Taoist Meditation: Methods for Cultivating a Healthy Mind and Body

by Thomas Cleary (Translator)

The ancient meditation techniques of Taoism encompass a wide range of practices—with an aim toward cultivating a healthy body as well as an enlightened mind. These selections from classic texts of Taoist meditation represent the entire range of techniques—from sitting meditation practices to internal alchemy. Most of the texts appear here in English for the first time.

Selections are taken from the following classics:

   •  Anthology on Cultivation of Realization: A document from 1739 (Ming Dynasty) that emphasizes development of the natural, social, and spiritual elements in human life.
   •  Treatise on Sitting Forgetting: A Tang Dynasty text that sets meditation practice in terms familiar to Confucians and Buddhists.
   •  Sayings of Taoist Master Danyang: Wisdom of the Taoist wizard and representative of the Complete Reality School.
   •  Secret Writings on the Mechanism of Nature: An anthology taken from one hundred sixty-three Taoist sources, including ancient classics and works on meditation and spiritual alchemy, along with admonitions and teachings of the great Taoist luminaries.
   •  Zhang Sanfeng's Taiji Alchemy Secrets: A treatise on the inner mediation practices that are the proper foundation of the martial art Taiji.
   •  Secret Records of Understanding the Way: A rare and remarkable collection of talks by an anonymous Taoist master of the later Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Traditional teachings with a sometimes strikingly modern bent.

Genres: Taoism, Spirituality, Philosophy, Religion, Nonfiction, Eastern Philosophy, Meditation

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Dr. Thomas Francis Cleary, Ph.D. (East Asian Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University; J.D., Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley), was a prolific translator of Buddhist, Taoist, Confucian, and Muslim classics, with a particular emphasis on popular translations of Mahāyāna works relevant to the Chan, Zen, and Soen systems.

Reviews

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seeing and hearing are like food and drink; you need them every day, but you also need to digest and eliminate them every day. If they are not digested and eliminated thoroughly, they remain in the gut, eventually producing illness.

Self examination means awareness and control. It is none other than reforming faults and consciously developing, It is none other than mastering seriousness.

Materialism must be polished away day by day.

We must realize that the lamp has no reason to chase the darkness, and the darkness has no feeling of fear of the lamp.

Whatever you may be doing, you should practice both stopping and seeing. Stopping is silent calm. Seeing is alert awareness.

Whatever is not essential and not serious should be abandoned.

Embrace the fundamental.

Collect your mind.

Simplify your affairs.

[Tim Weakley · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of this books strengths for me was its demonstration of the parallels between Taoism and Buddhism. It came through a little more clearly than the last Taoist book I had read. Other than that I'm afraid Taoism still escapes me for the most part.

[Bill W · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite part was the bit about how beautiful women are far more dangerous than “vixen sprites.” This validated my long-held suspicion.

Seriously, Taoist Meditation offers a lot to reflect on. Despite the fact that entire sections make no sense whatsoever, the language is clear and direct. Most of the comprehension limitations are mine and not indicative of any lapse in the translation.

The simplest advice for finding our Way is often the most challenging. For example, consider the suggestion that we “stop burdening ourselves with schemes.” This got me thinking about how I will do something or act a certain way because I want something else. It seems like the more hopeless my desire (for example, wanting people to like me), the more attached I become to my schemes and the less motivated I am to change. It is frightening to contemplate letting go of all psychological pretenses and devices. The teachings seem to assume an uncommon level of self confidence on the part of the practitioner. Thus, I am curious about the back story of these ancient masters. How did they arrive at the teachings documented in Taoist Meditation? What struggles did they overcome to arrive at their enlightenment? Did they practice what they taught? What the hell are vixen sprites?

[Neil Crowle · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book, but not really for those who don't have a basic knowledge of Taoism and the internal alchemy theories it puts forward. Most of the texts included talk about the same subject matter, although the 'Anthology on the Cultivation of Realization' is very different and interesting. The whole book is subtitled 'Methods for Cultivating a Healthy Mind and Body', and contains some fairly basic instructions for achieving these goals.

[Marie Mimosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

good reminder, and not even redundant!

[Billie Pritchett · Rating 3 out of 5]

An odd blend of practical wisdom and bull, but the practical wisdom outshines the bull. What I especially like are the clever turns of phrases and the figurative language that frame the spiritual practices here. Much of it is really taken up with meditation and uses Taoism as the philosophical underpinning to meditative practice. Meditation emphasizes being in the moment, no matter what ordinary activity a person is doing, all the while regulating breathing, not getting overly worked up inside. The philosophy emphasizes a harmony we ought to seek to create between heaven and earth. Calmness of breath is like the harmonizing of heaven and earth. Whether you take any of this metaphorically or literally doesn't matter much, I don't think. Learning how to simplify one's life and calm down and be flexible and adaptable to life's challenges is something many people need, so if this can do something for those people, all the better.

[Alex Sippel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this selection of texts and feel like I learned a lot and will revisit portions focused on meditation practices. I found that, compared to other Taoist texts I've read, these are a lot more accessible, though they still have elements of poetry and mysticism. As a newcomer to this and other spiritual practices in other traditions (yoga, chakras, etc), the commonalities between these systems are fascinating.

[AJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

It will increase the thinking capacity and broaden your mind to better understand your surroundings.

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thomas Cleary is expert at translating these texts from the Eastern traditions. fascinating books such as Taoist Meditation profoundly enlighten the reader in vast spaces on spiritual activity as the Way itself comes to light. Taoism to the Westerner is an interesting new territory open with acceptable insights in fresh literature appealing to young and old alike. I highly recommend this book as an entertaining and informative volume that shines light on philosophies perhaps unfamiliar to first time readers.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent guide to meditation.