The Daoist And Zen Meditation Divide: A Comparison Of Tsowang And Zazen Practices

Daoist meditation, or Zuowang, is a practice of letting the agitation settle from the mind so that one can directly experience their original nature. This practice is based on the view that our nature is inherently united with all things, and if we just settle down, we can directly experience this unity.

Zuowang is also known as sitting and forgetting or sitting in oblivion. It involves settling into a posture, breathing naturally, and letting the mind rest. This is in contrast to Zen meditation, where practitioners keep their mind on the void. In Daoist meditation, there is no attempt to accomplish anything or create any special experience.

While Zen is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in China during the Tang dynasty, Daoist meditation is associated with the Chinese philosophy and religion of Taoism. Both Zen and Daoism lead to a similar goal, but their methods for getting there are quite different.

Zen meditation emphasizes meditation practice, direct insight into one's own Buddha nature, and the personal expression of this insight in daily life for the benefit of others. It draws from numerous Buddhist sources, including Sarvastivada meditation, the Mahayana teachings on the bodhisattva, and Yogachara and Tathāgatagarbha texts.

Daoist meditation, on the other hand, involves a variety of practices such as apophatic meditation, inner visualization, rituals, and neidan internal alchemy. It is a practice of letting go and settling into the present moment.

Daoist meditation is about letting the mind rest, while Zen involves being aware of your breath and sensations

Daoist meditation is about letting the agitation settle from the mind so that one can directly experience their original nature. In Zuowang, one settles into their posture, breathes naturally, and lets the mind rest. The ancient sage Zhuangzi called this practice Zuowang, which simply means to sit and forget. In Zuowang, there is no attempt to accomplish anything or create any special experience. One is not deliberately guiding energy, controlling the breath, or trying to transform themselves. They are just sitting, forgetting, as the 10,000 things rise and fall. This practice embodies Laozi's teaching of wuwei and is the core of Daoist cultivation.

Zuowang is based on the view that our nature is inherently united with all things, and if we just settle down, we can directly experience this unity. In the Daoist tradition, this is called embodying the way – Dao De. Even though the water in a little pool may be hundreds of miles from the sea, it has never lost its true nature. Similarly, when we settle into Zuowang, we find our true nature already present.

Zen, on the other hand, emphasizes meditation practice, direct insight into one's own Buddha nature, and the personal expression of this insight in daily life for the benefit of others. Some Zen sources de-emphasize doctrinal study and traditional practices, favouring direct understanding through zazen and interaction with a master. Zen practitioners keep their mind on the void, while Daoists use visualisation extensively in meditation. From a Zen perspective, these visualisations are considered a “deviation” because they cause thoughts to arise, which conflict sharply with Zen teachings (but not with Taoist teachings).

Chan talks about no mind (wu xin), and Taoism talks about the extreme void (wu ji). To a Western ear, these terms may sound similar, but upon closer examination, they are quite different. Of course, both terms refer to “cosmic reality” and are thus similar. But this does not point to a link between Taoism and Chan; it points to a link between all of the world's religions, all of which point to the concept of this “cosmic reality.”

Daoist meditation is about forgetting, while Zen is about observing

Daoist meditation, also known as Taoist meditation, refers to the traditional meditative practices associated with the Chinese philosophy and religion of Taoism. The earliest Chinese references to meditation date back to the Warring States period (475–221 BCE). The basic intention of Daoists was to enable people to realize that human life is just a small part of the larger process of nature. The Dao De Jing, a classic Taoist text, states that "all things flourish, but each returns to its root". This idea of returning to one's root and stillness is central to Taoist meditation.

One of the key Taoist meditation techniques is "Zuowang", which means "sitting and forgetting" or "sitting in oblivion". It involves letting go of all sense perceptions, conscious thoughts, and emotional and intellectual content. The goal is to achieve a state of deep trance or intense absorption, where the ego-identity is dissolved and only the underlying cosmic current of the Dao is perceived. This practice is first recorded in the Zhuangzi, a Taoist text from the 3rd century BCE.

Zen, on the other hand, is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that evolved from the Chan school in China. It was influenced by Taoist practices when Buddhism was brought to China in the 5th century. Zen meditation, also known as Zazen, focuses on observing and accepting sensory data without attachment. It aims to achieve one-pointedness of mind and the cessation of all thoughts and mental activities.

While both Daoist and Zen meditation share some similarities, such as the influence of Buddhist and Taoist practices, they differ in their fundamental approaches. Daoist meditation emphasizes forgetting and letting go, while Zen meditation emphasizes observing and accepting. Daoist meditation seeks to attain unity with the Dao by emptying the mind, while Zen meditation seeks to attain enlightenment through observation and insight.

The Daoist Zuowang meditation technique has seven stages, as outlined by Master Sima Chengzhen in his influential text, "Zuowanglun". These stages include respecting and having faith in the Dao, intercepting karma, restraining the mind, detaching from worldly affairs, true observation, great stability, and realizing the Dao.

In conclusion, Daoist meditation is about forgetting and letting go of attachments, while Zen meditation is about observing and accepting sensory data without attachment. Both traditions offer unique paths to spiritual realization and enlightenment.

Daoist meditation is about being free from worldly concerns, while Zen is about being aware of the present moment

Daoist meditation and Zen meditation are similar in that they both involve "sitting and forgetting" or "sitting meditation", but they differ in their ultimate goals.

Daoist meditation, or "Tsowang", is about being free from worldly concerns. The basic intention of Daoists is to enable people to realise that human life is only a small part of the larger process of nature. The practice of Daoist meditation in its original form is called "zhuo wang" ("sitting and forgetting"), "shou yi" ("guarding unity"), or "jing zuo" (simply "sitting in silence"). It is a process of letting go of all the strategies we have developed to deal with our experiences in life, which are mainly controlling and defensive and prevent us from embracing the present moment.

Zen meditation, on the other hand, is about being aware of the present moment. It is a traditional Buddhist discipline that can be practised by new and seasoned meditators alike. Zen meditation emphasises practice and intuition over study and logic, aiming to uncover the innate clarity and workability of the mind. It involves observing and letting go of the thoughts and feelings that arise in the mindstream.

While Daoist meditation seeks to free the mind from worldly concerns, Zen meditation seeks to uncover the original nature of the mind by observing and letting go of thoughts and feelings. Both traditions have their own unique techniques and practices, but both ultimately aim to bring about a state of peace and harmony, either with nature (in the case of Daoism) or with the present moment (in the case of Zen).

Daoist meditation is about letting go of concepts, while Zen is about letting go of attachments

Daoist meditation, or Tsowang, is a classic Daoist meditation technique, described as "a state of deep trance or intense absorption, during which no trace of ego-identity is felt and only the underlying cosmic current of the Dao is perceived as real". The term 'Tsowang' is derived from the Chinese words 'zuò' (sit or take a seat) and 'wàng' (forget, overlook or neglect).

Tsowang is about letting go of concepts. It is a process of forgetting oneself and one's surroundings, and being free from worldly concerns. This is achieved by withdrawing from sensory engagement with the world, and emptying the heart and mind of all emotional and intellectual content.

Zen meditation, or Zazen, on the other hand, is about letting go of attachments. It is a form of seated meditation that is at the heart of Zen practice. It involves studying the self, and forgetting the self to attain enlightenment. This is achieved by focusing on one's breath and observing the unity of the self with all things.

While both Tsowang and Zazen involve meditation and a process of 'forgetting', they differ in their underlying philosophies. Tsowang is about forgetting the self and all worldly concerns to attain a state of unity with the Dao. Zazen is about forgetting the self to attain enlightenment and a recognition of the unity of the self with all things.

Daoist meditation is about unity with the Dao, while Zen is about unity with the universe

Daoist meditation, or Tsowang, is a classic Daoist meditation technique. It involves entering a state of "deep trance or intense absorption" in which one loses their sense of self and becomes one with the Dao, or the underlying cosmic current of the universe. On the other hand, Zen meditation, also known as Zazen, is a traditional Buddhist discipline that originated in China during the Tang Dynasty in the 7th century. It spread to other Asian countries, including Korea and Japan, and emphasizes practice and intuition over study and logic.

Tsowang is described as a state in which "no trace of ego-identity is felt and only the underlying cosmic current of the Dao is perceived as real." It is a form of apophatic meditation, which means "emptying the heart-mind of all emotional and intellectual content." The goal of Tsowang is to achieve unity with the Dao, or the underlying cosmic current of the universe. This is done by withdrawing from sensory engagement with the world, emptying the mind, and entering a state of cosmological integration with the Qi, or vital force.

Zen meditation, on the other hand, is about uncovering the innate clarity and workability of the mind. It involves observing and letting go of thoughts and feelings, as well as developing insight into the nature of the body and mind. Zen meditation does not focus on relaxation or stress relief but instead delves deeper into tackling deep-rooted issues and general life questions. It is based on practice and intuition rather than study and logic.

While both Daoist and Zen meditation techniques involve a form of seated meditation and focus on the breath, they differ in their ultimate goals. Daoist meditation seeks unity with the Dao, or the underlying cosmic current of the universe, while Zen meditation seeks to uncover the innate clarity and workability of the mind, leading to spiritual awakening.

Both Daoist and Zen meditation techniques have been practiced for centuries and offer a range of benefits, including improved physical and mental well-being, calmness, and focus. They provide a way to connect with the self, the universe, and the innate nature of the mind, leading to a deeper understanding of oneself and the world.

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