Biggest Difference Between Zen Buddhist and Taoist Meditation (Alt Spelling: Daoist Meditation)
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As a lineage service for Shigong Jou Tsung Hwa’s machine of tai chi chuan and Taoist inside cultivation, scholars regularly inquire from me what’s the distinction between Zen Buddhist meditation practices and Taoist (Daoist) meditation. First, I’d like to concentrate on their similarities after which delve into their variations.
Both techniques are Eastern. Both emphasize the cultivation of the thoughts via slicing to the “Truth” of items. Instead of that specialize in rituals, or what’s unsuitable and what’s proper in line with somebody else’s dictations, the purpose is to be extraordinarily candid and nonjudgmental with oneself to chop via one’s personal restricted considering. The thought is if we go beyond our human ego and reflexive considering, in line with data that we derive via our senses (particularly, seeing and listening to), then we will be able to arrive on the Truth. It’s all about “getting out of our own way.”
There are many alternative sects of Buddhism and Taoism. Some are extra shamanic and formality based totally. But the sects influenced via Zen, and the extra highbrow philosophical colleges of Taoism, are essentially the most “minimalist.” These colleges of cultivation search to stay the “tools” to a minimal and root all building from the inner, somewhat than exterior resources. The strategy to go beyond out into the universe is to dive extra deeply inside of.
As an identical as Zen and Taoism (Daoism) are, alternatively, there are some stark variations. I’ve by no means heard a easy clarification that glad my query about this, so I meditated in this for a very long time till I noticed the worldwide, overlying part. This is in line with my non-public revel in in finding out each Zen and Taoist types of cultivation. If you’re both a working towards Buddhist or Taoist, then it’s possible you’ll agree or disagree with me, and that’s all neatly. I welcome you to submit your ideas in this within the feedback phase of my weblog at internalgardens.com, or NJTaiChiCategories.com, and optimistically we will be able to lend a hand others to derive their very own adequate conclusions.
Considering Zen, the whole trail to enlightenment is completed by means of “Mind is everything.” Everything is thoughts. And so is not anything! It’s all about what you assume or do not assume that makes up or blocks your direct revel in. Zen cultivation additionally dictates that one will have to keep away from intoxicants and overindulgence, thus protecting your senses, thoughts and needs as uncorrupted as conceivable. Exercise and aesthetic practices let one at once revel in how tough bodily and mental urges may end up in a wide variety of ideas and self-untruths. The frame is differently regarded as “unimportant,” or “an illusion” because it too, passes away into the present of time; the conditional. Universal thoughts is enduring; unconditional. Conceptualizations of fact and the universe can not ever be outlined via the bounds of the little human thoughts. Reality is to be at once skilled.
Taoists are somewhat in accord with those tenets, aside from for one stark distinction. The Taoist will domesticate the frame and its energies/reflexes/urges, and many others, in conjunction with the thoughts, for thoughts and frame are regarded as as one. Much the similar method the Taoist idea of yin and yang can’t be separated, as one is dependent upon the opposite for his or her definitions. Some Taoists consider in bodily immortality, whilst others consider in non secular immortality however that the spirit will have to be cultivated into upper consciousness however. The frame/bodily can help. The chemical energies of the frame will also be remodeled into the next state of power, thereby aiding the non secular transformation towards enlightenment.
For instance, Taoists have an idea of “Lian X hua Y.” The maximum commonplace employment of that is, the idea that of Lian Jing Hua Qi. This may be spelled, “Lian Ching Hwa Chi.” This implies that the bottom sexual power and energy of the frame, “jing” will also be processed internally to turn into a extra transcendent lifestyles drive power referred to as “qi.” Qi can then be remodeled into non secular power, or “shen.” This employs refined contractions/expansions, meditative and qigong practices in conjunction with a deep utility of self-control and readability of thoughts. The Daoist can do that on his/her personal, or if lucky sufficient whilst in quest of to take action, in conjunction with a spouse or soulmate – slightly just like the easiest type of “partner yoga.”
Taoists additionally consider that destructive emotional power will also be remodeled into extra certain power, thus resulting in fitter qi (lifestyles drive power) and shen (non secular power), which bolsters one’s trail to enlightenment. Taoists additionally consider in positive workouts and elementary consuming practices that handle optimum well being. Buddhists will on occasion subsequently declare that Daoists are “too attached” to the bodily, and that this boundaries their trail to enlightenment. I consider it is because the ones Buddhists see the bodily as phantasm, while the Taoist sees it as useful resource. As in physics, the Taoists consider that power and topic are in reality one and the similar. The conceptualization in their variations reasons the issue, while the revel in (and use) in their one-ness ends up in upper enlightenment.
Another drawback lies within the “Go with the Flow” idea of Taoism. Buddhists indicate how un-self-disciplined such a lot of so-called Taoist practitioners are. The “Go with the Flow” mentality will get misused and distorted into other folks considering it is completely OK to be undisciplined of their consuming or bodily workout. Nothing might be further from the reality in true, conventional Daoist practices. The ego for sure does no longer like to listen to this, however then why would any true cultivator be opting for to apply the edicts of his ego?
There is much more to this, equivalent to what sutras Buddhists learn about, ideas of compassion and detachment, what the Taoist research in regards to the I-Ching (Yijing) or different Daoist writings, the ideas of yin and yang… however the ones are all main points. The stark distinction, I consider, is within the conceptualization and alertness of the bodily vs “mental only” strategies of enlightenment. It is solely a question of private selection. Both paths may end up in enlightenment, simply as Route 3 and Route 80 in northern NJ each result in Manhattan, New York City. It will depend on the place you’re, what you prefer, and what works higher for you.
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Source via Loretta M Wollering
