Additional Reading
and your
local library
Inter-library loan programs (available at many local libraries) make hard-to-find books accessible, affordable.
This page lists some recommended Taoist books, from sources outside the Healing Tao. I've concentrated mostly on classical Taoist works, though there are some important contemporary (as well as non-Taoist) sources.
Autobiographies (get
real)
First, I have a general recommendation that aspirants make a point of reading autobiographies (or biographies by someone close to the scene) of
Spiritual Greats (and also autobiographies of students who studied with Real Teachers).
In the modern marketplace the spiritual path is too often repackaged as
"reliable step-by-step wonderfulness".
However, if you read source material of the historically most talented Ones
Who Got to the Bottom of Things, you'll find that their paths
were, amongst the devotion and wonder, also invariably harrowing, full of very real nitty-gritty.
Taoist texts.
Vitality, Energy, Spirit : A Taoist Sourcebook by Thomas Cleary (translator, editor)
A sampling of numerous classic Taoist texts, with introductions explaining their historical context: an excellent primer. Accessible, varied, clear. (For more by Thomas Cleary, see the Taoist Classics.)
The official English blog of Shen Laoshi, who is a student of Daoist Master Wang Liping of the Dragon Gate Sect (Longmen Pai). Astounding! Microcosmic orbit ("small heavenly orbit") posts: primary, all.
Cultivating the Energy of Life by Liu Hua-Yang, Eva Wong (translator)
A translation of the Hui-Ming Ching ("Treatise on Cultivating Life"), a fairly recent (1794) and open traditional Taoist text that covers the microcosmic orbit. Eva Wong is a high-caliber author-translator of many classic Taoist texts: it's worth it to browse a list of all of her books.
The Six Yogas of Naropa: Tsongkhapa's Commentary by Glenn H. Mullin
Ok, so this is a Tibetan text, but it is - by far and away - the best text that I've found to date about the core (central) channel, and the side (thrusting) channels. Clarifies the critical step of "conjoining bliss with the wisdom of emptiness". The first yoga is the crux of the six yoga system, and is the topic of interest here. Very clearly explained, most of it in plain language. Processes and aspects of subtle anatomy that are familiar to Taoism: kan & li, tan tiens, core channel, thrusting channels, bringing nourishment to the deep-center. This book doesn't just parallel Taoism, it is - astonishingly - right in line with Taoism. Contains vital missing pieces: required reading. If you're inclined to dig for additional related reading, search at Amazon.com for Naropa, Tsong-Kha-Pa, Tsongkhapa, Tson-Kha-Pa Blo-Bzan-Grags-Pa, Glenn H. Mullin.
Please see the important related essay The Main Path, Remarks re: Tibetan Context, Fundamental Nature.
The Tao of Healthy Eating by Bob Flaws
A clear description of the Chinese medical understanding of digestion and the practical implications for day-to-day diet. Plus Chinese medical descriptions of over 200 foods.
Opening the Dragon Gate : The Making of a Modern Taoist Wizard by Chen Kaiguo and Zheng Shunchao
An authorized biography of the intense Taoist training of Wang Liping by three elder Taoist adepts in China, during the 1960's.
NOTE: David Shen Verdesi's TraditionalTao.com and related Foundation Training Discussion Forum has alignment and connection with Wang Liping, for those of you who are interested in pursuing direct study with this lineage. You'll find on the forum some very well informed, frank, realistic, discussions of Taoist practices - which is more broadly very, very rare.
Much of this website, including much of the above reading, is for those who've at least gotten their Taoist toes wet already - and are interested in further "let's get in there" study. If you're brand new to Taoism, here are a couple of primers. The reviews at Amazon.com will fill you in as to their content.
The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff
The Scholar Warrior by Deng Ming-Dao
Lifestyle. While the specifics of lifestyle are uniquely one's own, the very real process of involution does have thematically common attributes and demands... for which modern secular culture is nearly entirely lacking in education, training, orientation. Deep re-assessment of lifestyle, social momentums (and one's participation in them),... a modern re-claiming of physical labor in nature as heaven ~ earth meditation. This dove-tails into the green movement, organic gardening / farming, raising livestock, urban adaptability, and renewed appreciation of local community.
Ordinary People as Monks and Mystics: Lifestyles for Self-Discovery by Marsha Sinetar
Marsha Sinetar defines "monk" as a person and process of social transcendence, which goes through stages of (some measure of) withdrawal from society, clarification, and re-engagement in a more authentic manner. Similarly "mystic" as that of self transcendence. Her book is based on a study of approximately 40 people (singles and married couples), and so stays very connected to actual process, practical problems and practical solutions. Written in a non-sectarian style.
The Rodale Book of Composting publ. Rodale Press
This book does not explicitly promote any lifestyle; its purpose is to educate, theoretically and practically, on composting. In doing so, you get a mini-course in ecology, and the role of healthy soil. Those basic facts have enormous implications re: culture, and lifestyle. And, something productive and fun that you can do: a compost pile and an organic garden.
Citizenship Papers, The Unsettling of America, and What are People for? by Wendell Berry
also, Wendell Berry and the Agrarian Tradition by Kimberly Smith
Essays on character, community, economy, ecology, and agriculture; how they are interwoven - particularly the weave of modern times. Wendell Berry elucidates the cultural layer of the Integral View. I'd consider reading anything by Wendell Berry (his essays, not so much his fiction, novels). Related author: Gene Logsdon. (Thank you!, Amanda.)
Magazine (the magazine for this sort of thing), online articles, discussion forum, books, resources.
"Intentional Community" is an inclusive term for eco-villages, co-housing, residential land trusts, communes, student co-ops, urban housing cooperatives and other related projects and dreams... Site provides access to crucial resources & info for seekers of community, existing and forming communities, also clarifying/creating community where one already lives: Communities Magazine (really excellent mag), Communities Directory (including an amazing interactive map of ic's - with a satellite to see terrain!) & Online List, Books by Category, E-Newsletter, too many other resources to list.
Urban permaculture. Many of the organic-farming and alternative-community models are... more rural, and more alternative, than a lot of us will practically get to. This excellent website chronicles the transformation of a single-family house in Los Angeles. "Our objective is to live as sustainably as possible in an urban environment". Online articles, links, blog, discussion forum, online store, and lots more.
I think that, particularly in an urban environment, organically growing some of your own food, and sharing surplus produce amongst neighbors... is good for body, house-hold, community, nature, heaven~human~earth integration. (For most of us who are already living in an urban environment...) For those staying in the urban setting, its not so much about moving to an organic farming community, as it is becoming one.
Scott Sonnon (Intu-Flow is the essential product.)
Scott Sonnon has a unique approach to the physical form that focuses on the unraveling of what he dubs “fear reactivity.” Fear reactivity is the memory of physical, emotional and “psychic” trauma stored in the body (especially at the layer of fascia) and made manifest via a lack of range of motion in the joints. One could say: “flexibility is a snap-shot of life, while range-of-motion is life itself.” Coach Sonnon hypothesizes that dissolving fear reactivity allows one to reach one’s true potential—on many levels. His students have practically turned his hypothesis into a law. They can be witnessed taking range-of-motion exercises and evolving them into full-body “flows” called kinetic chains, and wielding the modern version of the gada (weighted club) in a circular strength program that most closely approximates real-world stimuli. By far the best part of Scott’s world is his discussion board: when one signs up, one officially becomes part of “the tribe” which boasts some of the most sophisticated and supportive “seekers” on the Internet.
[Webmaster's notes:
In the Taoist internal martial arts, the connective
tissue, fascia~tendons~ligaments~joints~marrow, is a continuum through
which integration occurs. I suspect that Sonnon's work taps into that spectrum, not in
exactly the
way as the Taoist internal martial art's do, but still in a way that is very beneficial.
A very unusual system, and highly recommended. His Intu-Flow
product is the foundation of his system.
WARNING RE: THE NECK - See Neck Isometrics
page.]
Stadion.com - Thomas Kurz's website. Includes his dvd, Secrets of Stretching (easily worth the $50) and his book, Stretching Scientifically. Kurz takes the approach that leg strength is a necessary complement to stretching in order to get good flexibility (splits), and so he includes a really comprehensive set of leg strengthening exercises, from many different angles, using a variety of modalities. As you can see from Kurz's pictures, his approach results in strength and stability leveraged deeply into the pelvic region. Obvious benefits to jing gong.
Thomas Kurz demonstrating strength and flexibility.
Matt Furey is considered the greatest fitness marketer of the Internet age. His claim-to-fame is a course entitled “Combat Conditioning.” Combat Conditioning revolves around three body-weight exercises that he learned from the legendary wrestler Karl Gotch who picked them up during his travels in India many years ago. Daily performance of these three exercises (called the “royal court”, of which, bridging is "the king") can whip a person into functional shape VERY fast.
WEBMASTER'S NOTES:
Breathing into the lower tan tien while bridging can
be an effective tool for relieving bound up sexual tension (a common difficulty for
men, and that goes triple if practicing semen retention).
While
on a swiss ball: tuck your feet under a couch and do slow sit-ups, into and
out of a fully-arched position. Occasionally press into a bridge.
(Thanks! again to Plato Rosinke, for recommending and writing up the above two resources.)
The Psoas Book by Liz Koch
Information about the book and articles on the psoas muscle can be found at Liz's website: CoreAwareness.com.
Also, see the bottom of the stretching essay for Taoist yoga resources.
Sexology.
Intellectual Foreplay by Hogan & Hogan
Choosing a partner with some wisdom and care.
The Lin Institute: Research Center for Multiple Sexual Orgasms the website of Newman K. Lin, Ph.D., PE.
Dr. Lin's methods for semen retention are generally considered (by the participants at the HT-USA Discussion site) to be clearly superior to Mantak Chia's methods. (Though various other aspects of cultivation are not part of Dr. Lin's system.) Additionally, Dr. Lin's methods result in a love-making style that is far more satisfying for the majority of women.
Much of his material can be read right on his website (above), for free. However, there's quite a lot of material, and the presentation of his material is more clearly organized on his CD, which is highly recommended and can be purchased from the order form at his site.
Introductory links to his theory, methods.
Art of the Bedchamber : The Chinese Sexual Yoga Classics Including Women's Solo Meditation Texts by Douglas Wile
The reviews of this book at Amazon.com explain what it is (follow the link).
Learning about Chinese Medicine. Much of the theory of Taoist internal arts comes directly from Chinese Medicine (and vice versa). In addition to on-your-own reading, if there is a college of oriental medicine in your area, most offer an introductory course that is open to the public.
(check
for latest edition)
A Manual of Acupuncture by Peter Deadman is the English-language acupoint reference book, in hardback, CD, and flash cards. A comprehensive practical understanding of channels and points is a big piece of the puzzle and, obviously, way beyond the scope of this website. A hobbyist can approach it via self-acupressure (not acupuncture).
The following two companies, Redwing and Blue Poppy, provide excellent free catalogs for books, videos, etc., so that you can research as you like.
If you're interested in Chinese Medicine (and many related topics), this is sort of the place that sells all the books that you'll find at colleges of oriental medicine. Use their online catalog, or request a mail order catalog.
Blue Poppy Enterprises - Bob Flaws
An additional source of excellent books on Chinese Medicine including a section of books for laypersons.
Specializing in Chinese herbs, the live plants! Grow your own Chinese herbs. (Of course, additional sources available, if you search.)
Lycium barbarum, the shrub that produces "gou qi zi" (aka, lychi berries, goji berries).
Kundalini Resources. A very important topic. These sites speak for themselves, provide their own reading references, and - perhaps most informative - provide personal experience stories online.
Over the years, Thomas Cleary has translated many original texts on Taoism. Each volume of "The Taoist Classics" series brings together several previously published works into one volume (often both hard-cover and paper-back are available). I've provided links to the "Classics" compendium volumes, as well as to most of the smaller individual volumes.
The individual volumes vary widely in difficulty. Some are easy reading, others are dense, cryptic, truly bewildering long term projects. Don't get discouraged; simply approach the ones that seem approachable. I've listed the volumes in the order that I'd recommend them, with a few notes here and there.
The Taoist Classics Vol. 3 - By far the most accessible of the four volumes. Informative, not overly cryptic.
1. Vitality, Energy, Spirit : A Taoist Sourcebook - A sampling of numerous classic Taoist texts, with introductions explaining their historical context: an excellent primer. Accessible, varied, clear.
2. The Secret of the Golden Flower : The Classic Chinese Book of Life
3. Immortal Sisters : Secret Teachings of Taoist Women
1. The Taoist I Ching - This is the I Ching that's written from the alchemical perspective! An incredible book. If you're into this stuff, this is the kind of book you'll read over and over through the years - gradually learning.
2. I Ching Mandalas (out of print as a separate volume)
1. Understanding Reality : A Taoist Alchemical Classic - Very cryptic, difficult study.
2. The Inner Teachings of Taoism - Another cryptic study.
3. The Book of Balance and Harmony - Much more accessible than the above two, though using similar symbolic terminology.
4. Practical Taoism - This is a deep text, yet overlaps pop-Taoism enough to be accessible to we simple aspirants.
The Taoist Classics Vol. 1 - I've considered taking this off of this listing...
1. Tao Te Ching - I dislike Cleary's translation of this classic; the poetry was ruined.
2. Chuang-tzu
3. Wen-Tzu : Understanding the Mysteries
4. The Book of Leadership and Strategy
5. Sex, Health and Long Life : Manuals of Taoist Practice
(end of Cleary's "Taoist Classics" volumes)