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Summary: This Book is a Visual Inspiration.
Review: The elegant Chinese and English calligraphy paints a fluid picture of the ancient poetical relationship of the mentor and protégé.Unlike many writings on the subject, Haung and Lynch, capture the essence of the mentor. "Tao Mentoring", is a process of where both the mentor and protégé benefit. This book illustrates the flowing motion of the spiritual qualities that embody this relationship. "Tao Mentoring is a two-way circular dance that provides opportunities for us to experience both giving and receiving without limitation and fears." The book is split into three chapters: The first chapter begins with the eight philosophical petals of Tao, each beautifully illustrated. Jing Hwa --The Golden Flower, Jing (gold)- transformation and transcendence of the individual. Hwa (flower)- the blossoming of the ultimate "thousand petaled lotus". The eight petals of Tao are: Wu Ming- The Neutralization of Duality, Tui Shou- The dance of Pushing Hands, Wu Ji- The Empty Space of Wisdom, Gu Shen- The Spirit of the Valley, Wu Dao- The Dancing Wu Ji Mentors, Wu Wei- The Movement of Tao Mentoring, Hao Jan Zi Ch'i- The Expansive Spirit, Dao Ying- The Ideal Mentoring Relationship, The second chapter gives an overview of the Virtues of Tao Mentoring. Wang Tao- Cultivating the Virtues of Tao Mentoring, Wang- Virtue and Tao- the way. The topics include: Virtues of the Heart: "Those who follow the Tao, with truth and fulfillment in their hearts, are indeed virtuous." Virtues of the Soul: "..inspire us to attend to the intricate details and mundane realities on the path of the mentor." The third chapter: Tashun- The Great Harmony Humble Visions for a Harmonious World The final chapter sums up the potential for applications of the "Tao Mentoring Method". The book ends with thoughts of encouraging harmony and balance, the natural order of all things. The authors bring the concepts full circle emphasizing how to "cultivate dynamic relationships in all areas of life".
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Summary: Writing this book was a gift to the world from its authors
Review: This book is pure inspirational reading. Chungliang Al Huang and Jerry Lynch have put together the best book that I have read for many years. The last time I read a book that was so memorable was the Prophet, by Kahil Gabran. Few books leave lasting impressions, but this one is truly a gift of the mind and spirit. You can feel the synergy between the authors as you turn each page. You are constantly hypnotized by the beautiful flow of the dialog and the crispness of the calligraphy, all done by Chungliang Al Huang, of Chinese symbols, which are generously displayed throughout the book, each of the symbols representing the message of that section. The philosophy of Tao mentoring takes a very natural approach to mentoring. It uses many analogies and speaks frequently of nature and the behavior of elements such as wind, fire, and water to provide examples of how mentoring should be viewed. The book stresses the importance of living in harmony with nature and all things. Tao mentoring incorporates many lessons and it is written in an almost conversational or story-telling style. Tao mentoring is truly a lesson for the heart and soul of its practitioners. This book is divided into four parts, the first part is a dialog about Tao mentoring and how it relates to the modern world, and where it all fits. It talks about the constant cycle of mentoring, that of learning (receiving) and sharing (giving), and how as mentors, you are constantly moving through this cycle, sometime being the mentor and other time the mentee. The dialog in part two discusses Jing Hwa, Jing meaning (gold) representing the transformation and the transcendence the individual, and Hwa (flower) representing the awakening of the real self, and the realization of wholeness in the human potential. The eight petals of the flower (Hwa) represent the building blocks of the Tao mentoring philosophy. The third section alone justifies buying the book. In this section the authors discuss cultivating the virtues of Tao mentoring. This section speaks of the virtues of the heart and the soul. Virtues of the heart are those virtues that strengthen the bond between the relationships of those in the mentoring relationship. Virtues of the soul are those virtues that prepare us to confront adversities and give us the strength to develop ourselves. Virtue of the heart includes mindfulness, attentiveness, trustfulness, kindness, and many more. Some of the virtues of the soul are modeling, guidance, and nurturing. The dialogs for each of these virtues are followed by beautiful short passages that leave you thinking hours after you close the book. The fourth and final section is a what-if scenario. It discusses the impact that we as individuals can make on the world, if we lived out our lives following the Tao mentoring philosophy. The authors expand this thought even further by exploring the positive possibilities Tao mentoring could make on our world, if everyone followed this philosophy. This is a five star book, I would recommend it for anyone who would like to enrich their lives, whether pursing a mentoring relationship or just desiring self fulfillment. Peggy Just,Pepperdine University
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Summary: A Perfect Guide to Achieving Inner Peace
Review: With life's complications weighing on our shoulders it is only natural to seek ways to simplify and improve the quality of our lives and those that surround us. Such methods are described in this wonderfully written book. Through the simplistic process of mentoring, knowledge is unselfishly shared with others, creating an unmeasurable positive impact on their lives. Unknowingly, in return, our lives are positively impacted as well. The author reinforces that our own personal growth begins with encouraging growth in others. The message, although very elementary, has had a profound effect on my relationship building skills with my family, co-workers, and friends.
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