The Tao is the ancient Chinese Way that has inspired numerous books, from The Tao of Physics to The 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, including The Taoist I Ching , also translated by Thomas Cleary. 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