Taoism Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! === Meditation === [[file:Stage1.gif|thumb|Illustration of Taoist meditation.]] There are many methods of Taoist meditation (often referred to as "stillness practice", ''jinggong''), some of which were strongly influenced by [[Buddhist meditation|Buddhist methods]].{{sfnp|Kohn|2008|p=131}}{{sfnp|Komjathy|2014|p=133}} Some of the key forms of Taoist meditation are:{{sfnp|Kohn|2008|p=136-140}}{{sfnp|Komjathy|2014|p=133}} * [[Apophatic theology|Apophatic]] or quietistic meditation, which was the main method of classical Taoism and can be found in classic texts like the'' Zhuangzi'', where it is termed "fasting the heartmind" (xinzhai).{{sfnp|Komjathy|2014|p=133-134}} This practice is also variously termed "embracing the one" (baoyi), "guarding the one" (shouyi), "quiet sitting" (jingzuo), and "sitting forgetfulness" ([[zuowang]]).{{sfnp|Komjathy|2014|p=134}} According to Louis Komjathy, this type of meditation "emphasizes emptiness and stillness; it is contentless, non-conceptual, and non-dualistic. One simply empties the heart-mind of all emotional and intellectual content."{{sfnp|Komjathy|2014|p=134}} The texts of classical Taoism state that this meditation leads to the dissolution of the self and any sense of separate dualistic identity.{{sfnp|Komjathy|2014|p=135}} Sima Chengzhen's ''[[Zuowanglun|Zuowang lun]]'' is a key text that outlines this method.{{sfnp|Komjathy|2014|p=135}} The practice is also closely connected with the virtue of wuwei (inaction).{{sfnp|Komjathy|2014|p=137}} * Concentration meditation, focusing the mind on one theme, like the breath, a sound, a part of the body (like one of the dantiens), a diagram or mental image, a deity etc. A subset of this is called "guarding the one", which is interpreted in different ways. * Observation (guan)—according to [[Livia Kohn]], this method "encourages openness to all sorts of stimuli and leads to a sense of free-flowing awareness. It often begins with the recognition of physical sensations and subtle events in the body but may also involve paying attention to outside occurrences."{{sfnp|Kohn|2008|p=137}} Guan is associated with deep listening and energetic sensitivity.{{sfnp|Komjathy|2014|p=132}} The term most often refers to "inner observation" (neiguan), a practice that developed through Buddhist influence (see: [[Vipaśyanā]]).{{sfnp|Komjathy|2014|p=133}} Neiguan entails developing introspection of one's body and mind, which includes being aware of the various parts of the body as well as the various deities residing in the body.{{sfnp|Kohn|2008|p=136-140}} * [[Zhan zhuang]] ("post standing")—standing meditation in various postures. * Visualization (cunxiang) of various mental images, including deities, cosmic patterns, the lives of saints, various lights in the bodies organs, etc. This method is associated with the Supreme Clarity school, which first developed it.{{sfnp|Komjathy|2014|p=133}} Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page