Taoist Meditation

Rating:
Summary: !!!!!!!.........
Review: (revised, corrected, augmented 1/1/'03)
My word! What a book ...

Formerly, it was Israel Regardie's 'Lazy Man's Guide to Relaxation' that blew me away with its usefulness over health issues. Now, Cleary's 'Taoist Meditation' sits next to Regardie's excellent volume (no doubt soon to be reprinted,) on my bookshelf.

Contained within the pages of Cleary's book is some of the most immensely useful advice on relaxation and health one might expect to find in any book. I am certain it is not the unfamiliarity with oriental thought that relaxed and compelled me to practically nod asleep on the bus home, as I read this powerful little volume. Reasonably powerful stuff, well worth the investment, to Taoists and health-seekers alike! It is also mercifully within the price-range of many.

Don't overlook Thomas Cleary's 'Taoist Meditation' just because it has a pretty cover. I'm a persnickety, demanding SOB when it comes to shelling out money for would-be 'useful' books. Beleive me, the present Thomas Cleary volume under discussion fully satisfies my insistent, demanding, no-nonsense nature, when it comes to books!

Also, for an older classic, still in print, one ought to consider resort to the standard 'Science of Breath' by Yogi Ramacharaka. It can also be immensely useful to those exploring breath, relaxation, 'prana' and 'healing energy' issues. Ramacharaka's book is a perfect companion to Thomas Cleary's new 'Taoist Meditation' handbook. Benefits to the reader will, no doubt, accrue.

Yet, allow me to make a further recommendation: Israel Regardie's 'Art of True Healing.' Unlike the Regardie offering mentioned in the first paragraph above, this essay is currently in print. It is available in an edition offered up with additional material by Marcus Allen. I often wish that oriental meditation material was as useful, generally, as Regardie's book is. 'The Art of True Healing' sets forth a species of meditation which can not only be used for general health, but for healing just about any other area of your life. It is based on western qabala, yet is very simple to learn and use. Surely it ought to have a place, if only for reasons of comparison, on anyone's shelf, who is interested in oriental alchemy/ meditation, or just meditation in general!

Regardie himself elsewhere encourages readers, to read Rama Prasad's 'Nature's Finer Forces,' an essentially Hindu orientation. Also, another Regardie favorite, Joel Goldsmith's 'The Art of Meditation,' is also not to be overlooked, in spite of its western (dare I say Christian?)orientation. (Sound all too eclectic? It isn't really. . .check these volumes out for yourself, before passing judgment and excluding them forever, without examining.)

Add to this Eva Wong's 'Cultivating Stillnes,' 'Cultivating the Energies of Life,' and 'The Tao of Health, Longevity, and Immortality,' and one should be well on the way towards a useful orientation on these classic contributions to health and well-being.

Caution is advised when pursuing any actual alchemy material set forth in some of these oriental books. Yet much of Thomas Cleary's and Eva Wong's books are laced and littered with valuable, useful, and usable Taoist perspectives on life, health, and well-being.

I might also add, that adding Durckheim's 'Japanese Cult of Tranquillity' to your health bookshelf, would hardly be a mistake.

..but see my recent review (note dates) on Eva Wong's 'Tao of Health,etc.', and Michael Saso's 'Gold Pavilion' for further elaboration.

(NOTE: Caution is also advised to those who would unwisely attempt to use these volumes as a substitute for regular medical care from a reputable physician. These books are supplements to, not substitutes for, such care.)

Rating:
Summary: Not a lot on meditation, but a lot of good material
Review: First, the name is somewhat misleading. Think of it more as documents that meditate on Taoism and have some information useful to meditation.

That being said, this is a great book. It has a variety of interesting and useful essays, and is well worth repeated reading and comparative studies. Indeed, I can honestly say that some of it helped me in integrating meditative techniques effectively.

This isn't for beginners - this is for people seriously studying Taoism, but its definitely worth it.

Rating:
Summary: !!!!!!!.........
Review: quite possibly the most amazing book i have ever picked up. in only thirty minutes with this book i reached a level of stillness that i could not even concieve of beforehand, much less attain. i recommend it for anyone interested in taoism or meditation... or even their mental or physical health. the passages are short, gripping, and insightful. a truly wonderful book.

Rating:
Summary: incredible
Review: quite possibly the most amazing book i have ever picked up. in only thirty minutes with this book i reached a level of stillness that i could not even concieve of beforehand, much less attain. i recommend it for anyone interested in taoism or meditation... or even their mental or physical health. the passages are short, gripping, and insightful. a truly wonderful book.

Rating:
Summary: another book make a buck
Review: the book ofter nothing new about meditation, lots of theory and mellow ideas. Not a true meditation method.
i suggest ReikiTummo.com where someone can learn the what true meditation is really about and what it take to do it. because all publish books on the market ,tons of newagey author all miss the mark sadly to say.

Rating:
Summary: classical wisdom
Review: This book is not actually a "how to" manual, rather, it is a series of talks on selected subjects such as "Virtue, Respect, Thoughts, etc." It not only speaks on these relevant subjects but makes it clear that a person should carry meditation through everyday life. Attention, and Awareness is the cornerstone of Buddhism and Taoism and in this book, it is presented in the taoist version. Benefits of meditation are also discussed. These include physical as well as psychological. A very relevant book for our fast paced lifestyles.

Rating:
Summary: Taoist Meditation
Review: This is really only for advanced students of Taoism. If you're not advanced, it will give you something to aim for.