Customer Reviews

Understanding Reality

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"The body is just a lodging; the innkeepers name is Illuminator. The Illuminator neither comes nor goes, so we know it has no birth or death. If you ask what the Illuminator is like, any description is wrong; every act and everything we see is neither the same nor different. Seeing the acts and things, each one is a Buddha and a disciple." P.174

This book is a guide for those experiencing the Tao as illuminator; it tells you what can happen along The Way by using highly poetic language, leaving you to sort out the meaning through your personal experience of the Tao. If none of that makes sense, this might not be the book for you, but then again ...

If you value highly imaginative Asian poetry, you will enjoy the Chang Po-tuan text. "Quiet and clamor, speech and silence, are originally the same thing - Why bother to talk of a dream in a dream?" You might want to read his stuff first; it's spelled out in all CAPITAL LETTERS. The commentary by Liu I-ming was excellent, but it was sometimes jarring to read him right after Po-tuan's poetry.

Jungians will find this book an interesting addition to their study of Alchemy, finding somewhat similar to The Secret of the Golden Flower. The Po-tuan text is rich will Alchemical poetry.

Mahalo to the University of Hawaii Press for publishing this book, and special thanks to Tom Cleary for providing us with this translation.

One of the few texts translated into English from a Taoist master who pursued celestial immortality. Students of Taoism who internally steam their sexual energy in an attempt to give birth to the spirit often wish that they could compare notes with a master of a by-gone era. This is their opportunity! One must ignore the commentary beneath each verse, however, as it is provided years later by a Taoist Scholar who either doesn't have a clue as to the meaning of the verses of Chang Po-Tuan, or wishes to protect the information they contain. While talking in code, Chang Po-Tuan's work IS decipherable if one knows the actual physical and energetic practices. This knowledge is often labeled as the "Kan & Li work" by modern Taoists and can be learned from such contemporary masters as Mantak Chia.

The second of Chang-po's writtings with commentary by Liu I Ming. The beautifull prose partnered with Liu I Ming's elucidations make this book, as it did with the inner teachings of Taoism, indespensible. This is almost a Rosetta Stone of ancient Taoist metaphor and ties together so much of the old wisdom teachings. "Inner Taoism" if left to the imaginings of the human ego can be misconstrued by some and the intent distorted. These books if read and appreciated in their ENTIRETY will absolutely point to the truth of essence and bypass the energetics they are too often associated with.
This book is a gift. Read it with apprecaition.

I have always been someone who thinks in a mindset I consider to be of Eastern philosophy. Naturally I am drawn to things that go into detail about these philosophies...well I ordered this book looking for an even more in depth perspective on Taoism, which is infinitely complex in it's simplicity. This one was not like the typical Tao books I've read in the past. It approaches Taoism from an alchemical standpoint, in that it recites text about medicinal elements and natural science then compares the literal use of elixirs and potions to the philosophical metaphors for which they can be interpreted. What I noticed from the beginning was that I would be hard-pressed to fully understand this book had I not studied Taoism beforehand. Although, how can I ever fully understand Taoism?
This book is perfect for those seeking to develop their grasp on the realities of philosophy. If you are just beginning to grasp non-being then consider this book a good challenge...take a deep, calming breath and start reading. As with any text on Taoism, the words are presented to you and it is up to you how to interpret them. Every sentence can be read again to a different end. "A teacher is never a giver of truth-he is a guide, a pointer to the truth that each student must find for himself. A good teacher is merely a catalyst."