Daoism, Meditation, and the Wonders of Serenity: From the Latter Han Dynasty (25-220) to the Tang Dynasty (618-907)

by Stephen Eskildsen

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781438458236
Publisher:	State University of New York Press
Publication date:	12/01/2015
Series:	SUNY series in Chinese Philosophy and Culture
Pages:	396
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.20(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Stephen Eskildsen is North Callahan Distinguished Professor of Religion at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and the author of Asceticism in Early Taoist Religion and The Teachings and Practices of the Early Quanzhen Taoist Masters, both also published by SUNY Press.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

1. Introduction
Opening Comments
The Ancient Precedents
Overview

2. The Earliest-Known Daoist Religious Movements
The Taiping Group Texts 太平經(The Great Peace, GP Synopsis, GP Instructions)
The Laozi Xiang’er zhu 老子想爾注(Laozi-Xiang’er)

3. Dramatic Physical and Sensory Effects
Surges of Primal Qi: The Xiandao jing 顯道經(The Manifest Dao)
The Rushi si chizi fa 入室思赤赤子法(Contemplating the Baby)
The Taishang hunyuan zhenlu 太上混元真錄(The True Record)

4. Integrating Buddhism: Earlier Phase
The Xisheng jing 西昇鍽(The Western Ascension)
The Xuwu ziran benqijing 虛無自然本起經(The Original Arising)

5. Integrating Buddhism: Emptiness and the Twofold Mystery
The Benji jing 本際經(The Original Juncture)
The Wuchu jing 五廚經(The Five Kitchens)
The Qingjing jing 清靜經(The Clarity and Calmness)

6. Serenity and the Reaffirmation of Physical Transformation
The Zuowang lun 坐忘論(Sitting and Forgetting)
The Dingguan jing 定觀經(Stability and Observation)

7. Serenity, Primal Qi, and Embryonic Breathing
The Cunshen lianqi ming 存神鍊氣銘(The Inscription)
The Taixi jing zhu 胎息經註(Embryonic Breathing)

8. Conclusion

Notes
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

"[This book] provides a wealth of information about Medieval Daoist meditation practices, historical figures, and scriptures. It will be very useful in both undergraduate and graduate courses concerning Daoism, meditation, and comparative studies, especially between Daoism and Buddhism. I applaud Stephen Eskildsen for bringing forward this important work for others who seek to understand these texts, practices, and maybe even want to find their own serenity and its wonders." — James D. Sellmann, China Review International

"This book is a major contribution to Daoist studies, and will edify advanced students as well as their instructors." — Religious Studies Review

"…solid scholarship on the Daoist tradition …the book makes a major contribution to our understanding of Daoist meditation, and it will assist individuals in understanding Daoist meditation in a more integrated and sophisticated manner." — Journal of Chinese Religions

"…a welcome and useful study on a central aspect of medieval Daoist practice, one which fills a gap in our hitherto understanding of the evolution of that religion. As such it is one that is sure to find its place among the classical studies on medieval Daoism." — Entangled Religions

"…a comprehensive and exceptionally well organized and presented overview of historical Chinese Daoist religious texts." — Midwest Book Review

From the Publisher