The Tao Is Silent

Rating:
Summary: Well, it's alright...
Review: "The Tao is Silent" is interesting, but don't let Smullyan fool you. He adheres almost exclusively to the Chuang Tzu branch of Taoism and has little to do with the more forbidding Lao Tzu school of thought (if he did, he probably wouldn't have written the book; he seems to have done a fair amount of work on his "uncarved block"). Smullyan's Taoism has a somewhat self-indulgent bent that many Taoists may react strongly to, and for the beginner it might be wise to pick up the Chuang Tzu and the Tao Te Ching first and try to read them on their own merits rather than depending on Smullyan for your introduction to the philosophy. If Chuang Tzu and the philosophy of Zen (which draws heavily from Chuang Tzu) resonate with you more than Lao Tzu, you'll probably enjoy "The Tao is Silent," and much of it is quite well written. There's a particularly clever chapter concerning a conversation between God and a mortal on the subject of free will. But if you share Lao Tzu's interest in following the Way of Nature on a broader scale, Smullyan will probably disappoint you.

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Summary: what a jovial and optimistic outlook on life
Review: As a long time student of the Tao I absolutely loved this book. It truly embodies the spirit of Taoism. It models for the reader a delightful mixing of pleasant and unpleasant realities of life in a fashion that comes to terms in a manner of peaceful coexistence. Removing the unnecessary labels of such things as good and bad leading the ready reader to accept things as they are. I especially enjoyed the invaluable lessons that illustrate the power of perspective.

As the Tao itself, Schulman's book offers the novice as well as the master greater levels of insight and inspiration with each read. A true celebration of the irony and paradox of life along the Way. Schulman doesn't fall prey to the folly of teaching; he merely (ironic grin) shares and knows that the student who is ready will learn and understand. Bravo!

Rating:
Summary: Well, it's alright...
Review: Don't buy this book expecting to walk away with a concrete understanding of Taoism or the Tao. One could say of someone reading this book looking for such concrete answers "if you must ask, you won't understand." It is a very humorous look at spiritual self discovery through taoist philosophy. The compare and contrast style the author often uses is effective. One begins to understand that he can't tell you what the Tao is, but he can tell you what characteristics one finds in it, and what it isn't.

Very good for an laid back, easy to read spiritual romp. While at times the circular logic threatened my sanity, it did so in a teasing way. At least now I know I'm *not* Taoist.

Rating:
Summary: Sheer delight
Review: I think that at one time or another, I've read nearly everything Raymond Smullyan has published (including some books that, like _5000 B.C._, are now undeservedly out of print). And I still think this is probably his best book.

It is not, as Smullyan himself notes, a book _about_ Chinese philosophy, so don't buy it as an introduction to Taoism. (Probably the best overall such introduction, at least to "philosophical Taoism," is Alan Watts's _The Way of Zen_. Smullyan is a fan of Watts, by the way, and I agree with him that _Cloud-Hidden, Whereabouts Unknown_ was one of Watts's best books.) Smullyan is not giving an exposition of Eastern religion or philosophy here, although he does include a helpful bibliography for anyone who wants to follow up on that topic. (In fact some of his best essays have at least marginally to do with _Western_ religion.)

This book is a series of essays and reflections _inspired_ by Chinese philosophy -- in particular, inspired by an American mathematical logician's _reading_ of Chinese philosophy. And Smullyan is a delightfully witty and graceful writer, with a vivid sense of (for example) the foolishness of much modern "education," the meaning of "discipline," and the limits of abstract formal logic (which, incidentally, is _not_ identical with "reason").

Not only that, but he is one of few recent writers to explore the "dialogue" as a form of philosophical exposition. One of his finest is in this volume: "Is God a Taoist?" (This one is guaranteed to annoy all the right people.)

The Tao may be silent, but Smullyan, thank goodness, is not. His deft logic, his light touch, and his genial humor will endear him to pretty much any reader, of any religious or philosophical orientation, who approaches the book with an active mind.

(And I do mean "any." I have known the occasional reader who takes Smullyan to be an enemy of religious "orthodoxy," but I frankly see nothing here that justifies that view. More likely somebody is just misunderstanding what "orthodoxy" really is.)

Very highly recommended. Check out Smullyan's other books, too; among other things, he's a master of logic puzzles.

Rating:
Summary: It's a gem... a poem... a little big book...
Review: It's to be expected that this slim volume: so plainly written, so silly-witty, could be misconstrued for fluff,and ill-informed fluff at that. As some of the other reviewere have done. Just as one would be unlikely to notice the bum with the goofy grin lounging on a park bench is a Sage.

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Summary: Humorous but not at all insightful
Review: The back cover of this book states, "This is more than a work on Chinese philosophy. It is a series of ideas inspired by Taoism that treats a wide variety of subjects about life in general." PLEASE take this to heart before you decide to read (or buy) this book. There seems to be a paucity of good general reference books on Taoism in the West, and this is NOT one of them. But then it's not supposed to be. Although Smullyan speaks of Taoist basics, he does so in very broad brushstrokes and usually only as a launchpad for whatever subject he chooses to tackle in the given chapter. The book tends to be lighthearted and humorous, seemingly paying homage to the less weighty Chuang-tzu school of thought, but the writing style is heavily self-indulgent and littered with strawman arguments, circular reasoning, and simplistic proclamations, proving that Smullyan is probably better suited to his "day job" of mathematical logician than philosophical ponderer. The book is also full of spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors, which you'd think a major publisher would have caught before printing, let alone 15 years after the fact.

The chapter titled "Is God a Taoist?" is funny enough to merit a star on its own. And if you're looking simply for "funny," then please enjoy this book. Just don't go into it expecting any profound insights, perhaps other than into Smullyan's truly unusual mind.

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Summary: But Taoism is not Buddhism?
Review: THE TAO IS SILENT by mathematician Dr. Raymond M. Smullyan makes inappropriate comparisons with Buddhism and is confused from the historical perspective. Dr. Smullyan seems to be unaware of the major doctrinal differences between Buddhism and Taoism which cumulated in the Taoist Wudang temple's participation in the destruction of the Buddhist Shaolin temple in Fujian in 1768. Further differences include: that Taoist priests wear their hair long while Buddhist monks shave their heads; Taoism emphasizes the internal while Buddhism emphasizes the external; Taoists pursue longevity while Buddhists pursue spiritual development; Taoist kung fu is a soft style while Buddhist kung fu is a hard style; and Taoism emphasizes immortality over Buddhist reincarnation. For Dr. Smullyan to quote from the Zen Buddhist sutras to illuminate a point on Taoism is as awkward and inaccurate as quoting from the Jewish Talmud to illuminate a point on Roman Catholicism! This author would have strengthened his thesis if he had actually included the opinions of Taoist priests and Buddhist monks rather than his mathematician's interpretation of a very deep and profound religion!

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Summary: "The Tao is Silent" but I am not ... so please read on
Review: This book is a set of insightful reflections on Taoist philosophy and zen statements written by (of all people) a mathematical logician. The author provides the reader many serious and even humorous discourses about life and the path we choose to live. It is filled with amazing logic that is applied to the Taoist statements which become more clear and precise ... from this perspective.

Here is the approach the author takes: he describes how the Tao is formless, it is silent, it is vague, it does not command and does not argue ... He then discusses how the Tao can be proven to 'exist'. He delves into why the Tao is spontaneous and how it manages to remain leisurely, too. There are discussions on selfishness, altruism, "trusting one's true nature", "letting things go their own way" vs "on making an effort" adn "on the art of management". One of the shortest but most erudite chapters is entitled, "abiding in the Tao". The Taoist abides in the Tao not becasue it is his duty, nor because he is commanded to, neither is he afraid of the Tao ... he does so ... because "he loves to". While the true Tao is nameless, the Tao that is named, becomes the "Mother of all beings". Also, Smullyan tells us, "this unnamed Tao is more serene, 'more truly itself' than the named Tao."

This book does not take a conventional approach to describing Taoist philosophy, instead through the author's particular unique lense we get insight into this paradoxical subject. The book is replete with examples of Taoist and Zen sayings and logical comparisons which enhance the author's viewpoint of life. Reading this book is a pleasant experience for anyone wanting to explore how Chinese philosophy relates to life. Erika Borsos (erikab93)

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Summary: Profound Connections
Review: We can compare Mr.Smullyan's witty work here with "actual Taoism" ... or taste it even more enjaybly for what it is, a collection of astounding and excellently worded personal reflections. This book manages to express thoughts which I have long battled with in wording and conceptualization.Read it now!