A modern book of destiny and power, using the ancient principles of the Tao Te Ching.
How do we begin to discover and live our destined life? How can we use the ancient, Eastern philosophy to experience more success in our lives?
From Derek Lin, Taoist master and author of The Tao of Daily Life, comes this practical, systematic approach to the ancient and time-honored spiritual learning process. The Tao of Success navigates the five rings of life, which are common patterns of traditional Tao cultivation, conceptualized by the ancient sages: your spirit, your mind, your relationships, your world, and your destiny. Success is achieved by discovering and experiencing these five concentric rings, from the inside out, and not in the future but in the here and now.
Using the same format that made The Tao of Daily Life a breakout Eastern wisdom bestseller, Lin draws on the power of Taoist stories to illustrate important keys, or lessons. He then offers commentary on understanding and applying that story in modern life-all aimed to help readers live out the destiny that lies within themselves.
By integrating the life-altering lessons of this book into their busy lives, readers can begin to cultivate the Tao. In The Tao of Success, Lin returns with his enlightening approach to understanding, centered on story and illumination of ancient Taoist secrets for the modern beginner and the familiar student alike.
Derek Lin is an award-winning, bestselling author in the Tao genre. His Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained is an original translation that not only sets a new standard for accuracy, but also has been lauded by critics as the first to faithfully capture the lyrical beauty of the original. His The Tao of Daily Life, a breakout Eastern wisdom bestseller, integrates Taoist stories with dharmic lessons for life in the modern world. His The Tao of Success reveals the secrets of the ancients to transform the self in order to live life to the utmost. His The Tao of Joy Every Day provides short yet profound daily thoughts for meditation, or for keeping in mind as one goes through the day's activities. His The Tao of Happiness introduces Western readers to the fun yet profound stories of Chuang Tzu.
The Tao of Success has as its focus application. Taoism is not simply an abstract philosophical construct according to author Derek Lin, but a basis for living life to the fullest, feeling a sense of fulfillment through the truest realization of the self and its power, cultivating meaningful relationships, handling conflict, creating and attaining the right goals. Each lesson is prefaced by a parable, and what better way to make the universal truths of the Tao te Ching understood? The first words of the ancient text sum it up nicely:
"The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao"
The example is more instructive than any lesson based in theory could ever be. The tendency of the enlightened to speak in parables transcends religion and spiritual construct. If the kind of truth Taoism teaches could be so easily told, it simply wouldn't be. It is beyond our ability to express, but not beyond our ability to experience.
At its core, The Tao of Success is about recognizing that life is hard, but also understanding that determination, compassion, and dedicated action go a long way toward transforming our perceptions. The threads that connect us to one another and to the Universe at large insure that every action (or inaction) has a consequence. We often hurt ourselves most when we hold onto bitterness, resentment, anger, a feeling that we've been somehow treated unfairly (by something external to ourselves, as if that was even possible!) The differences we see between ourselves and others, the distinctions we make to avoid responsibility, these impressions are illusory. There is incredible power in the self. The self is at the core of everything. And yet, it is a self which is nourished by service to others.
Each of the parables Lin presents is illustrative in its own way, but one of my favorites comes near the end of the text.
The marble within a statue of the Buddha and a common stepping stone within a great temple have a conversation after the last of the tourists have left for the day. The marble within the stepping stone complains: "Are you and I not of the same material? Are we not in fact from the same quarry?" To this, the marble in the lovely statue says, "Yes, from the very same." "Why then, has it come to pass that you are so admired while I'm walked on all day?" The marble in the stepping stone proceeds.
The conversation goes on and the stepping stone marble always has some new complaint, but in the end, it is the marble in the statue that makes the better point. "I was chiseled relentlessly...how else should I become so lovely a statue? And yet, I did not cry out" When the marble in the stepping stone claims that all chunks of marble that are taken in in order to be made into statues endure the same, the statue marble replies by saying, "Not so. Many break to bits under the chisel. Look around you. Many of them are stepping stones."
The point being made is clear. We all come from the same source. We all endure hardship. We can let it transform us into something that is worthy of admiration or complain that things are as they are (a temporary state of affairs). Will we be made into something others admire or reserved for some lower use? Taoism holds that we are both sculptor and sculpture, that we are in control of what we become. The parable shows that the very act of disfiguring the form of what was can create something more appealing. Each of us has this raw power within us.
Ultimately, this book focuses on cultivating openness, honesty, forgiveness, oneness. Detachment is emphasized, but also properly explained. Having material possessions is not the problem. It was never the problem. Clinging to them IS the problem. The precious water of the Tao cannot be brought to the lips by closed fists. If the material world (and our existence as something material within it) is an empty vessel, the immutable contents with which we should fill it are those things we can't explain but which truly give purpose to existence: love, humility, goodwill,harmony...all things which have as their source the Tao.
This is a great read for anyone looking for an open-minded philosophical construct for living and being and doing. For embracing potential and independent thought and the interconnectedness of all things.
Unlike other Taoism books I've read that are arranged by theme, Derek Lin systematically and sequentially explains how to apply Tao to daily life. A sort of manual on how to live life. Taoist concepts can be difficult to grasp because it is abstract in nature. But Lin's writing style makes this book easy for anyone to follow, especially if you are the type of person that normally thinks things through scientifically or systematically.
This book is similar to other Derek鈥檚 books with many parables and their explanation of how they relate to Tao and its application in real life. There are are some great food for thought stories and the style of writing is easy to understand so the book just flows. All in all, this is yet another good inspirational book.
I like the way this book is written and read. It communicates the lessons by means of interesting stories that I haven't heard before. Some lessons feel a bit limited in their applications (The farmer and hunter for example). However, the essence of Tao is well communicated and makes a lot of sense in leading a good life.
I received this book a couple of days before Christmas of 2010 and spent a week enjoying every word. Individuals looking for a step-by-step guide to assist them on their spiritual journey should seriously consider reading this book. Derek Lin uses stories that make the knowledge of the lessons easy to understand and remember. His commentaries on the stories break down the deeper meanings of Tao Cultivation in a way that even a beginner can comprehend.
If one is willing to follow the road map that The Tao of Success provides they will realize their full potential and become the kind of person they are destined to be. The information that Derek provides illuminates the path to success in life. This book shares the time tested techniques that Taoist masters have been practicing for centuries.
I received this book a couple of days before Christmas of 2010 and spent a week enjoying every word. Individuals looking for a step-by-step guide to assist them on their spiritual journey should seriously consider reading this book. Derek Lin uses stories that make the knowledge of the lessons easy to understand and remember. His commentaries on the stories break down the deeper meanings of Tao Cultivation in a way that even a beginner can comprehend.
If one is willing to follow the road map that The Tao of Success provides they will realize their full potential and become the kind of person they are destined to be. The information that Derek provides illuminates the path to success in life. This book shares the time tested techniques that Taoist masters have been practicing for centuries.
Some essential and excellent wisdom presented in an easy to understand format. I did however disagree with the focus on material success. There are all kinds of success, the acquisition of material goods and monetary gain being the least worthy to present as a goal in my opinion. Otherwise I enjoyed this book and recommend it.
Dobr茅 p艡铆b臎hy, o trochu hor拧铆 koment谩艡e a celou knihou prostupuje snaha pou啪铆vat z谩padn铆 filozofe v媒chodn铆m zp暖sobem, tj m铆t c铆l, m铆t na z艡eteli zisk, b媒t c铆lev臎dom铆, n臎kam to dot谩hnout, pracovat na sob臎 - na 啪ivotn铆 zm臎n臎. Tyto 膷谩sti jsou zbyte膷n臎 n谩siln茅, a bez nich by to byla mo啪n谩 o n臎co lep拧铆 kniha:)