365 Tao: Daily Meditations Paperback – July 17, 1992

i owned this book before, and i got this as a gift for a family member’s birthday. i thought he would like this book, so i bought him a copy!this book is pretty good!! i love reading 1-2 pages at a time (sometimes more because i love the readings!). i would highly recommend this book if you are looking for a moment meditation reading! i love the messages in the pages!!

Each reading is profound. No reading is profound. As you cycle through the year, each time you come to a reading you have read previously, you are different from who you were any time you read it before. No reading is profound or finished as it will be different the next time you read it.

What a book. I'm not gonna lie - I read this paperback in under 2 weeks. First, I read one page and suddenly found myself reading about 5-10 pages. Then I took a break --- looked in the back where I realized --- the author has laid out the book so that you can read one page a day, every day for a year = 365 days (that's if you want). However, after the first 5 pages -- I was hooked!!! I started reading about 30-40 pages a day. This volume is simple, straightforward and retains a clean-cut writing style, top to bottom. What's more, after about 50 pages - I ordered Ming-Dao Deng's other book "Everyday Tao". I'm sure it will be a worthy follow up...One thought that stood out -- was that this book was more straightforward (black and white) then others (especially in the area of right & wrong, and what to do as far as taking action). Everyone has common sense, some of us more than others, but when reading up on spiritual books - sometimes the meaning is hard to grasp 100%. After a few books on Taoism, Buddhism etc., I've had the impression that if something `bad' happens or you wind up in a sticky position - your feeling should be `oh that's the way it is and just go with it'. On the contrary, "365 Tao" clearly states you should have your defenses as well as other methods of handling certain matters. This book dives into greater detail concerning what to do when coming across specific situations like this. In the same token, it explains how you should become one with the Tao because actually -- you are Tao, you, me and everything else...If I must quote one precise page - it would be pp.125 - RESOLVE:"Make your stand today. On this spot. On this day. Make your actions count; do not falter in your determination to fulfill your destiny. Overcome your obstacles and realize what you envision. Each day your life grows shorter by 24 hours. The time to make achievements becomes more precious. Create the poetry of your life with toughness and determination".Words of poetry and wisdom - simply graceful....Every page has something humble and beautiful to offer (some even better than others). I thought the book was fabulous and quite insightful at times. Furthermore, it will certainly stay close to the desktop, so that I can look at choice selections whenever the whim arises. Actually, I plan on reading this book again soon, only this time -- one page at a time, for morning contemplation!!!

I absolutely love this book for a daily reading! I find myself getting up early to see what’s next. Highly recommended especially if you’re over fifty years old.

Fast service and book was as advertised.

The book arrived quickly and did not have objectionable markings. However the pages were quite yellowed, I'm not sure I would have bought this copy if I could have seen it first. However, the important thing is the content which is providing me many days of inspiration.

An American Taoist, Chinese scholar and author recommended this book during a lecture I attended. I haven't been disappointed. It has been helping my western mind understand the ancient Taoist concepts of life--life is full of change, adversities and abounding in mysteries, in which we can choose to flow or resist. The writer manages to convey the ancient Taoist principles without the use of Chinese words that we find in other English translations of ancient teachings. Simply put, he cuts to the quick of our western minds and still imparts the exotic world of ancient Chinese philosophy.Some of us are self-cultivators. We like to learn about how to ride the waves of what unexpected life dishes out. Taoism is like that. It emphasizes self adjustment to life rather than attempting to rearrange it to suit our needs. This book may be a good start for inquiries into Taoism for those of us who want or need to inch our way into understanding a philosophy without the intellectual work that often comes with such an endeavor. Ming-Dao Deng neatly and succintly defines Taoist principles on every page, even narrowing them down to one word each: "Beginning", "Ending", "Emptiness", "Continuation", "Attachment", "Joy", and 359 more. Since the ancient Taoists saw the importance of immersing ourselves in all of nature, a daily reading guide, according to the hemisphere in which we live is included, allowing us to chose our readings according to the seasons. The guide is also a handy tool for reflections on topics that capture the need of the day-- say, "Perseverance".The meditations cover just about every aspect of life, drawing us up and out of this world and bringing us back down: "When walking, can you feel the rotation of heaven?" or " When you shop, are you aware of your needs?" Whatever manner you choose to use this book, you will learn about Taoism as well as be challenged to expand your self-knowledge.

Compact and beautifully written, this book keeps giving with every read. I highly recommend it to anyone on the path of self-cultivation.