Customer Reviews

Mentoring: The Tao of Giving and Receiving Wisdom

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In our fast-paced, everchanging world, Mentoring The Tao of Giving and Receiving Wisdom, is a very welcomed and insightful book. Its style is Humanistic, it emphasizes Humanism, for Humanity - the book was truly Human. It begins humble with " emptiness, as a precondition for receptivity in the process of giving." For the Tao mentoring process is created by "the natural movement of expansion (learning) and empty (teaching) on part of each individual." (pg. 5)

The feeling is that of being the authors personal audience with its memorable use of the "power of the narrative." In which one sees the emphasis on growing together and the journey of the relationship rather than the mechanics of the outcome. Through stories of past Chinese sages, the beauty of exploration is once again discovered. i especially enjoyed the section on Attentiveness and how "Tao mentors listen with full attentiveness, not with the ears but with their spirit and heart." (pg. 65) Its mix of rich language and ideas encourages the creation of a safe, empathic environment in which trust and enthusiasm can flourish and thrive.

It then leads to the pragmatics in the direction of sharing this valuable knowledge and IMHO, wisdom. "Rather than begin to change the world, perhaps we may need to be less ambitious, and act on the local, individual, and personal levels." (pg. 159)

The book reads like poetry, with the writing flowing as smoothly as the calligraphy, soothing the soul of the reader. Throughout, the book supports what it sets out to do - to encourage the work of good mentoring. i strongly recommend this book, not just as a quick read but as one that can be referred to many times - in our careers, our lives and our communities.

The elegant Chinese and English calligraphy paints a fluid picture of the ancient poetical relationship of the mentor and protégé.

Unlike many writings on the subject, Haung and Lynch, capture the essence of the mentor. "Tao Mentoring", is a process of where both the mentor and protégé benefit. This book illustrates the flowing motion of the spiritual qualities that embody this relationship. "Tao Mentoring is a two-way circular dance that provides opportunities for us to experience both giving and receiving without limitation and fears."

The book is split into three chapters: The first chapter begins with the eight philosophical petals of Tao, each beautifully illustrated. Jing Hwa --The Golden Flower, Jing (gold)- transformation and transcendence of the individual. Hwa (flower)- the blossoming of the ultimate "thousand petaled lotus". The eight petals of Tao are: Wu Ming- The Neutralization of Duality, Tui Shou- The dance of Pushing Hands, Wu Ji- The Empty Space of Wisdom, Gu Shen- The Spirit of the Valley, Wu Dao- The Dancing Wu Ji Mentors, Wu Wei- The Movement of Tao Mentoring, Hao Jan Zi Ch'i- The Expansive Spirit, Dao Ying- The Ideal Mentoring Relationship,

The second chapter gives an overview of the Virtues of Tao Mentoring. Wang Tao- Cultivating the Virtues of Tao Mentoring, Wang- Virtue and Tao- the way. The topics include: Virtues of the Heart: "Those who follow the Tao, with truth and fulfillment in their hearts, are indeed virtuous." Virtues of the Soul: "..inspire us to attend to the intricate details and mundane realities on the path of the mentor."

The third chapter: Tashun- The Great Harmony Humble Visions for a Harmonious World The final chapter sums up the potential for applications of the "Tao Mentoring Method". The book ends with thoughts of encouraging harmony and balance, the natural order of all things. The authors bring the concepts full circle emphasizing how to "cultivate dynamic relationships in all areas of life".

Mentoring The TAO of Giving and Receiving Wisdom Chungliang Al Huang and Jerry Lynch

This book reminds of us that there is beauty and poetry in mentoring and that it truly is an art. Through the use of Chinese and English calligraphy, the wisdom and warmth of the relationship between Huang and Lynch is richly translated onto paper for all of us to learn from. The blend of Tao wisdom from Chinese classics and modern insight and experience is what forms the new model referred to as Tao mentoring. While the book might lack the detail, analysis, or specific instruction some lust for or expect in a book related to business and mentoring, it eloquently points out that each relationship of our lives is related to the key principles of mentoring. The book then provides explanation and art for each principle. It also invites us to add our own through reflection and practice. Mentoring, The Tao of Giving and Receiving Wisdom is rich with simple and critical exploration of Tao mentoring--a mutually beneficial process of guiding and growing together.

Through art (both in calligraphy and words) the book uses wonderful stories and quotes to demonstrate key elements of Tao mentorship. Included among the key elements are: Each mentor must be a mentoree and vice versa. Trust, non-judgement and other principles related to the heart and soul are essential for effective and honest mentorship. There is joy and reward in the journey itself, it not always found in just reaching the goal.

This is a must read for anyone wanting to be mindful of effective, harmonious mentoring. The principles are universal and a welcome refresher. The art and quick, simple read also make the book a treasure to be able to revisit from time to time.

I especially liked the reference to natural elements in relation to mentoring.

"According to the Tao, the best relationships are like water; they benefit all things and do not compete with them. Water is a natural element that ultimately changes the shape of whatever touches in a satisfying, positive way."

Mentoring: The TAO of Giving and Receiving Wisdom By Chungliang Al Huang and Jerry Lynch

Mentoring: The TAO of Giving and Receiving Wisdom offers a fresh approach and explanation to what sometime seems to be difficult work. It discusses the relationship between the mentor and the mentoree as a dance that is accomplished between two people in an effort to gain wisdom and knowledge. To become a good mentor one must first experience what it is like to be a good mentoree. It is apparent that the two authors have achieved and practice a level of mentor/mentoree as you read through the background and explanation of what is called the "dance".

The book starts out by describing Jing Hwa - the Golden Flower of Tao Mentoring. Here the Golden Flower and its eight petals symbolize the essence of Tao. These eight petals represent the "building blocks, or cornerstones, of the Tao mentoring philosophy".

In the second and third sections of this book, Virtues of the Heart and Virtues of the Soul, powerful Chinese characters are used to invoke emotions and meanings. I found myself staring into and analyzing each character. In Virtues of the Heart words such as emptiness, humility, self-acceptance and integrity were used to emphasize 'the personal bond between two kindred spirits in the Tao mentoring relationship'. Where as in the Virtues of the Soul ideas such as modeling, guidance, empathy and nurturance were used to "prepare us to confront the conflicts, doubts, failures, paradoxes, and adversities of life while giving us the strength to develop the self in the process".

In the last section, Tashun - Humble Visions for a Harmonious World, the authors discuss the potential affects of Tao Mentoring on the individual and potentially the world.

From the moment you pick up this book you are drawn into the subject matter. From the unfinished edges of the pages to the use of calligraphic Chinese characters throughout the book, a sense of great work and understanding is present. The concepts in this book can be used in everyday life as well as becoming a better Mentor/Mentoree. This book is to be read and experience again and again.

With life's complications weighing on our shoulders it is only natural to seek ways to simplify and improve the quality of our lives and those that surround us. Such methods are described in this wonderfully written book. Through the simplistic process of mentoring, knowledge is unselfishly shared with others, creating an unmeasurable positive impact on their lives. Unknowingly, in return, our lives are positively impacted as well. The author reinforces that our own personal growth begins with encouraging growth in others. The message, although very elementary, has had a profound effect on my relationship building skills with my family, co-workers, and friends.

This book is pure inspirational reading. Chungliang Al Huang and Jerry Lynch have put together the best book that I have read for many years. The last time I read a book that was so memorable was the Prophet, by Kahil Gabran. Few books leave lasting impressions, but this one is truly a gift of the mind and spirit. You can feel the synergy between the authors as you turn each page. You are constantly hypnotized by the beautiful flow of the dialog and the crispness of the calligraphy, all done by Chungliang Al Huang, of Chinese symbols, which are generously displayed throughout the book, each of the symbols representing the message of that section. The philosophy of Tao mentoring takes a very natural approach to mentoring. It uses many analogies and speaks frequently of nature and the behavior of elements such as wind, fire, and water to provide examples of how mentoring should be viewed. The book stresses the importance of living in harmony with nature and all things. Tao mentoring incorporates many lessons and it is written in an almost conversational or story-telling style. Tao mentoring is truly a lesson for the heart and soul of its practitioners.

This book is divided into four parts, the first part is a dialog about Tao mentoring and how it relates to the modern world, and where it all fits. It talks about the constant cycle of mentoring, that of learning (receiving) and sharing (giving), and how as mentors, you are constantly moving through this cycle, sometime being the mentor and other time the mentee. The dialog in part two discusses Jing Hwa, Jing meaning (gold) representing the transformation and the transcendence the individual, and Hwa (flower) representing the awakening of the real self, and the realization of wholeness in the human potential. The eight petals of the flower (Hwa) represent the building blocks of the Tao mentoring philosophy. The third section alone justifies buying the book. In this section the authors discuss cultivating the virtues of Tao mentoring. This section speaks of the virtues of the heart and the soul. Virtues of the heart are those virtues that strengthen the bond between the relationships of those in the mentoring relationship. Virtues of the soul are those virtues that prepare us to confront adversities and give us the strength to develop ourselves. Virtue of the heart includes mindfulness, attentiveness, trustfulness, kindness, and many more. Some of the virtues of the soul are modeling, guidance, and nurturing. The dialogs for each of these virtues are followed by beautiful short passages that leave you thinking hours after you close the book.

The fourth and final section is a what-if scenario. It discusses the impact that we as individuals can make on the world, if we lived out our lives following the Tao mentoring philosophy. The authors expand this thought even further by exploring the positive possibilities Tao mentoring could make on our world, if everyone followed this philosophy.

This is a five star book, I would recommend it for anyone who would like to enrich their lives, whether pursing a mentoring relationship or just desiring self fulfillment.

Peggy Just,Pepperdine University

I enjoyed this book because it offers fresh perspectives on mentoring. Rich in metaphors, it provides the reader with multiple ways to view the mentoring relationship. I found it particularly valuable to compare and contrast related western concepts with the Tao perspectives that are so artfully presented through the caligraphy as well as through the metaphors.

I shared the book with a Chinese friend who made the suggestion that the authors include an appendix in future additions to provide additional insights into the various Chinese characters.

The summaries of the meanings of the characters on the facing pages are interesting and useful; but based on my friends comments, I believe the reader's experience would be further enhanced if he/she knew what each separate character represents.

For example, knowing that the top character on page 74 means "patience" and that the bottom character means "forgiveness" provides deeper insight. It is possible, moreover, to draw even further insights out of the characters as as is indicated by the following definition of the same "forgiveness" character: "The priniciple of reciprocity making our own feelings a rule whereby we are quided in dealing with others. To forgive; to show mercy; to excuse". (This definition appears for the forgiveness character in a widely used Chinese-English dictionary.)

Even greater insights are available when the components of the individual characters are analyzed. The same "forgiveness" character, for example consists, of 3 "radicals" (A radical is a sort of building block for Chinese characters. There are 214 radicals. They can be used alone or as part of more complex characters. They are used as a means of organizing Chinese dictionaries.) The 3 radical in the forgiveness character are "woman", "heart" and "mouth". Knowing the meaning of these component parts helps one understand and remember the character and provides even greater depth of understanding.

I would add this information in an appendix rather than put it in the text so as not to detract from the present text which is beautiful, clear and well organized in its present form.

Based on the principles of Taoism, this book provides strong philisophical guidance in the dynamics of the mentor/mentoree relationship. Neither a textbook nor a research work, the authors impart their knowledge through a collection of parables, anecdotes and quotations, providing the reader with a grounding in the art of mentoring, as opposed to the methods. After describing the eight elements of the Taoist mentoring philosophy, to center one's heart and mind to the ideals of the philosophy, the authors describe dozens of virtues in two distinct categories: Virtues of the Heart, which describe qualities such as humility, trustfulness, and kindness, which should strengthen the bond between mentor and mentoree; and Virtues of the Soul, which describe qualities that should remind and strengtben the mentor in his or her role, such as service, cooperation and harmony. While a very quick read, this work is not meant to be read once and digested, but referred to as one develops as a mentor. The value of this book to me is that it deeply describes a humanistic approach to mentoring that views the relationship as nurturing and balanced, where the mentor and mentoree are both critical parts of the process, and where both can learn and gain wisdom from each other. Although it is a beautiful book, it may not be for you if you seek a textbook that clinically describes the mentoring process.

Book Review - Mentoring: The Tao of Giving and Receiving Wisdom

The author presents a gentle and insightful approach into the art of Mentoring. He uses the Tao philosophy to guide in the basic principles of mentoring. Through examples, he shares the gift of giving and receiving in a true mentoring relationship. His book provides a deep and spiritual view of relationships in all of life. His initial selection examines the "dance" and guides you through the basic virtues of a mentor/ mentee relationship. The author provides this through a description of virtues and the actions to be taken. His first collection, "Virtues of the Heart" provide a foundation into the exploration of a mentor mentee relationship. Through engagement in the virtues of emptiness, humility, self-acceptance, integrity, and kindness the author shows how these virtues enhance and strengthen the relationship of a mentor mentee. He paves an insightful path to nurture and grow in a mentor /mentee relationship during the various stages of development. The next, "Virtues of the Soul" provide an insightful approach to maintain the bond of the mentor/ mentee. Virtues such as cooperation, nurturance, interdependence and enthusiasm are revealed in a poetic fashion to give insight and direction into some of those virtues. Although only a few virtues were mentioned, the author does an excellent job providing insight into human nature and the personal conduct of a mentor mentee relationship. Throughout his book, he facilitates the process of teaching, learning, giving and receiving wisdom in all relationships in a calm peaceful way. This was an excellent read for mentoring. The book was beautifully layed-out with simple but powerful, peaceful thoughts and insights into life. This is the type of book you want to pick up from time to time to when you need to gather your thoughts or find ourselves immersed in the chaotic world that we live in.

A joint work of Chunglian Huang and Jerry Lynch, this small but expansive book seeks to bring balance to the concept of mentoring. As an avowed cynic reading this book was something of a challenge for me, but a pleasant one. Huang and Lynch bring a great deal of insight to the table, some of it more worthwhile than others.

The first section of the book deals with the Jing Wa the golden flower of Tao Mentoring. The authors discuss the eight petals of this golden flower including the Empty Space of Wisdom, The Spirit of the Valley, and The Ideal Mentoring Relationship. The beautiful calligraphy of Mr. Huang is used to illustrate each point. The authors have taken great care to make their material both true to its eastern origin and accessible to the western mind. Although couched in heavily metaphorical terms, much of the information here is very useful for both mentors and mentorees. The importance of balance between the two parties is particularly stressed.

The majority of the book is taken up with discussion of the Virtues of the Heart and the Virtues of the Soul. Once again, the wonderful calligraphy takes center stage. The authors show a symbol, discuss its meaning and then ally that to mentoring. This approach allows the reader to concentrate on each trait and how these traits can be used in Mentoring.

The smallest section, and the last, is the Tashun. In these few pages the authors attempt to give a what if for their ideas. Their 'humble visions' for a world changed by these Taoistic principles are the most important parts of the book.

Readers looking for traditional, scholarly writing on Mentoring might be put off by Huang and Lynch's style, but those looking for a refreshing look at the process would do well to pick up this fine little book. Since the ideas are presented in neat little packages they beg for careful introspection.