Taoism
Although of Chinese origin, Taoism is universal in nature. The Tao or
"the Way" is an inner path of spiritual development that emphasizes
individual well-being, social harmony and the evolution of consciousness.
It is deeply rooted in the enlightened understanding of everyday life
from the awakened perspective of a fully conscious human being.
Thomas Merton
New Directions (1969)
Father Merton presents a series of personal versions of the classic sayings and stories of Chuang Tzu, considered one of the most spiritual of the ancient Chinese philosophers. The sage abounds in wit, paradox, satire and penetrating insight into the human condition and the true ground of being.
Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English
Vintage Books (1972)
This highly regarded translation of Lao Tsu's ancient Chinese classic captures the essence of this timeless teaching. Black and white photos exploring the mystery of the natural world accompany the text.
Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English
Vintage Books (1974)
A companion volume to their translation of Lao Tsu's Tao Te Ching, the book weaves the fables and humour of the ancient Chinese sage Chuang Tsu in a wonderfully poetic and imaginative way. Black and white photos accompany the text.
Alan Watts
Pantheon Books (1975)
Watts draws on ancient and modern sources to examine the underlying tenets of Taoism with art and insight. The treatment and approach is similar in style to his classic The Way of Zen.
Stephen Mitchell
Harper & Row (1988)
Scholar and translator Stephen Mitchell renders Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching into eloquent English. The book is a manual of 'wisdom in action' pointing to the art of living life with effortless skill.
Thomas Cleary
Shambhala (1988)
The text is attributed to Liu I-Ming, an 18th century Taoist sage and scholar of Buddhism and Confucianism. Thomas Cleary's translation is a collection of stories and meditations, using natural and mythic events as metaphors illustrating the principles and practices of Taoism.
Thomas Cleary
Harper (1991)
Dr. Cleary provides fresh translations of two classic books of Taoism: the Tao Te Ching and the Inner Teachings of Chuang Tsu. The text expresses the mystical and practical core of classic Taoist teachings in a manner accessible for the Western reader.
Wu Wei
Power Press (2006)
The book is a commentary on the I Ching, one of the world's most profound sources of universal wisdom. Wu Wei shows how we can learn to live in harmony with the ways of the Universe by applying the ancient wisdom of the I Ching to all areas of our life.
