Awakening to the Tao

by I-MING, LUICLEARY, THOMAS

• ISBN13: 9781590303443
• ISBN10: 159030344X
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2006-04-18
• Publisher: Shambhala

Summary

The Tao is the ancient Chinese "Way" that has inspired numerous books, fromThe Tao of PhysicstoThe Tao of Sex. This book might be called "The Tao of Tao." In 142 brief meditative essays, the author uses simple language and natural imagery to express the essence of the wisdom that holds the key to success in every human endeavor. Liu I-ming (b. 1737) was a Taoist adept and a scholar of Buddhism and Confucianism. He is the author of commentaries on several Taoist classics that have been published in English, includingTheTaoist I Ching, also translated by Thomas Cleary.

Author Biography

Liu I-ming (1737–?) was a Taoist adept and a scholar of Buddhism and Confucianism. He is the author of commentaries on several Taoist classics, including The Taoist I Ching and The Inner Teachings of Taoism by Chang Po-tuan, both translated by Thomas Cleary.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Translator's Introduction	xiii
PART ONE Contemplations
The Height of Heaven, the Thickness of Earth	3	(1)
The Shining of the Sun and Moon	4	(1)
Thunder and Wind	5	(1)
The Alternation of the Four Seasons	5	(1)
The Moon Borrows the Sun's Light	6	(1)
Steadying the Furnace and Setting Up the Cauldron	7	(1)
Fire and Water Mirrors	8	(1)
Dung Beetles	9	(1)
Lead and Quicksilver	9	(1)
Planting Wheat and Planting Flax	10	(1)
Grafting Peaches and Grafting Plums	11	(1)
A Hair Turning into a Water Snake	12	(1)
The Crane and the Tortoise	12	(1)
The Freezing of Water and the Melting of Ice	13	(1)
The Flourishing of Trees, the Extension of Streams	14	(1)
The Heart of the Pine, the Joints of Bamboo	15	(1)
Wood and Charcoal, Clay and Brick	16	(1)
The Flesh and Hair of Corpses	16	(2)
Witer Rising, Fire Descending	18	(1)
Melon Seeds	18	(1)
Murky Water, Dusty Mirror	19	(1)
The Heat of Movement, the Coldness of Stillness	20	(1)
Earth Mounds, Giant Trees	21	(1)
Filling Concavities, Wearing Away Protuberances	22	(1)
Carp and Foxes	22	(1)
Transformations of a Spiritual Dragon	23	(1)
Dead Trees, Cold Ashes	24	(1)
Contact with Rouge, Contact with Soot	25	(1)
The Natural Reality of the Infant	25	(1)
Bellows	26	(1)
The Handle of the Big Dipper	27	(1)
Lunatics and Drunkards	28	(1)
Lifting the Rope, Lifting the Collar	28	(1)
Wishing Out Gold, Sorting Out Jade	29	(1)
Drawing Water with a Well Sweep	30	(1)
The Flowers and Fruits of Plants and Trees	31	(1)
Effigies	32	(1)
Lamplight	33	(1)
Wine from Mash, Gruel from Rice	33	(2)
Bells Ring, Drums Resound	35	(1)
Marionettes and Kites	36	(1)
Parrots and Monkeys	36	(1)
Elm Sheaths, Shepherd's Purse, and Wheat	37	(1)
Desiring Water and Fire	38	(1)
Heading South, Heading North	39	(1)
Cutting Weeds, Planting Trees	39	(2)
A Pitcher Full, a Pitcher Half Full	41	(1)
Pottery and Decoration	41	(1)
Having a Body, Having Energy	42	(2)
An Empty Valley Transmitting a Voice	44	(1)
Scale and Ruler	45	(1)
Raft and Net	46	(1)
Hibernating Insects Returning to Life	47	(1)
The Oyster's Pearl, the Hen's Egg	48	(1)
The Phoenix and the Peacock	48	(1)
Midday and the Full Moon	49	(1)
The Dreaming of the Sleeper	50	(2)
Commerce	52	(1)
The Wild Monkey, the Stubborn Horse	53	(1)
Male and Female Reproducing	54	(2)
Opening Doors and Shutters	56	(2)
The Go-between	58	(1)
Tasting What You Eat	59	(2)
Climbing a Mountain, Crossing a River	61	(1)
Moths and Worms	62	(1)
The Silkworm's Thread, the Bee's Honey	63	(1)
Borrowing Seed from Another	64	(1)
Unties Hiding, Fishes Lurking	65	(1)
When Oil and Coal Run Out	66	(2)
The Lotus in the Mud, the Chrysanthemum in the Frost	68	(1)
The Lamp Cover and Brazier Screen	69	(1)
Roundness and Squareness	70	(1)
A Broken Pot, a Leaking Jar	71	(1)
The Mindlessness of the Infant	72	(1)
Building a Foundation and Raising a House	73	(1)
The Alchemical Workshop and Vessels	74	(2)
Caterpillars and Polliwogs	76	(1)
The Racehorse and the Nag	77	(2)
Red Flowers and Green Leaves	79	(6)
PART TWO Refrains of Lament
Pursuing Dead Matter	85	(1)
Values	85	(1)
The Blind Leading the Blind	85	(1)
The Open Gate	85	(1)
Decline in Taoism	86	(1)
Seek Guidance	86	(1)
Degenerate Taoists	86	(1)
Artificial Exercises	87	(1)
Dragon Head, Snake Tail	87	(1)
The Normal Tao	87	(1)
The Invisibility of Taoism	88	(1)
The Teaching of the Way	88	(1)
Awakening	88	(1)
Flexibility	89	(1)
Resolution	89	(1)
Vacuous Dilletantes	89	(1)
Opening the Mysterious Female	90	(1)
The Usefulness of the Tao	90	(1)
In and Beyond the World	90	(1)
Trivializations and Bastardizations	91	(1)
Sincerity	91	(1)
The Marvel of the Tao	92	(1)
Nonreification	92	(1)
False Students	92	(1)
Access to the Tao	92	(1)
Worthy Action	93	(1)
Finding the Tao	93	(1)
Near yet Far	93	(1)
A Long Road	94	(1)
Learning the Way	94	(1)
Balance in the Center	94	(1)
No my to Fake It	95	(1)
The Impartiality of the Tao	95	(1)
The Parting of the Roads	95	(1)
Precipitous Routes	96	(1)
The Priceless Pearl at Hand	96	(1)
The Tao and Its Methods	96	(1)
The Inner Design	97	(1)
The Taste of the Tao	97	(1)
Find It or Forget It	97	(1)
A Ladder to the Heights	98	(1)
The Unfathomable Tao	98	(1)
Immortality	98	(1)
Right at Home	99	(1)
No Bias	99	(1)
Reversal of Time	99	(1)
Stupidity and Madness	100	(1)
Independence	100	(1)
The Source of Difficulties	100	(1)
Witness, Practice, Experience, Transmission	101
The Original Real Human	10	(91)
The Stateless State	101	(1)
Don't Rush Blindly	102	(1)
Don't Guess	102	(1)
The Real Body	102	(1)
How to Act	103	(1)
Mastery of Openness	103	(1)
Energy, Vitality, Spirit	103	(1)
The Subtlety of the Tao	104	(1)
Diligence	104	(1)
The Uniqueness of the Tao	104	(1)
The Multifaceted Tao	105	(1)
The Beginning of the Tao	105	(1)
Prohibitions	105