I'd like to add though that when it comes to meditation my methodology differs slightly from what is stated here in regards to having an intention during meditation; in that for time spent in meditation to be beneficial in regards to being able to see clearly and reduce ego myopia, is to go into it with no intention at all.
Sense what is there without words rather than trying to program over old programming, because just instituting a perceived better set of dogmatic responses via intention, aka agenda, doesn't cause understanding to emerge. And I think that's truly what people want, not just better conditions, but the understanding to be able to navigate all on their own without need for any external reference point.
Hi Beach Hippie, thanks for your comment. What you describe as your methodology aligns well. I think you misunderstood the excerpt that Ann posted (or at least I was unclear). What I am referring to with setting 'intention' is no more than a common parlance of why one would sit, not the activity of the meditation itself. I primarily practice zuowang and neidan, especially in the Quanzhen Longmen tradition which is similar to what you describe, ie, these are emptiness-oriented. The Daoist approach is one of reversion, cutting away, apophasis. This requires a two-fold approach, one being a fasting and emptying of the mind, the other a regular practice of following precepts to allow for that. They are synergistic and convective. And of course, these are more advanced ways of meditating and practicing, and often people need baby steps in the beginning, so trying to describe that to a lay audience can often require meeting the person where they are.
Nice piece.
I'd like to add though that when it comes to meditation my methodology differs slightly from what is stated here in regards to having an intention during meditation; in that for time spent in meditation to be beneficial in regards to being able to see clearly and reduce ego myopia, is to go into it with no intention at all.
Sense what is there without words rather than trying to program over old programming, because just instituting a perceived better set of dogmatic responses via intention, aka agenda, doesn't cause understanding to emerge. And I think that's truly what people want, not just better conditions, but the understanding to be able to navigate all on their own without need for any external reference point.
Hi Beach Hippie, thanks for your comment. What you describe as your methodology aligns well. I think you misunderstood the excerpt that Ann posted (or at least I was unclear). What I am referring to with setting 'intention' is no more than a common parlance of why one would sit, not the activity of the meditation itself. I primarily practice zuowang and neidan, especially in the Quanzhen Longmen tradition which is similar to what you describe, ie, these are emptiness-oriented. The Daoist approach is one of reversion, cutting away, apophasis. This requires a two-fold approach, one being a fasting and emptying of the mind, the other a regular practice of following precepts to allow for that. They are synergistic and convective. And of course, these are more advanced ways of meditating and practicing, and often people need baby steps in the beginning, so trying to describe that to a lay audience can often require meeting the person where they are.