For over 2,500 years the words of the Tao Te Ching, the primary scripture of Laoism and Taoism, have been regarded as among the greatest treasures of the world. Lao Tzu, whose name means 'the ancient child,' wrote these essential verses that have both confounded and conferred blessings on humankind. Now Taoist masters Mantak Chia and Tao Huang guide readers through the origins of this philosphy, the meaning behind its 5,000 pictographs, and the way of living that generations have followed.

While the text of the Tao Te Cing has been passed down in literary form for generations, the essence of the text can be understood only through heart awakening-a true integration of body and mind-made possible with the insights and exercises in this book. The authors analyze Lao Txu's teachings, line by line, and offer meditations, interpretations, and energy cultivation practices that illuminate the true meaing of this classic text.

A student of several taoist masters, Mantak Chia founded the Healing Tao System in North America in 1979 and developed it worldwide as European Tao Yoga and Universal Healing Tao. He has taught and certified tens of thousands of students and instructors from all over the world and tours the United States annually, giving workshops and lectures. He is the director of the Tao Garden Health Spa and Resort training center in northern Thailand and the author of twenty-five books, including the best-selling The Multi-Orgasmic Man.

Tao Huang was born in Dingxi in Northwest China. In 1990 he came to the United States to present the teachings of Laoism and the practices of Taoism. He is the author of Laoism: The Complete Teachings of Lao Zi.

Contents

Acknowledgments
Putting the teachings into practice
Introduction: Conveying the heart of Lao Tzu's teaching
Lao Tzu and the Tao Te Ching
Esssence illuminated
A fresh translation
Cosmic bridge
An extraordinary collaboration
Note to women readers
1 Wordless uttering of the Tao
Defining the Tao
Communicable Tao and incommunicable Tao
The nature of the Tao
2 Chi and Taoist inner alchemy
The three minds
Returing to the source
The flow of the Tao: Empty and full
3 Sensation, the brain, and Taoist practice
The brain: Perception, emotion, and repsonse
Five colors blind the eyes
Beyond ego conflict
4 Walking the way
The wisdom of the I Ching
Practices for energy alchemy
5 Embracing oneness
Harmonizing the Hun and Po, heaven and earth
Triple unity
Reflections on unification
6 The wisdom of the Taoist sage
What is a sage?
Wu Wei: The action of the sage
The character of the sage
The path of the sage
7 The nature of Te
Virtuous action
Kind action
Te cultivation
8 Governing self and nation
Living simply
The sage and the people
The role of government
Conflict
9 Longevity and immortality
The psychology of immortality
Changes and changelessness
Taoist sexual practices for longevity and immortality
Harmony is eternal
10 Trust and faith
Speaking the Tao
The way of trustworthiness
The treasure of the Tao
Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching
Bibliography
The Universal Tao System and Training Center
Index
Index of Tao Te Ching chapters