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The Tao of Joy Every Day: 365 Days of Tao Living
In Eastern wisdom traditions, it is taught that practicing one small bit of wisdom each day will add up to a life of insight and joy. This volume of 365 life-transforming readings brings the sacred teachings of the Tao to our everyday lives. The Tao of Joy Every Day contains Taoist sayings, insights, and stories-all designed to clearly provide understanding of what makes our lives meaningful, especially in a world that can seem hurried and crazed.
For the spiritual listener interested in books that can expand awareness and sensitivity to everyday life, The Tao of Joy Every Day is a great gift that will provide enlightenment for 365 days and beyond, laying the groundwork for a lifetime of happiness.
For the spiritual listener interested in books that can expand awareness and sensitivity to everyday life, The Tao of Joy Every Day is a great gift that will provide enlightenment for 365 days and beyond, laying the groundwork for a lifetime of happiness.
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First published December 8, 2011
160 people are currently reading
245 people want to read
About the author
Derek Lin
16 books29 followersDerek Lin is an award-winning, bestselling author in the Tao genre. His Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained is an original translation that not only sets a new standard for accuracy, but also has been lauded by critics as the first to faithfully capture the lyrical beauty of the original. His The Tao of Daily Life, a breakout Eastern wisdom bestseller, integrates Taoist stories with dharmic lessons for life in the modern world. His The Tao of Success reveals the secrets of the ancients to transform the self in order to live life to the utmost. His The Tao of Joy Every Day provides short yet profound daily thoughts for meditation, or for keeping in mind as one goes through the day's activities. His The Tao of Happiness introduces Western readers to the fun yet profound stories of Chuang Tzu.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 26, 2013
After receiving this book as a Christmas gift, I have found myself drawn into the writings. The concepts are so profoundly simply, yet life-changing. This book will be part of my daily reading, alongside "The Book of Awakening."
We try to complicate issues when in reality, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." This reading helps to sort through the clutter and discover the simple work we can do to cultivate joy and civility.
We try to complicate issues when in reality, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." This reading helps to sort through the clutter and discover the simple work we can do to cultivate joy and civility.
September 9, 2013
I am not a morning person so it's good to have something more than coffee as a stimulant. I need a boost into the day. This book has passages for 365 days to be read daily....which I did. Of course it helps if you know something about Taoism and are interested in it. I like to get ideas from various sources. This is a fine and inspiring morning book to read. It helps to move you forward both physically and mentally.
November 4, 2020
Similar to the few other Tao-related texts I've read, I found it a bit too judgy and unnuanced to be considered wise or insightful.
For all their talk of humility, naturalness and kindness, these Tao proponents sure seem to have a problem with the way 99% of people live and act. "Do as I say, not as I do", I guess.
I got to day 200 and I couldn't justify the daily commitment anymore. I went through the rest this afternoon and spared myself future pseudo-enlightenment.
For all their talk of humility, naturalness and kindness, these Tao proponents sure seem to have a problem with the way 99% of people live and act. "Do as I say, not as I do", I guess.
I got to day 200 and I couldn't justify the daily commitment anymore. I went through the rest this afternoon and spared myself future pseudo-enlightenment.
June 16, 2012
This is basically therapy in book form. It would be more helpful if read daily over a year (as is intended), but I still enjoyed it as I read it, in chunks here and there. It does get repetitive in some places, but if you were reading it over the course of a year I don't think you'd mind much.
July 24, 2012
This is a gem of a book. Simply written and full of wisdom. A daily reference for everyone looking to live an authentic life.
December 15, 2018
Wow, what an amazing book full of wisdom that can be applied to everyday life. There are so many great metaphors that inspire and make you think. The great thing about this book is that every page is independent so you can literally read a page or two when you find time and the time is always right for this book since the teachings are timeless.
All in all this is probably one of the most valuable books I’ve read when I take into account how much wisdom it has. If everyone would follow principles outlined in this book, the world would be a much better place and everyone would be much happier. #utopia 😄
All in all this is probably one of the most valuable books I’ve read when I take into account how much wisdom it has. If everyone would follow principles outlined in this book, the world would be a much better place and everyone would be much happier. #utopia 😄
November 17, 2023
This is a useful book of daily reflections based on the accumulated wisdom of the ancient Chinese Taoist classics. It brings it all into the modern world in a way that is eminently helpful. Written by the most significant translator of the basic Taoist text, the Tao Te Ching , it is an excellent way to start the day.
June 6, 2012
This is a book that I am always reading
June 12, 2012
happiness everyday
February 19, 2022
365 days! a whole year this book has been by my side, turning its pages of wisdom as I turn over a whole new leaf in my life journey! I think back to my life on the day I started this book, and I acknowledge how radically different it was. I was living in another country, with a different climate, I wasn’t going to school, I had a different boyfriend and I began this journey of finding myself, and my passions in life, and figuring out what I truly wanted to do with the time that was given to me.
It makes you realise the scope of how long a year is, even how long a day is. I desire nothing more than for each day to be it’s own eternity, to slow down the pace of life and enjoy all the obscure unobserved things.
I received this book just a little after my birthday, from my mom who opened up the world of Taoism for me. No other religion or philosophy or school of thought has so deeply resonated with me as with the Tao. Like the Tao de Jing says, “the Tao that can be named is not the eternal name, the Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao”.
I will not try to describe Taoism, only say that it means so much to me. It’s way of life is one I want to live. I want to live in accordance with the natural laws, to flow with the water. This book is filled with gentle and humbling wise words that will make you think for the whole day on even the simplest of concepts. From staying ‘fully awake’ and being aware of your present self so as to not ‘sleepwalk’ through life, to the powerful ever-spinning symbol of the yin and yang and it’s significance of dualism, but also harmony and balance. There’s this idea that after all, the way of life is simple and easy and should not be clouded in mysterious idolatry. From the vivid descriptions of the heavenly music “vibrating through everything and everyone…a soundless melody of infinite beauty” to the idea that “death is the need to evolve spiritually”.
So dance the dance of life, swing to the worlds heavenly music, breathe it’s whispering secrets of life, you are right and exactly where you need to be. “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is completed.”
As Derek Lin so beautifully puts it, “taoism provides the framework with which you can create something that works for you.” ☯️
It makes you realise the scope of how long a year is, even how long a day is. I desire nothing more than for each day to be it’s own eternity, to slow down the pace of life and enjoy all the obscure unobserved things.
I received this book just a little after my birthday, from my mom who opened up the world of Taoism for me. No other religion or philosophy or school of thought has so deeply resonated with me as with the Tao. Like the Tao de Jing says, “the Tao that can be named is not the eternal name, the Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao”.
I will not try to describe Taoism, only say that it means so much to me. It’s way of life is one I want to live. I want to live in accordance with the natural laws, to flow with the water. This book is filled with gentle and humbling wise words that will make you think for the whole day on even the simplest of concepts. From staying ‘fully awake’ and being aware of your present self so as to not ‘sleepwalk’ through life, to the powerful ever-spinning symbol of the yin and yang and it’s significance of dualism, but also harmony and balance. There’s this idea that after all, the way of life is simple and easy and should not be clouded in mysterious idolatry. From the vivid descriptions of the heavenly music “vibrating through everything and everyone…a soundless melody of infinite beauty” to the idea that “death is the need to evolve spiritually”.
So dance the dance of life, swing to the worlds heavenly music, breathe it’s whispering secrets of life, you are right and exactly where you need to be. “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is completed.”
As Derek Lin so beautifully puts it, “taoism provides the framework with which you can create something that works for you.” ☯️
June 27, 2023
Sentía curiosidad por este libro de Derek Lin.
He aprovechado para releer 365-Tao de Deng Ming Dao a la vez para comprobar las diferencias entre uno y otro.
La impresión que me ha dado la comparativa es que,
escrito 20 años antes, el de Deng es bastante superior.
Además, en el de Derek Lin echo en falta a veces más profundidad.
Entiendo que la simplicidad es un factor importante en el Taoísmo, pero no es lo mismo ser simple que ser simplón, que es lo que le pasa al contenido de algunos capítulos.
Para quien haya leído ya 365 Tao, que cubre con mayor solvencia prácticamente los mismos aspectos, creo que este libro no le va a aportar ninguna perspectiva nueva.
Aun así, le doy la cuarta estrella al libro de Derek Lin
por los apartados en que sí que lo hace.
He aprovechado para releer 365-Tao de Deng Ming Dao a la vez para comprobar las diferencias entre uno y otro.
La impresión que me ha dado la comparativa es que,
escrito 20 años antes, el de Deng es bastante superior.
Además, en el de Derek Lin echo en falta a veces más profundidad.
Entiendo que la simplicidad es un factor importante en el Taoísmo, pero no es lo mismo ser simple que ser simplón, que es lo que le pasa al contenido de algunos capítulos.
Para quien haya leído ya 365 Tao, que cubre con mayor solvencia prácticamente los mismos aspectos, creo que este libro no le va a aportar ninguna perspectiva nueva.
Aun así, le doy la cuarta estrella al libro de Derek Lin
por los apartados en que sí que lo hace.
August 7, 2019
I enjoyed reading a passage every morning while having my coffee and taking some time to ponder about its message and how I could use it or apply it in my life.
It was a good way to start my day in a positive note, always felt relaxed, grateful... with an overall sense of happiness before starting my day.
I would definitely recommend this book and the inherent practice to start your day in such an enjoyable manner
It was a good way to start my day in a positive note, always felt relaxed, grateful... with an overall sense of happiness before starting my day.
I would definitely recommend this book and the inherent practice to start your day in such an enjoyable manner
December 31, 2015
Derek Lin writes GREAT daily reading books on the Tao. If he wrote one every year I would buy it and read it! I have read his other books as well, and this one is the best, from my perspective.
He has a gift for clarity and I found myself thinking about many of the readings later the same day.
Here's a quote for today (12/31): "Contemplate the great circles of existence. If everything comes to a beginning when it reaches the end, then why should human consciousness be any different?"
He has a gift for clarity and I found myself thinking about many of the readings later the same day.
Here's a quote for today (12/31): "Contemplate the great circles of existence. If everything comes to a beginning when it reaches the end, then why should human consciousness be any different?"
August 24, 2011
Just pre-ordered it. I have read all of the author's other books, so I know I will enjoy every word. Cannot wait until December 8th when it comes out.
August 24, 2011
Just pre-ordered it. I have read all of the author's other books, so I know I will enjoy every word. Cannot wait until December 8th when it comes out.
February 8, 2013
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/10306520
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/10306520
September 9, 2022
Excellent book that makes essential teachings accessible to everyone. The daily meditations helped me to see life more fully. Learning the joy of gratitude and humility was quite inspiring.
January 4, 2014
Love it! I read a passage every morning.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews