Tranquil Sitting

Tranquil Sitting is the Taoist Master Yin Shi Zi's practical guide and inspirational testament to the healing power and spiritual benefits of meditation and Chinese medical Qigong. The book explores the theory and physiological aspects of meditation and offers practical instruction in traditional meditation techniques. It also documents Yin Shi Zi's personal experiences with meditation, his own self-healing which he attributes to his Taoist practice, and his initiation into the Tibetan tantric practice of opening the crown of the head. Thus giving the reader an idea of the long-term process of meditation practice and the deep healing that can result from it. Faithfully translated from the Chinese, this is an influential text that belongs on the bookshelves of everyone with an interest in Taoist practice and meditation.

This is the Taoist Master Yin Shi Zi's inspirational testament and practical guide to the healing power and spiritual benefits of meditation. The book offers in-depth documentation of the theory, physiological aspects and instruction for the practice of meditation, and provides an account of Yin Shi Zi's personal experiences with meditation.

Clarity & Tranquility: A Guide for Daoist Meditation is an in-depth work on the method of Tranquil Sitting, a crucial and important practice for all Daoist practitioners. Stuart Alve Olson's introduction provides a great deal of valuable advice, history, and purpose for Tranquil Sitting. The main body of the work is divided into three integral sections that provide a comprehensive overview for anyone seriously seeking to practice meditation, whether one is a beginner or a longtime practitioner. Each section is distinct, yet they all work together to ensure the meditation practitioner has not only the insight of purpose for Daoist meditation, but the correct method. The Supreme Exalted One's Clarity and Tranquility of the Constant Scripture is a central and key text on Daoist meditation. During the Song dynasty (960-1279 CE), Bai Yuchan (Jade Toad immortal) said the following on its importance, "The main theme of this text is to reveal that the attainment of clarity and tranquility are the source conditions for obtaining immortality." In 1927, Li Qingyun, the 250-Year-Old Man, gave the following advice on Tranquil Sitting, "Meditation is the first important rule for the fundamentals of longevity. This stabilizes the Jing [Essence], concentrates the Shen [Spirit], and controls the Vital-Energy [Qi]." Clarity & Tranquility, along with Refining the Elixir and The Seen and Unseen are all companion works to Olson's Being Daoist: The Way of Drifting with the Current, which focuses on the philosophical foundations of Daoism. Whereas Clarity & Tranquility confines itself to the practice and philosophy of Tranquil Sitting meditation, Refining the Elixir addresses the Daoist Internal Alchemy teachings, and The Seen and Unseen presents the practice of Daoist contemplative meditation. Stuart Alve Olson is also working on two other key meditation texts: The Yellow Court Scripture and The Secret of the Golden Flower.

Going beyond a basic overview to explain how and why meditation works, this manual provides clear instruction on how to create a daily meditation practice, emphasizing how important it is - especially for Westerners who are not used to being still - to sit correctly. By using contemporary examples from his own practice and more than a decade of teaching various meditation techniques, the information is presented in a modern way that is easy to understand, fun, and attainable. Perfect for both novice and seasoned practitioners, these simple techniques help deepen the practice and explore the physical, psychological, and emotional benefits of daily meditation.

First Published in 1996. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Welcome to the meditation technique that you've been looking for. With MIND CALM you will learn how to let go of the constant chatter in your mind, gain clarity, perform at your best, worry less, heal faster, sleep better, improve relationships, and feel more calm, confident and content - whenever you want. In this remarkable book, Sandy C. Newbigging gives you a masterclass in the mind and how to meditate using his highly effective and enjoyable MIND CALM meditation. He reveals the eye-opening insights that sit at the heart of his approach; including the main hidden causes of a busy mind, the 'peace with mind' miracle, why there's more to life than you think, and how there is a silent solution to any problem - all brought together brilliantly with a 10-part programme that ultimately proves that the secret to success is stillness. Discover first-hand the peaceful presence of your own being, feel the power of the present moment, and be amazed by how still your mind can be.

Using a historical, textual and ethnographic approach, this is the most comprehensive presentation of Daoism to date. In addition to revealing the historical contours and primary concerns of Chinese Daoists and Daoist communities, The Daoist Tradition provides an account of key themes and defining characteristics of Daoist religiosity, revealing Daoism to be a living and lived religion. Exploring Daoism from a comparative religious studies perspective, this book gives the reader a deeper understanding of religious traditions more broadly. Beginning with an overview of Daoist history, The Daoist Tradition then covers key elements of Daoist worldviews and major Daoist practices. This is followed by a discussion of the importance of place and sacred sites as well as representative examples of material culture in Daoism. The work concludes with an overview of Daoism in the modern world. The book includes a historical timeline, a map of China, 25 images, a glossary, text boxes, suggested reading and chapter overviews. A companion website provides both student and lecturer resources: http://www.bloomsbury.com/the-daoist-tradition-9781441168733/