Practicing the Tao Te Ching: 81 Steps on the Way

by Solala Towler

Most people think of the Tao Te Ching as a book on philosophy or a treatise on leadership. Yet there is a little-known treasure hidden within the familiar passages of Lao Tzu’s step-by-step practical guidance for the spiritual journey. With Practicing the Tao Te Ching, renowned teacher Solala Towler reveals a new facet to this spiritual classic, offering accessible instructions paired with each of the 81 verses of the Tao Te Ching .

"Tao is a way of deep reflection and learning from nature, considered the highest teacher," writes Towler. "It teaches us to follow the energy flows within the heavens, the earth, and our own bodies." With lucid instruction and deep insight, he guides you through meditations, movement and breathing practices, subtle energy exercises, and inner reflections―all to help you to embody Taoist wisdom in every aspect of your life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Spirituality, Taoism, Philosophy

320 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2016

Reviews

[Lindegard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why hasn't someone thought of this before? Solala Towler, a leading Daoist advocate, teacher, and healer, has developed a practice component to China's great spiritual classic, the Tao Te Ching (TTC) of Lao-tzu.

Towler interprets the 81 verses of the TTC. first through informed commentary, then through a series of Qigong-inspired practices, including flowing movements, meditations, and repetitive exercises. The result provides a yang complement to the mysterious yin text.

Just as Daoism (also spelled Taoism) attempts to understand the meaning of life through the interaction of opposite poles (light and dark, male and female, day and night), this presentation engages all our senses as we experience the TTC not just with our intelligence and mind, but also with our bodies, feelings, and intuition. It is a fully integrated approach based on Towler's lifelong study and practice of Daoist principles.

Reading Towler's commentaries and then engaging in even a few of these activities will open up the classic in unexpected ways, no matter how many translations of the work you have read and studied over the years. Towler keeps both the text and the practices simple, engaging, and pleasurable. Whether one is a beginner or an experienced scholar or sage, Practicing the Tao Te Ching is a new classic that belongs on the bookshelf of everyone interested in self-improvement, enlightenment, and world culture.

[Peter Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not read such an inspiring, fascinating nor powerfully spiritual publication as 'Practicing Tao Te Ching' by Solala Towler for a long time.

I am not overly familiar with the original text but, to my mind, the author offers a commentary here that is worthy of the stature afforded to the original work. As a manual of practical occultism, this has to be up there with the best works of its kind. The commentary peers in to what I found to be a new and exciting world of spiritual philosophy and the practical exercises really present the opportunity to make dramatic and lasting improvements to one's life.

'Practicing the Tao Te Ching' by Solala Towler is a truly great and impressive work—one that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone looking for an authentic form of effective spiritual guidance in their life.

This will undoubtedly be one of those books that will remain by my bedside for sometime to come and which will be consulted on a regular basis for its deeply-revealing wisdom.

[Etienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite but for very personal reason. This is my fifth translations/books/versions of the Tao that I've read and it's a good one, I just drop the rating, because for me the commentary and exercise weren't a plus in any way. But I do think that for some readers, this would help to get into it, understand it better and put it in practice. But for me, I prefer to read it, think about it and made my own thoughts on it instead on getting the interpretation of someone I don't know. So not for me, but a good version of the Tao and if you think the commentaries and exercises is something that might help you, then this might do it for you!

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book, for free, in exchange for an honest review.

This is the most clear of the half dozen or so Tao Te Ching translations I've read.
This is saying a great deal as most if not all of the other translations I've read were unreadable as least to someone without much Eastern philosophy under their belt.

Each section of the Tao Te Ching is paired with an exercise (e.g. breathing/meditation) which is a very nice addition and a good overview of Eastern spiritual exercises (including some recognizable sourced from Tai Chi).

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was my real introduction to Taoism, and thank goodness for that!

The Tao Te Ching is one of the most difficult-to-understand books I've ever tried to read, but Solala Towler makes it so approachable and friendly, without any pretension and without trying to show off how much he knows.

I worked with it a day at a time, going through each chapter as part of my morning ritual. It's nothing short of life-changing, as would be expected from a 2500-year-old spiritual text.

While I'm now looking forward to exploring more Taoist literature, this is definitely a book I'll repeat yearly. I've gained a lot from this journey, and I know I've still barely scratched the surface of the wisdom both from Lao Tzu and Mr. Towler himself.

Highly recommend this to anyone interested in integrating Taoism into their life in an approachable but impactful way.

[John Fredrickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the things that I enjoyed about this book is that Towler considers the text of the Tao not only from the external aspects, but considers the internal aspects as well. Thus, a verse that contains references to a 'ruler' of a people gets commented on as the literal ruler of a people, but also potentially as a stance that an individual takes with respect to his/her own self-management.

Overall, the commentary felt useful, as Towler explains some of the esoteric aspects of Taoism as necessary to get his points across. There were, however, many occasions in the commentaries where it felt like not a lot was added. Towler adds a "practice" meditation-al component to each verse, as he indicates that this is a necessary component allowing the Tao to be experienced properly. Some of these practice engagements felt artificial or forced. I am not sure one could come up with 81 meditation segments that would not feel this way?

[Seamus Thompson]

Quite a wonderful book. If you are interested in Taoism this would be a great place to start.

Practicing the Tao Te Ching includes a full version of Lao Tzu's book, all 81 verses, in Towler's own readable, accessible translation. Towler also includes thoughtful commentary on each verse, often drawing on ancient and contemporary sources to provide clarification and historical context. What is most valuable here, however, is the inclusion of exercises designed to complement each verse. Some of these exercises are physical (based in Qi Gong, etc) some are based in meditation or journaling but all of them help provide an experiential dimension to the Tao.

[JB Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extension

Wherever you may find yourself on your spiritual path, this rendition and commentary on the Tao Te Ching of Lao Tzu will extend your understanding of the process that takes you ever further on your journey. It matters not how many steps you have taken on the spiritual path, the Way, the Tao, nor does it even matter if you are aware of your movement. Take that which can not be said and know that it is a part of your own being.

[Erica Eastman · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re a fan of the tao te ching this is a nice book to guide some reflection on the passages, and i appreciated the exercises after each reflection to actually embody the teachings. I have had Stephen Mitchell’s version of the Tao since it was first published in the late ‘90s, so this translation of the verses was a bit off-putting to me at first, it’s not nearly as elegant, poetic and simple as Mitchell’s version, but i grew to appreciate his perspective more by the end of the book

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was uncertain about what value this book could have. The Tao is so vague when it comes to practical applications ("running the country is like cooking a small fish"). But I was surprised continually by the wisdom and insight of Towler, who gives a mix of exercises, breathing, meditation, and clear thinking in order to start you on the Path and keep you on it. This is truly a wonderful handbook to accompany the original 81 verses.

[Mitch Bonaccorso · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best Tao readers providing good instructives

[McB · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptional journey through a book as well as life.
I will be rereading this book again in 2022.
Invaluable resource.

[Debbie Payne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a Goodread's Giveaway in exchange for a honest review. I gave this book a three-star rating because I never really got into it. I was looking more for the exercises because I know how good they can be, having taken a couple of Tai Chi classes at the local YMCA.

Undoubtedly, Mr. Towler is a good writer and really knows his history and his applications. I was not necessarily looking for so much the philosophy and history but the poses and exercises that accompany them. I would have liked to have seen actually people or drawing doing those exercises.

Inside the book were three free audio programs that really sounded like they would be awesome to accompany a book such as this. Presently, I will download these when I get home. My internet speed is next to nothing right now so I may amend this review after having tried this audio programs.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

my introduction to the way of Tao unless one counts the :Tao of Physics:
-- /DanTien/ Color Meditation , QiGong energy work ... it is the application of WuWei that is so mysterious and this book can help with that.