Customer Reviews

A New Way of Thinking, A New Way of Being: Experiencing the Tao Te ching

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If you already have a copy of "Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life" then this book will seem very familiar to you, as it should. This is basically a re-presentation of that material in a new edition. Dr. D presents the ideas of the Tao with much of the same extra material of his previous book. 384 pages in the new version as opposed to 416 in CYTCYL. Why? Because it recreates interest in the author's work, which means more book sales. It looks like something new, but it isn't entirely new. You decide whether you need to have both, or donate the older version to your local public library and buy yourself this new edition.

As a follow up book to Dr. Dyers "Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life" I was eager to get this book. I was a little turned off at first when I saw that there were few words on each page and it was just small verses in large print. I am now about half way through and realize the short verses really get to the point and convey the message of the Tao. The pages are also colorful and well designed. This is a great book for students of the Tao or those who love Dr. Dyers work.

I would call Wayne Dyer's "Tao Te Ching" themed book "second hand". It is filled with facts but they are clearly written from memory, not inspiration. It is said that if you intuitively grasp the first verse or chapter, there is no need to read the rest. True spiritual texts must be grasped with spirit, not mind. As the first line goes "If you can talk about it, it's not the real Tao".

Taoism is path via-negativa. Most of Wayne Dyer's readers want more and more information. The pursuit of knowledge requires learning more everyday. The Tao requires letting go of more and more everyday (paraphrased from the Tao Te Ching). To intuit the Tao you must feel Wuji. In other traditions it is called Sunyata, Ayn Soph, Ku. This is the Absolute Ultimate and is no-thing. This is what many fear and run from their entire lives. Wuji appears to be the existential fear but in reality, it is true salvation. Nothing need be done, just calmly observe without judgment. All that is false will vanish, melt away or be seen as false, all that is Real remains.

As far as good translations, I would recommend Stephen Mitchell's or the version from "Skylight Illuminations" for the explanations. When it comes to the Tao, less is best. The Tao Te Ching can only be understood by the Heart so I do not recommend Wayne Dyer's cerebral approach.

I am not sure what is going on here. I ordered the book and then get a message that it is out of print. The book was only released 11/1/2009 and today is 11/4/2009. I am a bit confused. Anyone know why this is??