Book excerpt: You’re no idiot, of course. You know Taoism is one of the world’s oldest religions, based on simplicity and balance. However, you may not know it has important parallels with modern Western life: health, ecology, even in such pop culture icons as Luke Skywalker and the Beatles. But you don’t have to sit at the feet of a Taoist master to learn how the Taoist tradition has enlightened seekers throughout the centuries! The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Taoism will show you exactly why Taoist principles appeal to people from every walk of life! In this Complete Idiot’s Guide®, you get: • The history of the Daode Jing, the world’s shortest core religious text, and Laozi, its mysterious author. • The teachings of Zhuangzi, the often-overlooked master sage of Taoism. • An explanation of yin-yang and what it represents. • Taoism’s relationship to Zen Buddhism.