Completing the trilogy that began with the Parent's Tao Te Ching (praised as "pure gold" by Hugh Prather) and continued with the Couple's Tao Te Ching ("a singular book," said George Fowler), William Martin now distills and freshly reinterprets the Tao for "sages," or those in the second half of life. As Martin writes, sages are the "primary keepers and transmitters of wisdom, culture, values, and spirituality." Martin's free-verse interpretation captures the ancient spirit of Lao Tzu's text, yet speaks directly to modern readers. The text is accompanied by a visual interpretation of the Tao in more than 50 original ink-brush drawings. Like the Parent's Tao and Couple's Tao before it, the Sage's Tao has the hallmarks of a classic. "You have ceased trying /To tie up all loose ends./You have discovered/That life does not need to be neat/You have more questions than answers,/And this is a great delight to you./You trust the mystery of life/Without having to possess it." - from the book
William Martin Bio.
The name given me is William Cecil Martin, Jr. Everyone calls me Bill. I am the spouse of Nancy, the father of Lara and John, and the grandfather of Jillian and Andrew. I live in Chico, California, where I teach at The Still Point Center for Zen Practice. I also write. I am the author of several books on Taoist and Zen thought, including: The Parent's Tao Te Ching, The Couple's Tao Te Ching, The Sage's Tao Te Ching, A Path and a Practice, and The Tao of Forgiveness. You can purchase these books through Amazon or any local bookstore.
My professional history is varied. If my father were alive he would still be waiting for me to get a real job. He was delighted when I graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a B.S. in Engineering. He never really got over it when I left my job as an Electronic Engineer and embarked on a path that led me to a M.Div. degree from Western Theological Seminary and a brief, uncomfortable, stint as a clergy. From there I spent a few years working in Criminal Justice Reform. Then I entered private practice as a Marriage and Family Therapist and spent twelve years as a therapist and also teaching counseling at a Community College in Phoenix, Arizona.
In 1999, Nancy and I sold all of our furniture, packed our remaining possessions in a 5 ft. by 8 ft. UHall trailer, and moved to the Oregon coast. We spent a year living in a small apartment overlooking the ocean. Nancy worked at a small Inn in Newport and I wrote a book. We walked, talked, and thought about life. We felt the intensity of natural forces - wind, water, and forest. It was a transformative time.
In 2000, we moved to Chico and began The Still Point Zen Center, and a new life. We are delighted with every moment of it.
If you would like to contact me, please do so. Bill@thestillpoint.com or visit our website www.thestillpoint.com
