Taoist meditation is similar to Hindu and Buddhist systems, but the Taoist system is less abstract and more down-to-earth than the contemplative traditions which evolved in India.
The two primary guidelines in Taoist meditation are jing (‘quiet, stillness, calm’) and ding (‘concentration, focus’). The purpose of stillness, both mental and physical, is to turn attention inwards and cut off external sensory input, thereby muzzling the “Five Thieves”. Within that silent stillness, one concentrates the mind and focuses attention, usually on the breath, in order to develop what is called ‘one-pointed awareness’, a totally distractedness, undisturbed, undifferentiated state of mind which permits intuitive insights to arise spontaneously.
