Daoism, Meditation, and the Wonders of Serenity: From the Latter Han Dynasty (25-220) to the Tang Dynasty (618-907) (SUNY series in Chinese Philosophy and Culture)

Stephen Eskildsen offers an overview of Daoist religious texts from the Latter Han (25 220) through Tang (618 907) periods, exploring passive meditation methods and their anticipated effects. These methods entailed observing the processes that unfold spontaneously within mind and body, rather than actively manipulating them by means common in medieval Daoist religion such as visualization, invocations, and the swallowing of breath or saliva. Through the resulting deep serenity, it was claimed, one could attain profound insights, experience visions, feel surges of vital force, overcome thirst and hunger, be cured of ailments, ascend the heavens, and gain eternal life. While the texts discussed follow the legacy of Warring States period Daoism such as the "Laozi" to a significant degree, they also draw upon medieval immortality methods and Buddhism. An understanding of the passive meditation literature provides important insights into the subsequent development of Neidan, or Internal Alchemy, meditation that emerged from the Song period onward." Stephen Eskildsen Offers An Overview Of Daoist Religious Texts From The Latter Han (25-220) Through Tang (618-907) Periods, Exploring Passive Meditation Methods And Their Anticipated Effects. These Methods Entailed Observing The Processes That Unfold Spontaneously Within Mind And Body, Rather Than Actively Manipulating Them By Means Common In Medieval Daoist Religion Such As Visualization, Invocations, And The Swallowing Of Breath Or Saliva. 1. Introduction. Opening Comments -- The Ancient Precedents. 2. The Earliest-known Religious Movements. The Taiping Group Texts (the Great Peace, Cp Synopsis, Gp Instructions) -- The Laozi Xiang'er Zhu (laozi-xiang'er). 3. Dramatic Physical And Sensory Effects. Surges Of Primal Qi: The Xiandao Jing (the Manifest Dao) -- The Rushi Si Chizi Fa (contemplating The Baby) -- The Taishang Hunyuan Zhenlu ( The True Record). 4. Integrating Buddhism: Earlier Phase. The Xisheng Jing (the Western Ascension) -- The Xuwu Ziran Benqijing (the Original Arising). 5. Integrating Buddhism: Emptiness And The Twofold Mystery. The Benji Jing (the Original Juncture) -- The Wuchu Jing (the Five Kitchens) -- The Qingjing Jing (the Clarity And Calmness). 6. Serenity And The Reaffirmation Of Physical Transformation. The Zuowang Iun (sitting And Forgetting) -- The Dingguan Jing (stability And Observation) 7. Serenity, Primal Qi, And Embryonic Breathing. The Cunshen Lianqi Ming (the Inscription) -- The Taixi Jing Zhu (embryonic Breathing) 8. Conclusion. Stephen Eskildsen. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.