Customer Reviews

Cultivating the Energy of Life

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Eva Wong has done a great service to any people who are seriously pursuing the Way by translating many of the classic Taoist texts. Her translations are not the dry, scholarly versions but are based on the fact that she is a practicing Taoist.

In this slim volume she translates one of the original Taoist Qigong texts which covers many aspects of cultivation. Included are some basic theory and excellent discussions of methods - including original illustrations from the text. These illustrations are a boon since there is a lot of information to be gleaned from them even without an understanding of the commentary.

This book is probably best for someone who is cultivating intensively since, even though its language is not nearly as 'arcane' as many other texts, the so-called 'signposts' are not theoretical constructs but must be experienced. That said, for the intensive practitioner there is a wealth of information here.

Excellent.

Teachings on Cultivating Life deals with the microcosmic and macrocosmic orbits and other Taoist energy arts. Originally written in 1794, the Hui-ming ching is the product of translating the cryptic alchemical teachings into a easily understood work for access by ordinary lay people. Eva Wong does a fine job of translating them into English. She has nice section on the history of the work and provides useful commentary.

The teachings are general guidelines concerning energy cultivation such as conserving, storing and circulating the energy. It also describes the step by step process of spiritual development, something that most texts don't discuss. This book is not good for someone who is new to energy work and looking for specific exercises. Eva Wong tells the reader if one wishes to learn these practices one should find a good teacher. With this translation Wong provides a major contribution on Taoists text to the Western world. Although there are no specific exercises this is a excellent book for scholars and advanced students making it a worthy edition on the shelf.

The little book was my first real introduction to Taoism, and it blew me away! It started me on a journey that will probably last a lifetime. Ms Wong's treatment of the history of the different schools of Taoism and the tantalising promise of the Hui Ming Ching - long life and a good "death" certainly engages ones heart and mind. She writes beautifully and with great authority. She is clearly a serious scholar of Taoism, and a wonderful "interpreter" for the Western mind of this ancient philosophy and practice. Don't expect to be able to put it all into immediate practice though! Ms Wong cautions that to do that you need to find a true Taoist teacher. I'm still looking. I just wish I lived around the corner from Eva Wong as I think she would be an excellent teacher.

A classic Chinese text on Taoist meditation, this work has inspired many Ch'i-kung (Qigong) techniques for attaining health, happiness, and long life. The book describes the use of meditation in circulating energy, the role of breath, and the conservation of procreative energy. It is one of the few Taoist treatises to describe the landmarks of spiritual development and document the process of spiritual development from start to finish.

This book contains only one idea repeated over and over again. I'll save you some money and sum up the entire contents of the book: Use the fire from the heart to heat the water from the kidneys and when the Buddha baby appears nurture it for 9 months, when it matures merge the baby into the void. That's it! I can't believe anyone would sell a book with so little information included. I will never purchase another book by Eva Wong. Her translations are poor and she does nothing to clarify statements that amount to nonsense. This book takes 1 hour to read. Not a great value for the price.