Road to Heaven: Encounters with Chinese Hermits

Fascinating,

educational and entertaining well written

The book, 'Road to Heaven: Encounters with Chinese hermits' by Bill Porter was a fascinating look, part travelogue, part Chinese history, and part religious exploration of people living in the Ching Ling mountains of China who have survived, pursued, and lived being hermits (whether religious, intellectual, or personal). Mr. Porter, who has learned the Chinese language and lived in Taiwan, and has explored the Chinese mainland with collaborating friends over many years knows his way around the countryside, the politics, the language, and religious history of Taoism and Buddhism in relation to the current Chinese regime. I am glad I stumbled upon this book in my own personal pursuit of hermits and hermit life. I would highly recommend this book to any reader in learning about modern China and the pursuit of religion in today's Chinese culture. Probably the most fascinating interview by Mr. Porter (who interviewed and questioned a number of Chinese hermits on their beliefs and lifestyles besides actually traveling to where they lived or did at one time) was one who lived on a mountain and when during the interview references were being made to Chairman Mao, asked, "Who is this Mao you keep referring to?" A great read!

The hermits that Porter is writing about are useless people, in contrast to the tourism professionals in brown robes who run the publicly accessible monasteries. Porter's folk, if I understand them at all, are dying artfully, at whatever age. I'm not sure that everyone will appreciate it. I'm loving it.

Red Pine brings us into the cave with true practitioners to see there depth and simplicity and we can also learn to see genuine practice vs the facade of those who look for fame!

Delightful book about the author's quest for hermits living in the mountains in China still practicing Buddhism or Taoism after the Cultural Revolution and intrusions of the modern Chinese State into all areas of life in China. Lot's of history and background on Buddhism and Taoism and the pressures on monks, nuns, temples and hermits in modern China. The author, Bill Porter, has also translated collections of ancient Buddhist/Taoist poems by hermits under the name Red Pine. This is a wonderful companion book to those collections. Many wonderful asides about history, travel, tourism and ancient and modern efforts to live as a simple wise man (or woman) in the mountains.

This is one of those books that can change someone's life. It reveals a path to enlightenment, for all to ponder, if not to literally follow. It's beautifully written and meticulously researched, and a delightful read due to Bill Porter's fine sense of humor. I find this book educational and inspiring. No wonder its Chinese translation is a best seller in China! The English original is much finer than the Chinese translation, of course --- I have both.

This is a great book about Taoist and Buddhist hermits living in the mountains of China after the Cultural Revolution. In 1989, the author trudged the mountains of China searching for hermits, and he found many monks and nuns living a solitary contemplative life. Most of them lived in austere living conditions that would be unbearable for Western culture people to tolerate. But, as long as the hermits could do their daily Taoist or Buddhist practices, then they tolerated the harsh living conditions that they encountered living in the mountains of China. The author interviewed several of the monks and nuns, and the spiritual depth of these devote individuals is profound. After reading this book about the hermit monks and nuns that live on so little, with almost no material conveniences, but yet are so dedicated to the spiritual life; I gained a new understanding of --- SPIRITUAL DEDICATION.--- Also, I am very grateful to the Divine for letting me be born and live in the USA, with all the modern comforts and conveniences that we have in this country.

This is one of those books that I love and will always come back to

Bill Porter is one of the few Western authors who has succeeded in capturing the spirit of Eastern philosophy and conveying it through words and images. This book is inspiring, authentic and offers an insight into the lives of hermits throughout the ages. It is well-balanced and describes both Daoist and Buddhist traditions and views, making it a ‘must-have’ for anyone interested in Eastern traditions, and Chinese traditions in particular! At the same time, it is a lively travelogue in which Bill Porter speaks of his own motivation, his journey and his way of thinking, without drawing attention to himself. The teachings are at the heart of the work. Thank you!

Red Pine's journey provided this armchair traveller with much enjoyment. China, the land of a billion stories.

This book gives me goosebumps. It is so real and at the same time so utterly strange for us cosmopolitans. But staying in a solitary retreat on a mountain en Spain for almost one year gives me a sliver of getting it. Whether it were the desert father of early christianity or the hermits in the Chugnan Mountains. What we are all looking for is our basic humanity. The way out is in!

Superb