Mentoring: The Tao of Giving and Receiving Wisdom

by Chungliang Al Huang and Jerry Lynch

Based on the ancient Taoist teachings of balance, presents a new approach to mentoring which helps build a collaborative spirit in the workplace and at home.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0062512501
• ISBN13: 9780062512505
• Release Date: October 1995
• Publisher: HarperOne
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

A Perfect Guide to Achieving Inner Peace

With life's complications weighing on our shoulders it is only natural to seek ways to simplify and improve the quality of our lives and those that surround us. Such methods are described in this wonderfully written book. Through the simplistic process of mentoring, knowledge is unselfishly shared with others, creating an unmeasurable positive impact on their lives. Unknowingly, in return, our lives are positively impacted as well. The author reinforces that our own personal growth begins with encouraging growth in others. The message, although very elementary, has had a profound effect on my relationship building skills with my family, co-workers, and friends.

This Book is a Visual Inspiration.

The elegant Chinese and English calligraphy paints a fluid picture of the ancient poetical relationship of the mentor and protégé.Unlike many writings on the subject, Haung and Lynch, capture the essence of the mentor. "Tao Mentoring", is a process of where both the mentor and protégé benefit. This book illustrates the flowing motion of the spiritual qualities that embody this relationship. "Tao Mentoring is a two-way circular dance that provides opportunities for us to experience both giving and receiving without limitation and fears."The book is split into three chapters: The first chapter begins with the eight philosophical petals of Tao, each beautifully illustrated. Jing Hwa --The Golden Flower, Jing (gold)- transformation and transcendence of the individual. Hwa (flower)- the blossoming of the ultimate "thousand petaled lotus". The eight petals of Tao are: Wu Ming- The Neutralization of Duality, Tui Shou- The dance of Pushing Hands, Wu Ji- The Empty Space of Wisdom, Gu Shen- The Spirit of the Valley, Wu Dao- The Dancing Wu Ji Mentors, Wu Wei- The Movement of Tao Mentoring, Hao Jan Zi Ch'i- The Expansive Spirit, Dao Ying- The Ideal Mentoring Relationship, The second chapter gives an overview of the Virtues of Tao Mentoring. Wang Tao- Cultivating the Virtues of Tao Mentoring, Wang- Virtue and Tao- the way. The topics include: Virtues of the Heart: "Those who follow the Tao, with truth and fulfillment in their hearts, are indeed virtuous." Virtues of the Soul: "..inspire us to attend to the intricate details and mundane realities on the path of the mentor." The third chapter: Tashun- The Great Harmony Humble Visions for a Harmonious World The final chapter sums up the potential for applications of the "Tao Mentoring Method". The book ends with thoughts of encouraging harmony and balance, the natural order of all things. The authors bring the concepts full circle emphasizing how to "cultivate dynamic relationships in all areas of life".

The Essence of Mentoring and a way of Life

Mentoring: The TAO of Giving and Receiving Wisdom By Chungliang Al Huang and Jerry LynchMentoring: The TAO of Giving and Receiving Wisdom offers a fresh approach and explanation to what sometime seems to be difficult work. It discusses the relationship between the mentor and the mentoree as a dance that is accomplished between two people in an effort to gain wisdom and knowledge. To become a good mentor one must first experience what it is like to be a good mentoree. It is apparent that the two authors have achieved and practice a level of mentor/mentoree as you read through the background and explanation of what is called the "dance".The book starts out by describing Jing Hwa - the Golden Flower of Tao Mentoring. Here the Golden Flower and its eight petals symbolize the essence of Tao. These eight petals represent the "building blocks, or cornerstones, of the Tao mentoring philosophy".In the second and third sections of this book, Virtues of the Heart and Virtues of the Soul, powerful Chinese characters are used to invoke emotions and meanings. I found myself staring into and analyzing each character. In Virtues of the Heart words such as emptiness, humility, self-acceptance and integrity were used to emphasize 'the personal bond between two kindred spirits in the Tao mentoring relationship'. Where as in the Virtues of the Soul ideas such as modeling, guidance, empathy and nurturance were used to "prepare us to confront the conflicts, doubts, failures, paradoxes, and adversities of life while giving us the strength to develop the self in the process". In the last section, Tashun - Humble Visions for a Harmonious World, the authors discuss the potential affects of Tao Mentoring on the individual and potentially the world. From the moment you pick up this book you are drawn into the subject matter. From the unfinished edges of the pages to the use of calligraphic Chinese characters throughout the book, a sense of great work and understanding is present. The concepts in this book can be used in everyday life as well as becoming a better Mentor/Mentoree. This book is to be read and experience again and again.

Writing this book was a gift to the world from its authors

This book is pure inspirational reading. Chungliang Al Huang and Jerry Lynch have put together the best book that I have read for many years. The last time I read a book that was so memorable was the Prophet, by Kahil Gabran. Few books leave lasting impressions, but this one is truly a gift of the mind and spirit. You can feel the synergy between the authors as you turn each page. You are constantly hypnotized by the beautiful flow of the dialog and the crispness of the calligraphy, all done by Chungliang Al Huang, of Chinese symbols, which are generously displayed throughout the book, each of the symbols representing the message of that section. The philosophy of Tao mentoring takes a very natural approach to mentoring. It uses many analogies and speaks frequently of nature and the behavior of elements such as wind, fire, and water to provide examples of how mentoring should be viewed. The book stresses the importance of living in harmony with nature and all things. Tao mentoring incorporates many lessons and it is written in an almost conversational or story-telling style. Tao mentoring is truly a lesson for the heart and soul of its practitioners.This book is divided into four parts, the first part is a dialog about Tao mentoring and how it relates to the modern world, and where it all fits. It talks about the constant cycle of mentoring, that of learning (receiving) and sharing (giving), and how as mentors, you are constantly moving through this cycle, sometime being the mentor and other time the mentee. The dialog in part two discusses Jing Hwa, Jing meaning (gold) representing the transformation and the transcendence the individual, and Hwa (flower) representing the awakening of the real self, and the realization of wholeness in the human potential. The eight petals of the flower (Hwa) represent the building blocks of the Tao mentoring philosophy. The third section alone justifies buying the book. In this section the authors discuss cultivating the virtues of Tao mentoring. This section speaks of the virtues of the heart and the soul. Virtues of the heart are those virtues that strengthen the bond between the relationships of those in the mentoring relationship. Virtues of the soul are those virtues that prepare us to confront adversities and give us the strength to develop ourselves. Virtue of the heart includes mindfulness, attentiveness, trustfulness, kindness, and many more. Some of the virtues of the soul are modeling, guidance, and nurturing. The dialogs for each of these virtues are followed by beautiful short passages that leave you thinking hours after you close the book.The fourth and final section is a what-if scenario. It discusses the impact that we as individuals can make on the world, if we lived out our lives following the Tao mentoring philosophy. The authors expand this thought even further by exploring the positive possibilities Tao mentoring could make on our wo

A great book to guide a mentoring relationship

Based on the principles of Taoism, this book provides strong philisophical guidance in the dynamics of the mentor/mentoree relationship. Neither a textbook nor a research work, the authors impart their knowledge through a collection of parables, anecdotes and quotations, providing the reader with a grounding in the art of mentoring, as opposed to the methods. After describing the eight elements of the Taoist mentoring philosophy, to center one's heart and mind to the ideals of the philosophy, the authors describe dozens of virtues in two distinct categories: Virtues of the Heart, which describe qualities such as humility, trustfulness, and kindness, which should strengthen the bond between mentor and mentoree; and Virtues of the Soul, which describe qualities that should remind and strengtben the mentor in his or her role, such as service, cooperation and harmony. While a very quick read, this work is not meant to be read once and digested, but referred to as one develops as a mentor. The value of this book to me is that it deeply describes a humanistic approach to mentoring that views the relationship as nurturing and balanced, where the mentor and mentoree are both critical parts of the process, and where both can learn and gain wisdom from each other. Although it is a beautiful book, it may not be for you if you seek a textbook that clinically describes the mentoring process.