Excellent text book, September 9, 2007

There is no misdirection in the title of Stephen Eskildsen's book. It is a meaty compendium of the teachings and practices of early Taoist masters of the Quanzhen sect. Much of the content is taken from the writings of the masters themselves, giving authenticity to the book as a credible source. Eskildsen provides summaries of, and commentaries on, the quoted passages which add to the readability of the work. His comments reflect a common-sense attitude towards the sometimes extravagant claims of the masters. Eskildsen is no dupe, but neither is he a debunker. He allows for the shaping of ancient accounts of religious experiences according to the cultural expectations and historical traditions of the time. Some of his observations are tinged with a wry humor that adds to the informality of his presentation. The substance is there, but Eskildsen keeps it from becoming a boring collection of old bones. Notes are extensive and as informative as the text. Extensive bibliography and...

You can see the care put into the use of terminology. The precision, careful evaluation.Exquisite work.

This is a very good book. It will help the "friends of Dao" to get closer to their source. Textbook format.