Teachings of the Tao

"The Tao that can be spoken of is not the real Way," reads a famous line from the Tao-te-ching. But although the Tao cannot be described by words, words can allow us to catch a fleeting glimpse of that mysterious energy of the universe which is the source of life. The readings in this book are a beginner's entrée into the vast treasury of writings from the sacred Chinese tradition, consisting of original translations of excerpts from the Taoist canon. Brief introductions and notes on the translation accompany the selections from the classics; books of devotional and mystical Taoism; texts of internal alchemy; stories of Taoist immortals, magicians, and sorcerers; ethical tracts; chants and rituals; and teachings on meditation and methods of longevity.

In Teachings of the Tao, translator and Taoist practitioner Eva Wong demonstrates the vital dynamism of Taoism as it extends over more than 2,000 years of Chinese history. Wong offers brief, manageable selections from a wide array of fundamental Taoist literature that addresses such topics as meditative practice, calisthenics, and the fantastic biographies of Taoist masters. The haunting shamanic poems, devotional chants, and instructions on ethics set this collection apart from others. Teachings of the Tao is an excellent way to learn more about Taoism without getting mired in wordy full-length treatises.