While there are no stirrings of pleasure, anger, sorrow, or joy, the mind may be said to be in the state of Equilibrium. When those feelings have been stirred, and they act in their due degree, there ensues what may be called the state of Harmony. This Equilibrium is the great root from which grow all the human actings in the world, and this Harmony is the universal path which they all should pursue.

Lao Tzu was the father of Taoism. In his "Tao Te Ching," Lao Tzu outlined the basic concept of Tao. Chuang Tzu and Lieh Tzu were Lao Tzu's most important followers who expounded and expanded the basic principles set forth by Lao Tzu. Together, the sayings of these three sages, which make up this volume, are the foundations for the philosophy of Tao.
The translations of the works of these ancient Chinese sages by Lionel and Herbert Giles are very highly regarded and considered by many to be the definitive English translations. Lionel's translation of The Sayings of Lao Tzu (1905), taken from the "Tao Te Ching" and logically re-ordered, is remarkable for its clarity of expression, particularly given the complexity of the subject. Herbert's translation of "The Sayings of Chuang Tzu," presented here, with an introduction by Lionel, was originally published as "Musings of a Chinese Mystic" (1906). Lionel's translation of "The Sayings of Lieh Tzu" was originally published as "The Book of Lieh Tzu, Teachings in Taoism" (1912).
Individually the works of these Chinese sages are classics. Together, they are a master resource of the history of Tao.

The Master said, 'If the people be led by laws, and uniformity sought to be given them by punishments, they will try to avoid the punishment, but have no sense of shame.

This book, from the series Primary Sources: Historical Books of the World (Asia and Far East Collection), represents an important historical artifact on Asian history and culture. Its contents come from the legions of academic literature and research on the subject produced over the last several hundred years. Covered within is a discussion drawn from many areas of study and research on the subject. From analyses of the varied geography that encompasses the Asian continent to significant time periods spanning centuries, the book was made in an effort to preserve the work of previous generations.

1895. Having written a book on Confucius, Alexander turns his attention to another Chinese classical subject-the life and teaching of the most distinguished of Confucius's contemporaries, Lao-tsze, the Great Thinker. Believing that knowledge of Lao-tsze is to be gained from the thoughts to which he gave utterance in his one great work, the Tao-tih-King, Alexander has made a translation of this piece the focal point of this volume. The Contents are divided into the following three Parts: Origins and Antecedents; Lao-Tsze and His Period; and The Tao-Tih-King.

Tao Te Ching is the 2,500 years old source to Taoism, written by the legendary Taoist philosopher Lao Tzu. In 81 short chapters, he presented the world according to Tao, the Way, and how mankind should adapt to it. The book has become one of the foremost world classics of wisdom - maybe even more relevant today, than it was to Lao Tzu's contemporaries.This translation of the text focuses on the clarity and simplicity by which Lao Tzu expresses his fascinating cosmology and profound ethics.Except for a short foreword by the translator, Lao Tzu's text is uncommented in this edition, allowing it to speak for itself.Stefan Stenudd has also published an edition with extensive comments and explanations: Tao Te Ching. The Taoism of Lao Tzu Explained.

Originally written for Chinese readers, this book provides a clear description of the Taoist practice of Internal Alchemy, or Neidan. The author outlines the four stages of the alchemical practice and clarifies several relevant terms and notions, including Essence, Breath, and Spirit; the Cinnabar Fields; the "Fire Times"; and the Embryo. The book is based on the system of the "Wuzhen pian" (Awakening to Reality), one of the main sources of Internal Alchemy, and contains about two hundred quotations from original Taoist texts.

Table of Contents

Foreword, vii

INTRODUCTION, 1
The Basis: Essence and Spirit, 3

STAGES OF THE ALCHEMICAL PRACTICE IN "AWAKENING TO REALITY," 11
The Four Stages, 13
"Laying the Foundations," 15
Main Points in the Practice of "Laying the Foundations," 20
The Functions of Essence, Breath, and Spirit, 36
Terms Related to the "Coagulation of the Three Treasures," 52
Conclusion of the Stage of "Laying the Foundations," 63
"Refining Essence to Transmute it into Breath," 65
"Refining Breath to Transmute it into Spirit," 99
"Refining Spirit to Return to Emptiness," 109

CONCLUSION, 119
The "Arts of the Way," 121

Tables, 123
Glossary of Chinese Characters, 133

THIS 20 PAGE ARTICLE WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE BOOK: Sacred Books and Early Literature of the East: Medieval China, by Chuang-Tze . To purchase the entire book, please order ISBN 076610009X.

The Tao Te Ching is one of the most profound pieces of writing in existence. Having been in continuous print for more than 2,000 years, its writings have inspired countless generations of spiritual seekers.

The language of the Tao Te Ching is subtle, resulting in many different interpretations and translations.

To help readers get past the difficulties associated with studying the Tao Te Ching, this unique special edition includes:

• Five distinct translations of each of the 81 chapters presented together
• A correspondence between the translations so they may be compared easily
• The original Chinese text broken into sections and linked with each of the translations
• The introductions to each of the translations complete with footnotes and Chinese characters
• An Afterward featuring the teachings of a Taoist monk to his Western student

The five translations are by Dwight Goddard & Henri Borel, 1919; Dwight Goddard & Wai Tao 1939; Henry Balfoiur 1884; James Legge 1891; and D.T. Suzuki & Paul Carus 1913.

"Rollicking and well-researched...A story of scandal, financial shenanigans, bodily discipline, oversize egos and bizarre love triangles." -"Wall Street Journal"
More than fifteen million Americans currently practice yoga (according to "Yoga Journal"), but how many of them know the true story of how Downward Dog first captivated America? Resurrecting a fascinating and forgotten tale, journalist Robert Love returns to the Gilded Age, when Dr. Pierre Bernard (ne Perry Baker in Iowa) revived a discipline banned in Victorian India, packaged it for Americans, and taught legions of followers, who bankrolled his luxurious Hudson River ashram- the first in the nation. Filled with Jazz Age celebrities, heiresses, spies, and outraged clergy, "The Great Oom" is the enthralling life story of the unlikeliest of gurus, and a stunning saga of mysticism, intrigue, and the American dream.

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

This classic work of Chinese mysticism was written over 2500 years ago. It author was Li Er, an enlightened sage and scholar known to the world as Lao Tzu (Venerable Master), who espoused a philosophy of the Way, or 'Tao' a method of non-striving existence, an effortless 'going with the flow'. Poetic, Humorous, Wise, Deep-hearted, and at times frustratingly enigmatic, the 'Tao Te Jing' is required reading for any student of mysticism and philosophy. It is also the perfect antidote to our contemporary materialist culture of acquisition and self-aggrandisement.

2011 Reprint of 1957 English Translation. Full facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. "Journey to the East" is written from the point of view of a man who becomes a member of "The League," a timeless religious sect whose members include famous fictional and real characters, such as Plato, Mozart, Pythagoras, Paul Klee, Don Quixote, Tristram Shandy, Baudelaire, and the ferryman Vasudeva, a character from one of Hesse's earlier works, Siddhartha. A branch of the group goes on a pilgrimage to "the East" in search of the "ultimate Truth." The conclusion of the short novel is a stroke of Hesse's typical Eastern mysticism at its finest. Hermann Hesse was born in Calw in the Black Forest on July 2, 1877, and from an early age was obsessed with the mystery of existence and humanity's place in the Universe. The Journey to the East is Hesse's tale of inner pilgrimage, an allegory on human desire for enlightenment and the long road that must be traveled to that ultimate goal. Using remarkably clear and accessible language, the book brings together the experience and conclusions of many years of spiritual struggle.

'The Analects of Confucius' has had the most profound effect on Chinese Society, and influenced much of S. E. Asia. The book was not written by Confucius, but by his disciples some 30 to 50 years after the Master's death in 479 BCE. However, the main arguments are undoubtedly those of Confucius himself. Self-improvement is the essence of Confucian thought: one must cultivate 'ren', (empathy), the five main qualities of which are liberality, trustworthiness, respect, earnestness and kindness. Mastering these, one becomes a 'junzi' or Prince of Virtue, setting an example which others will follow to produce a peaceful and just society.

China now attracts global attention in direct proportion to its increasing economic and geopolitical power. But for millennia, the philosophy which has shaped the soul of China is not modern Communism, or even new forms of capitalism, but rather Confucianism. And one of the most striking phenomena relating to China's ascendancy on the world stage is a burgeoning interest, throughout Asia and beyond, in the humanistic culture and values that underlie Chinese politics and finance: particularly the thought of Confucius passed on in the Analects. In this stimulating conversation, two leading thinkers from the Confucian and Buddhist traditions discuss the timely relevance of a rejuvenated Confucian ethics to some of the most urgent issues in the modern world: Sino/Japanese/US relations; the transformation of society through education and dialogue; and the role of world religions in promoting human flourishing. Exploring correspondences between the Confucian and Buddhist world-views, the interlocutors commit themselves to a view of spirituality and religion that, without blurring cultural difference, is focused above all on the 'universal heart': on harmony between people and nature that leads to peace and to a hopeful future for all humanity.

2010 Reprint of 1935 American Edition. Illustrated Edition. Paul Brunton (1898 - 1981) was a British philosopher, mystic, traveler, and guru. He left a journalistic career to live among yogis, mystics, and holy men, and studied Eastern and Western esoteric teachings. Dedicating his life to an inward and spiritual quest, Brunton felt charged to communicate his experiences about what he learned in the east to others. His works had a major influence on the spread of Eastern mysticism to the West. Taking pains to express his thoughts in layperson's terms, Brunton was able to present what he learned from the Orient and from ancient tradition as a living wisdom. His writings express his view that meditation and the inward quest are not exclusively for monks and hermits, but will also support those living normal, active lives in the Western world. Brunton is credited with introducing Ramana Maharshi to the West through his books A Search in Secret India and The Secret Path.

The Tao Te Ching is a how-to guide for creating harmony in your life. It can transform you, heal you, make you into the person you were always meant to be by teaching you about your true nature. It describes a force called the Tao that operates uniformly throughout the universe and is the causal agent of everything that happens. This edition begins with a discussion on knowing the Tao. With this foundation, it goes on to discuss how to use the Tao to become more conscious, to cultivate yourself, to lead others, to influence group dynamics, and when to refrain from action. Central Idea A central idea in the Tao Te Ching is the importance of avoiding extremes and always seeking the middle path on our journey through life. The objective is to operate from the middle ground between the extremes. This avoids causing any counter-reactions to your own actions. The net effect is one of neutrality. Finding the middle path means not needing to suffer the consequences of an act. In terms of the doctrine of Karma, it means avoiding negative reactions, or bad karma. Harmony with the Tao means living so that we do not swing like a pendulum from one extreme to the other. In human terms this pendulum swing equates to drama, that which creates disturbances in our lives and gets in the way of calm inner reflection. The Tao Te Ching encourages us to sense the world around us directly and to contemplate our impressions deeply from a position of neutrality. It advises against relying on the structures and orthodox belief systems that have been created by others. Such ideologies remove us from a direct experience of life and effectively cut us off from our intuition. Finding and following the Middle Path requires you to develop an awareness of the physical forces that shape your world and direct its events. Such forces operate uniformly at all levels, from the macrocosm to the microcosm. They operate in the universe as a whole and in the minds and lives of individuals. An understanding of these natural laws and the forces they direct gives you the power to direct events in the world without resorting to force, by using attitude instead of action. Subtle influence is better than force Influence on others is achieved through guiding rather than ruling. The objective is always to avoid taking action that will elicit counter-reactions. In Nature, an excessive force in a particular direction tends to trigger the growth of an opposing force. Therefore the use of force cannot be the basis for establishing an enduring social condition. Accepting the inevitability of change When you come to know the Tao, you understand that everything in the universe is in a state of flux. The emotional and intellectual structures that you build for your comfort and security will be subject to change by external forces that are largely beyond our control. The challenge is to accept the inevitability of change. We should not waste our energies propping up what one day must surely fall, defending them against criticisms, and convincing others to believe so that they are recognized as permanent truth. Grasping the reality of the impermanence allows us to align ourselves with the forces of Nature that bring about incremental progress in the social and physical world. We learn to embrace change whenever it occurs. Becoming a force of Nature Our alignment with the forces in Nature makes us a part of those forces, gives us the momentum of those larger forces. Our perceptions become more finely tuned because they are now based on evolving reality, not upon orthodox thinking that may be out-of-date. We see the world as it is, not as we believe it should be. Finding and following the Middle Path is how to create peace and tranquility in your life. A person whose life is chaotic, lurching from one disaster to the next, is unable do much more than merely survive.

This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

While there are no stirrings of pleasure, anger, sorrow, or joy, the mind may be said to be in the state of Equilibrium. When those feelings have been stirred, and they act in their due degree, there ensues what may be called the state of Harmony. This Equilibrium is the great root from which grow all the human actings in the world, and this Harmony is the universal path which they all should pursue.

It is arguably Confucianism, not Communism, which lies at the core of China's deepest sense of self. Although reviled by Chinese intellectuals of the 1950s-1990s, who spoke of it as "yellow silt clotting the arteries of the country," Confucianism has defied eradication, remaining a fundamental part of the nation's soul for 2500 years. And now, as China assumes greater ascendancy on the world economic stage, it is making a strong comeback as a pragmatic philosophy of personal as well as corporate transformation, popular in both home and boardroom. What is this complex system of ideology that stems from the teachings of a remarkable man called Confucius (Kongzi), who lived in the distant sixth century BCE? Though he left no writings of his own, the oral teachings recorded by the founder's disciples in the "Analects" left a profound mark on later Chinese politics and governance. They outline a system of social cohesiveness dependent upon personal virtue and self-control. For Confucius, society's harmony relied upon the appropriate behaviour of each individual within the social hierarchy; and its emphasis on practical ethics has led many to think of Confucianism as a secular philosophy rather than a religion. In this new, comprehensive introduction, Ronnie Littlejohn argues rather that Confucianism is profoundly spiritual, and must be treated as such. He offers full coverage of the tradition's sometimes neglected metaphysics, as well as its varied manifestations in education, art, literature and culture.

A modern book of destiny and power, using the ancient principles of the Tao Te Ching.
How do we begin to discover and live our destined life? How can we use the ancient, Eastern philosophy to experience more success in our lives?
From Derek Lin, Taoist master and author of "The Tao of Daily Life," comes this practical, systematic approach to the ancient and time-honored spiritual learning process. The Tao of Success navigates the five rings of life, which are common patterns of traditional Tao cultivation, conceptualized by the ancient sages: your spirit, your mind, your relationships, your world, and your destiny. Success is achieved by discovering and experiencing these five concentric rings, from the inside out, and not in the future but in the here and now.
Using the same format that made "The Tao of Daily Life" a breakout Eastern wisdom bestseller, Lin draws on the power of Taoist stories to illustrate important keys, or lessons. He then offers commentary on understanding and applying that story in modern life-all aimed to help readers live out the destiny that lies within themselves.
By integrating the life-altering lessons of this book into their busy lives, readers can begin to cultivate the Tao. In "The Tao of Success," Lin returns with his enlightening approach to understanding, centered on story and illumination of ancient Taoist secrets for the modern beginner and the familiar student alike.

Reprint of the 1937 edition. The Tao Te Ching is one of the world's great philosophical and spiritual classics, revered by millions. The oldest scripture of Taoism and meditational text, it is also a timeless philosophy of power based on harmony with nature. It has been adopted as a modern leadership manual and is well suited to contemporary life. The title means " The Way of Power" or "The Classic (Ching) of the Way (Tao) and virtue (Te)." The tao determines the te, or the manner in which a person might act who is attuned to the tao. Whatever can be defined is not tao--it is the timeless spirit that runs through all life, creating the essential oneness of the universe. The tao is not even "god," god being an entity that has sprung from the tao.

This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.

The Master said, 'If the people be led by laws, and uniformity sought to be given them by punishments, they will try to avoid the punishment, but have no sense of shame.