"The Shambhala Dictionary of Taoism presents the basic terminology and doctrines of this ancient Chinese philosophy for the general reader in a clear and easily understandable form, effectively unlocking the mysteries of these terms and concepts that are more and more frequently encountered today in widely varied fields of interest such as the media, the sciences, the health professions, and psychotherapy. The dictionary contains over three hundred entries and includes pronunciation tables, illustrations, and a bibliography."--Jacket.

"The Shambhala Dictionary of Taoism presents the basic terminology and doctrines of this ancient Chinese philosophy for the general reader in a clear and easily understandable form, effectively unlocking the mysteries of these terms and concepts that are more and more frequently encountered today in widely varied fields of interest such as the media, the sciences, the health professions, and psychotherapy. The dictionary contains over three hundred entries and includes pronunciation tables, illustrations, and a bibliography."--Jacket.

This is an indispensable guide to the terminology, teachers, and traditions of this influential Chinese philosophy. Containing more than 300 entries, The Shambhala Dictionary of Taoism also includes illustrations, bibliography, and pronunciation tables.

This reference book on Taoism, one of the major spiritual traditions of China, includes in its coverage both Taoist philosophy and Taoist religion. An introduction provides overall insight into Taoist development through the ages, while the dictionary itself is comprised of 275 entries that define Taoist concepts, scriptures, deities, practices, and personalities. Includes an extensive bibliography.

With more than four thousand entries and over one hundred illustrations, this encyclopedia offers a complete survey of the four major religious traditions of Asia. It is designed not only for students and scholars but also to help general readers find their way through the thicket of unfamiliar words and concepts that are often encountered today in various fields such as the health professions, psychotherapy, the sciences, and the media. Among the subjects covered are: • Important terms such as chakra, karma, koan, nirvana, tantra, Tao, and yin-yang • The lives and teachings of mystics, philosophers, and masters of meditation • Basic texts and scriptures • Sects and schools of thought • Mythological figures and events In addition, pronunciation tables, a comprehensive bibliography, and a Ch'an/Zen Lineage Chart are provided.

Tao Te Ching is ancient China's greatest contribution to world literature, philosophy, and religion--these time-honored teachings of living simply with a minimum of comfort and prizing culture above all else. Consummate Tao's a glorious achievement that crackles with energy, authenticity, and voice. Every poem in these stunningly addictive interpretations of the Tao Te Ching begs to be read aloud. Original and engaging, this poetic achievement of all eighty-one verses is a must-read for anyone interested in ancient wisdom that has survived for more than two thousand years and the light it casts on the moral pathway we must all walk for our survival on this planet.

The idea that the human body consists of 'subtle bodies' - psycho-spiritual essences - can be found in a variety of esoteric traditions. This radical form of selfhood challenges the dualisms at the heart of Western discourse : mind/body, divine/human, matter/spirit, reason/emotion, I/other. 'Angels of Desire' explores the aesthetics and ethics of subtle bodies. What emerges is an understanding of embodiment not exclusively tied to materiality. The book examines the use of subtle bodies across a range of traditions, yogic, tantric, theosophical, hermetic and sufi. 'Angels of Desire' shows the relevance of the subtle body for religion, philosophy, art history and contemporary feminist religious studies and theories of desire.

This volume is a collection of papers highlighting recent researches on Syriac Christianity in China and Central Asia. The topics range from artifacts to texts and their historical contexts, covering the period from the 7th to the 18th century. As the studies on Syriac Christianity in China and Central advance, focus has shifted from a general historical survey and textual translation to a more micro and meticulous study of specific concepts and terms and particular names of persons and places.

A leading scholar feng shui master presents the great depth and diversity of Taoist philosophy, practices, and history in this accessible manual to the oft-misunderstood spiritual tradition. Millions of readers have come to the philosophy of Taoism thanks to the classics Tao Te Ching and the I Ching, or through the practices of t'ai chi and feng-shui, but the Tao is less known for its unique traditions of meditation, physical training, magical practice, and internal alchemy. Eva Wong, a leading Taoist practitioner and translator, provides a solid introduction to the Way. All of Taoism’s most important texts, figures, and events are covered, as well as its extraordinarily rich history and remarkable variety of practice. Sections include: • The History of Taoism traces the development of the tradition from the shamans of prehistoric China through the classical period (including the teachings of the famous sage Lao-tzu), the beginnings of Taoism as a religion, the rise of mystical and alchemical Taoism, and the synthesis of Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. • Systems of Taoism explores magical sects, divination practices, devotional ceremonies, internal alchemy, and the way of right action. • Taoist Practices discusses meditation, techniques of cultivating the body, and rites of purification, ceremony, and talismanic magic. This roadmap to the spiritual landscape of Taoism not only introduces the important events in the history of Taoism, the sages who wrote the Taoist texts, and the various schools of Taoist thinking, but also gives readers a feel for what it means to practice Taoism today. A comprehensive bibliography for further study completes this valuable reference work.