Jade Dragon School of Kung Fu and Qigong in Reading, Berkshire

Jade Dragon School of Kung Fu and Qigong

Its texts are carved in stone on the top of holy mountains, painted in gold on sacred scrolls , placed beneath a pregnant woman to ease childbirth and is regularly pored over by everyone from Taoist preists to western businessmen.

The Tao Te Ching is not a typical book on Taoist philosophy as it contains no humour or metaphorical stories. It was probably not even written by its reputed author Lao Tzu (Lao Tzu simply means old master. It is believed his real name is Li Erh Tan). It probably contains texts which span over a period of centuries rather than the legendary story of it having been written in one night. It is a collection of 81 chapters or poems each of which is seemingly unconnected with each other. It is like a set of pearls, each one seperate and individual yet when put together displays a beauty and symmetry that unites them.

Often the chapters within Tao Te Ching start off with the original sayings then seem to include commentary and explanations on them. This would seem to indicate that these commentaries were included at a later date and seem to add weight to the supposition that it was not all written by one master.

However, it is seen as the classic of Taoism. It is the most important book in Chinese literature and has been a great source of inspiration, guidance, strategy and leadership training for 2500 years. It is one of the few religious or philosophical texts that can be read and enjoyed by people of many different faiths as well as by those of no particular faith. It has no creator God, no deities, no spirits and no religious dogmas. Simply a path for us to follow if we so choose that can lead us to freedom, personal happiness, and a life in harmony with nature and our fellow man.