Awakening to the Tao

The Tao is the ancient Chinese "Way" that has inspired numerous books, fromThe Tao of PhysicstoThe Tao of Sex. This book might be called "The Tao of Tao." In 142 brief meditative essays, the author uses simple language and natural imagery to express the essence of the wisdom that holds the key to success in every human endeavor. Liu I-ming (b. 1737) was a Taoist adept and a scholar of Buddhism and Confucianism. He is the author of commentaries on several Taoist classics that have been published in English, includingTheTaoist I Ching, also translated by Thomas Cleary.

Liu I-ming (1737–?) was a Taoist adept and a scholar of Buddhism and Confucianism. He is the author of commentaries on several Taoist classics, including The Taoist I Ching and The Inner Teachings of Taoism by Chang Po-tuan, both translated by Thomas Cleary.

Preface

xi

Translator's Introduction

xiii

PART ONE Contemplations

The Height of Heaven, the Thickness of Earth

3

(1)

The Shining of the Sun and Moon

4

(1)

Thunder and Wind

5

(1)

The Alternation of the Four Seasons

5

(1)

The Moon Borrows the Sun's Light

6

(1)

Steadying the Furnace and Setting Up the Cauldron

7

(1)

Fire and Water Mirrors

8

(1)

Dung Beetles

9

(1)

Lead and Quicksilver

9

(1)

Planting Wheat and Planting Flax

10

(1)

Grafting Peaches and Grafting Plums

11

(1)

A Hair Turning into a Water Snake

12

(1)

The Crane and the Tortoise

12

(1)

The Freezing of Water and the Melting of Ice

13

(1)

The Flourishing of Trees, the Extension of Streams

14

(1)

The Heart of the Pine, the Joints of Bamboo

15

(1)

Wood and Charcoal, Clay and Brick

16

(1)

The Flesh and Hair of Corpses

16

(2)

Witer Rising, Fire Descending

18

(1)

Melon Seeds

18

(1)

Murky Water, Dusty Mirror

19

(1)

The Heat of Movement, the Coldness of Stillness

20

(1)

Earth Mounds, Giant Trees

21

(1)

Filling Concavities, Wearing Away Protuberances

22

(1)

Carp and Foxes

22

(1)

Transformations of a Spiritual Dragon

23

(1)

Dead Trees, Cold Ashes

24

(1)

Contact with Rouge, Contact with Soot

25

(1)

The Natural Reality of the Infant

25

(1)

Bellows

26

(1)

The Handle of the Big Dipper

27

(1)

Lunatics and Drunkards

28

(1)

Lifting the Rope, Lifting the Collar

28

(1)

Wishing Out Gold, Sorting Out Jade

29

(1)

Drawing Water with a Well Sweep

30

(1)

The Flowers and Fruits of Plants and Trees

31

(1)

Effigies

32

(1)

Lamplight

33

(1)

Wine from Mash, Gruel from Rice

33

(2)

Bells Ring, Drums Resound

35

(1)

Marionettes and Kites

36

(1)

Parrots and Monkeys

36

(1)

Elm Sheaths, Shepherd's Purse, and Wheat

37

(1)

Desiring Water and Fire

38

(1)

Heading South, Heading North

39

(1)

Cutting Weeds, Planting Trees

39

(2)

A Pitcher Full, a Pitcher Half Full

41

(1)

Pottery and Decoration

41

(1)

Having a Body, Having Energy

42

(2)

An Empty Valley Transmitting a Voice

44

(1)

Scale and Ruler

45

(1)

Raft and Net

46

(1)

Hibernating Insects Returning to Life

47

(1)

The Oyster's Pearl, the Hen's Egg

48

(1)

The Phoenix and the Peacock

48

(1)

Midday and the Full Moon

49

(1)

The Dreaming of the Sleeper

50

(2)

Commerce

52

(1)

The Wild Monkey, the Stubborn Horse

53

(1)

Male and Female Reproducing

54

(2)

Opening Doors and Shutters

56

(2)

The Go-between

58

(1)

Tasting What You Eat

59

(2)

Climbing a Mountain, Crossing a River

61

(1)

Moths and Worms

62

(1)

The Silkworm's Thread, the Bee's Honey

63

(1)

Borrowing Seed from Another

64

(1)

Unties Hiding, Fishes Lurking

65

(1)

When Oil and Coal Run Out

66

(2)

The Lotus in the Mud, the Chrysanthemum in the Frost

68

(1)

The Lamp Cover and Brazier Screen

69

(1)

Roundness and Squareness

70

(1)

A Broken Pot, a Leaking Jar

71

(1)

The Mindlessness of the Infant

72

(1)

Building a Foundation and Raising a House

73

(1)

The Alchemical Workshop and Vessels

74

(2)

Caterpillars and Polliwogs

76

(1)

The Racehorse and the Nag

77

(2)

Red Flowers and Green Leaves

79

(6)

PART TWO Refrains of Lament

Pursuing Dead Matter

85

(1)

Values

85

(1)

The Blind Leading the Blind

85

(1)

The Open Gate

85

(1)

Decline in Taoism

86

(1)

Seek Guidance

86

(1)

Degenerate Taoists

86

(1)

Artificial Exercises

87

(1)

Dragon Head, Snake Tail

87

(1)

The Normal Tao

87

(1)

The Invisibility of Taoism

88

(1)

The Teaching of the Way

88

(1)

Awakening

88

(1)

Flexibility

89

(1)

Resolution

89

(1)

Vacuous Dilletantes

89

(1)

Opening the Mysterious Female

90

(1)

The Usefulness of the Tao

90

(1)

In and Beyond the World

90

(1)

Trivializations and Bastardizations

91

(1)

Sincerity

91

(1)

The Marvel of the Tao

92

(1)

Nonreification

92

(1)

False Students

92

(1)

Access to the Tao

92

(1)

Worthy Action

93

(1)

Finding the Tao

93

(1)

Near yet Far

93

(1)

A Long Road

94

(1)

Learning the Way

94

(1)

Balance in the Center

94

(1)

No my to Fake It

95

(1)

The Impartiality of the Tao

95

(1)

The Parting of the Roads

95

(1)

Precipitous Routes

96

(1)

The Priceless Pearl at Hand

96

(1)

The Tao and Its Methods

96

(1)

The Inner Design

97

(1)

The Taste of the Tao

97

(1)

Find It or Forget It

97

(1)

A Ladder to the Heights

98

(1)

The Unfathomable Tao

98

(1)

Immortality

98

(1)

Right at Home

99

(1)

No Bias

99

(1)

Reversal of Time

99

(1)

Stupidity and Madness

100

(1)

Independence

100

(1)

The Source of Difficulties

100

(1)

Witness, Practice, Experience, Transmission

101

The Original Real Human

10

(91)

The Stateless State

101

(1)

Don't Rush Blindly

102

(1)

Don't Guess

102

(1)

The Real Body

102

(1)

How to Act

103

(1)

Mastery of Openness

103

(1)

Energy, Vitality, Spirit

103

(1)

The Subtlety of the Tao

104

(1)

Diligence

104

(1)

The Uniqueness of the Tao

104

(1)

The Multifaceted Tao

105

(1)

The Beginning of the Tao

105

(1)

Prohibitions

105

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

FREE SHIPPING

Rent More, Save More! Use code: BBRENTAL

5% off 1 book, 7% off 2 books, 10% off 3+ books

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials