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C O U R S E L E C T U R E Qi and Self-Cultivation Notes taken on December 29, 2021 by Edward Tanguay |
Neiye - "The Inward Training"
part of a larger text, one chapter of the Guanzi, a Daoist text (a mixed text)
created by a think-tank type group in the state of Qi [chee], 260 BCE
thinkers and intellectuals
the physiological turn is impacting philosophy
a new, technical sense of the heart-mind, or xin [shee-in]
doesn't have a strong location
thought of as an organ in the body
not generic, but the locus of language and reasoning and decision-making
the xin can make decisions
the natural ruler of the self
the xin rules the body as the king rules his state
With a well-ordered mind within you,
Well-ordered words issue from your mouth
And well-ordered tasks are imposed upon others.
Then all under the heavens will be well-ordered.
getting the xin right is the key
being used in new physiological sense
vital energy, vital essence
portrayal of steam rising from a bowl of rice
breathing in and out involves Qi
Qi animates living things
a kind of super-charged Qi
take your Qi and turn it into jing
you are doing something with your body to get yourself in touch with heaven
if you can get this jing in your chest, you become a sage
uses physical exercise as religious tools
"Let a balanced and aligned breathing fill your chest, and it will swirl and blend within your mind, be not joyous, be not angry, just let a balanced and aligned breathing fill your chest."
aligned breathing probably referred to property posture when sitting
this is aiming at wu-wei
learn to breath in a certain physical position
"make a lodging place for the vital essence"
portrays wu-wei as a physiological goal
When you enlarge your mind and let go of it,
When you relax your vital breath (qi) and expand it,
When your body is calm and unmoving,
You will see profit and not be enticed by it,
You will see harm and not be frightened by it.
Relaxed and unwound, yet acutely sensitive,
In solitude you will delight in your own person.
This is called revolving the vital breath,
And your thoughts and deeds will seem heavenly.
paradox: you have to use your conscious mind to shut down your conscious mind
use your body, sit this way, breath this way, and wu-wei is just going to happen
you can use your body to get around this paradox of trying not to try
The true condition of the mind is that it finds calmness beneficial and, by it, attains repose. Do not disturb it, do not disrupt it, and harmony will naturally develop.
When your body is not aligned, the inner power (de) will not come. When you are not tranquil within, your mind will not be well ordered. Align your body, assist the inner power, then it will gradually come on its own.
achieving de [duh] is linked to a certain bodily posture
Zen Buddhism is also all about posture, try not to do anything
taking the position itself will result in enlightenment without you even noticing it
the Neiye is a Yang Zhu-like text
these techniques get adopted by the Confucians
the "Physiological Turn"
introduction of body-based meditation practices e.g. breathing, sitting and diet
the xin (heart-body) is located in the chest
the seat of language use
the seat of decision making