On Daoist Meditation Cultivation: Key Points of Sitting Still

 Meditation is a very important method in Daoist cultivation. It has many requirements, which are not merely formal but also implicitly align with many natural laws between heaven and earth. The intent contained within these requirements runs through the entire Five Arts of Daoism.

 First, let's discuss the requirements for the most traditional sitting posture. First of all, one should follow the principle of "Tiger crouching and dragon coiling, Vermilion Bird flying and Black Tortoise hanging". If you understand some Feng Shui, you will understand at this moment that this is consistent with the best Feng Shui layout. This posture can achieve the goal of connecting with heaven and earth.

I. Posture

 Tiger crouching and dragon coiling generally gathers vital energy (Sheng Qi). It involves crossing the left leg over the right leg, which is beneficial for collecting the vital energy of the Azure Dragon, strengthening the physique, and cultivating the body and mind. When practicing methods that gather vital energy, this crossing method is often adopted. However, if one wants to gather the killing energy (Sha Qi) of the White Tiger, the right leg is usually crossed over the left leg, which is beneficial for gathering killing energy. This method is often used when visualizing fire intent to attack illness or eliminate disease lesions.

 Vermilion Bird flying and Black Tortoise hanging: The Vermilion Bird represents the bright hall (Ming Tang). In front of the meditation position, the space should preferably be wider than the back. The light source should preferably be directly in front during meditation. If at home, one should face a window or balcony, while the back should preferably have a wall, not a window, and should not be empty. If there is a light source behind, it appears that the back has no support, which is unfavorable for gathering energy, unless some special methods require gathering specific types of energy. Otherwise, the most traditional way is to proceed in this manner.

 At the same time, the back must be straight. When people normally stand with their chests out, their bodies are actually curved. The chest should be slightly contained, and the head slightly lowered, without raising the head. According to the experience of ancient sages, the general requirement for this posture is that the eyes, nose, and heart form a straight line.

 The entire posture should keep the body close to a straight line, which is the best.With this posture, sitting in meditation is like using the body and legs to form a human-shaped Feng Shui energy field. If the external environment also has a corresponding layout, cultivation will be twice as effective with half the effort.

 Regarding the direction of meditation, in fixed directions, one must distinguish whether the constitution is dry or damp. Those with a dry constitution are suitable for facing north, while those with a damp constitution are suitable for facing south. Those with poor heart function are suitable for facing south to gather energy, those with poor kidney function are suitable for facing west to gather energy, those with poor liver function are suitable for facing east to gather energy, those with poor lung function are suitable for facing west to gather energy, and those with poor spleen and stomach function are suitable for gathering energy in all four directions.

 If after a period of cultivation, the body is adjusted well and it is necessary to strengthen the cultivation of magical power and spirituality, the choice of direction should be more flexible. During meditation, with the head slightly lowered, the direction should be determined by aligning the Baihui point (GV20) at the top of the head directly with the North Star in the sky.

 After adjusting the posture, the hands should be gently waved. The palms should slowly sway like a snake. When a slight feeling of swelling energy can be felt on the hands, then form the mudra. The most common mudra is the Zi-Wu mudra, or more simply, extend both hands flat with palms up on the knees. This posture adjustment is then complete.

 The entire posture should focus on two points: relaxation and the sensation of energy.

II. Breathing

 Breathing has both civil (Wen) and martial (Wu) aspects. Civil breathing is slow inhalation and slow exhalation, which is extremely helpful for health preservation. Martial breathing is rapid and short inhalation and exhalation. Martial energy is commonly used in martial arts, such as exerting force during exhalation, which can generate tremendous power over a very short distance, such as the inch-power in Wing Chun, which can release strong power within just a few inches. This belongs to one of the applications.

 Although everyone knows how to breathe, better breathing requires technique. In meditation cultivation, civil energy is mostly used, and martial energy is only used in special breakthrough situations. Therefore, the general requirement for meditation breathing is long, slow, and prolonged, but without holding the breath.

 General breathing is relatively short; after inhalation, it is exhaled. In meditation, one should inhale more. When inhaling, do not rush, and try not to make sound. The key point is, as stated in Zhuangzi's Listening to the Fast, not to listen outward with the ears, but to strive to listen to the breathing, while the breathing should be as silent as possible. Repeatedly practicing this method can quickly concentrate attention in a short time. Long-term practice of this technique will surprisingly make people smarter, seeing things more clearly, and making previously complex things become organized. This is because this cultivation continuously increases human perception, making people wiser.

 Daoism has many other breathing methods, such as inhaling in several breaths and exhaling in one. The production of breath should correspond to the numbers of heaven and earth's interaction, continuously increasing the alignment with heaven and earth. For example, the breathing method in the Sanfeng Sect's Dan Fa adopts this method.

III. Thoughts

 In Zhong-Lv style meditation, visualization methods (also known as divine thought) are used to transform various scenes to simulate the changes of the Five Elements. However, this method has many secrets and requires much discussion, which is not something the average person can fully understand.

 The simplest method should adopt the Northern School's quiet approach, letting go of all thoughts and thinking of nothing.There is a mental technique here: if thoughts arise, treat them like bubbles rising in water. If thoughts arise, the water is not still; continue to become quieter, letting them arise and perish naturally, like bubbles in water that form and naturally disappear. This requires a certain state of mind to cooperate. To cultivate this method well, it is best to observe the natural appearance and disappearance in nature. When everything is understood as natural, thoughts will disappear as they arise. As long as one does not chase or entangle with these thoughts, one will gradually become quiet.