Nature, Life and MeditationComply with NaturePowerPoint PresentationSlide 4Body and MindCook Ting/Ding TransformedSlide 7Later Taoists on MeditationDifferent Views on NatureSlide 10Zhuangzi’s ReceptivenessNature, Life and MeditationNature, Life and MeditationThe Great ClodThe Great Clod–““burdens me with form, toils me through burdens me with form, toils me through life, eases me in old age, rests me in life, eases me in old age, rests me in death. Thus, that which makes my life death. Thus, that which makes my life good is also that which makes my death good is also that which makes my death goodgood……. (ZZ 6:5, p.59). (ZZ 6:5, p.59)Life and death are equally pleasurableLife and death are equally pleasurable–Accept death/go along with heaven, then Accept death/go along with heaven, then can one enter natural transformation can one enter natural transformation without regretwithout regretComply with NatureComply with NatureSit and forget (ZZ 6:9, p. 64)Sit and forget (ZZ 6:9, p. 64)slough off your limbs and trunkslough off your limbs and trunkdim your intelligencedim your intelligencedepart from your formdepart from your formleave knowledge behindleave knowledge behindbecome identical with the great Way become identical with the great Way (Transformational Thoroughfare)(Transformational Thoroughfare)““Sit and forgetSit and forget”” enables one to enables one to transform into a renewed beingtransform into a renewed beingForget oneself in the rivers and lakes. Forget oneself in the rivers and lakes. ““when springs dry up, fish huddle when springs dry up, fish huddle together on the land. They blow together on the land. They blow moisture on each other and keep each moisture on each other and keep each other wet with their slime. But it would other wet with their slime. But it would be better if they could forget themselves be better if they could forget themselves in the rivers and lakes. Rather than in the rivers and lakes. Rather than praising Yao [sage] and condemning Jie praising Yao [sage] and condemning Jie [tyrant], it would be better for people to [tyrant], it would be better for people to forget both of them and assimilate their forget both of them and assimilate their ways.ways.”” (ZZ 6:2, p. 53) (ZZ 6:2, p. 53)The happiness of fish (ZZ, 17:7, P.165)The happiness of fish (ZZ, 17:7, P.165)Stop Unnatural ActionStop Unnatural ActionStop galloping forward (ZZ 2:3, p.14)Stop galloping forward (ZZ 2:3, p.14)Do not abandon five precepts (ZZ 2:9, Do not abandon five precepts (ZZ 2:9, p.19)p.19)Nurture/cultivate oneNurture/cultivate one’’s inner s inner qi/chqi/ch’’i i spiritual transformation can make one spiritual transformation can make one a renewed person/being, and can lead a renewed person/being, and can lead to physical transformationto physical transformationConcentration (ZZ 3:2, pp.26-27)Concentration (ZZ 3:2, pp.26-27)Fasting of the mind (ZZ 4:1, p.32)Fasting of the mind (ZZ 4:1, p.32)Sit and forget (ZZ 6:9,p.64)Sit and forget (ZZ 6:9,p.64)Body and MindBody and Mind•Fasting of the mind (mind-fasting): entering emptiness (ZZ 4:1, p.32,)•Observe the void•Maintaining the unity of your will and don’t let yourself “gallop while sitting” (ZZ 4:1,p.33)•Let your sense communicate within and rid yourself of the machinations of the mind (or devoid yourself from the knowledge acquired through the use of the mind)•Mind-fasting relies much on listening/concentrating on qi/ch’i •It will lead to spiritual transformationCook Ting/Ding TransformedCook Ting/Ding TransformedStory about Cook Ting/Ding: Cutting an Story about Cook Ting/Ding: Cutting an ox without seeing the whole ox (p.26)ox without seeing the whole ox (p.26)““After three year, I no longer saw whole After three year, I no longer saw whole oxen..oxen..””Brick painting in the Wei-Jin PeriodAccomplished an incredible feat: Meet Accomplished an incredible feat: Meet the ox with his spiritthe ox with his spirit““Today, I meet the ox with my spirit rather than Today, I meet the ox with my spirit rather than looking at it with my eyes. My sense organs stop looking at it with my eyes. My sense organs stop functioning and my spirit moves at pleases. In accord functioning and my spirit moves at pleases. In accord with the natural grain, I slice at the great crevices, with the natural grain, I slice at the great crevices, lead the blade through the great cavities. Following lead the blade through the great cavities. Following its inherent structure, I never encounter the slightest its inherent structure, I never encounter the slightest obstacle even where the veins and arteries come obstacle even where the veins and arteries come together or where the ligaments and tendons join, together or where the ligaments and tendons join, much less from the big bonesmuch less from the big bones……..”” (p.26) (p.26)““since I am inserting something without any since I am inserting something without any thickness into an empty space, there will certainly be thickness into an empty space, there will certainly be lots of room for the blade to play around inlots of room for the blade to play around in……..””(p.27)(p.27)Later Taoists on MeditationLater Taoists on MeditationLater Taoists developed elaborate skills Later Taoists developed elaborate skills based on Zhuangzibased on Zhuangzi’’s ideas:s ideas:Five steps as progressive gateways to the Five steps as progressive gateways to the Dao:Dao:Fasting and abstention: cleansing the body and Fasting and abstention: cleansing the body and emptying the mindemptying the mindSeclusion: withdrawing deep into the meditation Seclusion: withdrawing deep into the meditation chamberchamberVisualization and imagination: taming the mind Visualization and imagination: taming the mind and recovering original natureand recovering original natureSitting in oblivion: letting go of the personal body Sitting in oblivion: letting go of the personal body and completely forgetting oneselfand completely forgetting oneselfSpirit liberation: spirit pervasion of all existenceSpirit liberation: spirit pervasion of all existenceDifferent Views on NatureDifferent Views on NatureAntagonistic:Antagonistic:– Buddhism’s maya; European “man of middle ageBuddhism’s maya; European “man of middle ageNature is alien peril of the spiritNature