William Martin Covers the High Points
In a series of books about Taoism, William Martin, one of our Living Spiritual Teachers, mines the meanings in Taoism with commentaries on seeing the polarities of life in a positive way, walking the path of gentleness, practicing simplicity, and watching things with "the detached interest of a newborn."
Vigorous Translations of the Tao Te Ching
Over the centuries this foundational Taoist text by Lao Tzu has been interpreted as a political treatise, an inspired guide of personal philosophy, and a book of religious teachings. Open your heart and mind to bold translations by Stephen Mitchell, Ursula Le Guin, and Richard John Lynn. Each one, in its own colorful ways, will take you to new places and spaces in The Tao-te Ching.
Two Best-Selling Authors Probe Taoism
In A Thousand Names for Joy, Byron Katie uses the Tao Te Ching as a launch pad for musings on being a perpetual open house for people, ideas, and adventures. Internationally known speaker Wayne Dyer offers affirmations to put into practice in Change Your Thoughts – Change your Life. He calls this classic "a manual on the art of living."
Our Bodies Were Made to Move
More and more people are bringing Tai Chi into their lives and taking good care of their bodies. This ancient body movement can work wonders for those willing to commit to regular practice: Peter M. Wayne, Arthur Rosenfeld, Chungliang Al Huang, and Trevor Carolan share their stories about this spiritually transformative activity.
Alan Watts: A Big Fan of Wu Wei
Alan Watts (1915 - 1973) held a doctorate of divinity and was highly respected as a philosopher for his love of Zen Buddhism. But he also had a special place in his heart for the Taoist idea of "wu wei" which he defined as "the attribution of not forcing or grasping."
Make the Most of Auspicious Energies
Lillan Too is one of the world's foremost experts in the Eastern practice of tapping into the auspicious energies in the environment. As she explains in Essential Feng Shui, two ways of achieving these goals are keeping mirrors out of bedrooms and trying to avoid living at the end of a road where energy is said to stagnate.
Living In the Moment
In the high-spirited film Ferris Bueller's Day Off, high school senior Ferris Bueller decides on a sunny spring day to play hooky and drive to Chicago. This charming and free-spirited adolescent wants desperately to live in the present moment. What else does he want? He wants a carefree day of freedom — living by Taoist precept of "easy does it."
Spontaneity and Flow: the Wellsprings of the Taoist Life
In Taoist arts and metaphysics, energy is the key to a full and vital life. Hua-Ching Ni has written more than 35 books on the watercourse way. We learn from him how to activate our "fresh, alive, elastic mind." This provides a solid foundation for spiritual self-cultivation."
Modeling the Spiritual Practice of Hospitality
Patty de Losa has five spiritual paths for daily life: Taoism and Tai Chi, Jung and individuation, the teaching of Gurdjieff, and F.M. Alexander's mind/ body integration. The connections between these paths draws out her conscience, receptivity, and acceptance.
Stories of the Tao
In Tales from the Tao, scholar and tour guide Solala Towler offers a selection of teaching tales that delve in the essentials of human experience and are illustrated with splendid photographs. Thomas Merton's The Way of Chuang Tzu is a classic that draws stories from four translations, capturing the virtues that lie beyond virtue.
An Animated Family Film with Taoist Themes
Winnie the Pooh is a whimsical screen version of three A.A. Milne inspired tales about fear, friendship, and the benefits of play. Watch Pooh carefully and you will see how he incarnates the Taoist path of non-doing. He intuits that you cannot push the river and get your way. These and other Taoist themes are further explained with delightful illustrations in Benjamin Hoff's two bestsellers, The Tao of Pooh and The Te of Piglet.
Taoism in Modern Life
Something about Taoism makes it very applicable to modern life and culture. David Rosen's The Tao of Elvis shows how Presley did the inner work of trying to balance opposites at war within himself. You can find more "Tao of" books here.
