Bøger af Solala Towler

No one knows how long The Teahouse At The Edge Of The World has been there, or where it came from. There are various theories of course, but none of them tell the true and complete story of The Teahouse At The Edge Of The World, though some have parts of story correct. But no theory is one hundred percent correct, and so it remains a total mystery to everyone.Some people say it came from "nowhere," and some people say it has just always been there, like the sun. This seems like the likeliest story.What is known is that it is impossible to go directly to The Teahouse At The Edge Of The World? One must just "find" him or herself there. It is not listed on any maps and is certainly not in any guidebooks. Some people say it exists in some kind of subliminal zone, just outside the periphery of consciousness. I have also been told that it is only by a "spiritual journey" that one can arrive there.Another very interesting thing about The Teahouse At The Edge Of The World is that it looks and feels different to the different people who "end up" there. To some people it is a tiny shack; to others it is a palace. And the tea servers one meets there also are very different. They can be anything from an old woman to a ravishing young one. Or they can also be more than one person.As mentioned, one cannot go there on purpose or by following any sort of map or set of instructions, at least not in the literal sense. Everyone who seems to find themselves there feels like it is some kind of accident or perhaps even divine intervention.The one thing that everyone shares is that they have some kind of healing. Whether it is from the tea itself or the interaction of the tea servers and the "customer", or whether it is the environment itself, is unclear. But, as you will see in the following pages, each person's story, though different, ends up with a sense of healing, of wholeness, and of a sense of greater peace in their being.And while each story is different, and some quite fantastical, it seems these stories are as real as history and as true as time.

Tea Mind, Tea Heart is a journey into the world of Chinese tea - tea as meditation, as a way to commune with nature, and as a journey into our deepest self. Tea Mind is about living a life of "free and easy wandering." It is engaging and savoring each moment in our lives. Tea Heart can be a pathway back to Source, back to the beginningless beginning, what the ancients called Dao. Drawing on his thirty years of studying Daoist philosophy and practice - including qigong, Daoist meditation and of course, the Way of Tea, Solala weaves a magical web of stories, poems and essays, taking the reader on a journey of deep exploration and inner illumination.Illustrated with over fifty full-color photos from China and the U.S., Solala's book is an offering from the heart and soul of Chinese tea.Solala Towler is author of 14 books, including Practicing the Tao Te Ching: 81 Steps On the Way (Sounds True), Tales From the Tao, Inner Chapters of Chuang Tzu, The Spirit of Zen (Watkins), and Cha Dao (Singing Dragon). Solala teaches qigong and tea ceremony at workshops and conferences around the U.S. and leads tours to China to explore qigong, tea ceremony and Daoist meditation in the sacred mountains of Daoism. "If you approach your life like you are pouring a pot of delicious and rare tea and you are sharing that with others, your life will be full of sweetness and delight."

This sequel to his popular Tales From the Tao, which has been published in six versions and three languages, takes us further into the world of the ancient Taoist masters. Taoism is a 5,000 year old spiritual tradition from China. It has been a path of balance and harmony for the Chinese people up to modern times. Yet its teachings and truths work for Westerners just as well. In these modern times of fragmentation and societal disorder the teachings in these stories can give us a deeper perspective on the human journey. In its tales of cripples, magical birds, teaching dreams, eccentric teachers, and master butchers we can find much wisdom and advice on how to live out own lives here in the 21st Century. Solala Towler, author of the successful Tales From the Tao book, once again brings his wide knowledge of Taoism and his ability to take these 2,000 old stories and bring them into new life for modern readers. This volume contains 32 stories and over 50 photographs from his travels throughout China. The ancient philosophy of Taoism is a rich mine of teaching stories. The accessible and enlightening collection offers stories from the most celebrated Taoist masters, including Chuang Tzu, Lieh Tzu and quotations from Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching, as well as some of his own original stories inspired by the traditional teachings of Taoism.

For thousands of years, students of the Tao have gleaned inspiration and illumination from its parables, and these thought-provoking examples discuss topics ranging from dignity in the face of challenge, to judging character, to how to deal with loss. Whether solidifying a spiritual truth, unravelling a puzzle for contemplation, or providing a moment of humour, these tales are a mainstay of Eastern philosophy. This unique collection brings together the most inspiring, illuminating and downright funny stories from the classical works of Taoist masters, alongside new writing inspired by traditional tales. Set against a backdrop of the mountains, waterfalls and gorges of China, these tales introduce important Taoist ideas about many of the most basic human experiences including birth, death, loss, pleasure, and how to surrender to the most fundamental experience of the Tao itself. Interwoven with classic Taoist quotations and illustrated with beautiful photography throughout, these engrossing narratives are as relevant today as they were in the great dynasties of ancient China.

Most people think of the Tao Te Ching as a book on philosophy or a treatise on leadership. Yet there is a little-known treasure hidden within the familiar passages of Lao Tzu's work: step-by-step practical guidance for the spiritual journey. With Practicing the Tao Te Ching, renowned teacher Solala Towler reveals a new facet to this spiritual classic, offering accessible instructions paired with each of the 81 verses of the Tao Te Ching. "Tao is a way of deep reflection and learning from nature, considered the highest teacher," writes Towler. "It teaches us to follow the energy flows within the heavens, the earth, and our own bodies." With lucid instruction and deep insight, he guides you through meditations, movement and breathing practices, subtle energy exercises, and inner reflections-all to help you to embody Taoist wisdom in every aspect of your life.

In China, the practice of drinking tea is about much more than soaking leaves in a cup of hot water. Cha Dao takes us on a fascinating journey through the Way of Tea, from its origins in the sacred temples of ancient China, through its links to Daoist concepts such as or non-striving, to the affinity between Tea Mind and the Japanese spirit of Zen.