Decoding the DAO: Nine Lessons in Daoist Meditation: A Complete and Comprehensive Guide to Daoist Meditation

This is a really good guide to Daoist meditation that combines practical and progressive exercises and lessons, along with clear write-ups on the philosophy that underlies Daoist meditation, and extensive bibliographic resources for further study. Each of the 9 lessons are divided into a theory and practice part. The nine lessons focus on 1) setting proper bodily alignment and developing awareness of breathing, 2) developing abdominal/kidney breathing in the dantien area, 3) quieting the mind through counting the breath and mindfulness of thinking, 4) standing in Wuji posture, 5) Loosening body part by body part in the Wuji posture, 6) Dissolving blockages through qigong and body breathing, 7) connecting heaven-earth, circulating water-fire and connecting heart and kidneys in the triple heater, 8) microcosmic orbit, 9) returning golden fluid to the dantien. Additional practices for macrocosmic orbit and general life-cultivation techniques are given for practice beyond the nine lessons. The theory part of each lesson very well-written and makes Daoist philosophy easily understandable; they are also extensively referenced. As for the instructions for the practice sessions, they are simple, clear and effective. The second part of the book gives very important information that decodes Daoist imagery and language so that one can understand the inner message hidden in the classic texts and instructions on Daoist meditation. Selected chapters of the Dao De Jing are discussed, the Nei Jing Tu (Diagram of Inner Circulation of Qi/Breath) is explained, the meaning of key symbols such as dragon and tiger, immortals, five powers, lead and mercury, etc are given, and numerology, hexagrams and the Gen diagram is discussed. Without wasting words, the author effectively unravels the maze of archaic symbology and language associated with Daoist thought and practice, to reveal the key points of the practice. Three wonderful appendixes are then provided. Appendix 1 is especially useful, as it covers common reactions to Daoist meditation and how to deal with them. Appendix 2, also very useful, is a summary of the bodily configurations for Daoist meditation with hexagrams and mnemonics commonly used for this purpose. Appendix III is an extract from Sun Xi Kun's "Ba-Gua-Quan Zhen Chuan" which is extremely useful for Daoist meditation, and which includes sections specially dedicated for women practitioners. After the extensive appendixes, are chapter notes and an extensive bibliography. I find this book very impressive. It achieves a clarity and simplicity that is not simplistic, while having at the same time unusual depth and insight, and it also provides exemplary referencing for further studies. The lessons are well-taught, the author is skilled and knowledgeable, and the book is well-researched. Overall, this book was a joy to read, and I would recommend it to beginners and experienced meditators alike.

I have had this book for a couple of years and have read through the material once and now revisiting it.It is with this continued appreciation of this book that I write this review. I have practiced Zen and Daoism for 25 years and it has not been until recently that a lot more quality translations of Daoist material is being made available to the English speaking population for which I am eternally grateful. I study with a Daoist teacher in a tradition different from Tom. However, I will say that Tom's knowledge is spot on and he has a really good talent of making things simple without removing the crucial components. You can tell that Tom's study of this subject is wide. There are obvious influences from the teachings of the Yellow Court as well as teachings of Liu Yiming and the teachings of the Dragon Gate lineage among others. Tom's background in Chinese Medicine and Martial Arts contribute a great deal to his understanding of this material. Could you get everything you need from this one book? Perhaps, but that would depend on your background in these materials. It is not a beginners book, but could peak the interest of a beginner and the practices provided are certainly something a beginner could learn easily as well as support the practice of advanced practitioners. Having an understanding of the works of Chang Po-tuan, the Yi Jing as it relates to internal alchemy e.g., the Cantong Qi would be helpful. A great companion book to Tom's book would be the books Taoist Internal Alchemy and Foundations of Internal Alchemy by Fabrizio Pregadio. Refining the Elixir by Stuart Alve Olson is also a great text to have in reference to this work. Tom does a great job of helping you build a foundation and then at the end of the primary text, he provides Li Ching Yun's Golden Fluid method or the seated 8 Brocades. His technique is a bit different than that found in the work of Stuart Alve Olson's Liqingyun' Longevity methods, but a very close practice to what Tom provides in this work. I would also get LiQingyun's Eight Brocades DVD by Stuart Alve Olson to help you really practice this method. It is a great daily practice to really harness working with Jing, Qi, and Shen. The last part of Tom's book helps to crack the code of so many Daoist texts by using very lucid descriptions. There is really very few stones unturned in this area. In fact, since I have been practicing this stuff for a while, I started reading the book at Part II where all these terms are well described, then went back and read the first part to pick up little nuggets of practice and knowledge that Tom shares. A book that is similar to this one in its presentation is Damo Mitchell's White Moon on the Mountain Peak and parts of his Daoist Neigong. However, no disrespect to Damo's books as his teachings are very good, but I think this book by Tom is just so much more accessible and taken step by step can get you on your way to very serious internal cultivation.

Provides a lot of solid information and a nice read.

Excellent work here by Tom Bisio. What is best about this book is that it very clearly and simply takes what are multiple pieces of the puzzle that is Taoist Alchemy and brings them together in one place for a nice complete picture. I've been doing meditation for a while, particularly the Taoist alchemy tradition, and finally this one brings all that I have learned to this point into focus in a simple system that makes sense. The practice of meditation, qi kung, and standing are all inter related, but I think often people get confused as to what purpose each practice has. In order to actually get anywhere with Taoist practices, you have to do all of those as part of a regular practice session each day. Meditation is used, at least at a basic level, to calm, center, and focus the mind, clearing away and over time slowing and stoping the constant mental chatter that our ego self creates. Qi kung works on the outer chi or what we call wei chi in taoist practice and strengthens/balances our energies as they interact with the world around us. Standing is used to dissolve inner tensions and blocks, and improve the flow of chi through the meridians and is actually sometimes under emphasized in it's importance within the whole of practice. That said, anyone can gain greatly from practicing any of these methods, but if you are serious about the pursuit of this it has to become a part of you life, not just that thing you do 3 times a week to stay in shape. For those just starting or someone experienced on this path, I highly recommend this book.

Tom Bisio, definitely a very modest man, is emerging as one of the most prominent current taoist writers in the West. Shortly after delivering his immediate classics Ba Gua Circle Walking Nei Gong (Wow!), he is coming with much more ambitious project. He combines the theory and practice very well. This book is useful for everybody who is interested in taoist meditation because it shows Tom's point of view and we can trust him. Personally, Daniel Reid's approach suits me even better. Nevetheless I am very thankful for every book on this extremely difficult and slippery topic and this one is among the very best and very thorough.

It takes a great master to be simple and clear. Bisio has clearly lived every inch of this book and teaches with the clarity of someone who has it in his bones and sinew.

Sadly these 9 lessons might've been overreaching for a man who does not seem to be very conversant with Daoism in its alchemical and meditative practices. I can't say anymore except that it seemed like this book for simpletons

Another great book by Tom Bisio, Personally it is my favorite from his series. This is a non nonsense explanantion of the Daoist Yang Shen practices. It is full of great and authentic information without the typical New Age BS. This book explains for the westerner the deep Daoist practices without westernizing it and stripping away the real essence. The Chinese thought definitely comes through unlike many out on the market.

Its amazing: The powers of Yang Sheng work even BEFORE I read the book. All text was clearly visible, although I usually need glasses for my old eyes to magnify the text. Even the footnotes (usually in the size of fly excrement) appeared to be as large as the main text of any other book! Really useful for old eyes. Not to speak of the weight of the book: With almost 500 pages in a B5 size, I can use it to train my bizeps by lifting it every day. Next week I will actually start to read it. I wonder, which miracles will happen then. Thank you, also in the name of the "German Ophtalmologists For Extended Reading" - Association.

I am worldless. Only want to say Tom Bisio has grasp the tail of the elusive Tao leaving the door open to look for more......is endless.

Very interesting and complete descrition of inner tradizion of alchemic trasmutation of our body and soul into the immortal one

A découvrir

Agree with previous reviewer - this book is mostly about nei gong techniques, and there are better references on nei gong out there (see any of Damo Mitchell's books). Nothing new or insightful on the Dao. Also, I did not appreciate the many spelling and grammatical errors throughout the book. Very amateurish production and not worth the money.