Cultivating Stillness: A Taoist Manual for Transforming Body and Mind

Description

A principal part of the Taoist canon for many centuries,this Lao-Tzuclassic is an essential overview of the Taoist practice of internal alchemy, or qigong Equanimity, good health, peace of mind, and long life are the goals of the ancient Taoist tradition known as"internal alchemy,"of which Cultivating Stillness is a key text. Written between the second and fifth centuries, the book is attributed toT'aiShangLao-chun-the legendary figure more widely known as Lao-Tzu, author of the Tao-teChing. The accompanying commentary, written in the nineteenth century byShui-ch'ingTzu, explains thealchemicalsymbolism of the text and the methods for cultivating internal stillness of body and mind. A key text in the Taoist canon, Cultivating Stillness is still the first book studied by Taoistinitiatestoday.

Eva Wongis an independent scholar and practitioner of the Taoist arts of the Pre-Celestial Way and Complete Reality lineages. She has written and translated many books on Taoism and related topics, includingTaoism- An Essential Guide, Cultivating Stillness, A Master Course in Feng-shui. Nourishing the Essence of Life,andSeven Taoist Masters. Not much is known about the legendaryLao Tzu, to whom authorship of theTao Te Chingis popularly attributed. Some scholars believe the author was an elder contemporary of Confucius.