Customer Reviews

Dancing on Rooftops with Dragons: The Yoga of Joy

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I was invited to meet Yuan Miao at a small gathering at the home of some old friends. She introduced herself and spoke in English with some assistance in translation from her traveling companions. It was immediately apparent that this woman was remarkable. She glowed with a radiance of unconditional love imbued with the wisdom of the ages. She felt to me unlike anyone I had ever met before. Her simple message: to be true to yourself and listen to your inner nature. I

Naturally I wanted to know more about this woman who left her very successful and privileged life in China and made her way alone to the United States. Dancing on Rooftops with Dragons is Miao's story of her life and what she came to understand as her spiritual life-mission. The book makes compelling reading as she traces her life from childhood through to her arrival in California and the unfolding of the Yoga of Joy.

The second part of the book contains an explanation and introduction to the practice of the Yoga of Joy. Miao describes simple movements which when practiced have a powerful effect of calming the mind and energizing the body. There is a companion DVD available that presents the movements in an easy to follow format.

I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone on the path of self-discovery. It is an inspiring tale of perseverance through obstacles and adversity. She reinforces an innate sense of magic and wonder in the world, and her success in conquering self-doubt and fear should be a lesson to us all.

It's unusual to find a life story of an advanced woman teacher who is alive today - it makes this book special and worth reading - and prompted me to buy it. I found Yuan Miao's story to be honest, interesting and inspiring. After reading the book, I tried the yoga series at the back of the book and found a noticeable improvement in both my energy level and mood during the day at work. I later contacted the foundation and purchased a DVD of the exercises led by an instructor, which proved to be very helpful. In addition to the book, I recommend the exercises! It's been a great and valuable experience.

Three years ago, I read Miao's book "Dancing on Rooftops with Dragons". I was deeply impressive by her stories. I wanted to know her and I met her through the Book Publisher. And then I started to practice her "Yoga of Joy". I am so grateful to her guiding and her kindness. I got a lot of benefits from practicing "Yoga of Joy". My health got stronger in all. For example, more than 10 coworkers in my department got a serious flu months ago, I was the only one didn't get infected. They asked me Why, I told them Yoga helps. Also I became more happy and helpful to others. I am so lucky to met Miao and enjoy my new happy life since then. All these good fortunes coming to me just start from reading her book.

Rebeca Cai

Yuan Miao's book, "Dancing On Rooftops With Dragons," is the most honest and inspiring spiritual autobiography that I've ever read. From the moment I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. Many authors who write their spiritual autobiography emphasize the highpoints of their life and avoid mentioning their failures and shortcomings. Yuan Miao is blatantly honest in describing her path to spiritual awakening; a path that included many trials, some of which drove her to the brink of suicide. Her frankness is both refreshing and compelling. It makes her story all the more relevant because the reader can identify with her. Rather than being the story of a blessed and perfect life, Yuan Miao has lived through the ups and downs that most people have experienced. What makes her story worth reading is that she succeeded in rising above hopelessness and awakened to the joy of life. She gives the reader a sense of how they too can transform themselves by overcoming their own limitations and awakening to the infinite joy that is their own true nature. The book also includes a very practical section explaining the Yoga of Joy, which Yuan Miao has created from techniques found in Tibetan Tantric Yoga and Primordial Yoga, dating back thousands of years. These tecniques remove blocks that interfere with the normal functioning of the body and thereby facilitate greater physical, mental and emotional health. Yuan Miao was trained since infancy by her enlightened Tibetan grandmother. Especially touching are the chapters devoted to her relationship with her grandmother, into whose hands she was literally born. In addition, anyone interested in Kuan Yin, will find this book profoundly interesting. Yuan Miao has been guided since early childhood by Kuan Yin. In 1999, she was guided by Kuan Yin to leave behind her successful life in China in order to come to America to start a foundation, called the New Century Foundation, dedicated to buiding stronger spiritual bridges between the cultures of East and West. "Dancing On Rooftops With Dragons" is a book that will touch your heart and inspire you to reach the heights of spiritual attainment.

It is rare to read a tale of a spiritually advancing living woman. Approach this book with an open heart and you will feel its glow of candor and relevance to modern life. I couldn't put it down.

Here we meet Yuan Miao, a Chinese girl who turns into a beautiful woman in a glamorous career as a director at the world's largest television station. She is married to a handsome, successful man and they have a darling daughter. When tragedy strikes, breaking her heart, her despair is transmuted into the infinite expansion of motherly love.

Yuan Miao was trained from infancy by her Tibetan grandmother, who was an authentic spiritual master. She is also guided by the female Bodhisattva Guanyin and many Tibetan Rinpoches she encounters while traveling for her job. Her story unfolds against the backdrop of the Cultural Revolution and subsequent dramatic world events involving China and America. With Yuan Miao navigating the political tension as she's summoned by the dharma, she leaves behind all she has known to come alone to America. Imagine being a woman in China, knowing no English, making such a radical move! I could not help but admire her dedication.

After further sacrifices and trials, Yuan Miao experiences the opening of her chakras and the surfacing of her mantric voice. How inspiring it is to anyone who has lost faith and hope that sorrow can not only be overcome, but can cultivate profound compassion and spiritual awakening.

The second part of the book is based on the wisdom Yuan Miao has acquired. It offers a path of practice called the Yoga of Joy, which is amply described and illustrated. It closes with an introduction to the Ninth Step, a "Return to Nature." This feels like a special gift to the world.

How fortunate I feel to have found this book!

"The Buddhist path emphasizes the cultivation of one's heart." In this book Miao describes the lessons in Buddhism taught by her remarkable grandmother. We also learn of Miao's near-suicidal grief after a tragic loss. We travel with her through China as she produces documentaries for Chinese TV. Finally her spiritual experiences become impossible to ignore, and ultimately lead her to give up everything and come to the US, knowing no English, to teach Westerners. Her wisdom and compassion shine through every page. Highly recommended!

Maybe you've read books about people having spiritual adventures centuries ago, and assume these adventures don't happen anymore... especially NOT to a highly successful woman. If so, have fun reading this inspiring book, it'll jiggle your preconceptions. It held my attention from page 1 to page 178 (OK I admit, I skipped the Yoga of Joy exercises). But most of all the author's story gave me heart that magic still exists, especially the magic of compassion.

The author appears sincere in expressing her heart and esoteric knowledge gained. The author achieved her knowledge largely through self-revelation. The description of how she arrived by it is incomplete, but this is the most fascinating part of the book. No recognized teachers identified but there's strong Tibetan Buddhist influence. Definitely a first-time writer's effort. I recommend buying it used from Amazon Marketplace.

This book is an amazingly detailed account of the author's spiritual awakening, including the pain, sorrow and loss she experienced presented completely openly and honestly, as well as the ultimate, joyous experience of Enlightenment. Speaking of the ineffable is more or less impossible, yet Yuan Miao succeeds in giving us understanding which occurs on a cellular level. This is a rare glimpse into this rarified world, and, unlike apocryphal stories of events centuries ago, this is now! The actual teachings included in the book are distillations of Yuan Miao's illumination, which provide pragmatic methodologies for those seeking self-development of the highest order. This is a precious gem which anyone on the path to self-realization can benefit immensely from.

A true life account embodying much of insightful teachings that every seeker on the path can benefit from, and for those who seeks the heart's path it is more than a gem, pure compassion and pure love! Why take anybody else's word for it, see and "feel" for yourself.

PS: If you are looking for fancy words and head knowledge, there are plenty of better books out there.