Immortal Sisters: Secret Teachings of Taoist Women

As a few other reviewers have already noted, you kind of need to have some previous understanding of the concepts of Taoist alchemy to make sense of the material in this book. I suppose you could still enjoy it as a collection of mystical poems (and prose texts) with some intrinsic beauty of their own, though, as well. As I have read a lot about Taoist alchemy before reading this book, it worked for me. In fact, having come to it right after Chang Po-tuan's 'Understanding Reality' (also translated by Cleary), I found that many of the works in this volume took Taoist alchemical concepts back to their essentials (which is in no way to belittle Chang or anyone else -- I highly recommend 'Understanding Reality' -- just a slightly different way of dealing with the same ideas). In one area, one of the figures here, Sun Bu-er, goes beyond certain other alchemists in that she describes the "flight to the stars," a shamanistic concept that still survives in Taoism, and to which the commentator on her work Chen Yingning can only respond, "Although there are many references to this in the classics of alchemy, I have not personally found any evidence of this attainment in the 20th century, so I cannot really talk about it." For some reason this struck me as funny (and honest).While Cleary puts this book forward as taking a feminist stance, it does not seem to really be the case. I almost want to give the book less than 5 stars for this reason, though it's not so much the fault of the translator as it is the tradition itself. Cleary's rhetoric seems geared toward marketing, though. In actuality, no different from most other frameworks, religious or otherwise, in societies historically, women were not really accorded a place of prominence in Taoism. A number of women, such as the ones included here, did manage to become realized and renowned, but they are seemingly the exception to the rule. Most Taoist texts seem to have a a masculinist bias (women are representative of "passivity," etc.). It is great that Cleary and the publisher (North Atlantic Books) focus attention on women in Taoism, but when you get toward the end of the book, some rather bizarre notions come to the attention -- the ideal female Taoist adept is one who somehow or other induces premature menopause. From the translator's introduction to "Spiritual Alchemy for Women" (1899): "The distinction made between men and women in ordinary Taoist practice...has to do with the physiological difference between the sexes. As seen in the work of Sun Bu-er, the feminine Tao of life includes the practice of deliberate and harmonious menopause as part of mastery over the physical body" (p. 81). Not sure how such an extreme measure could be called "harmonious," but there you have it. Apparently the natural function of the woman's body is a barrier to enlightenment? The treatise itself quotes one famous Taoist thinker as noting that "The principle for men is refinement of energy, the expedient for women is refinement of the body" and goes on to state that in women the point of focus of energy is the breasts, with further details given about their physical response (p. 87). It just seems strange to me (or should it really be a surprise? a classic double standard perhaps?) that for women the emphasis is so much on the body in this way.Take this as you will. There is still so much here that is good, erudite, insightful, and even inspiring. But given that the book cloaks itself in a veneer of feminism, I had to point out certain questionable stances of the tradition itself. As with anything, read in a discerning manner and embrace the worthwhile parts. The book is also only 90 pages long -- were there no further works by/about Taoist women that could have been included?

The poetry of Sappho has been read as THE example of women from ancient times, but this text shows us that the rarest of the jewels come from the Eastern civilization. These works are like a Chinese brush painter's stroke; from the heart of the spirit to the characters on the page. Each stroke reads as if it is found in a great brushpainter's' tradition of "having the bamboo completed in your chest" -- or seeing with one's inner eye and then simply writing what one sees.What an exceptional find for students of daoism who are interested in learning the true beauty and wonderful myth of the Taoist Immortals and their jouneys! The Immortals include women but seldom do we get the chance to learn of them -- or in this case -- read their actual "bamboos of the chest."Yes, Cleary follows his tradition of translating rare and visionary material, but since I have yet to master the language, I cannot say how true his translations are to the original words. This poetry is as simple as a final brushstroke in the holy spot on a sheet of rice paper. But these interpretations are filtered by what men perceive in these women's writing, and how their lives shape this text.I wait to hear the translations from wonderful contemporary daoist women like we find in the mastery of Eva Wong. Clearly, the author notes that few works were written for both women and men. These ancient women were clear that much of the poetry was written for women only.Do not hesitate to purchase a copy of this amazing gift to the world of beauty. Each page is fresh with new readings and is a staple of my bedside library. The works shape meaning into paths I follow and into the nature I seek as I live in solitude on the side of a mountain.In the busy city, in a quick moment on that bus in rush hour, or during a break in your day of dealing with "reality" -- this amazing little text will spill over to give you the visions of the immortals and the sanctity of the women who penned each verse.Nothing can be better for your quest of "having the bamboo completed in your chest."

This book is not only about remarkable women but also about Taoism and it dovetailed perfectly with the books that I have been reading about Feng-shui (the ancient "science", not the modern "art"), which is an application of the same basic principles practiced by the "Immortal Sisters" in this excellent book .For one who has "eyes to see" this book contains a great deal of wisdom pertaining to what is still, to a large extent, secret or at least purposely distorted or obscured,Taoist teachings. The ancient Taoist Masters, including the ladies mentioned in this book, are spiritual adepts and powerful alchemists and magicians. The esoteric knowledge they possess could be used by less enlightened and more aggressive individuals to hurt and destroy or as the "Immortal Sisters" are using it, to heal and enliven. I speak of these women as if they are still alive because I believe that they most certainly are!Here's one of many inspiring passages pertaining to the "Immortal Sisters" from the book:"Those who have now attained spiritual immortality but cannot as yet live in heaven number in the thousands. They are all in various places on earth accumulating virtue, carrying out practical undertakings so that they may eventually make the ascent.Some of them take care of rivers and lakes, some of them manage the hidden government, some are in charge of mountains. The work to benefit ten thousand generations, to rid the earth of what is harmful, to heal the sick and eliminate problems, acting mercifully toward the troubled and uplifting the fallen, rescuing the weak and helpless...." (Introduction XIII)If that doesn't move you to buy and read this wonderful book, I don't know what would!

I was so excited when I received this book an not feel disapointed. I love Tomas cleary translations and this book presenting the work of women who have walk the path is such a rare and precious find. There are abundance of commentary to accompany the text and further the understanding, even if not always accurate in their interpretation, an interpretation is always just that; a potential way to understand what an author was trying to say.

book delivered from US and it looks pretty ordinary like local printing.

This is a must read for anyone who is developing their character through Taoist praxis. It does require a firm grounding and understanding of the basics; not a place to begin.