“Jason opens the Tao and shows us how spirituality can be found by wandering in the natural world. Supporting his points with references to the Tao Te Ching and the Chuang-tzu texts, he shows us how to escape the socialization and distractions of our times to realize our true natures.”
Description
• Draws on source texts of the Tao Te Ching and the Chuang-tzu for ways to achieve skills effortlessly through unity with the Tao
• Explains how Taoism is a spiritual technology for deprogramming ourselves from socialization and dissolving the ego
• Explores concepts of wu-wei (nonaction) and xiaoyao you (free and easy wandering in oneness) in order to realize our unfiltered true nature
Giving readers a fresh take on the ancient philosophy of oneness, while at the same time restoring Taoism’s original teachings, Jason Gregory shows how to effortlessly align with the Tao. By returning to the source texts of the Tao Te Ching and the writings of Chuang-tzu, he offers wisdom to liberate us from the suffering inherent in a materialistic culture and reconnect us with our unfiltered true nature.
Since the time of Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu, we have navigated a world detached from the Tao. This detachment continues to expand due to external forces and information saturation. In contrast to Confucianism, which offers social morality, Taoism is essentially a worldview shaped by nature—a spiritual practice for releasing ourselves from imposed socialization and reactions of the ego.
Jason Gregory shows that imposed socialization can impede the spontaneous flow that is central to the Taoist path—your true nature as it is with no filters. He explains that what we see is not reality itself but a world according to our conditioning. Taoism seeks to reunite us with our undifferentiated nature, dissolving the binary limitation of reason in our mind and achieving xiaoyao you, “free and easy wandering.” This book shows the way to become what Taoists call a zhenren—an authentic genuine person, the ultimate state of being.
Reviews
“This is a wonderful summation of Taoist philosophy. Jason Gregory presents this cosmology clearly, concisely, and with great depth of understanding. If you want to gain a fuller understanding of commonly used terms such as the void, yin and yang, and nonduality, this book is for you.”
“In this profound work, Jason Gregory warns us about the mass trivialization of Taoism. This book gives deep clarity to those who are called to flow effortlessly in the primordial river of Tao but find themselves perpetually obstructed by their deeply rooted habits of self-preservation. The time-honored virtues of humility, simplicity, and non-striving are elucidated brilliantly by the author, who offers the modern mind a possibility of venturing on the path of nonbecoming. In our increasingly social world, the naked simplicity of The Way is not easy to follow, and this book is the much-needed guide that bridges this gap of understanding and allows the reader to embrace the natural naturalness that is Tao.”
“This book is an astonishing piece of work and one that is essential for anybody wishing a deeper understanding of not just Taoism but also Eastern philosophy in general. It introduces the reader to the explanatory power of this most fascinating of belief systems and places it within a precise context. It demands concentration and focus from the reader, but in doing so it gives great rewards. An absolutely essential read, and one destined to become a classic of its kind.”
