Deng Ming-Dao

“In this delightful little book, Deng shares 144 ancient tales that are at times folkloric, others more comedic or tragic or paradoxical, and some just plain ribald. The advice contained here is simply presented: carry only what you need for the journey, literally and metaphorically. Quiet wisdom of the best kind.” —Library Journal When I was a boy, I didn’t get specific lessons on how to live. I got stories. If I asked why I had to believe some concept, a person like my grandmother might reply with something like, “It is true because of what happened to the Yellow Emperor,” and then the story would follow. What intrigues me is that this habit hasn’t changed even after China’s revolution, rapid modernization, digital technology, and global culture. People still say, “It’s true because . . .” before they invoke a story that is more than two thousand years old. Taoism is an ancient Chinese philosophy that emphasizes living in harmony with the universe. It is a tradition that has become widely popular in Europe and North America over the past fifty years—largely through its core text, the Tao Te Ching. Taming Tigers & Butterfly Dreams is filled with over 140 ancient stories that express great truth by fusing anecdotes—many of which are foundational stories related to the Taoist path—with philosophy. The stories are frequently humorous, ribald, irreverent, or sarcastic, but they always speak to great and universal truths: Flow with life Live from the heart Develop an openness to possibilities Live in balance Drop expectations Embrace acceptance The wisdom here fills a universal need. We need stories. They help us make sense of who we are and how we got here. They keep us sane as we try to absorb our experiences, our aging, and our emotions. Stories help us visualize the future by taking the messages of yesterday and helping us get tomorrow right. This book was previously published as The Wisdom of the Tao.

The essential Taoist guide to living with simplicity, compassion, and integrityThis is a book that draws on ancient Chinese wisdom to explore the critical life issues: What is our place in nature? How do we make right decisions? How do we respect the earth? How are we to view life and death? What is the path we should live to truly achieve a good and meaningful life?For Deng Ming-Dao, the two entry points for this exploration are two words: The first is the Chinese word for "heart"-- which means heart, mind, intention, center, core intelligence, and soul. And the second is the word beauty--which connotes the pleasure we take in art, design, fashion, and music. Our hearts love beauty, and beauty opens our hearts.In this profound collection of fresh and contemporary translations of ancient texts, Deng Ming-Dao gathers over 220 selections that deal with the essence of heart and beauty. Topics include: how to be great, how long it takes to follow your heart, how to bring order to the world, how to know everything, how to pacify the heart, and much more. Here are stories, fables, poems, and epigrams that delight, inspire, and inform.Those who would subdue people through their own "excellence"Have yet to subdue anyone.But if you used excellence to nurture people instead, The whole world would be subdued.No one has become ruler of all under heavenWithout subdued hearts.It has never happened.

Known widely as a tool for predicting the future, the I Ching is also a repository of three thousand years of philosophy. Its basic premises are simple: that all the world changes, that change is driven by impersonal forces that can be seen in terms of yin and yang, and that all change is cyclical. The wise person harmonizes with the great cycles of change, and, in order to be a master of change, must understand the I Ching.With this new translation, Deng Ming-Dao, a leading authority on Taoist practice and philosophy, recovers the true wisdom of this ancient classic. The language is friendly, open, and welcoming, and a breathtaking watercolor by the author opens each chapter. This innovative translation brings the ancient Eastern wisdom of the I Ching alive for contemporary readers.

The Taoist spirit comes to life, made vibrant and contemporary through the Chinese ideograms whose images and stories speak of living in harmony with the Tao. Everyday Tao revives an ancient approach to meditation and reflection by using these stories as sources of insight for spiritual growth.Tao is a person running along a pathA companion volume to the bestselling 365 Tao, Everyday Tao offers clear, specific directions on bringing the Taoist spirit into our work, our relationships, and other aspects of our everyday lives. Each ideogram provides the starting point for a Taoist lesson. The narrative that follows shows how we can achieve an intimate relationship with nature, others, and our natural selves.