The DAO of Flow - Paperback

by Jin Young Lim (Author)

An appreciation of life, an illumination of three esoteric principles of embodying, flowing, and regulating water through one's personal journey and narratives of 'walking flowers'--people who walk the flow Jin Young Lim was studying ancient philosophy when he delved into reflections on his life to date--from humanitarian work in Fukushima to studying in Tokyo, becoming a yoga and Taijiquan instructor, and co-founding a non-profit in the Himalayas before moving to Beijing as a Schwarzman Scholar. Turning his musings into chapters, Jin Young uses experiences from different parts of Asia to construct an account of what he calls 'The Dao of Flow'--a way of continuous transformation reflecting the philosophical implications of water. In a series of incisive vignettes and anecdotes, he draws inspiration from classical texts as he relates them to various topics across multiple disciplines: contemplative practices, spirituality, tea, agriculture, biodiversity, art, history, geography, politics, social economics, and stories of his mentors and role models in life.

Author Biography

Jin Young Lim is a PhD student at the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultural Studies at UC Santa Barbara. He was a Schwarzman Scholar class of ' 22 at Tsinghua University and Program Coordinator at the Berggruen Institute's China Center. Lim is the co-founder of Spawo Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to nurturing holistic education, sustainability, health and wellness, and culture in the Himalayas. He completed his undergraduate dual-degree from Waseda University and Peking University, majoring in liberal arts and international politics. He has led multiple mindfulness-based expeditions to the Himalayas and has been engaging in various contemplative practices throughout his life. During his free time, he moonlights as a writer, Taijiquan instructor, yoga teacher, Pu' er tea enthusiast, and content creator.