Five hundred years before the birth of Jesus, a God-realized being named Lao-tzu in ancient China dictated 81 verses, which are regarded by many as the ultimate commentary on the nature of our existence. The classic text of these 81 verses, called the Tao Te Ching or the Great Way, offers advice and guidance that is balanced, moral, spiritual, and always concerned with working for the good.
In this book, Dr. Wayne W. Dyer has reviewed hundreds of translations of the Tao Te Ching and has written 81 distinct essays on how to apply the ancient wisdom of Lao-tzu to today’s modern world. This work contains the entire 81 verses of the Tao, compiled from Wayne’s researching of 10 of the most well-respected translations of text that have survived for more than 25 centuries. Each chapter is designed for actually living the Tao or the Great Way today. Some of the chapter titles are “Living with Flexibility,” “Living Without Enemies,” and “Living by Letting Go.” Each of the 81 brief chapters focuses on living the Tao and concludes with a section called “Doing the Tao Now.”
Wayne spent one entire year reading, researching, and meditating on Lao-tzu’s messages, practicing them each day and ultimately writing down these essays as he felt Lao-tzu wanted you to know them.
This is a work to be read slowly, one essay a day. As Wayne says, “This is a book that will forever change the way you look at your life, and the result will be that you’ll live in a new world aligned with nature. Writing this book changed me forever, too. I now live in accord with the natural world and feel the greatest sense of peace I’ve ever experienced. I’m so proud to present this interpretation of the Tao Te Ching, and offer the same opportunity for change that it has brought me.”
Yes, we pure Taoists agree...November 25, 2008 12 out of 12 found this review helpful
From a pure taoist perspective, Tao Cycle Therapy: Natural Happiness via Self Directed Cure for Chronic Anxiety & Depression [Updated 2008 3nd Edition] is so much more practical and a much better read. I won't be quite as harsh as some of the other taoist reviews here because at least he's giving taoism a little exposure. Don't get me wrong Dyer's book absolutely is garbage, but if someone finds some of the practical stuff the tao offers because they started off seeing dyer talking about it, then that's probably a net gain for taoism itself. Too bad he couldn't have a little respect for it though. He has the resources to do this right. A real shame I think.
Agreed, "Tao Cycle Therpy" is so much better.November 25, 2008 0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Yeah, I totally agree with that last lady's review. This is typical Wayne Dyer drivel, disrespecting everything honorable in his narrow minded path. Lao Tzu would hate this guy. I agree with her totally, try Sarah Brown's book: Tao Cycle Therapy: Natural Happiness via Self Directed Cure for Chronic Anxiety & Depression [Updated 2008 3nd Edition]
Typical Dyer but...November 25, 2008 12 out of 12 found this review helpful
Typical Dyer, but this time he takes it a step further, disrespecting one of the few remaining, honorable human belief systems. Taoism has always been so innocent. Taoism isn't selling something. What a disgrace. The worst part for me was that he tried to make Taoism mystical. It seemed to me like he just took all that garbage from "the secret" and slapped the word Taoism in the title.
There are plenty of good Taoism books, and if you also want to use Taoist wisdom as a means to change something in your life, start with something a little more practical, not typical Dyer bs. If you just want to learn about Taoism, just grab a copy of the Tao te Ching and go from there. The best book I know of that shows you how to make some practical changes based on some Taoist concepts, is Sarah Shikitao-Brown's book, "Tao Cycle Therapy" which is sort of a melding of Psychology, Socio-biology, and Pure Taoist Naturalism, a much more practical and honorable book: Tao Cycle Therapy: Natural Happiness via Self Directed Cure for Chronic Anxiety & Depression [Updated 2008 3nd Edition]
-Emma
Excellent CD setNovember 25, 2008 This 8 CD set is one of the best self help series I've heard. It really helps to put life in perspective and manage emotions in a positive way. I've listened to it at least 3 times through, while driving to and from work. I get something new out of it each time.
Life ChangingNovember 11, 2008 I have always loved Dr.Wayne Dyer but this book is so telling and helpful.I love what i am learning just when i think there isn't much left this book comes along to guide me.I love it.
