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Summary
Summary
Most people think of the Tao Te Ching as a book on philosophy or a treatise on leadership. Yet there is a little-known treasure hidden within the familiar passages of Lao Tzu's work: step-by-step practical guidance for the spiritual journey. With Practicing the Tao Te Ching, renowned teacher Solala Towler reveals a new facet to this spiritual classic, offering accessible instructions paired with each of the 81 verses of the Tao Te Ching .
"Tao is a way of deep reflection and learning from nature, considered the highest teacher," writes Towler. "It teaches us to follow the energy flows within the heavens, the earth, and our own bodies." With lucid instruction and deep insight, he guides you through meditations, movement and breathing practices, subtle energy exercises, and inner reflections--all to help you to embody Taoist wisdom in every aspect of your life.
Author Notes
Solala Towler has taught and practiced Taoist meditation and qigong for more than 25 years. He is author of Tales from the Tao, The Tao of Intimacy and Ecstasy, and more. Solala is the editor of The Empty Vessel, and teaches qigong and sound healing at conferences and workshops around the country. For more I information on Solala's programs, visit abodetao.com.
Reviews (1)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Towler (Tales from the Tao), a teacher of Taoist meditation and qigong for over two decades, suggests that the Tao Te Ching is a spiritual practice guide for moving oneself toward oneness with the Tao. He guides readers through each of the 81 verses with a threefold approach. Towler translates the verses using clear, succinct phrasing without sacrificing poetics. His commentary is meant for contemplation, drawing influence from Chuang Tzu (another Taoist teacher), Ho Shang Gong (a more esoteric, alchemical interpreter), and his own teacher, Hua-Ching Ni. The practices involve paying close attention to the energies of the body while reflecting on one's current ways of living. Towler wishes to teach readers how to connect to Tao so that "you can understand and experience just who you really are and live a life in the world just doing what you naturally do." Towler is a gentle and warm teacher, successfully rendering the Tao Te Ching into everyday practical language and making its concepts available to a general audience. Those who are looking to become more spontaneous, open, and honest will find a worthy guide in Towler. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Table of Contents
| Foreword | p. xi |
| Introduction | p. 1 |
| Step 1 Practice Developing Your Inner Vision | p. 9 |
| Step 2 Practice Warming Up Your Energy System | p. 15 |
| Step 3 Practice Filling the Jade Pond | p. 20 |
| Step 4 Practice Empty Vessel Meditation | p. 24 |
| Step 5 Practice Bellows Breathing | p. 27 |
| Step 6 Practice Primal Mother Meditation | p. 31 |
| Step 7 Practice Belly Breathing | p. 34 |
| Step 8 Practice Water Meditation | p. 38 |
| Step 9 Practice Taoist Lifestyle Advice | p. 41 |
| Step 10 Practice Guarding the One Meditation | p. 45 |
| Step 11 Practice Alchemical Dantian Breathing | p. 50 |
| Step 12 Rractiee Organ Balancing Meditation | p. 53 |
| Step 13 Practice Expansion Meditation | p. 57 |
| Step 14 Practice Embracing the One | p. 60 |
| Step 15 Practice Stillness and Movement | p. 64 |
| Step 16 Practice Sitting and Forgetting | p. 67 |
| Step 17 Practice Letting Go | p. 71 |
| Step 18 Practice Experiencing the Unlimited Self | p. 74 |
| Step 19 Practice Head Knowledge Versus Belly Knowledge | p. 77 |
| Step 20 Practice Great Mother Meditation | p. 81 |
| Step 21 Practice Inner Knowing | p. 85 |
| Step 22 Practice Standing like a Tree | p. 87 |
| Step 23 Practice Six Healing Sounds | p. 91 |
| Step 24 Practice Inner Releasing | p. 95 |
| Step 25 Practice The Path of the Sage | p. 97 |
| Step 26 Practice Rooting and Grounding Practic | p. 101 |
| Step 27 Practice The Path of Refinement | p. 104 |
| Step 28 Practice Learning Your Balance Point | p. 108 |
| Step 29 Practice Useful Versus Mindless Activity | p. 112 |
| Step 30 Practice Journaling Your Journey | p. 115 |
| Step 31 Practice Not Wielding Weapons | p. 118 |
| Step 32 Practice Life Review Practice | p. 122 |
| Step 33 Practice Knowing Yourself Through Gongfu | p. 125 |
| Step 34 Practice The Wordless Journey | p. 128 |
| Step 35 Practice Becoming Who You Really Are | p. 130 |
| Step 36 Practice The Soft Overcoming the Hard | p. 133 |
| Step 37 Practice Change, Transformation, and the Art of Imperfection | p. 136 |
| Step 38 Practice The I Ching | p. 139 |
| Step 39 Practice Full Moon Meditation | p. 143 |
| Step 40 Practice Returning to Source | p. 146 |
| Step 41 Practice Sense of Humor Is Essential | p. 149 |
| Step 42 Practice Nonviolence Toward Yourself | p. 153 |
| Step 43 Practice Road Rules | p. 156 |
| Step 44 Practice Strengthening Your Spleen's Earth Energy | p. 159 |
| Step 45 Practice Tranquil Sitting | p. 162 |
| Step 46 Practice The True Heart | p. 166 |
| Step 47 Practice The Inner Journey | p. 169 |
| Step 48 Practice Letting Go | p. 172 |
| Step 49 Practice Becoming the Watcher | p. 175 |
| Step 50 Practice Heavenly Dew | p. 179 |
| Step 51 Practice Living from Your Childlike Heart | p. 183 |
| Step 52 Practice Turning the Light Around | p. 186 |
| Step 53 Practice Pain as Medicine | p. 190 |
| Step 54 Practice The Palace of Inner Observation | p. 194 |
| Step 55 Practice Guarding the Jing | p. 198 |
| Step 56 Practice Stillness in the Midst of Activity | p. 203 |
| Step 57 Practice One Thing at a Time | p. 206 |
| Step 58 Practice The Hall of Light | p. 210 |
| Step 59 Practice Tree Chi Gong | p. 213 |
| Step 60 Practice Hungry Ghosts | p. 217 |
| Step 61 Practice Balancing Yin and Yang | p. 220 |
| Step 62 Practice Clarity and Quiescence Practice | p. 224 |
| Step 63 Practice The Wu Wei Way of Effortless Effort | p. 228 |
| Step 64 Practice Looking Up Practice | p. 231 |
| Step 65 Practice The Journey to Wholeness | p. 236 |
| Step 66 Practice Gathering Chi from the Earth and the Sun | p. 240 |
| Step 67 Practice Slow Breathing | p. 244 |
| Step 68 Practice The Warrior's Breath | p. 249 |
| Step 69 Practice Gathering Chi from the Four Directions | p. 253 |
| Step 70 Practice In the Garden | p. 258 |
| Step 71 Practice Applying Your Knowledge | p. 261 |
| Step 72 Practice Working with the Spirits | p. 263 |
| Step 73 Practice Swallowing the Sun and Moon | p. 267 |
| Step 74 Practice Taking Up the Tools of the Master | p. 270 |
| Step 75 Practice Walking Meditation | p. 274 |
| Step 76 Practice Staying Young Chi Gong | p. 277 |
| Step 77 Practice The Way of Tea | p. 282 |
| Step 78 Practice Spontaneous Chi Gong | p. 287 |
| Step 79 Practice Giving Up the Need to Be Right | p. 291 |
| Step 80 Practice Taoist Advice for Modern Times | p. 294 |
| Step 81 Practice Small Heavenly Orbit | p. 298 |
| Afterword | p. 304 |
| Acknowledgments | p. 305 |
| About the Author | p. 306 |