Understanding Reality: A Taoist Alchemical Classic [Hardcover]

Po-Tuan Chang (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Chinese (translation) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Univ of Hawaii Pr; First Edition edition (December 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0824811038
• ISBN-13: 978-0824811037
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,168,422 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why bother to talk of a dream in a dream?, February 11, 2001

By 

"bpjammin" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Understanding Reality (Paperback)

"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.

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Away scholars, approach practitioners!, June 13, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Understanding Reality: A Taoist Alchemical Classic (Hardcover)

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.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ancient wisom made available, August 25, 2008

By 

Anthony "AW" (NY) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Understanding Reality (Paperback)

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.