Customer Reviews

Entering the Tao: Master Ni's Guidance for Self-Cultivation

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The selections in this book are independent from each other: some are stories, some are explanations, some are instruction. Most are less than a page long. This is not a guidebook in a conventional sense. The selections do not function as chapters, aphorisms or platitudes. Instead, they are meant to 'convey', in the same sense that each stanza of the Tao Te Ching conveys.

I find this style enjoyable and useful for two reasons.

First, it allows the reader to pick up the book on any page, read a topic, and reflect on it - just as one would with the Tao Te Ching.

Second, the shortness of each section tends to prevent a reader from focusing too intently on words and concepts, rather than embodying in themselves what has been conveyed by a particular selection.

It is appropriate that a guide like this is not "in-depth" in a cognitive sense. As the author says, "The Tao is really simple; it is people who make it complicated. They must awaken from the complications they have created for themselves and dare to live a plain and truthful natural life."

Kudos go to the editor, too, for her choice of excerpts and the layout.

These book is based on real experiences of a taoist master. It is simple and easy to read. The author uses stories to demonstrate the tao and tells his own experiences that he was gone trough. At the end of the book, there are also some taoist meditation excercises. I believe all readers can benefit from them since they improve health and ensure longevity.

Hua-Ching Ni is a practicing Taoist and a doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine of long standing. This title is a sampler of the many books he has written on the Taoist tradition in English. The contents are well-chosen and offer a delightful and inspiring selection of readings on how this ancient wisdom applies to everyday life. This is not a book of flowery language or abstract metaphysics, but is, rather, a primer on how to improve one's life. It reads easily in nice, bite-size morsels. I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it!

Hua-Ching Ni provides a simple and practical introduction to Taoism. The book is pleasant and can easily be read in a short time. Perfect for individuals looking to get started in practical Taoism. For those interested in a more detailed history of Taoism and its religiosity Eva Wong's "The Shambhala Guide to Taoism" would be a better bet. Those less interested in detail and more in the "big picture" should stay with Ni. A nice little book.

I'ts really not as bad a book as some of the reviewers seem to say. Yes, the guy has a mug shot of himself on the cover, and yes, in some areas he advertises some of his other books, yes, the back of the book lists him as an "acknowleged master of ALL Taoist arts" (which in itself seems highly impossible,)and yes,he did publish his interpretation of the Hua Hu Ching (to those who are familiar with it, it is a forgery from roughly the 4th C.E.) which includes the Diamond Sutra as a Taoist scripture attributed to Lao Tzu in an attempt to place Taoism above the spreading influence of Buddhism.

However, none of the views he expresses are out of line or context with historical Taoist views. His philosophy seems bordered on Taoism blended with a drop of Confucianism, and to a smaller extent Buddhism (he says as much on p. 85 of this book,) which is not all that unusual (Complete Reality School of Taoism maybe?) Taoists throughout history were known to blend teachings from various other philosophies.

The text itself was a curious read. It did offer some brilliant insights and food for thought which I found useful. It's more of a collection of advice with no particular sequence. You can open and read any chapter at random, and not miss a thing. At times his advice can be simple and practical, at times an eye opener.

Overall, this is not a definitive book on Taoism, but it IS a good overview of some general Taoist beliefs. Don't forget, when the Tao Te Ching came to the west, it was understood within our own unique context, and translations were flawed due to omissions, misinterpretations, or "corrections" on the part of the translators. Much of what we perceive as Taoism based on the Tao Te Ching is flawed (or rather, different from what it was) to begin with.

This book is written differently than most Taoist books I've read. It reads in a somewhat disjointed manner, with the subjects jumping from place to place, from many different sources. However, the wisdom contained in this book is SO worth it. The author, a Taoist master, knows what he's talking about, and speaks of the Tao through his own experiences, among other ways of expressing this advice. This book is a great insight into the practical application of Taoism into everyday life, and I would recommend it to practicing Taoists and others alike. :)

Dear Readers, After reading this new publication "Entering the Tao" many times, I realized the treasure of this book is the easy to read "hands-on" approach to entering the Tao in modern times. It is basic guidance to follow written in simple terms. There is no big mystery or special requirements. You just live a simple life and to do so we need to exclude a few things and remember a few basic things we may have forgotten. The beauty and joy of reading this book over and over is that it brings great peace. When I was in the middle of a crisis situation, it helped me to find some momentary joy and to see the learning and growth in it. Following the guidance helped me to remove most of the anxiety, pressure, and feeling of hopelessness. In my opinion the book will bring any reader to the realization that these experiences are in fact external and should be treated that way. At first I thought my experience was unique and that I had no way out (in more than one way -- out of the situation or out of the pain it caused). All that changed after reading this book! When you enter the Tao, there IS great peace. What a great stress reliever! Doing the practices you will find in other books by Hua Ching Ni, which are extremely helpful, but to get the right mindset we need to change our normal negative way of thinking and viewing ourselves and the world. Entering the Tao teaches us how to go about this. I highly recommend this book as one of the treasures shared by Ni and after reading this book you may want to read many more of his publications. It is a great starter book!

This book is an anthology of Ni's many works with articles ranging from the practical to those of deep spiritual importance. It gives a beginner a good place to start and offers many different ways to acheive.

This book serves two great purposes: 1. As a basic introduction to the philosophy and understanding of what Taoism is and 2.As a great daily reader for a practicing Taoist for constant learning and daily practices. A good friend of mine, who is a life long Christian, loved this book to help her understand where a Taoist focuses. Highly recommended book for anyone.

Master Ni provides an excellent and practical overview of the practices with which to achieve psychological, emotional, and spirtitual balance and well-being and the physical health that naturally flows from the attainment of such balance and well-being.