding of what, essentially, constitutes Islamic esoterism and, with that, a deeper understanding of what constitutes esoterism in general. ... Read more

Book Description
Taoism Ken Cohen One of the West's leading authorities on the Tao introduces you to this effortless philosophy for living. Complete introduction to Taoism covers: origins, philosophy, and religion; meditation; prayers and rituals; diet, poetry, and much more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great Overview Of Taoism!!!
I have found the CD Program "Toaisim" by Ken Cohen to be a very good overview, of Toaism, it was easy to understand the fundamental's, and it provides a great look into Taoisim.
I also own Ken Cohen's "The Way of Giqong Training Program", the "Taosim" course is a great compliment to it also.

Wayne Thiltgen, Tulsa, Ok

Wonderful introduction to many aspects of Taoism
This is a great overview of Taoism, wonderfully illustrating its origins, history, and modern practice. It is focused very much on encouraging an experience of the Tao rather than dry academic material. The academic material presented is done so as to enhance the experience of the Tao. He does a great job of presenting the seemingly arcane and complicated topics in digestible, bite-size chunks - even divination! It seems the author's specialities are feng shui and qi-gong. While other topics get a little bit of time, these two get a lot. I appreciated the author's inclusion of meditation exercises, but these things don't translate well to what I consider is the most common use of the audio CD: listening while driving. That said, I was impressed at his emphasis on cultivating tao and fostering an understanding of qi as relevant to all of the subtopics presented. I would recommend this CD/book to any friend interested in learning the basics of Taoism.

Intelligible, Practical Presentation of Non-Western Thought
Ken Cohen, like his friend and mentor Alan Watts, is not only a clear, strong writer; but also an inspiring lecturer/teacher.

Taoism is a 4 1/2 hr. course covering Taoism as religion, as philosophy, its influence on thearts and science of China, and how it connects and contrasts with othersystems of thought, both Chinese and Western.

This course is presented ona practical basis with the goal of improving the quality of one's life andhealth.This is demonstrated right from the start with Ken Cohen's carefulenunciation of Chinese words.Because of the relational nature of Taoistthinking, some areas could be difficult or even strange, except for theexcellence of the presentation.

An unusual section is given on Chinese(Taoist) poetry.This type of poetry strives to express directly anexperience from Nature, the experience being more important than clevernesswith words.The principles are illustrated using Ken Cohen's owntranslations of classical poerty.Then he invites the listener to"cap" a poem by adding a line to one he provides.Finally thelistener is encouraged to try alternating lines with friends, the poemsfinishing themselves.

Feng Shui (geomancy) is presented through therelational "5 element" scheme.But it is also pointed out thatthe Earth can be considered to have "meridians" and by usingstanding meditation, one can relate the body's meridians to those of theEarth.

Not only for Feng Shui, but also for the other areas of Taoistthought, Ken Cohen emphasizes the bottom line is harmony, balance andsense.Anecotes drawn from a lifetime of study are included to helpdemonstate important ideas.

Excellent introduction to Taoism
These tapes cover Taoist philosophy perfectly. Ken Cohen is the best at explaining Taoism in an interesting way. If you want to learn Taoist meditations and Feng Shuei you will like it alot. ... Read more

Book Description
This concise and reliable introduction to Taoism brings a fresh dimension to a tradition that has found a natural place in Western societies.Combining Taoist sacred texts with current scholarship, it surveys Taoism's ancient roots, contemporary heritage and role in daily life.
From Taoism's spiritual philosophy to its practical perspectives on life and death, self-cultivation, morality, society, leadership and gender, Russell Kirkland's essential guide reveals the real contexts behind concepts such as Feng Shui and Tai Chi. Written for those seeking a genuine introduction to an often misrepresented tradition, it highlights Taoism's key elements and explains its early origins and modern transformations. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Scholars say that the original Tao Te Ching is a poem. Like a poem, this version of the Tao Te Ching is not meant to be read in one breath from front to back, but is to be at intervals internalized and contemplated. Jane English's haunting black-and-white photos that undulate in and out on every page act as glycerin elixirs, helping the words slide into our souls for patient digestion. The photographs--of a glistening spider web, cloud-enveloped mountain tops, reflections on water, leaves in the sunlight--are as serenely lyrical as the ancient text, itself.Book Description
Available for the first time in a handy, easy-to-use size, here is the most accessible and authoritative modern English translation of the ancient Chinese classic. This new Vintage edition includes an introduction and notes by the well-known writer and scholar of philosophy and comparative religion, Jacob Needleman. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (72)

Tao
This book is centuries old and the third most published publication.
It is a wonderful, spiritual guide for life to be read slowly and the meaning of each section contemplated teaching one how to write their own book of life.

beautiful book
good book to have around to read a quick passage for a meditative pick me up.

Imagery and words that make a whole
Although translations such as James Legge's are far more academically accurate and thorough, this volume brings together not just the surface truth but the spirit that is Taoism.The black and white images represent a yin and yang balance, but within them is a balance that portrays beauty.By keeping in mind the original poetic script of the original, the words are recast to bring the same nuances of meaning rather than a soulless too-literal translation.

Absolutely Beautiful!
I am a new student of the Tao Te Ching and know that this will be a life long study. I have begun to collect various translations to enhance my reading and selected this version for 2 reasons. One is that it was translated by Gia-Fu Feng and secondly because it had pictures. When it arrived I was stunned as it so far exceeded my expectations. The B & W photography of Jane English is indeed haunting & powerful on its own. Each shot is beautiful enough to want to display them - any of them or all of them. I Find reading the beautiful verse and then contemplating it while looking at the astounding pictures to be an amazing experience. I am grateful for this edition. I hope you consider adding it to your set.

Excellent text, questionable presentation and translation
The Tao Te Ching is a wonderful text, one that many of the other reviews here have addressed quite well. However, the size and presentation of this edition is poorly done in my opinion. Specifically the pages are far too large for most of the actual text - for most of the chapters as little as 1/5th of the page space is used. With such disproportions this becomes obvious, distracting and leads one to consider if the book couldn't have saved material while also making it more portable.
Also of note is the fact that Lao Tsu's text is wedged in between two equally lengthy commentaries. With such a seemingly academic and interpretive interest in this text I still cannot call it academic, with the fact that most of it is personal opinion and presented in that manner.

For someone simply looking for Lao Tsu's insight, a portable edition, or an academic exploration of the work this is not the edition for you. Otherwise, if you want an edition with the entire text, a lengthy introduction and some experienced, yet personal, commentary on the text, this will be your edition. ... Read more

Book Description

For those to whom "Taoism" is the Tao te ching and Chuang-tzu, nothing could seem more foreign to Taoism than bureaucracy. In these two classics, the Way (tao) is everything that bureaucracy is not: it is nonhierarchical, undifferentiated, ineffable, spontaneous. The bureaucratic spirit pertains rather to stuffy Confucians, who foolishly imagine that the way to fulfill human potential is through service in officialdom.

If, however, we turn from ancient literature to the Taoist religion, a different picture emerges. During the second century CE, Taoism appeared as an organized religion--the Way of the Celestial Master, a recognizable social entity with a priesthood, special rituals, registered parishioners, a messianic eschatology, and other features of an institutionalized faith. The Celestial Masters based their organization on procedures used by the state administration. Thus, from the very beginning, the Taoist religion was inseparably linked to bureaucratic forms and usages. This study focuses on several of early Taoism's most bureaucratized aspects--its social organization, healing ritual, and cosmology--and applies its findings to an analysis of Taoism's relationship to popular religious traditions, particularly spirit-mediumism, exorcism, divination, and cults to local deities. Early Taoism's affinity for bureaucracy, the author argues, was a formative influence on the complex relationship between Taoism and popular religion that continued to evolve for centuries thereafter--still shaped by those early medieval patterns.

Book Description