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Being Taoist: Wisdom for Living a Balanced Life
A beautifully clear and accessible explanation of how to live a Taoist life—with an overview of Taoist philosophy—by a renowned Taoist master
Taoism isn’t a spiritual extracurricular activity, it’s an integral practice for living all of life to the fullest. Taoist living rests on four pillars—the public, the domestic, the private, and the spirit lives. Not only do Taoists strive to live these four aspects fully and in a balanced way, they also believe there is an outlook and an art to each of them.
Here, modern Taoist adept Eva Wong is your guide to living well according to the wisdom of this ancient system. Drawing from ancient Taoist texts, she explains in simple terms the Taoist masters’ approach to the four aspects of life, asking readers to reflect on the balance of their own lives and demonstrating how that balance is the secret infusing your life with health, harmony, and deep satisfaction.
Taoism isn’t a spiritual extracurricular activity, it’s an integral practice for living all of life to the fullest. Taoist living rests on four pillars—the public, the domestic, the private, and the spirit lives. Not only do Taoists strive to live these four aspects fully and in a balanced way, they also believe there is an outlook and an art to each of them.
Here, modern Taoist adept Eva Wong is your guide to living well according to the wisdom of this ancient system. Drawing from ancient Taoist texts, she explains in simple terms the Taoist masters’ approach to the four aspects of life, asking readers to reflect on the balance of their own lives and demonstrating how that balance is the secret infusing your life with health, harmony, and deep satisfaction.
200 pages, Paperback
First published March 3, 2015
84 people are currently reading
279 people want to read
About the author
Eva Wong
71 books132 followersEva Wong is an independent scholar and a practitioner of the Taoist arts of the Pre-Celestial Way and Complete Reality lineages. She has written and translated many books on Taoism and related topics.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 4, 2015
Tired of seeing nothing but the Tao de Ching and the I Ching in Daoist literature sections of bookstores? This will give you much more to savor, enjoy, and perhaps apply in your own life or spiritual practice. Wong, a sincere and well credentialed Daoist scholar and practitioner, offers selections not only from the Tao de Ching and Chuang tzu, but also from other important but much less known works of classic Chinese wisdom literature. A book to read again and again, with pencil in hand to underline memorable quotations for future reflection.
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May 25, 2017A day after my original review, I completely changed my mind. This book is ideal. It repeats and clarifies and illuminates.
I let other reviewers and my expectations for traditional scholarship cloud my mind. I regret that and wanted to set the record straight.
This is a wonderful way to open up some very esoteric texts and Wong provides some very meaningful exegesis. I'm going to seek out my own copy.
I let other reviewers and my expectations for traditional scholarship cloud my mind. I regret that and wanted to set the record straight.
This is a wonderful way to open up some very esoteric texts and Wong provides some very meaningful exegesis. I'm going to seek out my own copy.
August 29, 2020
A translation of various Taoist texts, but Eva Wong sure did pick a lot of boring ones.
At best, there are some real nuggets of wisdom here that remind me a great deal of some of the stoic writers I have been reading lately. At worst, you have to sit through the various types of ceremonies you must do throughout the year (and what could go wrong if you do the wrong ceremony) and how to position your body for sleep (which is what I wanted to do through much of this book).
At best, there are some real nuggets of wisdom here that remind me a great deal of some of the stoic writers I have been reading lately. At worst, you have to sit through the various types of ceremonies you must do throughout the year (and what could go wrong if you do the wrong ceremony) and how to position your body for sleep (which is what I wanted to do through much of this book).
January 4, 2020
Enlightenment is often considered a Buddhist doctrine in bodhi, an awakening to the true self, or in Hinduism, moksha, liberation from the cycle of birth and death, so in my studies of Eastern religions, I was surprised to find it so present in this book about Taoism, and am now going down the wormhole of how Taoism has influenced Zen Buddhism. Zen Buddhism is a Japanese philosophy/religion/wisdom tradition and the one that has influenced and appealed most to me. Chinese Taoism combined with Indian Buddhism and resulted in Chan Buddhism, Zen Buddhism in Japan.
More to come from future books, but I thought as I read this book, all these passages are the Way (the Tao), and I would read another and think, no, this epitomizes the Way, no this next one does also and I felt a deep love for this wisdom tradition as if this scripture was written on the stars in the deep sky of my heart. I love the Chinese term “Wu Wei” (non-action) which is a property often ascribed to water. If we try to be water, we float on the ocean of being, living in harmony with nature, trusting the yin and yang and going with their flow.
But if I had to chose one paragraph, this is the one: “Therefore, to understand that some things cannot be fathomed is the greatest understanding. One who understands the Great Way—great clarity, great virtue, great humility, and great courage—is called the Reservoir of Heaven. Pour wisdom into this reservoir, and it is never filled. Take wisdom from it, and it will not run dry. Yet this reservoir does not know where its source comes from. This oblivion is called hidden luminosity.”
If I had to choose one sentence, this is the one: “Use simplicity to guide your life, clear your mind of impurities, and wash and purify your spirit.”
I am not a purist, and apologize to anyone who is offended by my cafeteria style spirituality, but I will steal from Zen Buddhism and the idea of the koan (that can be very similar to Taoist teachings) an say the book is full of koans that can produce enlightenment just by reading them.
The outlook that forms the foundation of the art of being is free and easy wandering, a phrase from the Taoist classic Zhuangzi that refers to the playful journey of a completely liberated consciousness through the limitless expanse of the Tao.
The enlightened person knows that the sky, the earth, the four directions, the breath of yin and yang, the moisture of rain and dew, and acts of virtue are all part of the greater scheme of things belonging to a universal harmonious order.
There are many species of trees, but they are all the same in the eyes of the Tao. Different nations have different customs, but to the Tao they are one large family of people. Everything in the universe is connected. It is said that seeing the flight of ravens and hearing the sound of flutes can conjure images of the frontier.
When clouds gather, rain will fall. When moisture penetrates the earth, it becomes one with the soil. Cloud, rain, water, and soil respond to one another not because they have certain skills but because they are part of the natural way of things. Focus on differences, and things in proximity will feel distant...
The spirit is the well of intelligence. If its source is clear, intelligence will be clear. If intelligence is bright, the heart will be peaceful. Troubled waters cannot produce clear reflections, but the surface of calm waters will image everything clearly.
The cycles of inhalation and exhalation are intimately tied to the interactive exchange between the vapors of the sky and the earth and the vapors of the body. The nostrils and the mouth are the orifices where
the primordial vapors of the sky and the earth enter the human body. Primordial vapor enters the body as the subtle breath, which is soft and elusive. To absorb the vapors of the sky and the earth, inhalation and exhalation must be natural and not forced. Only in this way can the vapors of the sky and the earth enter the body to nourish the internal organs.
If we are in tune with the breath of the sky and the earth, we will be able to resonate with the breath of life.
It is easy to understand the Tao but difficult to believe in it. It is easy to believe in the Tao but difficult to act according to its principles. It is easy to act according to the principles of the Tao but difficult to embrace the Tao. It is easy to embrace the Tao but difficult to stand firm in it.
If you are able to still your thoughts and maintain peace and simplicity, the Tao will naturally emerge within.
Cultivating the Tao begins with valuing life. We need to nourish our spirit and life energy, stay connected to the source of life, and not let the primordial life force within dissipate.
Embrace the subtleties of the action and nonaction of consciousness and intuit the true nature of their arising and Let the natural openness of consciousness emerge and expand. Emptiness without brightness will only stifle the natural
Before heaven and earth were formed, all things were undifferentiated and united with the Tao. Then the clear and the muddy separated. The clear formed the sky, and the muddy formed the earth. The four seasons came into being, and yin and yang emerged.
“The One gives birth to Two, the Two gives birth to Three, and the Three gives birth to the ten thousand myriad things.”
The enlightened ones stand firm whether or not they are supported by others. Because they learn from teachers who are timeless, they can penetrate and understand everything.
Listen to the advice of the enlightened ones, for they teach you the meaning of right action. Use gratitude as your guide, and you will have enough to live in the world.
In a clear pool, mud settles at the bottom. However, it takes only a small ripple to churn up the mud and destroy the stillness. Consciousness is like a pool of water. It is easy to be stirred up by events in the world, but it is difficult to be clear and still.
Sages are like a light that does not dazzle and a scene that is not busy. They model themselves after the Tao and follow what is natural.
Mushrooms that sprout in the morning and die at noon do not know twilight, and insects that live only in summer can never experience autumn and winter. Only when you can merge with the limitless will you understand what it means to have no boundaries. Only when you can renew yourself with the cycles of the seasons will you understand what it means not to be bound by time.
The Great Way cannot be named. Great clarity is never spoken, great virtue is not forced, great humility is not modest, and great courage does not attack. If the Way is conceptualized, it is not the Way. If clarity is put into discourse, it is no longer clear. If virtue has a standard, it cannot be universal. If humility is constrained by guidelines, it is no longer sincere.
There was a huge tree standing in a mountain forest. Its trunk was gnarly, its branches were thick, and its leaves were lush. A woodcutter passing by took one look at the tree, then decided not to touch it. Zhuangzi, who happened to witness this scene, asked the woodcutter why this giant tree was not harvested. The woodcutter replied,
“This tree is useless. Its trunk is so ugly that nobody would want to make it into furniture. The branches are too big for firewood, and there are just too many leaves that need to be stripped.” Zhuangzi commented, “Because of its worthlessness and ugliness, this tree will live out the span of life it was given.” If a tree is not felled because of its uselessness, how much can you live out your life without getting into trouble if you are quiet, aimless, and drifting? Climbing
Use simplicity to guide your life, clear your mind of impurities, and wash and purify your spirit. Let your body be still like earth. Dissolve yourself into oblivion.
The Way cannot be seen or heard. It emerges only in stillness and silence. Join with me in quietude, harmony, leisure, and inaction, and you will never experience exhaustion. I go nowhere and arrive without knowing how far I’ve traveled. I come and go and never think about starting and stopping. I’ve been everywhere and back, but I don’t know if the journey is completed. I relax and wander freely in the vastness. Knowledge enters, and I am not aware of its existence. Wisdom enters, and I don’t know where it begins or ends.
More to come from future books, but I thought as I read this book, all these passages are the Way (the Tao), and I would read another and think, no, this epitomizes the Way, no this next one does also and I felt a deep love for this wisdom tradition as if this scripture was written on the stars in the deep sky of my heart. I love the Chinese term “Wu Wei” (non-action) which is a property often ascribed to water. If we try to be water, we float on the ocean of being, living in harmony with nature, trusting the yin and yang and going with their flow.
But if I had to chose one paragraph, this is the one: “Therefore, to understand that some things cannot be fathomed is the greatest understanding. One who understands the Great Way—great clarity, great virtue, great humility, and great courage—is called the Reservoir of Heaven. Pour wisdom into this reservoir, and it is never filled. Take wisdom from it, and it will not run dry. Yet this reservoir does not know where its source comes from. This oblivion is called hidden luminosity.”
If I had to choose one sentence, this is the one: “Use simplicity to guide your life, clear your mind of impurities, and wash and purify your spirit.”
I am not a purist, and apologize to anyone who is offended by my cafeteria style spirituality, but I will steal from Zen Buddhism and the idea of the koan (that can be very similar to Taoist teachings) an say the book is full of koans that can produce enlightenment just by reading them.
The outlook that forms the foundation of the art of being is free and easy wandering, a phrase from the Taoist classic Zhuangzi that refers to the playful journey of a completely liberated consciousness through the limitless expanse of the Tao.
The enlightened person knows that the sky, the earth, the four directions, the breath of yin and yang, the moisture of rain and dew, and acts of virtue are all part of the greater scheme of things belonging to a universal harmonious order.
There are many species of trees, but they are all the same in the eyes of the Tao. Different nations have different customs, but to the Tao they are one large family of people. Everything in the universe is connected. It is said that seeing the flight of ravens and hearing the sound of flutes can conjure images of the frontier.
When clouds gather, rain will fall. When moisture penetrates the earth, it becomes one with the soil. Cloud, rain, water, and soil respond to one another not because they have certain skills but because they are part of the natural way of things. Focus on differences, and things in proximity will feel distant...
The spirit is the well of intelligence. If its source is clear, intelligence will be clear. If intelligence is bright, the heart will be peaceful. Troubled waters cannot produce clear reflections, but the surface of calm waters will image everything clearly.
The cycles of inhalation and exhalation are intimately tied to the interactive exchange between the vapors of the sky and the earth and the vapors of the body. The nostrils and the mouth are the orifices where
the primordial vapors of the sky and the earth enter the human body. Primordial vapor enters the body as the subtle breath, which is soft and elusive. To absorb the vapors of the sky and the earth, inhalation and exhalation must be natural and not forced. Only in this way can the vapors of the sky and the earth enter the body to nourish the internal organs.
If we are in tune with the breath of the sky and the earth, we will be able to resonate with the breath of life.
It is easy to understand the Tao but difficult to believe in it. It is easy to believe in the Tao but difficult to act according to its principles. It is easy to act according to the principles of the Tao but difficult to embrace the Tao. It is easy to embrace the Tao but difficult to stand firm in it.
If you are able to still your thoughts and maintain peace and simplicity, the Tao will naturally emerge within.
Cultivating the Tao begins with valuing life. We need to nourish our spirit and life energy, stay connected to the source of life, and not let the primordial life force within dissipate.
Embrace the subtleties of the action and nonaction of consciousness and intuit the true nature of their arising and Let the natural openness of consciousness emerge and expand. Emptiness without brightness will only stifle the natural
Before heaven and earth were formed, all things were undifferentiated and united with the Tao. Then the clear and the muddy separated. The clear formed the sky, and the muddy formed the earth. The four seasons came into being, and yin and yang emerged.
“The One gives birth to Two, the Two gives birth to Three, and the Three gives birth to the ten thousand myriad things.”
The enlightened ones stand firm whether or not they are supported by others. Because they learn from teachers who are timeless, they can penetrate and understand everything.
Listen to the advice of the enlightened ones, for they teach you the meaning of right action. Use gratitude as your guide, and you will have enough to live in the world.
In a clear pool, mud settles at the bottom. However, it takes only a small ripple to churn up the mud and destroy the stillness. Consciousness is like a pool of water. It is easy to be stirred up by events in the world, but it is difficult to be clear and still.
Sages are like a light that does not dazzle and a scene that is not busy. They model themselves after the Tao and follow what is natural.
Mushrooms that sprout in the morning and die at noon do not know twilight, and insects that live only in summer can never experience autumn and winter. Only when you can merge with the limitless will you understand what it means to have no boundaries. Only when you can renew yourself with the cycles of the seasons will you understand what it means not to be bound by time.
The Great Way cannot be named. Great clarity is never spoken, great virtue is not forced, great humility is not modest, and great courage does not attack. If the Way is conceptualized, it is not the Way. If clarity is put into discourse, it is no longer clear. If virtue has a standard, it cannot be universal. If humility is constrained by guidelines, it is no longer sincere.
There was a huge tree standing in a mountain forest. Its trunk was gnarly, its branches were thick, and its leaves were lush. A woodcutter passing by took one look at the tree, then decided not to touch it. Zhuangzi, who happened to witness this scene, asked the woodcutter why this giant tree was not harvested. The woodcutter replied,
“This tree is useless. Its trunk is so ugly that nobody would want to make it into furniture. The branches are too big for firewood, and there are just too many leaves that need to be stripped.” Zhuangzi commented, “Because of its worthlessness and ugliness, this tree will live out the span of life it was given.” If a tree is not felled because of its uselessness, how much can you live out your life without getting into trouble if you are quiet, aimless, and drifting? Climbing
Use simplicity to guide your life, clear your mind of impurities, and wash and purify your spirit. Let your body be still like earth. Dissolve yourself into oblivion.
The Way cannot be seen or heard. It emerges only in stillness and silence. Join with me in quietude, harmony, leisure, and inaction, and you will never experience exhaustion. I go nowhere and arrive without knowing how far I’ve traveled. I come and go and never think about starting and stopping. I’ve been everywhere and back, but I don’t know if the journey is completed. I relax and wander freely in the vastness. Knowledge enters, and I am not aware of its existence. Wisdom enters, and I don’t know where it begins or ends.
December 18, 2017
I almost gave up on this book about a quarter of the way through. It seemed too archaic and filled with details far removed from the modern world and my naturalist world view. But I'm glad I decided to continue. I realized that the although the book appears to be a modern exposition on living the Taoist life, it is actually an anthology of paraphrased translations. I believe many of the texts are ancient or pre-modern.
If you are looking for that modern guide, you may not be satisfied with this book. But if you, like me, like to read ancient or pre-modern texts to gain an appreciation of perspectives from other time periods and do your own work of seeing how they apply to this modern life, and you are interested in Taoism, this book would be a good read. It is no different from reading paraphrased translation of an ancient and archaic anthology of books like the Hebrew and Christian bibles. Since I have done that do too, and read ancient Stoic writings, I thought why not finish reading this book too? It is certainly much less effort than learning ancient Chinese and reading it in its original form, or trying to read a more literal translation. The author's translation reads easily.
As a student of Stoicism and Buddhism, I find that Taoist thought fills a void in those two practices. I found it beneficial to reflect on the thought and stories presented in this book, consider their essence and overall character and then re-interpret it to our current modern world and my current life. I enjoyed the first and last chapters most, and found some gems here and there throughout the middle, when it didn't seem to be an exposition of detailed rules of what it means to follow the way. Detailed rules already seems contrary the spirit of Taoism.
The overarching take I have on Taoism is that there is a way of things, the way of Nature, and it is best to flow along with that way of things rather than struggle against it. A taoist develops a character of virtue that achieves effectiveness in life without expending unnecessary energy or getting entrapped by one's own entanglements. Life is all about finding that way and making your way in that way. One of the principles of Stoicism is to "live according to nature", which in Stoicism isn't exactly the same thing but is compatible with it and each lines of thought might be able to learn from the other. A benefit of the book is that the ancient and pre-modern writings paraphrased in it provide examples of how that might look, and the examples of perils of not following that path, from a different period. Encountering texts with such examples, rather than just reading abstract ideas and concepts, can enrich your understanding.
If you are looking for that modern guide, you may not be satisfied with this book. But if you, like me, like to read ancient or pre-modern texts to gain an appreciation of perspectives from other time periods and do your own work of seeing how they apply to this modern life, and you are interested in Taoism, this book would be a good read. It is no different from reading paraphrased translation of an ancient and archaic anthology of books like the Hebrew and Christian bibles. Since I have done that do too, and read ancient Stoic writings, I thought why not finish reading this book too? It is certainly much less effort than learning ancient Chinese and reading it in its original form, or trying to read a more literal translation. The author's translation reads easily.
As a student of Stoicism and Buddhism, I find that Taoist thought fills a void in those two practices. I found it beneficial to reflect on the thought and stories presented in this book, consider their essence and overall character and then re-interpret it to our current modern world and my current life. I enjoyed the first and last chapters most, and found some gems here and there throughout the middle, when it didn't seem to be an exposition of detailed rules of what it means to follow the way. Detailed rules already seems contrary the spirit of Taoism.
The overarching take I have on Taoism is that there is a way of things, the way of Nature, and it is best to flow along with that way of things rather than struggle against it. A taoist develops a character of virtue that achieves effectiveness in life without expending unnecessary energy or getting entrapped by one's own entanglements. Life is all about finding that way and making your way in that way. One of the principles of Stoicism is to "live according to nature", which in Stoicism isn't exactly the same thing but is compatible with it and each lines of thought might be able to learn from the other. A benefit of the book is that the ancient and pre-modern writings paraphrased in it provide examples of how that might look, and the examples of perils of not following that path, from a different period. Encountering texts with such examples, rather than just reading abstract ideas and concepts, can enrich your understanding.
March 11, 2019
A decent read, covering a broad range or Taoist texts, not just the Tao Te Ching. The bird’s eye summary is this: Balance worldly wisdom (yang) and spiritual wisdom (yin) in the areas of public life (fire), domestic life (wood), private life (earth), and spirit life (water). Altogether these equal the 5th element of metal. Below is the layout of these four parts:
Part 1: Public life, the art of leadership - the view of vastness (teachings from the Huainanzi)
Part 2: Domestic life, the art of healthy living - embracing simplicity (teachings from Peng Zu)
Part 3: Private life, the art of concealment - hidden sky (teachings from Laozi)
Part 4: Spirit life, the art of being - free and easy wandering (teachings from Zhuangzi)
Potent Quotables:
Without inner contentment, happiness will not last even if you possess all the riches of the world.
If we do not know the ultimate reality, how can we know whether something is true or false?
If we are free from the clutches of the wayward mind, we will return to the natural disposition of simplicity. The spirit knows contentment and understands the limits of conceptual thinking.
Greed does not know satiation. Needs can be satisfied, but wants can never be fulfilled. With greed, the more you attain, the more you will crave, and the more you crave, the more you will scheme to satisfy those cravings. The loss of life energy, therefore, is intimately related to the inability to distinguish wants from needs.
It looks like you want to learn about the natural order of things in order to control them. When you control the natural order, the natural order is no longer natural.
Rest in simplicity, and you will be joyful, and when you take joy in simplicity, you will be free from anxiety over gain and loss.
It is best to leave the body relaxed. When feelings emerge, it is best to let them come and go. When you go along with things rather than fight them, you will not run the risk of becoming their enemy. By keeping your body relaxed, you will avoid getting fatigued. By letting your feelings come and go, you won’t dissipate life energy. And when you are not at odds with the world and are not fatigued by worrying about everything, you’ll find no need to bask in luxury, seek reward, or depend on things going your way.
For those who practice the arts of the Way, gentleness and humility are their outer marks, and respect for all things is their inner essence.
July 17, 2024
Mnoho skvelych myslienok a pribehov, nad ktorymi sa oplati zamysliet. Cital som to dost dlho, pretoze v texte je mnoho silnych myslienok. Styl pisania bol miestami dost unavny, ale odporucam. Su tam super veci, len to treba dost dlho citat
July 28, 2024
Tuto 200 stranovú knihu som čítala dva týždne. Niektoré strany alebo aj vety som muse prečítať niekoľkokrát dookola. Myseľ sa tomu bránila, zo začiatku mi nútila myšlienky ako o com to vlastne píšu? Ved sa stále opakuje dookola to iste. Nakoniec musím priznať, že je to jedna z kníh, ktoré môj život opäť nasmerovali tým správnym smerom.
January 9, 2024
Zu allererst muss ich loswerden, dass dieses Buch eines der schwersten Bücher war, die ich je gelesen habe. Wahrscheinlich weils aus dem chinesischen übersetzt worden ist, aber puh mein Hirn ist geschmolzen.
Und die erste Hälfte des Buches war voll mit Wiederholungen was das komplette Buch ruhig 50 Seiten kürzer gemacht hätte wenn man die weggelassen hätte.
Positiv fand ich, dass sowohl er als auch sie Pronomen verwendet wurden bei dem Wort "sage" - das war cool zu lesen!
Sehr interessantes Buch, ich werde versuchen das Gelesene und vor allem das "Verstandene" so gut ich kann in meinem Leben zu übernehmen 👍
Und die erste Hälfte des Buches war voll mit Wiederholungen was das komplette Buch ruhig 50 Seiten kürzer gemacht hätte wenn man die weggelassen hätte.
Positiv fand ich, dass sowohl er als auch sie Pronomen verwendet wurden bei dem Wort "sage" - das war cool zu lesen!
Sehr interessantes Buch, ich werde versuchen das Gelesene und vor allem das "Verstandene" so gut ich kann in meinem Leben zu übernehmen 👍
March 14, 2025
Yeshua HaMashiach
Taoism talks a lot about Jesus without even mentioning His name. Once one realize the Truth, one can not even contemplate the Way, the Truth, or the Life without recognizing that He is Jesus. Shalom 🙏✝️❤️
Taoism talks a lot about Jesus without even mentioning His name. Once one realize the Truth, one can not even contemplate the Way, the Truth, or the Life without recognizing that He is Jesus. Shalom 🙏✝️❤️
May 28, 2017
Worth reading
I found it a very interesting read - a decent introduction to the ideas of the Tao. And I found the idea of a balanced life compelling.
I found it a very interesting read - a decent introduction to the ideas of the Tao. And I found the idea of a balanced life compelling.
November 13, 2021
A bit hard to understand.
December 9, 2021
Wong lays out Taoism in it’s practicality, history, and nuance. Great translation and very informative.
September 12, 2023
One of my favorite book now.
November 27, 2016
Taoism is curiously secular for a religion. And while some do practice it as a religion, many more draw on its philosophy and even more than that draw inspiration from its practical expressions. Think not? Dig out that old copy of Tao Te Ching from high school or college and see you don't feel energized and more aware from reading it.
Taoism has a lot more classic writing than just the Tao Te Ching. It reaches forward into modern life and culture in many directions. I have found Eva Wong's translation of Taoist classics and her own reflection on their meaning most useful and inspirational. Being Taoist is a great place to begin. The Balanced Life she refers to in the subtitle resolves to the Public, domestic (household), Private, and Spiritual elements in our life. It can inform reflection or meditation on feels balanced or unbalanced in your own life, what blocks you from moving freely to what you need. And her writing has a wonderful cadence that carries you forward without the preachiness of so many self-help books. She explains concepts deeply, yet in a disarmingly practical way.
I came to her work from wanting to understand the roots of Tai Chi and qigong (Chi Kung), to inform my own practice. I read some of her books before learning that she is not just a scholar, but also a Qigong practitioner and teacher, and in fact a lineage holder in a thousand year tradition. Doing her own editing and translation of classic works, she also has the sureness and practicality of a gifted teacher.
Taoism has a lot more classic writing than just the Tao Te Ching. It reaches forward into modern life and culture in many directions. I have found Eva Wong's translation of Taoist classics and her own reflection on their meaning most useful and inspirational. Being Taoist is a great place to begin. The Balanced Life she refers to in the subtitle resolves to the Public, domestic (household), Private, and Spiritual elements in our life. It can inform reflection or meditation on feels balanced or unbalanced in your own life, what blocks you from moving freely to what you need. And her writing has a wonderful cadence that carries you forward without the preachiness of so many self-help books. She explains concepts deeply, yet in a disarmingly practical way.
I came to her work from wanting to understand the roots of Tai Chi and qigong (Chi Kung), to inform my own practice. I read some of her books before learning that she is not just a scholar, but also a Qigong practitioner and teacher, and in fact a lineage holder in a thousand year tradition. Doing her own editing and translation of classic works, she also has the sureness and practicality of a gifted teacher.
September 30, 2016
I wanted to love this book. From introduction, I thought it would be an ideal way to look into living the Taoist life, with modernized translations that brought the ancient sages to life today. However, in reality, the execution was full of redundancies that got really annoying. The last chapter was like a bonus however, bringing much of what had been presented into a very clear and motivating whole. Overall, I wouldn't choose another of Wong's translations. It was just too much work.
February 9, 2015
Great selection of material, curated by a knowledgeable editor. Highly recommended
September 20, 2015
It was ok. I'm not sure where Wong's 'guide' come in as opposed to this just basically being an anthology of translated material, and which parts are from which source.
June 8, 2016
Do yourself a favor and read this book.
May 13, 2019
What a grandiose book!
May 27, 2025
I REALLY ENJOYED READING THIS BOOK!!!
Great insights!!! I have always been an admirer of the author. I recommend reading this book as well as other books by the author.
Great insights!!! I have always been an admirer of the author. I recommend reading this book as well as other books by the author.
Read
January 3, 2019Very enlightening.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews