The best Taoism books: Reddit reviews

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

I highly recommend this delightful book by Raymond Smullyan, who was a logician, raised and trained in the "west", but also a Taoist. Similar to Watts in spreading "Eastern" ideas to a "Western" audience, but he specifically deals with Taoism.

To go down the more psychedelic route, Richard Alpert/Ram Dass and Terrence Mckenna are classics, I don't know if you're familiar with them and similar figures?

Podcasts are great too, I recommend Philosophize This.

The Taoteching

Read the Tao Te Ching, sounds like a philosophy that works for you!

I started with Lao Tsu, Tao of Pooh and then Alan Watts - Watercourse way.

I’m now reading this https://www.amazon.com.au/Taoism-Dummies-Jonathan-Herman/dp/1118423968

And to be honest I wish I’d started with it.

What to read in relation to what to practice depends on the type of Taoism you want to practice. I found the Taoism Dummies book is a good place to start to ask yourself those questions and get a broad idea of everything that can be Taoism.

I’m a newbie too so I’m only just out of a similar situation.

No. the Te Tao Ching, which is sometimes called the Laotzu, is nothing to do with Zen. Not only that, it's tough to say that the Te Tao Ching goes with anything else. If you haven't read Te Tao Ching, btw, it's the definitive translation as far as I know.

Here's some Zen. http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/zen/mumonkan.htm Equally short, but not at all similar.

1. Taoism is a native Chinese religion unrelated to Buddhism.

2. "Taoism" is also a catch all for Chinese mysticism that has Laotzu's book Tao Te Ching at it's core.

The version of Tao Te Ching to read is "Te Tao Ching" http://www.amazon.com/Lao-Tzu-Translation-Discovered-Ma-wang-tui/dp/0345370996 which covers the history of the text and common misconceptions about it.

Don't be put off by the title, but Taoism for Dummies is a first-rate introduction to everything Daoist by a Sinologist who specializes in Daoism (availabe here and here).

> but that and orgasm together is better than that alone, haven't you tried both together? If not why not?

Depends on the context. Yes I have done certain practices that incorporate both. Those practices obviously do exist, some of which are potent. But not in jhana meditation, for reasons already mentioned. Sensuality and jhana are mutually exclusive, it's a different kind of pleasure withdrawn from sensuality.

For the time you're in jhana, there's an absence of sensuality, you simply can't mix the two while in that state.

If you're after sexual types of meditations specifically, you won't find that in Buddhism (except perhaps in fringe elements of Vajrayana Buddhism maybe?). Perhaps Taoism? Maybe try Taoist Secrets of Love by Mantak Chia perhaps? I read it years ago, although I'm not sure whether this is considered orthodox in the Taoist religion.

Thank you for admitting that your OP was off-topic to this forum.

Educate yourself, swine.

Try reading a book you sallow sow.

Mitchell didn't translate the Tao Te Ching. He read a bunch of translations and created his own interpretation from those translations.

That said, if you shared a passage as an example that could be helpful.

I'm guessing one of the translations he read translated 無知 (wúzhī) as "not-knowing". Chinese, especially old school Chinese, can be tricky to translate so some translators come up with something clumsy like "not-knowing" instead of just using English normally to try to convey the meaning.

To answer your question "not-know" is different from "not know" because they're trying to mimic Chinese in English. 無 (not) + 知 (know) = "not-know".

I wouldn't worry about it too much and would consult a couple other translations to get a better idea of what that chapter is trying to express.

For the record, I just guessed 無知 was in the Tao Te Ching. I didn't know it was until googling it just now. Looks like it's in Chapter 3 but it's probably in some other chapters.

https://www.yellowbridge.com/onlinelit/daodejing03.php?characterMode=t

I think someone else mentioned it already but if you wanna get deep with it check out the Philosophical Translation:

https://www.amazon.com/Dao-Jing-Philosophical-Translation-Mandarin/dp/0345444191

If I'm remembering correctly it actually has an index so you can easily check out every mention of 無知 and compare it across chapters. They also give a really detailed breakdown of "words" like these and the chapters themselves.

https://www.amazon.com/Tao-Te-Ching-Perennial-Classics/dp/0061142662

Stephen Mitchell

One of my most loved translations. I've probably listened to it 50 times.

I think you should take a look at the table of contents of Taoism For Dummies, which you can find here (for a price) or avast, ye mateys, prepare to be boarded, arrr!

It's the single best one-volume book on Taoism/Daoism from every angle: ancient philosophy, spiritual practices, meditation, martial arts, history, war, magic, pantheons, the afterlife, etc. The only reason it doesn't get more traction is the title. (Which is unfortunate, but I can assure you that many books in the series are actually quite good.)

So after you scan the contents, you can then decide what to include and what to throw out.

My favorite translation is this one I really like the collected commentaries.

The Stephen Mitchell translation is hands down the best version.

https://www.amazon.com/Tao-Te-Ching-Laozi/dp/0060812451/ref=pd_bxgy_1/131-0541983-5345335?pd_rd_w=3bMDB&pf_rd_p=c64372fa-c41c-422e-990d-9e034f73989b&pf_rd_r=RZ8QN8ASCCXACCTY0499&pd_rd_r=bb0a7ec2-6a63-4fce-b6e8-fe5596333379&pd_rd_wg...

https://terebess.hu/english/tao/mitchell.html

I would start with Taoism for Dummies by Jonathan Herman. Don’t let the title fool you. It’s written by a recognized expert on Daoism, and it covers a ton of material that most beginners want to know about: history, philosophy, religion, mythology, alchemy, the whole enchilada.
https://www.amazon.com/Taoism-Dummies-Jonathan-Herman/dp/1118423968/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1612600440&sr=1-1

Daoism: An Introduction by James Miller is another good one.

Louis Komjathy’s The Daoist Tradition: An Introduction would be next.

I think Tao De Ching by Red Pine is a good book to read too. I recently stumble upon a podcast on Spotify too from Dan Casas-Murray. https://open.spotify.com/show/5IyJnaFiFXIDIiWgNmGqxe?si=a46d6bd2a3cd42ce

Well, the idea that there was a "pure" philosophical Daoism and a later "corrupt," unlettered, uneducated peasant Daoism was a Confucian position in the 19th century, and it also became the position of most western Sinologists in the first part of the 20th century. This was never a Daoist or Buddhist position. There are plenty of books and articles on this. I'd recommend that you start with Taoism for Dummies (don't let the title put you off, it's a first-rate introduction to all aspects of Daoism) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1118423968/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_K5NJJPD9NNA3W8PWEHAW Then check out the work of Michael Saso, Kristofer Schipper, and Louis Komjathy, (all western-trained professors who are also Daoist priests ordained in Taiwan and China) as well as his academic teacher, Livia Kohn, including the many Chinese Daoist authors Kohn's helped bring to western publication through her own Three Pines Press. I'd also strongly recommend Thomas Michael's In the Shadows of the Dao: Laozi, the Sage, and the Dao De Ching for a good introduction to the subtle meaning of the DDJ if you want to get beyong Tao Pooh-ism.

Good luck!

Oh no that's a double mistake.

Soto Zen very much is representative of Zen.

Japanese Buddhists calling themselves Soto it turns out have no doctrinal or historical connection to Zen at all.

Dogen wrote the book that invented Zazen and initially didn't link it to Soto Caodong Zen at all. Now his cult claims Dogen was a Soto master well there's no evidence Dogen ever met a single Soto teacher.

Meanwhile at the same time back in China and actual Soto Zen Master wrote an actual book of instruction... You can buy it on Amazon... Cleary translated it... The Book of Serenity.

.

I've been chasing the argument that Zen is related to or even similar to Taoism for a while. I think it's actually Buddhist propaganda.

For one thing Taoism in the form of literature like laotzu and chuangtze is very questionably related to the Taoism religion with its celestial beings and its alchemy.

For another thing, Zen Masters both implicitly and explicitly rejected taoism, both the laotzu kind and the alchemy kind.

.

My first clue let that West failed to understand Taoism was this book:

Lao Tzu: Te-Tao Ching - A New Translation Based on the Recently Discovered Ma-wang-tui Texts (Classics of Ancient China) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0345370996/

Which argues that the title has been translated wrong this whole time... And the correct translation to the title suggests that it's not actually one book but two books with very different purposes.... Neither having anything to do with Zen's Way.

the buck breaking society fears accession through semen retention. https://www.amazon.com/Taoist-Secrets-Love-Cultivating-Sexual/dp/0943358191

I do enjoy Red Pine's translation, so maybe you'll find enlightenment from his translation: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/1556592906/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_D007AGD6RAFP8ME3WS2Q

I'm currently reading his translation of diamond sutra and it is quite good. Good luck on your journey to find peace and your true nature🤞

That could be too! Lots of ways to interpret it. I like to recommend Red Pine's translation of the Tao Te Ching because it comes with commentary. You'll see a wide variety of interpretations for each chapter.

I don't think this chapter is a commentary on the illusion of self. For example it ends with "sages therefore wear coarse cloth and keep their jade concealed". It's basically saying to "look normal and keep your "secrets/skills" to hidden".

There's this concept of being "useless" so you can be natural that you'll find in Taoist texts. There's a story of this tree that grew in a way that made it useless for humans so they never cut it down. I think the "coarse clothes" are making sure you appear "useless" in the right moments BUT you have your jade inside in the event that you need to present your usefulness. :)

Again, just my view on it.

To be honest… I don't know that Taoists spend a whole lot of time on the "illusion of self" and instead focus on "original nature/self" or "natural self". That said, different strokes for different folks! If you feel like investigating the illusion of self definitely go for it! :)

I remember like this text "Who Am I?" for the illusion of self (and it's free and short) but there's lot of good info on the topic out there.

Who Am I?: https://www.sriramanamaharshi.org/teachings/instructions/

Red Pine Translation: https://www.amazon.com/Lao-tzus-Taoteching-Lao-Tzu/dp/1556592906

Man… that's a super broad question so I'm going to give it broad, and Taoist, answer.

The way you'd apply the philosophy to modern use is figuring out, for yourself, which (modern) texts make the most sense for you to study based on your personal goals.

What I'm basically saying is that a Taoist can't tell you what texts you should pick up. 😝 lol

That said, if you type "Tao of…" into Google you're bound to find a book, blog post, or something on the subject. I typed "Tao of Anarchism" into Google and ran into this:

https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/josh-anarchism-and-taoism

If you do that and continue down the rabbit holes of resources that the books/articles suggest you'll probably find everything you're looking for.

Check out the wiki for an extensive list of books on the subject of Taoism.

I'd recommend picking up the Red Pine translation of the Tao Te Ching. I think it'd be really interesting to you because it has commentary from ancient Chinese scholars along with each chapter. That will give you perspective from a lot of different angles (military strategists, politicians, artists, etc.)

https://www.amazon.com/Lao-tzus-Taoteching-Lao-Tzu/dp/1556592906

I've actually heard some positive things about the "dummies" book. I haven't read it but I'd recommend it based on other dummies books I have read. I'm sure it must give a pretty dope overview of things.

https://www.amazon.com/Taoism-Dummies-Jonathan-Herman/dp/1118423968

OK. Now my personal suggestion. I like loaning people this book because it's "chill" and fun to read as it's a comic. When my tai chi student wanted to get serious about Taoism I gave him that. He said he was pissed at me about it because he wanted the "real" stuff, but he didn't say anything. Later he told me he was glad that I gave it to him… hmmm… I suppose it's another translation of the Tao Te Ching in a way but it's presented in a totally different manner.

https://www.amazon.com/Tao-Speaks-Lao-Tzus-Whispers-Wisdom/dp/0385472595

I was going to suggest the same (the wiki). I don't know if this is the best translation to start with but the unique thing about it is that it has commentary from historical leaders of Chinese thought along with each chapter. What's nice about that isn't just the insight, it's seeing how wildly different some of the chapters are interpreted.

One guy will talk about how the chapter is a guide for meditation and another will talk about its utility for managing an army (or something like that, just made that example up. :) )

https://www.amazon.com/Lao-tzus-Taoteching-Lao-Tzu/dp/1556592906

Thank you so much for such a detailed response. I've been meditating every day and praying. I have pictures of maharaji (neem karoli baba) that I quietly sit in front of every night. I am a fan of cannabis, but have not tried combining it with psychedelics.

Thank you for the encouragement.

Also, I saw your post on the tao de ching, great book. I took a class on daoism last year and the professor made us read two books by Livia Kohn, there's some really great and rare daoist scriptures in there (some it's the only translation available.) https://www.amazon.com/Tao-Te-Ching-Lao-Tzu/dp/1590305469/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=tao+de+ching&qid=1614131720&sr=8-8 this is the translation of the tao de ching that we read, but others are cool too. He taught it in a very academic/historical way, but what I love to do is to meditate for however long and then open up to a random page and read that chapter and then put it down. And just think about it for the day, let everything in your day pass through the lens of that verse or chapter. Then at the end of the day go back to that same chapter and read it again.

I haven't seen this one but I do enjoy another angle on the tao.

I'll give it a go.

Edit; upon searching Google, a Hackett classic shows up with "Watson" listed.

Is this the one you were referring? https://smile.amazon.com/dp/1590305469/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_2jhkFbC2QH5KQ

Bubba Watson is also a golfer and floods the Google results.

Reading ancient Chinese philosophy – specifically the Tao Te Ching – at the beginning of Covid & repeatedly throughout has really helped frame the world nicely.

*If you overesteem great men, people become powerless. If you overvalue possessions, people begin to steal.

The Master leads by emptying people's minds and filling their cores, by weakening their ambition and toughening their resolve. He helps people lose everything they know, everything they desire, and creates confusion in those who think that they know.

Practice not-doing, and everything will fall into place.*

Skip the ceremonial part and go to the source.

And for women.

>Taoism [...] and its applications to our everyday lives

Dao De Jing: A Philosophical Translation is a really good book for this, and also manages to avoid the common romanticized misconceptions of Taoism that often spring up in the west.

It's not any more detailed than what's written above, really. I'm reading Mantak Chia's Taoist Secrets of Love: Cultivating Male Sexual Energy https://www.amazon.com/dp/0943358191/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_WrPcCbTNYNV4H

But I'm basically just edging, and when i get close, I'm using my pc muscles, focusing on the positive feeling in my genitals, and trying to move that up my spine to my brain and the rest of my body.

Have you tried any of this before? Are you reading anything related to SR?