Table of Contents

Acknowledgments Introduction Part One: The Tao Chapter One. The Tao 1. The Tao That Can't Be Told 2. The Tao in the World 3. Pure and Tranquil 4. Ineffable Knowledge Chapter Two. Creation 5. Scriptures Create the Universe 6. Numinous Treasure-Wondrous History 7. The Lands of the Immortals 8. Gods and Goddesses Chapter Three. The Teaching 9. The Three Caverns 10. The Transformations of Laozi 11. The Path 12. The Way to Complete Perfection Part Two: Long Life Chapter Four. Discipline 13. Precepts and Prescriptions 14. Protective Measures 15. How To Be Taught 16. Passing the Test Chapter Five. Physical Practices 17. Breathing for Life 18. Gymnastics 19. Drugs and Diets 20. Sexual Techniques Chapter Six. The Cosmic Body 21. The Structure of the Body 22. The Body As the World 23. The World in the Body 24. The Gods Within Part Three: Eternal Vision Chapter Seven. The One 25. Lights in the Body 26. The True One 27. The Three Ones 28. One in All Chapter Eight. Insight Practice 29. Two Kinds of Observation 30. Energies and Elixirs 31. Observing Life 32. Glimpses of the New Mind Chapter Nine. Ecstatic Excursions 33. The Far-off Journey 34. Trips through the Stars 35. Divine Loves 36. Ecstatic Sleep Part Four: Immortality Chapter Ten. Immortal Personality 37. The Perfected 38. To Be a Sage 39. Magical Powers 40. The Virtue of Wine Chapter Eleven. Ascension 41. Alchemical Transformation 42. The Inner Elixir 43. Gradual Dissolution 44. Eyewitness Accounts Chapter Twelve. Immortal Life 45. Celestial Garb 46. The Administration of Heaven 47. Sojourn Among Mortals 48. Feasting in Paradise List of Chinese Texts Translated Bibliography Index

About the Author

Livia Kohn is Assistant Professor of Religion at Boston University. She has written Taoist Mystical Philosophy: The Scripture of Western Ascension, also published by SUNY Press, Seven Steps to the Tao, Sima Chengzhen's Zuowanglun, and Taoist Meditation and Longevity Techniques.

Reviews

"Livia Kohn is one of the very best and most prolific Taoist scholars in the world. Here, she draws upon the revolution in Taoist scholarship during the past few decades, and provides a much needed representative anthology of primary Taoist texts, making these important materials available to the non-specialist scholar, to students, and to the general public." - Norman Girardot, Lehigh University "This is a work whose time has come, a landmark that bears testimony to the coming of age of Taoist studies in the West. The author's erudition and enthusiasm give the work a special sparkle, and communicate a sense of excitement that brings these literary artifacts to life. Well conceived, well organized, and well executed by a scholar uniquely qualified for the task." - Douglas Wile, Brooklyn College