Nourishing the Essence of Life: The Outer, Inner, and Secret Teachings of Taoism

The
teachings of Taoism, China's great wisdom tradition, apply to every aspect of
life, from the physical to the spiritual—and include instruction on everything
from lifestyle (a life of simplicity and moderation is best) to the work of
inner alchemy that is said to lead to longevity and immortality.

Here,
Eva Wong presents and explains three classic texts on understanding the Tao in
the macrocosm of the universe and the microcosm of the body that provide an
excellent overview of the three traditional levels of the Taoist
teachings—Outer, Inner, and Secret. The Outer teachings are concerned with
understanding the Tao as manifested in nature and society. They are easily
accessible to the layperson and consist of the Taoist philosophy of nature and
humanity, advice on daily living, and a brief introduction to the beginning
stages of Taoist meditation. The Inner teachings familiarize the practitioner
with the energetic structure of the human body and introduce methods of
stilling the mind and cultivating internal energy for health and longevity. The
Secret teachings describe the highest level of internal-alchemical
transformations within the body and mind for attaining immortality.