Taoism: An Essential GuideA 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. |
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Action and Karma alchemists breathing Buddhism calisthenics cauldron cavity celestial divination celestial realm Celestial Teachers ch’i ch’i-kung Ch’u ch’uan Chin dynasty China Chinese Chou Chuang-tzu Complete Reality School Confucian deities Earlier Heaven earth elixir external feng-shui Figure form of meditation form of Taoism gate guardian health and longevity I-ching internal alchemy internal energy Jade Emperor Karma Taoism Ko Hung Kun-lun Lao-tzu Later Heaven Ling-pao Lord lower tan-t’ien Lü Tung-pin lunar month Lung-men Magical Taoism malevolent spirits Mao-shan method Ming movement mysticism Northern Bushel p’ien pa-k’ua pill postures practitioner Reality School refined religion rituals sacred powers sage scriptures sexual alchemy shamans Shang-ch’ing Taoism sorcerer Southern spirit energy stages stars Sung dynasty t’ai-chi T’ai-shang T’ang dynasty T’ao T’ien-tsun talismanic magic talismans Tao-te ching Taoist meditation Taoist practice techniques tion transformation translation Tzu-wei underworld Wang Ch’ung-yang Warring States Period Wu-chi yin and yang