The Caregiver’s Tao Te Ching

Those who care for the ailing, whether helping someone recover, grapple with a long-term disability, or face a terminal illness, often feel alone, overwhelmed, exhausted. William and Nancy Martin have worked as counselors, hospice trainers, and Zen guides — and as caregivers themselves. With empathy and insight, they offer readers solace drawn from the eternal wisdom of the Tao Te Ching.

Like the original Chinese text, this book contains eighty-one chapters. Each chapter includes a poem for caregivers, evocative of the verses of the Tao Te Ching, followed by a reflection that presents practical guidance for navigating the emotional and physical hardships of caregiving. The resulting resource gently awakens readers to the grace, growth, and even joy possible at each step along their path.

“This wonderful book has become my friend and source of courage and strength as I sit by my mother these early days after her stroke. Fear, resentment, despair and horror have slowly dissolved into a softer, gentler state of being as I navigate my way through this unknown terrain. The book has become my companion as I sit by my mum’s bedside. It has helped me to come to terms with my opportunity to be a companion to my mum, nothing more and nothing less. There are no other books I have found which have provided such comfort. The journey I travel is now one moment at a time, cherishing each experience.” – a reader

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