Rating: 
Summary: My hat is off to you...
Review: ...Father Damascene. This is truly one of the best books I have ever read, if not the best. I am a former Fundamentalist, currently seeking teenager, and I must say that this has been a watershed in my own spiritual life. If it were not for this dear man, I would have probably eventually passed over Eastern Orthodoxy as a valid option, but now it seems only too valid.
But don't be turned off by the prospect of Eastern Orthodoxy in this book, because though the book is replete with the stuff of that religion, that is a very small topic that he covers, and he doesn't rub it in or dwell on it. There are no ulterior motives hidden in his meaning, just unadulterated original opinion on Lao Tzu and how it relates to 2000 years of a tradition started by our Lord, Jesus Christ. This book is truly what it claims to be, and that alone is worth 3 stars, even if it is written poorly. I must report to you that this, however, is not the case, as the book was also extraordinarily pleasent to read. I've read a lot of books, and even something as small as the type-set in this book made it pleasent.
This is a great quality book on a fascinating topic. Buy it, borrow it from an interlibrary loan service, but if you have the time and will, then read this book!
Rating:
Summary: An Authentic Glimpse of the Uncreated
Review: .
There have been many books published in the latter half of the twentieth century that attempt to bridge the gap between East and West, more specifically, between Christianity in the West and Buddhism or Taoism in the East. Some of this has been due to increasing communication and resulting global shrinkage, but the basic presuppositions of most of these books seem to have fallen into three camps: * Superficial and featureless syncretism (it's all ultimately the same) * The spiritually impoverished West must experience renewal based on new wisdom from Eastern religions * A fundamentalist type reaction against finding any wisdom outside their own "camp". There have even been books by teachers of Eastern wisdom that attempt to find a place for Christian spirituality "within" their
own world view. Few of these books meet both traditions on their
own terms, relying on a superficial understanding of them, or on
reinterpretation of traditional content to meet "new" needs. With the publication, of Christ the Eternal Tao, we have a truly new book which does not fall into the usual 3 camps. First of all, it presents a picture of Taoism which is the result of a serious study. Fr. Damascene draws on the deep and detailed notes of his spiritual predecessor, Hieromonk Seraphim Rose (whom he has extensively written about in the soon to be published biography), and the latter's studies with Taoist philosopher, Gi-Ming Shien. Even many of the quotes from the Tao Te Ching are from a completely fresh translation by Fr. Seraphim. Fr. Damascene is also apparently not unfamiliar with Eastern spiritual paths in his own experience. Secondly, Fr. Damascene has not drawn on an impoverished Christianity seeking new roots, but the more ancient and mystical Christianity of the East, which is at home in deeper spiritual waters, although not well known in the West (Orthodox spirituality is occasionally referred to as "The best kept secret in America"). He is a recipient of this tradition, and is able to explain the essence of it in contemporary terms. The first section is a "Gospel according to Lao Tzu", by which we see the Gospel of Christ in the light of Lao Tzu's intuitive, philosophic and poetic vision of the source of life. The second section is a spiritual history of the world, which focuses on essential aspects of the work of Christ and of Lao Tzu, and the meanings they share. The third section, my favorite and the bulk of the book, could be an effective book all by itself. In demonstrating the real link of spiritual psychology and practice between Lao Tzu and Orthodox Spirituality, Fr. Damascene gives us an essential exposition of the spiritual path in practical form. This section gives us a glimpse of spiritual life in working experience beyond philosophical conception. He demonstrates his practical understanding of spiritual psychology and development in a manner that will make sense to students of Zen, Dzogchen or Vedanta as
well as Taoism or Christianity. This section can serve as a practical manual of spiritual development even for those not interested in the other themes of the book. It gives us a glimpse, not just of "our original face", but of the image of Christ which transcends a merely conceptual belief system mediated by words or thoughts. The latter part of the book shows us the fruit of the spiritual path set forth in section three. It is a compendium of recent Orthodox Saints, sages and living confessors, who have followed
this path until they have literally shone with uncreated Teh or the uncreated divine energies in the form of light. In this way, we have their examples and instructions to us which reinforce the clarity of this path. There is also an appendix with a brief history of Chinese Orthodox Saints, who further demonstrate how sages of the Tao have found the completion of their path in this experience of Eastern Christianity. The book is beautifully illustrated by photos of Saints and Sages, masterful Chinese calligraphy and seals, the life of Christ via rare traditional Chinese scroll paintings, and the cover: a Russian Icon of Christ which naturally absorbed Chinese artistic influences.
Rating: 
Summary: At last--it's so obvious!
Review: An excellent and healing book. Similarly to the ways in which Christianity has been enriched by its contact with Zen Buddhism over the past century (and vice versa), this book points out the obvious points of contact between these two traditions as well. It is a wonderful book in the spirit of Butcher's "Tao of Jesus" and Merton's "Way of Chuang-tzu." David from New Mexico is why this book was written, friends: to strip away misconceptions and to bring healing to the hurting in both of our traditions. The Tao is just the Tao--no Christian Tao, no Buddhist Tao, no Muslim Tao. Tao is Tao--the Way is just the Way. Do we have a Taoist sun, a Jewish moon, a Muslim cloud or two? No. We have what we have. Let's make the best of it. That is what this book does.
Rating:
Summary: Yea, I found it!
Review: As a Chinese Christian (and now a minister), I grew up reading and hearing bits and pieces of Jesus being the Tao. Only recently I took the effort to browse the book store to find a solid book that would give me a fuller knowldege of it and I ran into this book. As a third generation Chinese Christians (and also third generation minister) growing up in China and Burma, most of the information in this book are not new for me but I am so glad that it is put together so beautifully in one book that I can use to share it with the seekers of the Truth. The 'Word'(Logos) is translated as 'Tao' in the Chinese Bible and the more I learn about the Tao the more I am amazed by the wisdom of the tranlators of the Chinese Bible. To most learned Chinese Christians, Taoism and Christianity has never been two completely unrelated "religions." Taoism is purely the ancient Chinese's effort to seek the "relationship" with Christ and it became fuller knowing Tao became flesh. (To the nagative fundamantalist reviewer above, please be informed that even though Laozi's name is not mentioned in the Bible, but Tao is. Don't think God speaks only English!) Just as a today's Taoist without knowing Christ does not know Tao in a fuller form, a today's Christian who doesn't know Tao misses an opportunity to know Christ deeper. This book makes me proud of being Chinese and of my ancestors, and also feel thankful to God who didn't leave them alone but have spoken to them. Every seeker of truth must read it!
Rating:
Summary: Yea, I found it!
Review: As a Chinese Christian (and now a minister), I grew up reading and hearing bits and pieces of Jesus being the Tao. Only recently I took the effort to browse the book store to find a solid book that would give me a fuller knowldege of it and I ran into this book. As a third generation Chinese Christians (and also third generation minister) growing up in China and Burma, most of the information in this book are not new for me but I am so glad that it is put together so beautifully in one book that I can use to share it with the seekers of the Truth. The 'Word'(Logos) is translated as 'Tao' in the Chinese Bible and the more I learn about the Tao the more I am amazed by the wisdom of the tranlators of the Chinese Bible. To most learned Chinese Christians, Taoism and Christianity has never been two completely unrelated "religions." Taoism is purely the ancient Chinese's effort to seek the "relationship" with Christ and it became fuller knowing Tao became flesh. (To the nagative fundamantalist reviewer above, please be informed that even though Laozi's name is not mentioned in the Bible, but Tao is. Don't think God speaks only English!) Just as a today's Taoist without knowing Christ does not know Tao in a fuller form, a today's Christian who doesn't know Tao misses an opportunity to know Christ deeper. This book makes me proud of being Chinese and of my ancestors, and also feel thankful to God who didn't leave them alone but have spoken to them. Every seeker of truth must read it!
Rating:
Summary: A brilliant presentation of the hidden Christ in Taoism.
Review: Christ the Eternal Tao is a highly original, beautifully written study of the relationship of the Taoist tradition to the Christian tradition. However, this book is not a foray into the religious relativism of contemporary studies of "comparative religion" typical of academic religious studies programs. Neither is it merely a theological effort (as was common in Church circles a generation ago) to "appreciate" the positive qualities of what used to be called "natural mysticism" while comparing it unfavorably to the "supernatural" mysticism of Christianity. In fact calling it a "study" probably does not do proper justice to the beauty and originality of this work. It is rather an intuitive and profound meditation on the mystery of the Logos in its Taoist "incarnation". Its originality is such that there is little to compare it with in recent publication history. The closest works to it might be Raimundo Pannikar's The Hidden Christ of Hinduism or Ravi Ravindra's Christ the Yogi: A Hindu Reflection on the Gospel of John, but even in the company of these superb studies, Christ the Eternal Tao stands out as something decidedly different, even unique. For one thing, the author is not only a monk and a theologian, he is also an accomplished poet. Indeed, the first section of the book is itself a Christian commentary in verse on the Tao Te Ching of Lao Tzu. The last time the Christian theological world saw anything like this was perhaps St. Ephrem the Syrian in the 4th Century. Like St. Ephrem the Syrian, perhaps the greatest poet-theologian in the Christian tradition, Monk Damascene shows himself capable of theologizing through poetry. The first section of Christ the Eternal Tao is actually a long poem, composed of enneadic sections in the manner of the Tao Te Ching, This is in fact a meditation in verse on the deep realities of the Christian faith and the astonishing manner in which these are anticipated in the work of Lao Tzu. The commentary which follows stands on its own as a theological study of the Orthodox Christian tradition, especially in its dimension of mystical theology. Highest recommendation.
Rating:
Summary: Christ and Lao Tzu shed light on each other
Review: Christ: The Eternal Tao. Very interesting book, published by a Romanian Orthodox monk, Hiermonk Damascene, who writes on the work of another monk, Fr. Seraphim Rose, who saw the connection between Christ and the Tao, and studied directly under the great Chinese Taoist Teacher, Gi-Ming Shein. He sees Lao Tzu as intuiting the Eternal Logos in China several hundred years before the coming of Christ. Christ and Lao Tzu each shed light on the other. There is also several beautiful Chinese paintings, calligraphy, Chinese text, and a new Taoist Work, called the Gospel according to Lao Tzu, written and translated by Fr. Seraphim and based on the teaching Gi-Ming Shein. Although he sees Lao Tzu pointing to the Eternal Logos, which is revealed in Christ, he does not see the Tao as an inferior religion or philosophy to Christianity, but as an enduring witness to the Eternal Nameless (Beyond Names or Conception), that is Incarnated in Christ. On the other hand, this book does not teach a religious syncretism or relativism. IT does maintain the unique revelation of Jesus Christ, and explains how Lao Tzu prepares minds and hearts for the revelation of Christ, much in the same way the Torah and Greek Philosophers had done at the birth of Christianity. There is also some very moving history on the Chinese Christians, especially as the suffer persecution in the Communist Regime in the underground Church movement in Modern China. A Moving, Inspiring book. It is very beautiful to look at. Higly recommended, for the Taoist, Christian or any other spiritual person.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: I don't think the reviewer below me has actually READ the book. This is a thoroughly Orthodox treatment of Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching, which the Orthodox monk shows to anticipate the coming of Christ. Brilliant, Fascinating, Orthodox. Again, I really don't think the reader directly below this review has actually read the book. This is not about relativism, but how Christ fulfills all faith-- how the world, not just the Jews, were prepared for His glorious incarnation.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: I don't think the reviewer below me has actually READ the book. This is a thoroughly Orthodox treatment of Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching, which the Orthodox monk shows to anticipate the coming of Christ. Brilliant, Fascinating, Orthodox. Again, I really don't think the reader directly below this review has actually read the book. This is not about relativism, but how Christ fulfills all faith-- how the world, not just the Jews, were prepared for His glorious incarnation.
Rating:
Summary: Bridging of Philosophy
Review: The concepts in this book bridges the gap between Eastern and Western religious ideas. The author did a good job reconciling the two and helped me with my inner struggle of East versus West.
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