Chronicles of Tao: The Secret Life of a Taoist Master

This one volume collection contains all three novels of the Taoist master Kwan Saihung:1) _The Wandering Taoist_I was pleasantly surprised at how smoothly this text flows, but then perhaps I should have expected this from a work so full of the true essence of the Tao. Primarily, this is the story of the education of a Taoist adept and renunciate from willful child to a master who is fully in harmony with heaven and earth. Secondarily, it is a glimpse into the intact monastic community of the Haushan mountains- before its dissolution in the post-Imperial chaos of the 20th century.There is more than a little Taoist wisdom interwoven into the story. Indeed, it is a fine teaching aid. You get a sense of the careful guiding and molding of young Kwan Saihung by the Grand Master. Basic Taoist ethics, meditation, internal alchemy, healing, martial arts, divination, astral travel- are all touched upon. You get a sense of both the mundane and tedious groundwork of monastic life, as well as, the ego-shattering elements of crisis and initiation.The advice concerning the purging of one's ming huan (karma) is especially refreshing in today's world. You came into this world with problems and dilemmas to be met and mastered. You are to burn away all your attachments and worldly goals, purge desire, and satisfy the thirst for knowledge (the exact opposite of the teachings of modern materialism.) You never refuse experience, and you overcome all obstacles that such experience presents. In this way you can leave this word fulfilled and pass to a higher plane.Saihung's anger at the Japanese invasion of the 30's- and his decision to leave the order and fight as a "wandering Taoist"- is more than a little appropriate in today's world. After years of soul-numbing combat he returned to the monastery. He had come to realize the ultimate corruption of the outer world and the meaninglessness of war. He came to realize that humanity had to work out their own destiny- including war- and that no Taoist (or even the Jade Emperor) could do it for them.2) _Seven Bamboo Tablets of the Cloudy Satchel_ While reading this second book in the author's _Chronicles of the Tao Trilogy_ it repeatedly occurred to me that it lacked the depth and meaning of the first volume. It seemed to have degenerated to a martial arts morality play. However, having finished reading the last section, I now see that I was wrong. This is even more powerful than the first book, for it is a tale of slipping from the Path of the Tao having once touched upon it. It is a story of striving, falling, and re-ascending.The book starts with some excellent discussions on the nature of Taoism and the Tao. But after that it quickly switches to a description of martial arts training and how it intersects with the spiritual lives of the monks of Huanchan. Indeed, the pride of some of the monks, even the Grand Master, at meeting and defeating any and all challengers seemed very... questionable. Then Saihung was given a quest by the Grand Master- to track down and bring back a former student of the monastery who has gone into the world to become a thief, a slaver, and a murderer. And so he sets out on his knightly quest among the last remnants of the old martial order in a corrupt and decaying society. He travels through both the criminal and martial underworlds to find his quarry. It is along the way that he finds that not even a knight who is pure of heart can use force and killing without paying a heavy inner price.It is after the completion of this quest that Saihung once again leaves the monastery- and finds himself drawn into the same criminal underworld as his former prey. He finds himself drawn by the dark Tao into a life of force, pride, and sensation. He sinks so low as to become an actor in traditional Chinese opera because he is addicted to applause and adoration. It is there that he encounters two legendary wandering Taoist Immortals and realizes the error of his ways. It is in the last section of the book that the most profound lessons come. He sees the proper place of lesser teachings and lesser realities in following the Path. He learns to look beyond mere technical knowledge, intellectualism, and the letter of sacred literature- and to not confuse them with the goal. It is here that he reconnects with the Tao.Once again, after reading this book I have absolutely no doubts that the author has studied with a true Master.3) _Gateway to a Vast World_This final volume of the _Chronicles of the Tao Trilogy_ sees the end of ancient traditions rooted in the Tao- and the planting of old seeds in a new land.Saihung has returned to the great mountain monastery of Haushan. After participating briefly in the new Communist government, he has found that he has no use for the game playing, ruthlessness, and mercilessness of politics. Once again, he has grown world-weary and returned to the life of the renunciate. Only this time the Grand Master refuses to let him stay. With a sense of impending urgency, he tells his youngest student to wander the world in search of experience- and his own destiny.This is how Saihung came to find himself in the America of the 1950's. He had chosen that place because of what he had read in the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Pledge of Allegiance. It hit his idealism hard when he found that these ideals didn't apply to people of other races, the poor, the outsiders. Yet, he still stayed on in this strange new land. He found that working in a restaurant wasn't all that different from the daily life in a monastery- if one kept one's interior life centered and focused. He found that this was not always easy in a land so full of violence, hate, and greed. Then, one day the call came from the Grand Master to return to Huashan. When he arrived, he found the monasteries in ruins, the monks scattered, the practice of Taoism outlawed....This is the story of one man's experience on the Way. It is a story of touching on the Source only to have it torn away by the constantly changing currents of the world. Yet, inspite of all the trials, the darkness, and the change, the Way and its lessons remain for the serious seeker to rediscover. One has only to persevere to the edge of oblivion itself....

Having read two of the three composite novels individually, maybe 20 years ago, I was thrilled to learn that this trilogy had been repackaged under one cover. So I rushed "out" to purchase a used copy from my favorite bookstore, Amazon dot com.I was not disappointed because it had been so long since I'd read the first two that the experience was like reading them for the first time after having dreamed parts of them. We have here a very young boy, from an influential Chinese clan, being raised in the Taoist traditions high atop one of China's sacred mountains. You can actually see this place in its modern incarnation on Youtube these days, with vids of the brave foreign trekkers who risk their lives on some of the rugged and hairy catwalks and toe-hold stepways that meander along the sheer, high cliffs.Peppered with Taoist philosophy, this work also presents captivating and informative views of China just prior to, during, and after its glorious revolution, all wrapped around an attention-holding story line and much information regarding certain here-to-for obscure Taoist practices, and even a decades-old, veiled reference to the NWO End Game (coming soon?) to the effect that "someday there will be powerful events that shake up the entire world, and you will pay a part in it," or similar wording.For the Western spoil-sport skeptic(k) type who must always allow his super ego to horn in and ask, "is it real," rest assured that "it REALly doesn't matter; now be a good boy and run along to read this book" :-)

At times tedious, Chronicles is a fascinating tale (the author tells us it is a true story) of an American, transplanted from China, who is a Tao master. In his early teens he was placed in a Tao monastery in a remote mountain range for what he supposes is a year or two of schooling that stretches into years of full training for the Tao priesthood. In the course of his life we see him as a mystic, a superb martial arts fighter, an opera star, an assassin, an American boxing champion, a dupe, a dedicated Taoist pursuing immortality through meditation and study, and an emigre to America who struggles to make a living washing dishes in a restaurant, and more. There is lots to think about in this book. At times I could almost superimpose Socrates and his questioning in place of the grandmaster who was the young man's mentor. Few books have ever stimulated as much discussion in our book club. The book is flawed by its length; shortening it by a hundred pages would not have subtracted from its substance and would have made it more enjoyable.

Presented as true story, reads at times like magical realism- fantastical skills and enlighted beings with powers. But also a great story to introduce readers to the history and principles of Taoism. I read it to my son and he loved it!

Author Deng Ming-Dao is one of the best Taoist writers today, and Chronicles of Tao is probably his best book. To describe the soul of this work is nearly as impossible as describing the Tao itself, but to anyone who has been educated in Taoism - even just studied tai chi for a few years - this work will be immediately recognizable as an old friend. This is the only book I've ever found that describes, in detail, the life of a Taoist master- in this case, Kwan Saihung, born 1920 and still alive as of the 1993 publication date. Chronicles of Tao both demystifies the man's life and invites endless awe and questions as one reads about this modern-day sage who studied with all the best martial artists of pre-Communist China, as well as the Grand Master of Huashan monastery. A thrilling, spiritual, supernatural adventure. It would make a fantastic movie.

When I finished reading this book, I felt I had to say good-bye to a very good friend; but that is The Tao (The Way). Deng takes you on a journey through journey through Taoist China and Taoist universe of light and dark. The book has something reassuringly human like warm and loving mum and dad, who nurture your spirit. Who give the world around, good and bad, shape and form as well as void and formlessness. After reading this book, you appreciate the everything around you, a really enriching book.

One of the most interesting accounts of Chinese Life I have read in a long time. Gives an interesting account of Daoist practise through the eyes of a student, Links the martial arts aspect with wider issues of metaphysics and understanding. Part parable, part life history. A book of great insight. To be read and re-read as it contains so much.

A great,captivating story,following the life journey of a Taoist.The story of full of adventure and colour and vivid descriptions,as well a deep insight into the Taoist philosophyI loved this bookJames Currie

Brilliant book so so glad i purchased it, have not read such a wonderful book in a long long time..I cant put it down.

This is a book which will keep you reading... I found it to be very enjoyable but at times felt it was a bit disjointed in the later chapters (for example there are parts of his life which could have been written about that seemed left out) but his story is very interesting and leaves you hoping that Saihung finds his Way... It certainly makes you think about your life and how perhaps we all could do with a little more humility... Well worth reading, you wont be disappointed...