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Rating: 
Summary: If you're new to Chiang Tzu, you're in for a treat!
Review: Anyone who may be coming to Chuang Tzu for the first time is in for a treat. Although Chuang Tzu is sometimes described as the most brilliant of all Chinese philosophers, what we find in him isn't what we normally understand by 'Philosophy' and isn't technical at all. His appeal is not so much to the intellect as to the imagination, and he chose as a vehicle for his philosophical insights, not tedious and lengthy abstract treatises, but brief and witty anecdotes and dialogues and tales. His humor, sophistication, literary genius, and philosophical insights found their perfect expression in his brilliant fragments, and once having read them you never forget them. Not much is known about Chuang Tzu, other than that he seems to have lived around the time of King Hui of Liang (370-319 B.C.). The received text of his book, which is sometimes referred to as 'the Chuang Tzu' (CT), is made up of thirty-three Chapters. Most scholars seem to feel that the CT is a composite text, and that only the first seven - the Inner Chapters - plus a few bits from the others are Chuang Tzu's own work, the remainder being by his followers. Among the better known of his translators, all of them excellent, are Arthur Waley, Lin Yutang, and Burton Watson, though only the latter translated the complete text. An abridged version of Watson's complete translation was later made available for those who only want to read the Inner Chapters. All three of these scholars were Sinologists and had direct access to Chuang Tzu's stylistically brilliant though somewhat difficult Chinese. In contrast to the linguistic expertise of Waley, Lin Yutang, and Watson, Thomas Merton frankly admits to having no Chinese at all. He has, however, soaked himself in all the best translations, and he tells us that his "free interpretive renderings of characteristic passages [were] the result of five years of reading, study, annotation, and meditation." His readings, then, are to be understood, not as direct translations, but as "ventures in personal and spiritual interpretation" (page 9). If we consider that Merton was a bit of a literary genius himself, we won't be surprised by Burton Watson's comment on his readings. In the Introduction to his 'Complete Works of Chuang Tzu,' he tells us that: "[Merton's readings] give a fine sense of the liveliness and poetry of Chuang Tzu's style, and are actually almost as close to the original as the translations upon which they are based" (page 28). 'The Way of Chuang Tzu' is a small book of just 160 pages. After a 'Note to the Reader' and a 17-page 'Study of Chuang Tzu,' sixty-two readings follow. Most of them have been set out as verse, and many are illustrated with marvelous Chinese drawings. The book was first printed in 1965, and the fact that it is still in print tells us that it has been working for many readers. It certainly worked for me, as it's a book I'd never part with and often return to. I'm pretty sure it will work for you too.
Rating:
Summary: Merton within the great rain of contemporary translations
Review: The Merton distillation of the essence of The Master is unsurpassed, for its concision, its wit, its ability to immediately surprise and "tempt" one to a greater openness, a gentle transformation of thought, mind and being or to suddenly awaken one. It is also superb poetry based on the nature of the Chinese character (see Pound/Fenellosa) and the collaborative wisdom of John Wu, who brings the ancient force of the Taoist winds chanting The Way our own great Master trod. My favorite is "When the Shoe Fits," a copy of which is always hanging on my wall, along with Delmore Schwartz' "True Recognition Often Is Refused," and "City" by Shinkichi Takahashi. Pardon this Hamletian aside. There is not much more this reader can say, but I certainly urge you; "O Taste and See that this Lord is good." Another translation, superb in its own right brings a clear lucidity and masterful elucidation of "The Book of Chuang Tzu," which flows in concert with the four great rivers of China, "without haste, without rest." ( "I Ching," Wilhelm trns.) With no Chinese, I perceive it to as close as we have come to the surviving text with force, delicacy and consonance of thought. Merton, walking into the darkness, slashes through the root and branches of the unknown like the pioneer he is, wielding a flashing sword of light that is also one with the darkness.
Rating:
Summary: Merton within the great rain of contemporary translations
Review: The Merton distillation of the essence of The Master is unsurpassed, for its concision, its wit, its ability to immediately surprise and "tempt" one to a greater openness, a gentle transformation of thought, mind and being or to suddenly awaken one. It is also superb poetry based on the nature of the Chinese character (see Pound/Fenellosa) and the collaborative wisdom of John Wu, who brings the ancient force of the Taoist winds chanting The Way our own great Master trod. My favorite is "When the Shoe Fits," a copy of which is always hanging on my wall, along with Delmore Schwartz' "True Recognition Often Is Refused," and "City" by Shinkichi Takahashi. Pardon this Hamletian aside. There is not much more this reader can say, but I certainly urge you; "O Taste and See that this Lord is good." Another translation, superb in its own right brings a clear lucidity and masterful elucidation of "The Book of Chuang Tzu," which flows in concert with the four great rivers of China, "without haste, without rest." ( "I Ching," Wilhelm trns.) With no Chinese, I perceive it to as close as we have come to the surviving text with force, delicacy and consonance of thought. Merton, walking into the darkness, slashes through the root and branches of the unknown like the pioneer he is, wielding a flashing sword of light that is also one with the darkness.
Rating:
Summary: The perfect companion to the _Tao Te Ching_.
Review: This little book is the perfect companion to Lao-Tzu's _Tao Te Ching_. Thomas Merton assembled it with admirable spiritual insight and sensitivity. Here is the path of the ancient sages. It is not a "how to" manual, for, "He who knows does not speak, and he who speaks does not know." And yet, this book somehow indirectly gives you a sense of what it is to be centered in the Tao. You get a fleeting sense of what it is like to live a life of such centerness and simplicity that it is difficult to tell where your own consciousness ends and the currents of the cosmos begin. This is the state of Wu Wei, effortless action in complete resonance with the Tao.
I suppose that what I found so refreshing during this rereading was the confirmation that men of wealth, station, and learning are not to be admired. They are the least enlightened of men. Indeed, the true man of Tao will live humble in simplicity and obscurity- and yet such beings are the true wellsprings of cosmic harmony between heaven and earth....
This gem-like Shambhalla edition is especially nice, for it can easily fit into any pocket.
Rating:
Summary: Superb Work
Review: This work is incredibly fascinating. What Merton did here was craft a translation of already existing translations, picking out those sayings he held close to heart. Now after Lao Tzu, as far as early Chinese Taoism is concerned, follows Chuang Tzu concerning his impact and influence on the "religion." Like Socrates exists largely because of the writings of Plato, so too did Lao Tzu exist as a result of many of Chuang Tzu's writings. This work, or any work involving Chuang Tzu, is a terrific friend for anyone endeavoring to study the Tao Te Ching. Thomas Merton keeps Chuang Tzu's poetic approach intact throughout this piece, while at the same time even he would confess (I'd suspect) that he was giving his own personal version to us readers. In fact he alludes to this in the introduction of this fine book. The connotations being not necessarily word for word literal accounts. Chuang Tzu was a fascinating, prolific, and witty ancient Taoist master. One could even go so far as to say he was essentially a Zen master. And that Zen masters are Taoist masters. Of course the whole point of this review being---- BUY THIS BOOK!
Rating: 
Summary: A masterful rendition of the parables of Chuang Tzu
Review: Thomas Merton captures the spirit and meaning of the great Daoist philosopher Zhuang Zi like few others. Merton's natural, poetic language faithfully renders the free, flowing nature of Zhuang Zi's original masterpiece. I only wish Merton had translated more.
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Summary: a small book to treasure
Review: Thomas Merton is one of my favorite seekers of Truth...although, he was a devout Trappist monk, his vision went beyond his monastery, to embrace insights from the East, whilst mantaining his own position...if you are looking for a scholarly translation or intro to the Chinese philosopher, Chuang Tzu, look elsewhere...this is rather a free interpretation from one who identified with him, sharing some common perspectives, although both were from two very different monastic traditions...you wil not find the complete chuang Tzu here but rather small selections that will be richer with repeated readings...
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Summary: Deeply Spiritual Ideas Expressed in Poetic Beauty
Review: Thomas Merton, a Trappist monk, read and compared several different translations of the writings of Chuang Tzu over a five year period. He made notes and from them created a free verse style interpretation of various passages that he liked and were meaningful for him. From those notes this book was born. As a monk, he experienced various states of spiritual being, feeling, and thinking, that are unique to individuals who withdraw into a contemplative life. Every passage and chapter is packed with unique stories, parables, anecdotes which allow the reader to view life ... existence ... from different perspectives. Some passages reinforce already existing ideas. thoughts, and beliefs, others create new ways of "seeing". The writing is poetic and very insightful. This book is an absolute pleasurable reading experience. Some examples below will provide a taste of the contents of this extraordinairy book. Here is an example of this writing, "When Knowledge Went North": "Knowledge wandered north
Looking for Tao, over the Dark Sea
And up the Invisible Mountain.
There on the mountain he met
Nondoing, the Speechless One" ... Another example, "In My End is My Beginning":
"But he who obeys Nature returns through Form and
Formless to the Living,
And in the Living
Joins the unbegun Beginnning" ... If the reader enjoys deep thinking and feeling, contemplating life in all its myriad aspects then this book is highly recommended. Erika Borsos (erikab93)
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Summary: The Way of Thomas Merton
Review: ~
I used this as a text in a highschool class on meditation. I chose it after looking at all the translations I could get my hands on (my Chinese, alas! is not yet up to reading the original.) Other translations were sometimes more literal and accurate, and some did a better job of conveying Chuang's brilliant word-play, but the overall impression they left of Chuang was either of a pedant (the older translations) or a sneering, bitter stand-up comic (the newer ones). This is much more deeply untrue to Chuang-Tzu than any passing inaccuracy or missed word-play could ever be. There is only one way in which Merton is more qualified than Chuang's other interpreters: he, like Chuang, was a serious, long-time contemplative, a person who spent hours a day at meditation and prayer. But this qualification seems to me to have trumped all others. Merton and Chuang were brothers: no matter that they were two millenia and half a world apart. Somewhere right now they are walking together at a river's edge, watching the fish leap. "I know the joy of fishes
In the river
Through my own joy, as I go walking
Along the same river" My students, by the way -- rather to my surprise -- loved this book as much as I did.
Rating:
Summary: The Way of Thomas Merton
Review: ~
I used this as a text in a highschool class on meditation. I chose it after looking at all the translations I could get my hands on (my Chinese, alas! is not yet up to reading the original.) Other translations were sometimes more literal and accurate, and some did a better job of conveying Chuang's brilliant word-play, but the overall impression they left of Chuang was either of a pedant (the older translations) or a sneering, bitter stand-up comic (the newer ones). This is much more deeply untrue to Chuang-Tzu than any passing inaccuracy or missed word-play could ever be. There is only one way in which Merton is more qualified than Chuang's other interpreters: he, like Chuang, was a serious, long-time contemplative, a person who spent hours a day at meditation and prayer. But this qualification seems to me to have trumped all others. Merton and Chuang were brothers: no matter that they were two millenia and half a world apart. Somewhere right now they are walking together at a river's edge, watching the fish leap. "I know the joy of fishes
In the river
Through my own joy, as I go walking
Along the same river" My students, by the way -- rather to my surprise -- loved this book as much as I did.
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