Customer Reviews

Taoist Meditation

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First, the name is somewhat misleading. Think of it more as documents that meditate on Taoism and have some information useful to meditation.

That being said, this is a great book. It has a variety of interesting and useful essays, and is well worth repeated reading and comparative studies. Indeed, I can honestly say that some of it helped me in integrating meditative techniques effectively.

This isn't for beginners - this is for people seriously studying Taoism, but its definitely worth it.

This book is not actually a "how to" manual, rather, it is a series of talks on selected subjects such as "Virtue, Respect, Thoughts, etc." It not only speaks on these relevant subjects but makes it clear that a person should carry meditation through everyday life. Attention, and Awareness is the cornerstone of Buddhism and Taoism and in this book, it is presented in the taoist version. Benefits of meditation are also discussed. These include physical as well as psychological. A very relevant book for our fast paced lifestyles.

quite possibly the most amazing book i have ever picked up. in only thirty minutes with this book i reached a level of stillness that i could not even concieve of beforehand, much less attain. i recommend it for anyone interested in taoism or meditation... or even their mental or physical health. the passages are short, gripping, and insightful. a truly wonderful book.

If you want to know what Taoist meditation is, this is the book for you. This book is an anthology of choice Taoist masters whose, teachings are easily accessible, and come to you in a soft (Taoist) voice. I have given this book to a person with a varied and deep meditative experience, and I have given this book to a person with no meditative experience. Both were enriched by reading this book. This book is now my favorite book to pass on to people interested in meditation.

Four texts are translated. The first, which takes three-fourths of the book, is a series of short sections on abstractions such as Principle, Human Life, Old Age, Sickness, etc -- there must be over fifty such topics. The problem is that the abstractions are described using other abstractions, a series of countless assertions of undefined terms. The approach is completely didactic; very little logic is employed to support the assertions. At times the abstractions come one after another in a stream that is near gibberish. I kept trying, but I couldn't read it.
The other three texts have exactly the same structure as the first: short sections on abstract concepts. The thinking is better in these texts, but I would hardly recommend them.
I was sorely disappointed. The Tao Te Ching was the most influential book I've ever read. I liked the Chuang-Tzu. This book came highly recommended by a friend who studied Taoism for years. I'm sorry, but I think it's terrible.

I have delighted in this and other oriental 'translations' by Cleary, Wong, and others (Japanese Cult of Tranquility, Durkheim; 'Nature's Finer forces, Rama Prasad, readable online.) Some of this advice about breathing and perspectives on health is somewhat useful. Israel Regardie's books, and Rama Charakas' 'Science of Breath' is also good.

However, I must put forth that Emma Curtis Hopkins' 'Scientific Christian Mental Practice' is one of the finest things I have ever read in this direction. I would also add the new edition of 'High Mysticism ' from the DESERT CHURCH OF THE LEARNING lIGHT in Ohio, and her pamphlet ' The Resurrection.'

the book ofter nothing new about meditation, lots of theory and mellow ideas. Not a true meditation method.
i suggest ReikiTummo.com where someone can learn the what true meditation is really about and what it take to do it. because all publish books on the market ,tons of newagey author all miss the mark sadly to say.