Reddit reviews 365 Tao: Daily Meditations

Perhaps a book like 365 Tao: Daily Meditations would be good to add in. It has a few sentences for each day and its nice to read in the morning before you meditate and think on it. I was given it years ago, and I enjoyed it so much I gave a friend a copy a couple years ago and they still read it daily.

I have seen incredible change. I started using Ryan Holiday's The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance and the Art of Living as a journal prompt. Not everyday is relevant, but it has become an important part of my nightly ritual. I have recently added Deng Ming-Dao's 365 Tao: Daily Meditations to my routine.

Soon after getting involved with stoic thought, I made a New Year's resolution to stop swearing. I did it because I realized a lot of my negative traits were tied up with how I spoke to the world. My swearing worsened my agitation and led to poor interactions. Swearing cheapened me, and I can see now my anger was often directed at things I cannot change. I was angry at things I could not change, and that only made me more angry.

I have a simple example from this month. My town sewer line backed up and flooded my basement with sewage. It sucked. But I didn't get angry. I dealt with it. I called the town and they fixed the issue. The insurance company paid me. It has been a lot of work, but some good has come of it, too. I have discarded many things I do not need. My life is simpler now. And I have seen what good friends I have who came to help.

One approach would be to check out a book called "365 Tao." It's a wonderful book that gives you a Tao passage every day and then expands upon the meaning of it. 365 Tao on Amazon

Also you could check out Alan Watts' "Tao: The Watercourse Way." I personally really enjoy Watts, and this book is a nice exposition of some Tao ideals. Tao: The Watercourse Way

Actually, I just spoke with my friend who also does meditation books. She uses this one. Says it isn't religious or anything but more based on the philosophy of Taoism.

This is the blurb on it

>365 Tao is a contemporary book of meditations on what it means to be wholly a part of the Taoist way, and thus to be completely in harmony with oneself and the surrounding world.

You may. I’ll even go one further.

https://www.amazon.com/365-Tao-Meditations-Ming-Dao-Deng/dp/0062502239

365 Tao Daily Meditations by Deng Ming-Dao

Maybe https://www.amazon.com/365-Tao-Meditations-Ming-Dao-Deng/dp/0062502239

but im not sure

A more philosophical discussion of the Chinese language can be found in Alan Watts "Tao: The Watercourse Way" link, particularly Chapter 1 on the Chinese Written Language. You should proceed with caution, though. Having read DeFrancis, you'll be in a good position to critique Watts' description of Chinese.

"365 Tao" link and "Everyday Tao" link, both by Deng Ming-dao are not scholarly works, but they include some interesting philosophical discussions about particular characters which include some etymology.

"The Composition of Common Chinese Characters(an Illustrated Account)" link by Guanghui Xie also includes the etymology of specific characters.

i use this in my midday meditation.

http://www.amazon.com/365-Tao-Meditations-Ming-Dao-Deng/dp/0062502239

and i like it.