Christ the Eternal Tao (Paperback)

In fact calling it a "study" probably does not do proper justice to the beauty and originality of this work. It is rather an intuitive and profound meditation on the mystery of the Logos in its Taoist "incarnation". Its originality is such that there is little to compare it with in recent publication history. The closest works to it might be Raimundo Pannikar's The Hidden Christ of Hinduism or Ravi Ravindra's Christ the Yogi: A Hindu Reflection on the Gospel of John, but even in the company of these superb studies, Christ the Eternal Tao stands out as something decidedly different, even unique. For one thing, the author is not only a monk and a theologian, he is also an accomplished poet. Indeed, the first section of the book is itself a Christian commentary in verse on the Tao Te Ching of Lao Tzu. The last time the Christian theological world saw anything like this was perhaps St. Ephrem the Syrian in the 4th Century. Like St. Ephrem the Syrian, perhaps the greatest poet-theologian in the Christian tradition, Monk Damascene shows himself capable of theologizing through poetry. The first section of Christ the Eternal Tao is actually a long poem, composed of enneadic sections in the manner of the Tao Te Ching, This is in fact a meditation in verse on the deep realities of the Christian faith and the astonishing manner in which these are anticipated in the work of Lao Tzu. The commentary which follows stands on its own as a theological study of the Orthodox Christian tradition, especially in its dimension of mystical theology. Highest recommendation.

There have even been books by teachers of Eastern wisdom that attempt to find a place for Christian spirituality "within" their own world view. Few of these books meet both traditions on their own terms, relying on a superficial understanding of them, or on reinterpretation of traditional content to meet "new" needs.

With the publication, of <i>Christ the Eternal Tao<i>, we have a truly new book which does not fall into the usual 3 camps. First of all, it presents a picture of Taoism which is the result of a serious study. Fr. Damascene draws on the deep and detailed notes of his spiritual predecessor, Hieromonk Seraphim Rose (whom he has extensively written about in <i>Not Of This World<i>), and the latter's studies with Taoist philosopher, Gi-Ming Shien. Even many of the quotes from the <i>Tao Te Ching<i>; are from a completely fresh translation by Fr. Seraphim. Fr. Damascene is also apparently not unfamiliar with Eastern spiritual paths in his own experience.

Secondly, Fr. Damascene has not drawn on an impoverished Christianity seeking new roots, but the more ancient and mystical Christianity of the East, which is at home in deeper spiritual waters, although not well known in the West (Orthodox spirituality is occasionally referred to as "The best kept secret in America"). He is a recipient of this tradition, and is able to explain the essence of it in contemporary terms.

The first section is a "Gospel according to Lao Tzu", by which we see the Gospel of Christ in the light of Lao Tzu's intuitive, philosophic and poetic vision of the source of life.

The second section is a spiritual history of the world, which focuses on essential aspects of the work of Christ and of Lao Tzu, and the meanings they share.

The third section, my favorite and the bulk of the book, could be an effective book all by itself. In demonstrating the real link of spiritual psychology and practice between Lao Tzu and Orthodox Spirituality, Fr. Damascene gives us an essential exposition of the spiritual path in practical form. This section gives us a glimpse of spiritual life in working experience beyond philosophical conception. He demonstrates his practical understanding of spiritual psychology and development in a manner that will make sense to students of Zen, Dzogchen or Vedanta as well as Taoism or Christianity. This section can serve as a practical manual of spiritual development even for those not interested in the other themes of the book. It gives us a glimpse, not just of "our original face", but of the image of Christ which transcends a merely conceptual belief system mediated by words or thoughts.

The latter part of the book shows us the fruit of the spiritual path set forth in section three. It is a compendium of recent Orthodox Saints, sages and living confessors, who have followed this path until they have literally shone with uncreated <i>Teh<i>; or the uncreated divine energies in the form of light. In this way, we have their examples and instructions to us which reinforce the clarity of this path. There is also an appendix with a brief history of Chinese Orthodox Saints, who further demonstrate how sages of the Tao have found the completion of their path in this experience of Eastern Christianity.

The book is beautifully illustrated by photos of Saints and Sages, masterful Chinese calligraphy and seals, the life of Christ via rare traditional Chinese scroll paintings, and the influences.