The Book of Lieh-tzu

The Book of Lieh-tzu
Author: Liezi
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Total Pages: 220
Release: 1990
Genre: Education
ISBN: 9780231072373

-- Burton Watson

Riding the Wind with Liezi

Riding the Wind with Liezi
Author: Ronnie Littlejohn
Publisher: State University of New York Press
Total Pages: 274
Release: 2012-01-02
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 143843457X

The Liezi is the forgotten classic of Daoism. Along with the Laozi (Daodejing) and the Zhuangzi, it's been considered a Daoist masterwork since the mid-eighth century, yet unlike those well-read works, the Liezi is little known and receives scant scholarly attention. Nevertheless, the Liezi is an important text that sheds valuable light on the early history of Daoism, particularly the formative period of sectarian Daoism. We do not know exactly what shape the original text took, but what remains is replete with fantastic characters, whimsical tales, paradoxical aphorisms, and philosophically sophisticated reflection on the nature of the world and humanity's place within it. Ultimately, the Liezi sees the world as one of change and indeterminacy. Arguing for the Liezi's historical, philosophical, and literary significance, the contributors to this volume offer a fresh look at this text, using contemporary approaches and providing novel insights. The volume is unique in its attention to both philosophical and religious perspectives.

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Author: Harold David Roth
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Total Pages: 304
Release: 1999
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 9780231115643

Presents a translation and commentary to the oldest known extant Taoist text, Inward Training (Nei-yeh), which is composed of short poetic verses devoted to the practice of breath meditation and its resultant insights about human nature and the cosmos. Roth argues that Inward Training is the basis of early Taoism, and suggests that there may be more continuity between early philosophical Taoism and later Taoist religion than scholars have thought.

The Way of Chuang-Tzŭ

The Way of Chuang-Tzŭ
Author: Zhuangzi
Publisher: New Directions Publishing
Total Pages: 164
Release: 1965
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 9780811201032

Free renderings of selections from the works of Chuang-tzŭ, taken from various translations.

Wandering on the Way

Wandering on the Way
Author: Tzu Chuang
Publisher: University of Hawaii Press
Total Pages: 462
Release: 2000-04-01
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 9780824820381

In this vivid, contemporary translation, Victor Mair captures the quintessential life and spirit of Chuang Tzu while remaining faithful to the original text.

Tao: The Pathless Path

Tao: The Pathless Path
Author: Osho
Publisher: Renaissance Books
Total Pages: 195
Release: 2016-07-26
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 125013059X

In Tao: The Pathless Path, Osho, one of the greatest spiritual teachers of the twentieth century, comments on five parables from the Leih Tzu, bringing a fresh and contemporary interpretation to the ancient wisdom of Tao. Leih Tzu was a well-known Taoist master in the fourth century B.C., and his sly critiques of a Confucius provide abundant opportunities for the reader to explore the contrasts between the rational and irrational, the male and female, the structured and the spontaneous. “Who Is Really Happy” uses the discovery of a human skull on the roadside to probe into the question of immortality and how misery arises out of the existence of the ego. “A Man Who Knows How to Console Himself” looks beneath the apparent cheerfulness of a wandering monk and asks if there is really a happiness that endures through life’s ups and downs. “No Regrets” is a parable about the difference between the knowledge that is gathered from the outside and the “knowing” that arises from within. “No Rest for the Living” uses a dialogue between a despondent seeker and his master to reveal the limits of philosophy and the crippling consequences of living for the sake of some future goal. “Best Be Still, Best Be Empty” discusses the difference between the path of the will, the via affirmitiva of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, versus the path of the mystic, the via negativa of Buddha and Lao Tzu. Tao: The Pathless Path also features a Q&A section that addresses how Taoist understanding applies to everyday life in concrete, practical terms. Osho challenges readers to examine and break free of the conditioned belief systems and prejudices that limit their capacity to enjoy life in all its richness. He has been described by the Sunday Times of London as one of the “1000 Makers of the 20th Century” and by Sunday Mid-Day (India) as one of the ten people—along with Gandhi, Nehru, and Buddha—who have changed the destiny of India. Since his death in 1990, the influence of his teachings continues to expand, reaching seekers of all ages in virtually every country of the world.

Taoism

Taoism
Author: Eva Wong
Publisher: Shambhala Publications
Total Pages: 281
Release: 2011-03-08
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1590308824

A leading scholar feng shui master presents the great depth and diversity of Taoist philosophy, practices, and history in this accessible manual to the oft-misunderstood spiritual tradition. Millions of readers have come to the philosophy of Taoism thanks to the classics Tao Te Ching and the I Ching, or through the practices of t'ai chi and feng-shui, but the Tao is less known for its unique traditions of meditation, physical training, magical practice, and internal alchemy. Eva Wong, a leading Taoist practitioner and translator, provides a solid introduction to the Way. All of Taoism’s most important texts, figures, and events are covered, as well as its extraordinarily rich history and remarkable variety of practice. Sections include: • The History of Taoism traces the development of the tradition from the shamans of prehistoric China through the classical period (including the teachings of the famous sage Lao-tzu), the beginnings of Taoism as a religion, the rise of mystical and alchemical Taoism, and the synthesis of Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. • Systems of Taoism explores magical sects, divination practices, devotional ceremonies, internal alchemy, and the way of right action. • Taoist Practices discusses meditation, techniques of cultivating the body, and rites of purification, ceremony, and talismanic magic. This roadmap to the spiritual landscape of Taoism not only introduces the important events in the history of Taoism, the sages who wrote the Taoist texts, and the various schools of Taoist thinking, but also gives readers a feel for what it means to practice Taoism today. A comprehensive bibliography for further study completes this valuable reference work.