Tao & Longevity: Mind-Body Transformation

I really liked this book. It gives an excellent overview of different taoist breathing techniques and specifically potential health issues and symptoms that occur if you're doing the work wrong. I've experienced a few of these symptoms in the past so I was really pleased to find out about these symptoms. I also like this book because it presents a fairly comprehensive amount of info about Taoism in general and some of the different arguments and debates that occur in Taoism. It's a fairly good read. One problem I did have is that because this book was translated into English there is a fair amount of ambiguity and lack of definition of terms. The author assumes you know what those words mean and usually this would be the case, if in fact you were from his native region. It doesn't the overall reading of the book too much, but it's something to bear in mind.

Master Huai-Chin Nan states, with clarity, what meditation is, and how it affects us. He makes the case for the mind-body connection most clearly, and explains how enlightenment is attained by those who can persist in their efforts. There is no new age talk here, only facts as seen from the perspective of a spiritual discipline with threads running back to human origins of spiritual yearning. After having studied martial arts and chi-gung for decades, and read hundreds of books on spirituality, this one elucidates questions I always wanted answered. A truly great book written by a man I wish I could meet.

I have practiced meditation for more than 10 years and during that time period, I have read more than 60 books on meditation from different traditions: Yoga, Indian Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Zen Buddhism and Taoism. This book is the only book that not only teaches you how to meditate but also tells you every physical and mental reaction in your body as it is transformed through meditation precisely. The author is a real master who had been there and done that.Beginners in meditation often surprised when they experience something phenomenon inside their body, or the see some light...and thought that they have made some accomplishment and thought that they have attained "Tao" or the Truth and unknowingly stop themselves on their spiritual path. Without proper guidance, one could be scared and falsely believe in their own illusions.This book will help you go all the way to Enlighment.

Many people who are seeking information about Chinese spiritual practices and meditation in general, find it easy to go astray. Tao and longevity is a definitive reference for anyone interested in acquiring the basic theory behind meditation practice.The book discusses the motives for meditation as well as the physiological and psychological effects on the body. Theoretical principles of jing,chi and shen are also discussed.For a serious beginner I cannot recommend this book enough. In conjunction with this book you will also want to check out Nan's other books (some of the material is quite challenging), author Charles Luk (Lu'kuan Yu?) and Bill Bodri and Lee Shu Mei who wrote 25 doors to meditation.I hope this is helpful.