Stuart Alve Olson

Being Daoist: The Way of Drifting with the Current (Revised Edition) provides an interpretation on the basic philosophical ideals of living and thinking as a Daoist. It serves as a primer for Westerners on Daoist teachings and practices, encapsulating the heart of what Stuart Alve Olson has learned from his teachers, from his many years of practicing, and from his study and translation of Daoist works. The chapters on Understanding the Way, The Way of Renewing Life, The Way of Wei Wu Wei, The Way of Immortals, and Following the Daoist Way offer insights into what it means to be Daoist by integrating Lao Zi's philosophy of naturalism into our lives in a Western context. One of the cornerstones of Being Daoist is living according to our Personal Dao, which allows us to achieve greater peace and contentment in our lives. In this book, Stuart Alve Olson explains the meaning of Personal Dao, and provides guidance on how we can connect with ours. Just as the Chinese character for Dao shows a person drifting along with the current of a watercourse way, finding and then following your Personal Dao is the essence of Being Daoist.

The books in this two-volume series present the most important tools and information on how to utilize the Book of Changes (I Ching). The Book of Sun and Moon, an alternative-though accurate-translation for the title of the I Ching, is both a book of divination and calculation. Its use in divination means to apply intuition concerning the oracle of the hexagrams (the sixty-four images of broken and unbroken Yin-and-Yang lines). Its ability to calculate and determine possible outcomes for any situation involves examining the logical correlations associated with each of the hexagrams and what images they change into and head toward. Using the Book of Sun and Moon is like being a detective or tracker. The images are the clues and tracks, and a good detective or tracker needs not only tools of deduction and observation, but also a strong sense of intuition. Hence, the Book of Sun and Moon provides the main tools for both. Some questions put to the Book of Sun and Moon may only seem to need an understanding of the oracle portion, while others may only seem to require the use of logic and calculation. Without applying both intuition and logic, however, you are only receiving half the picture and limiting the amount of information the Book of Sun and Moon can provide. Volume I contains background historical information and explanations of the I Ching's construction and uses for divination and calculation. Volume II contains the translations of the original Book of Sun and Moon, along with specific correlations for the hexagrams and trigrams for interpretation, as well as Stuart Alve Olson's commentaries derived from various Chinese and English sources. These new editions of the Book of Sun and Moon provide a distinctly Daoist perspective on the work, which sets them apart from the majority of other translations of the I Ching that contain commentaries based on Confucian ideals and philosoph

The books in this two-volume series present the most important tools and information on how to utilize the Book of Changes (I Ching). The Book of Sun and Moon, an alternative-though accurate-translation for the title of the I Ching, is both a book of divination and calculation. Its use in divination means to apply intuition concerning the oracle of the hexagrams (the sixty-four images of broken and unbroken Yin-and-Yang lines). Its ability to calculate and determine possible outcomes for any situation involves examining the logical correlations associated with each of the hexagrams and what images they change into and head toward. Using the Book of Sun and Moon is like being a detective or tracker. The images are the clues and tracks, and a good detective or tracker needs not only tools of deduction and observation, but also a strong sense of intuition. Hence, the Book of Sun and Moon provides the main tools for both. Some questions put to the Book of Sun and Moon may only seem to need an understanding of the oracle portion, while others may only seem to require the use of logic and calculation. Without applying both intuition and logic, however, you are only receiving half the picture and limiting the amount of information the Book of Sun and Moon can provide. Volume I contains background historical information and explanations of the I Ching's construction and uses for divination and calculation. Volume II contains the translations of the original Book of Sun and Moon, along with specific correlations for the hexagrams and trigrams for interpretation, as well as Stuart Alve Olson's commentaries derived from various Chinese and English sources. These new editions of the Book of Sun and Moon provide a distinctly Daoist perspective on the work, which sets them apart from the majority of other translations of the I Ching that contain commentaries based on Confucian ideals and philosoph

This volume in the Chen Kung Series is a landmark translation and explanation of Taijiquan's most profound text-the Yang family's secret training journal on Intrinsic Energies (Jin). The commentary brilliantly explicates a work that will be an essential reference for any Taijiquan practitioner. Intrinsic Energies are the profound and marvelous skills of an accomplished Taijiquan master. They are the very foundation of self-defense skills in Taijiquan and are what sets Taijiquan apart and beyond all other styles of martial art. Anyone interested in developing their Taijiquan skills to the highest levels needs to read and study this work. "I predict that this will be one of the most important works on T'ai Chi yet to be published in English. While the text itself is enlightening, the real pearls of knowledge contained in this book are to be found in Olson's commentary. Concepts and ideas typically mystified by practitioners are masterfully presented in a clear, direct manner."-Dan Miller, editor Pa Kua Chang Journal The information in Stuart Alve Olson's six-volume Chen Kung Series, available to the Chinese reader since 1936, covers the entire Yang family system of Taijiquan practice and philosophy. Chen Kung's original Chinese book is a distinct and invaluable resource that is now accessible to English readers through the brilliant translation work and insightful commentary of Stuart Alve Olson. No matter what style of Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan) you practice or what level of skill you have achieved, the Chen Kung Series will greatly broaden your knowledge and skills, as it is truly a "Master's Program" on the art of Taijiquan.

Now 101 years old, Master T. T. Liang came to the U. S. from Taiwan in the 1960s to introduce t'ai chi to America. His life story is full of the stuff that makes a great martial arts adventure: a career as a high-ranking government official, street fights and shootouts, opium dens and prostitutes, mystical martial arts masters and monks — the story of a life lived to the absolute maximum. Twenty-five photographs add to the captivating life story of this great t'ai chi master.

Starting from the basic principle of 'If you want to know how to eliminate stress ask someone who is without stress' Stuart Alve Olson introduces the simple time tested exercises of Taoist masters to teach even the most harried Westerner how to go beyond reducing stress to eliminating it all together. Olson offers easy to use techniques to help us let go of tension and mental strain through breathing mental relaxation and massage. Readers will learn from fifth century physician T'ao Hung-chin the six sounds therapy that can be practised between phone calls at the office or during morning traffic. Whether rubbing a simple pressure point in the middle of a meeting or enjoying breathing methods like the Heng Ha breath all day long readers will discover the gifts of tranquillity health and balance offered by age old Taoist practices. TAO OF NO STRESS utilises traditional verse photos and the down to earth guidance of the author to teach both the experienced Taoist practitioner and the complete novice how to live stress free in a stress full world. Adapts ancient Taoist wisdom to address the problems of a frenetic lifestyle. Offers clear instructions for releasing massaging and breathing stress away. Explores the mind/body/stress connection showing that once the mind is calm the body can function at its best.

Throughout history Taoists have promoted the development and restoration of the Three Treasures-- body, breath, and spirit--through the gentle practice of qigong. At the center of the qigong practice are the Eight Brocades, a series of postures that developed during the 3,000-year Taoist quest for longevity and vitality. Now qigong expert Stuart Olson translates into English Master Li Ching-yun's treasured teachings on the Eight Brocades. One of the most famous qigong masters of this century, Master Li Ching-yun is reliably chronicled to have lived more than 250 years, during which he practiced the Eight Brocades on a daily basis. His longevity and personal endorsements attest to and validate the Eight Brocades as the quintessence of Taoist health and qigong practices. With Master Li Ching-yun's original teachings as a guide, Stuart Olson presents an authentic yet accessible approach to this unique practice. Each exercise is accompanied by original text from Master Li, step-by-step instructions for each posture, illustrations of the positions, and insights on theory and practice. Because the Eight Brocades are the foundation of all qigong, this book provides valuable advice for all practitioners, regardless of the style they practice or the depth of their experience.

The first tai chi book exclusively for children ages 4 to 8.- Uses children's delight in imitating animals to teach the eight basic tai chi forms essential for health.- Each exercise is accompanied by colorful artwork and photographs of the author's 7-year-old son demonstrating postures.- Written as a story to invite imaginative play and learning.- Designed for children and parents to play with together and for independent learning by older children. Millions of adults practice the ancient Chinese exercise of tai chi everyday. Now children can experience the numerous health, learning, and social benefits of tai chi--focused attention; enhanced creativity, imagination, self-confidence; and improved balance, circulation, and overall health--through the eight simple exercises introduced in Tai Chi for Kids. Inspired by his own son's excitement with tai chi at the age of only three, master teacher Stuart Olson appeals to the innate imagination and playfulness of children to teach them the eight basic forms of a tai chi practice. Children have fun imitating animals while guided by colorful and playful illustrations and photographs of Olson's son, Lee, performing each posture. Olson uses the language of a storyteller, wonderful animal metaphors that invite children to pretend, and easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions so that every child can enjoy such exercises as Chasing the Monkeys Away,and Riding the Tiger to the Mountain. The book also includes a fun teaching tale of how tai chi first began that can be read out loud by a parent or independently by the older child. Tai Chi for Kids introduces children to a lifetime of physical fitness and instills in them a love of movement.

Reveals the close relationship between the eight basic postures of T'ai Chi and the hexagrams of the I Ching. As handed down in the teachings of the Yellow Emperor and Chang San-Feng. Explains the physical and spiritual benefits that result from the practice of the Before Heaven T'ai Chi form. An essential reference book for any serious student of T'ai Chi and the I Ching. T'ai Chi is a physical expression of Taoist thought--a philosophy in motion. The relationship between the I Ching, Taoist philosophy, and T'ai Chi is well established in many of the classical texts and teachings handed down by the Yellow Emperor and Chang San-Feng, yet it has essentially remained a mystery in the West. Stuart Alve Olson, a longtime student of renowned T'ai Chi Ch'uan Master T. T. Liang, shows how the hexagrams of the I Ching relate to the eight basic postures of T'ai Chi, and how together they comprise the orderly sequence of the postures in the Before Heaven T'ai Chi form. The practice of this form initiates a process of internal alchemy that allows for the stimulation and accumulation of chi through the major energy systems of the body. Physically, this process restores youthful flexibility. Spiritually, it frees the mind to roam the sublime Tao." Because the Before Heaven sequence of postures is the foundation of all T'ai Chi forms, this book provides valuable advice for all practitioners, regardless of the style they practice or the depth of their experience. An essential reference book for any serious student of Taoism, T'ai Chi According to the I Chingis an invaluable guide to how even the most esoteric aspects of Chinese philosophy are firmly rooted in a physical practice.