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TAOSERENITYSecrets of Taoist Meditation

1st Edition

byDARWIN OLWENS

www.taoserenity.com

© Copyright Taoserenity You may not copy this book. 1

Contents

INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................03 TAO MEDITATION ...............................................................................................................07 Benefits to Body....................................................................................................................08 Benefits to Mind....................................................................................................................11 Benefits to Spirit...................................................................................................................14

TAO TO LIFE...........................................................................................................................16 Situational use.......................................................................................................................16 Business..................................................................................................................................16 Networking circles................................................................................................................18 Self healing............................................................................................................................19 Mental model.........................................................................................................................20

6 TECHNIQUES OF “TAO”..................................................................................................21 Emptiness...............................................................................................................................22 Breathing...............................................................................................................................23 Harnessing Qi........................................................................................................................24 Tame the mind......................................................................................................................25 Inner vision............................................................................................................................26 Harnessing inner self............................................................................................................27

CONCLUSION.........................................................................................................................28


Introduction

Taoism has a plethora of roots and origin points throughout the centuries. It’s origination

is disputed, and attributed to many different people through history. One person that we can

trace Taoism back to, is Laozi, or Lao Tsu. Laozi authored a comprehensive text, that contains

all of the teachings of the Tao. The text, a philosophical document, named The Tao Te Ching,

can be translated to English as “The Way”.

Taoism is now, in the modern day, seen as a philosophical document, but it does hold

some religious value. Many times in The Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu references the afterlife, and

heaven and hell. It is said that the nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth. Taoism does not

directly reference a God, because Taoism believes that God is everywhere. God exists in us, in

the universe, it is The Tao, and it is nature. It is the life force that runs through everyone, and it

is a steady stream of consciousness that flows through our minds, bodies, and souls. To

present a one, all ruling god, would be against the way of The Tao. Taoism represents the

simplicity of life, and the flowing of all things. It is only natural to believe that this same religion

would see God in that same sense, a formless, names flow of energy that is present in

everything that life holds.

This document, if only in name, reflects the views of Taoism. Simple, clean, and flowing.

The Way, is the thesis of the Tao lifestyle, it represents what Taoism is, at its core. It is finding

the flow of the world, and following it to your heart’s content. This text sprung Taoism into the

official religion of the Tang Dynasty around the 7th and 8th centuries. Some leaders of the

Chinese government even claimed Lao Tzu as their relatives. This gave them a higher status

among philosophers and theologists of the time. It became more than just a religious text, it

became a way of life, and even today it is highly regarded as a classic philosophical document

that has stood the test of time. Many artists have been influenced through the centuries by

Taoism and have even claimed that Taoism was a sole inspiration for their works. Many works

of art and painters around the time that Taoism cropped up can be said to have been influenced

by the philosophy.


Another text, almost near as important to Taoism as The Tao Te Ching, was The

Zhuangzi. The text, named after its author, was another foundation of Taoism during the third

century. It is structured much differently than The Tao Te Ching, containing mostly fables and

stories to reflect its points and teachings. The text ponders on what it means to “know” and

deals with even heavier topics such as death. It reflects the teachings of Taoism, just as much

as the Tao Te Ching does, and can be read to get gain a powerful look at what Taoism teaches.

There are many other texts that are integral to the history of Taoism, such as the “I

Ching” and “Daozang”. These texts all offer another insight into Taoism. Some focus more on

the philosophical aspect of the practice, while others tend to gravitate towards the religious parts

of Taoism. All are important to the structure of Taoism, and they all give insight into the thinking

and origin of the Tao practice.

Taoism uses many symbols in its teachings as well, such as the Yin-Yang symbol or the

Eight Trigrams symbol. These symbols are used to map out an explanation for the ways of

Taoism, and to teach people, visually, what it means to practice The Way. A large part of

Taoism and its teachings are the “Three Treasures”. The three treasures are “Jing, Qi, and

Shen”. Jing, is your physical life essence, said to be stored in your kidneys, it is the most dense

physical matter in your body. It is supposedly the basis for the body. In Taoism it represents the

body as a whole, the body being a large part of Taoism. It is said that if you have good Jing,

then you are blessed with good teeth, strength and even hair.

Qi is your vitality, it is a more ethereal form of your life essence. In Taoism, it is the force that

flows through everything that lives. It is the energy that links everything together, and makes

everyone equal. We all have Qi, and deep down that is all everyone is made of. It is the

balancing force of the world, putting everyone on an equal plane. Qi has been present since the

beginning of Chinese philosophy. It is heavily used in Chinese culture, and many Chinese

practices like Feng Shui. We will delve deeper into Qi, and how to harness it, in later pages.

Shen, the final Treasure, is your spirit. It can be translated as god, or deity as well, and can

even be taken as your psyche or mind. Shen is your consciousness, your awareness, and your

spirituality. It is very transparent how Taoists view the mind and the consciousness, as the same

word is used for God, and Mind. This is solely because there is no one God in Taoism, God is in

everything, therefore god is a force that is part of you. That force could be seen as your mind, it

could be interpreted that your mind is god and your soul with, as god is in every living force.

The Tao Te Ching says that Tao gives all things life. It is then virtue, or Te, that nurtures them.

Tao is the initial catalyst that brings the life into the world. Then, virtue molds, shapes, and

nurtures life to be what it becomes. It creates something holy, something enlightened,

something that is balanced and whole. This process is the process of your lives, and we go

through it everyday. With virtue, and with The Way, we can begin to shape ourselves into the

people that we want to be. Though it is not through great expenditure of energy that this change


comes. These virtues and changes are not demanded, there is no strict doctrine to follow, only

going along the Path. The Way brings these changes upon us and claims no possession for

these changes, it does not take control, it gives us the seeds that we must sow, and lets us do

with them, what we will. Taoism speaks briefly on the afterlife, not painting an exact picture, or

giving specific details. It only mentions that after the body perishes, the soul still resides, The

soul, in Taoism, is everlasting. It is to be nurtured just as the body or the mind is. The soul will

still be present when you die, and the soul is the part of you that sticks on. Only by accepting

this true Nature, the “Oneness” with body, mind, and spirit, can the Tao bring us the everlasting

spirit.

Taoism teaches, at most, a change in perception of the world. It elects to look at the

world from a skewed view, and see it in a different light. Taoism tells its students to look at the

emptiness of the world, and see the value in the space between the things that we have. The

one example it uses is the wheel. The wheel has so much empty space, in between each

spoke, there is a gap, and yet it is those gaps that make the wheel turn. It also teaches to know

the self, and to reach enlightenment through the knowledge of one’s own spirit. It focuses on

achieving a “Oneness” with the spirit and body.

Taoism largely points to the balance of life. It shows how you cannot have one without

the other, the good without the bad, the light without the dark, the two opposite forces

complement each other. The balance is often referenced as a harmony, where two opposing

forces come together to create the whole. As with the Yin-Yang symbol, there is a perfect circle,

created with light and dark. The light exists within the dark and the dark within the light. Though

they are opposites, they represent one whole that transcends something more than just it’s

parts.

With this balance in mind, the Taoist does not live life through personal gain or material

possessions, but through the actions, or the deeds of the saint. Putting your mind to doing good,

and keeping this positive attitude is what leads to transcendence. This is how we reach

enlightenment, and even just a healthy lifestyle. To live well, we must first do good through

others.

The balance, of your body, mind, and soul, is where the importance of life lay. The three

major centers of your livelihood, exist within your control, and it is up to you, to put them into

balance, and harmony. Taoism’s teachings reflect the Yin and the Yang of life. Most of what it

says can be illustrated by this symbol. Even the cadence of the words in the Tao Te Ching are

laid out so that every mention has an equal and opposite mention. When talking about death it

says that our body is soft and flexible during life, but hard and brittle during death. These are the

opposites that the Yin and Yang represents. The symbol flows through Taoism, it is engrained in


the philosophy to its very core. It talks possessing when in need, and being filled when hollow,

Taoism is showing that even when you are lacking in your life, you are still whole. You still have

things, even when you need more. The fruits of the universe bear what they have, and it is your

job, to go along with it. Create no conflict in the world, only give what you can, and you will see

the fruits of the Tao lifestyle.

Taoism also talks about effort, and how it can be damaging to your success. It says that

you must not pursue anything with personal desires, or you will never get what you want. You

must follow The Way, take your path in the flowing river and you can achieve anything. But once

you start to lead your life with personal desires, your achievements will begin to diminish. Every

day that you learn, and increase your intellect is another day achieved. Just as every day that

you follow The Path, you become one day closer to enlightenment, and the things that you

want. You can not pursue these things with incredible effort, otherwise they will never come,

follow The Way and let the flow and the will of the universe bring them to you when it sees fit.

The philosophy of Taoism, revolves around peace. Taoism describes peace as finding

one’s nature. Once you find your original nature, you are enlightened. But Taoism says that

when one returns to the earth, from whence we came, Taoism will still endure. The universe will

exist after us, and it has existed far before us. The force of the universe, and your spirit, are the

things that are held eternal.

At it’s core, Taoism is you. It is the recognition that you are here, now. Explaining

Taoism,is like explaining someone’s personality to them. No one can tell you exactly what

Taoism is, or how to practice it yourself, because it is about going with the flow, and living life.

You are the only one that knows your spirit, and to live your life, and be true to yourself, you first

must find yourself. Once you experience Taoism physically and mentally, you will be able to find

The Way, and follow it with ease. But until then, you will only get brief glimpses into the

philosophy from texts and recountings. Living it and practicing it yourself is the best way to learn

about what Taoism really is.

Taoist’s have many practices, they are not necessary to be a Taoist, but most put them into use

because of their many benefits to life and the wellness of spirit. The main practice that Taoists

use, is Meditation.


Tao Meditation

Meditation is deeply rooted in many religions and practices. It can be referred to as deep

reflection, cultivation of the soul, or the focusing of the breath. It is, at its most base, the practice

of forgetting. It is to sit, focus your breath, and blank your mind, forget all things that are present,

past, future, and just be. When you do this, you become one with yourself and with the universe.

You are at your most whole when meditating because there is nothing else influencing you. It is

only you, and your thoughts. This can be a scary process for some people, since they are in a

constant state of distraction. But, do not fear the mind, it is your tool and you control where it

goes and what it says.

Meditation has been used for centuries to calm the mind and to center the spirit. Taoism

is one of the many places that Meditation was developed. The practice itself is rooted in Taoist

belief, and can be used in conjunction with the Taoist lifestyle to achieve fascinating results. The

two practices go hand in hand, they complement each other because the same ideals are built

into both. Taoism teaches to go with the flow of the universe, and to live in the present.

Meditation furthers this idea, by putting it into practice. Meditating can help you to live in the

present, to focus on the breath is to be completely present, not focusing on the past or the

future.

Most Taoists practice meditation regularly, even daily. Meditation can be practiced in the

morning, or at night. It can be two hours long, or five minutes. There are no rules to meditation,

just to sit and to calm the body, the mind, and the spirit. Push everything from the mind and

focus on nothing but the present, through this you will reach a state of balance and harmony.

Through a daily practice of Meditation, you will realize what works best for you. You will know

what is comfortable and what isn’t, and you will find your own personalized practice of

meditation.

When the body, mind, and spirit are out of balance, your life will become unbalanced as

well. Practicing Taoism and Meditation can fix the disjoint in many lives. Many have spoken

about the benefits of these practices, showing how applicating regular Tao Meditation can


change your life for the better.

Meditation is not just used to calm the mind and create a better state of being, though it

is perfect if that’s what you’re looking for. There are many benefits to the practice, other than

getting rid of stress. There are three main advantages to Meditation, Body, Mind, and Spirit.

These three categories are incredibly important in your lives, and bringing these centers into

balance can improve your lifestyle drastically.


Benefits to Body

Contrary to popular belief, there are numerous physical health benefits to meditation. Most

believe it is just a practice of calming the mind and reducing stress. But, there have been many

studies done on the values of meditation on the body. A lot of information exists to back this up,

scientific papers, research studies. Many studies have been done on eastern practices, solely to

combat the popular belief of the Western world that they are nothing but heresy.

A large amount of people have seen significant reduction in their blood pressure with

regular meditation practices. Blood pressure can be caused by stress, so this may be obvious, a

reduction of stress will result in a levelling out of the blood pressure. Many people can benefit

from this, especially ones with heart disease or even blood clots.

Another advantage that Tao Meditation has seen is a boost in the immune system.

Patients have seen their immune system improved when regularly meditating. This is because

your immune system reacts to negative and positive thoughts. Surrounding yourself with

practices that bring in and encourage positive thought, will boost your immune system and your

antibodies with it. Having a boosted immune system can mean fighting off infections and

diseases much easier, and this makes for a much healthier lifestyle.

A large amount of people plagued by asthma attacks have also found relief in

Meditation. The symptoms of Asthma can be largely reduced through daily or even weekly

Meditation. Asthma is usually caused by resistance in airways, causing the person to have

trouble breathing. Meditation has been shown to reduce this blockage of the airways, making it

easier to breathe, and reducing the symptoms of the asthma itself. Meditation has also been

proven to make stressful situations easier to navigate. This has an enormous benefit during an

asthma attack, as most asthma attacks are worsened by the panic that one has when faced with

not being able to breathe.Meditation diminishes this panic in the situation and can reduce the

attacks greatly.


Pain can also be reduced by meditation, especially chronic pain that comes from an

illness. People with cancer, severe back pain, and even tension headaches have reported

dealing with pain through meditation. Doctors have even begun prescribing regular meditation to

patients dealing with regular pain. Primary pain is caused by an illness or disease, but the body

reacts to that pain with stress, worsening the pain with Secondary Pain. The Secondary Pain, is

where Meditation can help. Meditation centers your mind and brings you to the present, causing

you to focus on yourself and not outside forces. This is why the practice has been shown to

reduce this secondary pain by large amounts. Some clinical trials have even shown chronic pain

reduction by as much as 57 percent.

This list of physical health benefits goes on, heart disease, diabetes, sleep problems,

can all be helped through using Tao Meditation techniques. Combine the Meditation with a

change in perception on the world and a much more healthy lifestyle can be achieved. These

meditation practices also have a large effect on the mind, and the outlook on the world and the

universe that we live in.


Benefits to the mind

Meditation is about not just relaxing the body, but the mind as well. Relaxing the mind

and reaching a more tranquil state, opens up entirely new avenues for life improvements. The

mind is the control center of the body, it is the place that we spend all of our lives. Our mind

holds our thoughts, ambitions, actions, reactions, everything that we know. It only makes sense

to create a positive headspace, a peaceful and poised place for our thoughts to reside.

Most, in today’s society, live a very active and fast-paced lifestyle. Work and social

commitments leave very little time for reflection and the mind is always running at the highest

level. Meditation lets the brain rest, it creates a mental state that lets us make decisions easier

and exist only in the present. This stress that we feel can be relieved easily by daily Meditation

practices. When living in the present, and being in the moment, the mind no longer needs to

dwell on the mistakes of the past, or the worries of the future. It exists only in the now, and can

only be focused on what to do in the moment. Many have found that this helps with Stress, and

creates a much better mental state. Stress reduction helps most people to live a better, easier

life, a happy mind is a happy life.

Just the aspect of breathing in Meditation can bring incredible physical benefits. Holding

your breath and expelling it after a few seconds, will promote better blood flow to the brain, and

the benefits are almost immediate. You will notice a increase in brain function and your sense

will be heightened. This, compiled with a relaxed and centered mind, lead to some incredible

advances in one’s own development.

Meditation also causes the person to become incredibly self-aware. Knowing one’s self

is arguably the largest step to getting what you want in life. When one knows who they are, and

what they want, they can take the first steps towards getting it. Only until you truly know

yourself, can you become the person that you want to be. Most people claim to know who they

are, but haven’t even dipped their toes in the waters. Meditation can be the gateway to taking

the dive into the pool that is your true self. The largest reason Meditation assists in this so

much, is because most do not spend time with their thoughts. Today’s lifestyles lead to constant

distraction, persistently running away from the thoughts inside our head, escaping the quiet.

Being faced with the silence of our minds can finally show us what is actually inside there, and

what it’s trying to tell us.


Producing this better headspace creates a positive environment, and with that comes

the ridding of negative emotion. Bad thoughts and negative emotion can lead to the downfall of

many. Self-doubt and opposing thoughts can only contribute to the bad things in one’s life. This

is where the split nature of man can come into play. When you have negative thoughts your

mind will go to war with itself. You will begin to have one side of your brain telling you that you

are wrong, while your other side is telling you that you are right. This creates an incredible

disjoint in one's life and can be very troubling. Telling yourself positive things can only go so far,

the negative thoughts will still be there. You need to rid your mind of these thoughts, only then

can it be truly free from the poison that plagues it. Combatting it with positivity is only killing the

symptom, you need to take care of the root, and that is a fresh start. Meditation does this, with

the emptying, and training of the mind. You control your own mind to be able to keep these bad

thoughts, or negative energy away.

The mind is a very powerful force, and once a person realizes to harness that energy

and use it for themselves, their potential is limitless. Use the mind to create a positive outlook

and less negative emotions and no outside emotion will be able to affect you.

Creatives have used Meditation for years to boost their imaginations and come up with

new ideas. Once you clear your mind and truly let the ideas flow, your creativity will also

flourish. The mind cannot truly create or reach it’s potential until it is cleared of all wasteful

thoughts and emotions. Meditation can be used as a tool to relax, but it can also be a catalyst,

used to clean the mind of waste and blockage. Once it is freed of these bounds, it will truly be

able to let thought flow and in that environment, creativity reigns. Famous writers, actors, artists,

and even musicians have said that they use meditation to enhance their creative mind. But even

outside of the creative mind, there is the mind that must deal with the day to day.

Meditation has been proven to also Increase patience and tolerance, an issue that many

of us struggle with on a daily basis. Many find themselves troubled with quick tempers, or short

fuses when dealing with difficult people. Meditation creates a much more calm and peaceful

mindset, making it much easier to handle these aggravating situations. These stressful

situations can also lead to a lot of anxiety, making it even more difficult to navigate.

Many studies have been done on treating anxiety and depression with Meditation

practices. And a large amount of people in today’s society use Meditation to treat their anxiety

and depression. Much like asthma attacks, anxiety attacks are worsened by the panic that sets

in during an attack. Anxiety attacks activate the “fight or flight” sensors in your brain, telling your

brain that your life is in danger, when most of the time, it isn’t. This creates for a very confusing,

and unusual feeling. Anxiety can be incredibly stressful, and sometimes life-altering. Meditation


creates a peaceful and positive mindset, reducing panic, and negative thought. This greatly

helps people whose lives are troubled with anxiety, and even panic attacks.

This list, just like the health benefits to the body, could go on. But all of these issues that

Meditation helps with, are symptoms of a troubled mind. When you create a better headspace,

and start to live a more positive lifestyle, these symptoms start to disappear. Taoism and

Meditation, used in conjunction, create a very positive and different lifestyle than most live

today. Look at the world as a river, and you are part of that river, whether it is a small flowing

brook, or a white water rapid, that river is you. And you have no choice but to flow with the river,

and make peace with what the universe brings you. That is, in essence, Taoism. It is the choice

to take what is set in front of you, and deal with it as it comes. You don’t look back, and you

don’t look ahead, you look at what is now, and what is today. Meditation only furthers that

practice, it helps to center your body and your mind, and bring you to the present, it forces you

to see who you are, not who you were, or who you will become. All of this is meant to make for

a better life, and bettering your mind and body, are just pieces of the puzzle. The puzzle is

completed, when we talk about bettering the spirit.


Benefit to the Spirit

Taoism refers to the Spirit as “The Mystic Nature” or “The Root of The Universe.”. It is immortal,

it cannot be destroyed or consumed, it lasts far beyond our material bodies do. It is engrained in

the universe and it is without end. It teaches to bring the spirit and the body together, to achieve

“Oneness”. This is the balance that we spoke of before, the joining of the physical and the

ethereal. When these two are one, you become in balance, a state of serenity, of tranquility.

This is where your soul will be truly at peace. The soul is left to wander, through the dark, in the

ether. WIth the practice of meditation, you can reel the soul back in, and create a “Oneness”

with the body that Taoism speaks of.

This “Oneness” is formless, nameless, and unidentifiable. It is a presence, a non-

tangible force that exists. It is a subject that Taoism is incredibly vague about, and many have

differing opinions on the subject. But, one thing is clear, that you may achieve “Oneness”, but it

is a personal journey, that you must embark on.

The Tao, may be in some case, vague or difficult to grasp. But even though we are

speaking of forces that cannot be felt or studied, they are nonetheless, full of substance and of

virtue. They are brimming with feeling and many positive benefits to life. These forces enact

themselves without discrimination. And you can only feel these forces through personal effort.

You must practice meditation on your own to believe them, and your own experience will surely

be different from that of someone else’s.

Many people have talked about the benefits of Meditation and even Taoism. When

speaking upon this subject, most feel the need to only talk about the tangible evidence, clinical

studies, health benefits and stress relievers. But there is another aspect of meditation that is not

talked about as much, the spirit.

There are many spiritual benefits to meditation, that lie mostly in the metaphysical. The

spirit is the foundation of everything we know, it can't be felt like our body, and cannot be

measured, like our mind. Only you know your spirit. Your spirit is what you are, it's your core,

deep down inside it’s what makes you, yourself. It is compromised, and made up of the energies

of the Tao. The Three Treasures that we talked about before talk about the subject more in

depth. But your spirit will be with you even after you die, so it is on Treasure that should not be

neglected.

Meditation calms the mind, it creates a positive headspace, and it relieves the body of

the stress pressured upon it by the daily world. But it also frees the spirit. Meditation is a


doorway into a world, undiscovered by most. You are entering into a new domain, one that

provides many benefits to you and your spirit. The practice allows you to tap into an entirely new

worldview. Some say that it can even lead to you transcending into another state of being.

Letting your mind become blank, focusing on the present, all of these things let you alter

yourself, so to speak. You are allowed access to the building blocks of yourself, you gain an

inner view on yourself, and who you are. Once you have this window into your soul, you can

know yourself, and the man that knows himself, is a powerful one. Some, have even described

becoming closer to God, through Meditation. Buddhists and Taoists use these practices to

center themselves, but some use them to transcend to a more spiritual level of being. They can

use this to access other states, and other dimensions of peace and prosperity.

All of these things, are The Way. These benefits all come with going with the flow, and

with centering yourself, becoming harmonious with the universe, and balancing yourself. Body,

Mind Spirit. That is why people have practiced Taoism and Meditation for centuries. They

practice because it brings so much joy, and balance to your life, why wouldn’t you practice it.

The rewards that a very short amount of time and almost no effort give you, are endless. But

practicing is only the first step. It can bring many benefits in itself, but putting them into place in

the real world, is another task on its own.


TAO TO LIFE

The practice of Meditation started thousands of years ago. But that doesn’t mean that it

cannot still be used today. These teachings are needed in our world now more than ever. We

live in a society that never stops, an ever growing culture, with such a fast-paced world, it

speaks volumes to be able to stop, and look to the now.

These practices that we have gone over have a variety of benefits that need not be translated to

the modern day. Benefits, such as health of body, mind, and spirit. But, some benefits need to

be put into use a little different in today’s world.

Our society is incredibly fast, and with the advent of technology, we are ever distracted. But

taking a look at one’s life, is never a bad thing. Reflect on what you can do to improve, and use

the tools Taoism gives you to make your life, a little bit easier.

Situational Use

The day to day situations that everyone encounters, are some of the most important and,

sometimes, stressful moments in life. These can be anything from a difficult co-worker, to an

unyielding project. These incredibly stressful situations can be reduced and even quelled with a

regular Meditation habit.

Meditation is the relaxing of the body, the silence of the mind, and the calming of the

soul. When the energy that you output, is that of tranquil, and balance, people tend to be much

more agreeable. If you have a positive outlook, and treat others with the same mentality, then in

most situations, there will less tension and a reduction of stress. Some people are just negative

sources of energy, they don’t know how to deal with life and the world, so they cope with anger.

You can only control yourself, and these negative forces will pop up every so often, it is best to

distance yourself from these people, and keep your own headspace.

The energy that you produce will spread to others. So it is your responsibility to keep that

energy positive, not just for your own benefit, but for the benefit of the people around you as

well. If you constantly give off negative vibes, and spread negative energy, then this will intrude


into other’s headspace as well. If you bring positive energy to the workplace, or even your inner

circle of friends, they too will feed off that energy and it will assist them in becoming positive as

well. Energy is like a virus, it spreads wherever people are, but you control whether that virus is

bad or good.

When your headspace is clear, and your mindset is balanced, then is when you can

really focus. Your goals become clearer, and the path is laid out in a much more linear fashion.

When your mind is troubled, foggy and dense, the path to your goals will only reflect that. Clear

your mind and your work, along with your life, will not only become easier to handle, but even

enjoyable.

Business

Meditation in business is quickly becoming more and more popular. Some of the top

CEOs in the world use meditation in their daily lives to enhance their work and their leadership

skills. They use the practice to make their work lives better and propel them forward in business.

Meditation coupled with Taoism is a great way to learn to deal with people in the workplace.

Meditation, as we covered before, boosts your creativity. This can work to your advantage not

just in your artistic endeavors, but in your business life as well. Most people do not realize this,

but creativity is used in the workplace every day. Creativity, is really the use of the imagination,

or coming up with new, original ideas. When your creativity is enhanced, you can easily think of

new ways to solve issues, make the workplace more efficient, or assist in your job. Using

creativity to increase your workflow, your efficiency, and your output can put you forward in your

work as a better worker. This will make you stand out above the rest, and you will be noticed as

a primary employee that business want to keep around.

These practices also increase your ability to control your emotions. This will make you

more centered, using this in the workplace can be incredibly advantageous, not only to yourself,

but the workers around you as well. Your own work will become easier to manage, when you

aren’t stressed and angry, your work is easier to take care of. Your co-workers will benefit, as it

is much easier to work in an environment where everyone is pleasant, calm, and centered. This

goes back to what I was already saying about energy. When you give off positive energy to your

peers, you will benefit as much as they will benefit. This will creative a positive work

environment for everyone.

Meditation helps you focus, and with focus, your workplace will become all the easier to

navigate. Everyone has struggled with the issue of a trailing mind at one point or another. When

you’re focused and your end game is clear, you can easily achieve what you want. Meditation


centers the mind, it clears it of the negative and wasteful energy and lets you center in on the

things that are important. You can focus on your work and thus, get more done in the process.

And not thinking about what is to come, just focusing on the task at hand will make the time go

by faster than you could ever believe.

Networking Circles

Focusing on your work is only one way in which focus assists you in the workplace.

Focus also greatly helps during communication. One of the largest rules of good communication

is to listen, and listen well. Studies show that our brains tend to wander about half of the time,

so this already puts us at a disadvantage when trying to communicate. With the aid of

meditation, and the clearing of the mind, it becomes much easier to focus, especially when in

communication heavy situations, like networking.

One of the goals of networking is to create good bonds, and relationships. Your goal

should be to build a web of people you can rely on in the business world. Communicating your

goals properly and what you can offer is crucial to the networking process. Going into it with a

cluttered, messy and stressed mind, will only further the difficulty the situation brings. If you start

with a clear, and tranquil mind, you will attract others to you, and you will be able to positively

relay the assets that you can bring to the table. Being able to convey yourself well is another

advantage that will help you in networking. You can only do this with a clean and centered mind.

Another aspect of networking is how you come off to others. If you come off as stressed,

messy, and disorganized, then you will not be able to build the network that you hope for. When

you give off the vibes and energy of someone positive, a person who has control over their

emotions and the situations presented before them, it will make networking all the easier in the

long run. Meditation assists and furthers all of these issues that come with the challenge that is

business. It will give you another leg up in the business world, one that will propel you forward

towards your goals.


Self-Healing

Meditation has a multitude of effects on the body. The health benefits are clear, and

many studies are present to back these claims up. But Meditation has even been proven to be

able to heal the body. Your body is a reflection of what you feel on the inside. It is a mirror into

the soul and the mind. When people have constant stress for long periods of time, or bouts of

depression, their health will slowly begin to deteriorate. But, with a better headspace, and a

clear mind, this can be fixed.

When your mind and spirit are aligned, your body will go along with it. Once you

surround yourself with positive energy, and let it constantly flow through you, it will do the rest.

Now, this doesn’t mean you can give up taking care of yourself, but your body will increase its

self healing. This is proven by the heightened immune system that is gained with frequent

meditation.

When you think better, you begin to feel better. The mind is an incredibly powerful tool,

and when used correctly, and when taken care of, it can be directed to help us in many ways.

When you surround yourself with negativity and distress, your life reflects that. You attract these

negative energies towards you, and it brings nothing but that. But, bringing into your life

positivity, through a change in perception, and a mindset of health and prosperity, these things

will attract themselves to you. It is the Yin and the Yang, the balance of life. The positive and

negative forces in life will come when called. When you think negatively, you make yourself a

beacon for negative energy. With Meditation, your mind becomes centered, focused, balanced,

tranquil, and your transcend to a positive state where your energy does the work for you.


Mental Model

The Mental Model is what brings all of these things together. Your Mental Model, is your

perception on the world around you. Meditation is only one part of Taoism, though a very large

and important part. You can Meditate every day, but if you continue to look at the world in a

negative way, then you will not reach your full potential for a healthy and successful lifestyle.

Taoism speaks of a virtuous person, as flowing water. A virtuous person benefits all, and does

not create disharmony with them. Be kind, open your heart to the world, and do not contend with

it, as it will only create unbalance.

Disgrace, and fear are beneath the Tao, these emotions and actions only occur because

of a lack of faith in the Tao. You must have faith in the Tao, otherwise you will have no

confidence. When there is no confidence to be had, other moral virtues begin to suffer. This is

where fear steps in, and from there it is a slippery slope.

To act upon the Tao, is effortless, and wordless. It is the following of the path, or The

Way, and to follow is only to let yourself to the whims of the universe. This requires no work, or

time, it can begin now, and with it, comes the enlightenment of the Tao.

The way you look at the world, your perception, is everything. If you see the world as a

terrible, chaotic place, that you have no control over, then you will have a terrible chaotic life,

with no control. If you look at the world, as Taoists do, as a a balance, a river, a cosmic stream

of events, then you will have a peaceful life, with little worry. The Taoist way of life, is to stay

centered, grounded, to look at the present and deal with the here and now. Taoists do not worry

about tomorrow, because tomorrow is not here, the more pressing matter is today, and what

you will do with it. Taoists do not worry about the past, because the past is gone, and there is

nothing to be done with it now.

Make the most of today, spend the energy you have, focusing on what you’re going to do

now, not fearing the future, or regretting the past. Affect the now, and change your life through

the present. The only way to get anything done is one step at a time.

With the Taoist Mental Model, and the practice of Meditation there is no telling how your

life will improve. When your body, mind, and spirit are intact, and free of the chains of the

modern world, you are in control of your destiny. You are at your greatest advantage when you

have complete control over yourself.


6 Techniques of ‘TAO’

There are 6 Techniques for TAO Meditation that incorporate the aspects of Taoism and

Meditation that will enrich your life. These take the most important parts of the two practices and

join them, creating a balance and harmony between the two.

As Taoism and Meditation go hand in hand, complement each other even, this practice

is the best of both worlds. Taking the philosophy of Taoism, the balance of life, and the physical

practice of meditation, will lead you to a prosperity and an ease of mind. It is a combination of

the two, to reach a place of serenity and calmness. This will help you to face the struggles of

everyday life. You will learn inner vision and enhance your life force in the process. This practice

will nourish your spirit, teach you of your inner self, and unlock a state of self healing.

This will provide a brief outline of the techniques of Meditation and their importance.

There exist, many resources, and a wealth of knowledge on Meditation. One can find guided

meditations that will assist in your journey to the calm and harmonizing of the spirit. Others find

usefulness in aromas, or scents that are said to relax the body and the mind. In the end,

whatever is most comfortable, and relaxing for you, is the best way.


Emptiness

The state and act of emptying the mind, is not only a warm up for meditation, but the core of the

practices itself. Emptying your mind is creating a blank canvas for your true emotions to show

themselves. It is ridding your mind of the waste and cleaning your spirit to ready it for balance

and harmony.

Emptiness is harder to achieve than most think. Our society promotes a constant stream of

thought and distraction. With the Advent of social media, mass media, and the countless other

distractions that modern society poses, our brains rarely get a chance to show what they truly

feel. the emptying of the mind creates a balanced and a Harmony for which taoism and

meditation thrive.

When you sit down to meditate, try and make it your goal, to clear your mind of the thoughts of

the day. Focus on your breathing and keep nothing else in your head. Soon, you may begin to

feel your mind drift away from you, like a balloon on a string, this is when you must reel it back

in, and push the thoughts out of your mind again. Take control over your conscious, and keep

your mind on one steady path.

Some find it helpful to envision the mind, envision it as a glass, filling with water. Empty the

glass as your breath comes out. When the glass is empty you should have no thoughts on your

mind but your breath, and the glass. Do not ponder upon the glass, as it has no purpose other

than to act as a metaphor for your brain. When your mind begins to trail off, the glass will fill with

water, you must empty the glass again, slowly, with every breath you take water will spill out

until it is empty.

It may take repeated efforts to truly get this technique down, and it may be harder for some than

others. But once you begin the practice, over time, you will begin to notice that you have

improved. Your mind will be easier to clear, and keep clear. You may not even need to envision

the mind, only the blankness and the void that it holds.

Emptying the mind will only enhance the other techniques of Tao meditation. starting

fresh and new creates a neutral atmosphere to find the inner self and harness the true power of

the Mind. a blank mind creates a path of non-resistance to an inner vision of the self. the vision

of the self is only disrupted by the Myriad of thought that is our daily lives. blanking the mind is

essential to realizing the true power of the mind and the spirit.


Breathing

Breathing is an essential step to the beginning of the meditation process . the the body

craves breath, it is the energy of life, a force that only furthers two enhance the power of the

body. The Body Mind and Spirit can all be brought into Harmony and balance when in a state of

calm. A state of calm is easily reached when breath is taken into account. Breathing is the act of

energy flowing in and out of your spirit.

Once the mind is emptied one must start breathing. this may sound easy enough, but

everyone is different. There is no rule book on meditation, nor should there be. a brief outline

can be useful for beginning meditation, but you must find your own comfort, and your own

practice. This will come with repeated sessions of meditation, and realizing what is relaxing for

you and what isn’t.

Focus on the breath. focusing on the breath will make emptying the Mind easier. Push

all thoughts out of your mind and take deep long slow breaths. Envision the energy flowing into

your body and out. imagine the positive energy being taken in, and the negative energy being

expelled from your body. try to hold your breath for a brief second before letting it leave your

body. Feel the calm rush over as the breath enters and exits your lungs. This calm that you feel

is your body taking in the positive and releasing the negative. This is your Qi (Chi), or good

energy. When you control your energy, you can begin to influence your emotions and your state

of being. This is incredibly important in the path to enlightenment. You must be able to control

your mindset, or you will constantly drift in and out of good and bad states.

When breathing, focus on the cadence of the breath, begin to slowly take longer and

deeper breaths. Feel your lung filling with oxygen, and the purity that it brings. You will begin to

feel the blood flowing to through your body. Become aware of every feeling in your body, every

facet of your figure, and become totally present. Let nothing go unnoticed, as being in your

body, will make you more connected with your soul and your mind.

Once you have control over your mind, and you are aware of your body, your spirit will

follow. You will begin to feel a mindfulness and a relaxation drift over you, even after the

process has finished. A blanket of calm will envelop you, all worries gone, and your thoughts

clear.


Harnessing Qi

Qi flows through all living things. It is your life energy, it is the force that makes you alive.

Our Qi can be negative or positive. Your Qi flows through you everyday, without you even

realizing it. It is always there, affecting your life and your emotions.

Meditation is a tool, that will help you to harness your Qi. Harnessing your Qi is just

another step to achieving all of the benefits of Meditation and Taoism. Serenity, balance, and

harmony can all be attained by learning to let your Qi flow through you, without resistance.

During Meditation, imagine a force of energy as a purple ball, flowing through your body.

Envision it rooting your to the ground, connecting you to earth and nature. Feel it flowing

through every facet of your body, till you can sense the serenity of your Qi running through you.

Some Taoists even practice Tai Chi, sometimes referred to as energy work. It can be practices

as a self-defense technique, or similar to Meditation, a tool to reach a state of calm and

harmony.

Work with your energy, and attempt to control its flow through your body. Harnessing

your Qi will further your path on the journey to self-enlightenment.


Tame The Mind

When meditating, you gain a control over the mind, that most did not have before.

Reaching a state of tranquility, a blankness of the mind, and letting your energy flow through

you, are all techniques that help you to harness the power of your mind.

Once you reach these states through meditation, you will notice that your mind is yours,

it is no longer controlled by your emotions and the distractions that you face. You may lose

control over a period of time, but this is normal. Someone who has only practiced Meditation for

a short period of time will not have total control over themselves, it is a process that takes time.

The more you practice, the more you will start to notice the control that you have over yourself.

You will begin to notice that you don't anger as easily, and you can direct your train of thought

wherever you need it to go, without it derailing and heading off in multiple directions.

When you control your Qi, and your breath, your mind will come with it. Reach this state

of calm during meditation and your thoughts will not veer so easily. After repeat sessions of

meditation you will notice that you can blank your mind easier. Most people who start Meditation

for the first time notice that they cannot control their thoughts, and they have trouble emptying

their mind. This can push many people away from Meditation, they think that they cannot

achieve this state of tranquility and balance, but it is only the persistent who will reach this state.

It requires determination to be granted the rewards of a Tranquil mind.

Once you do reach this state, you will notice how easily you can control yourself. Most

wander through life, not knowing the control that they are letting go. They veer through life,

trying, pushing to gain some little sliver of control over their lives through their work, their love

life, or their family. But what they don’t know, is that they are trying to control outside forces,

which are unruly, and not easily controlled. There is a much easier path, to control and know the

self. Once one truly knows the self, and can say that they have full authority over their mind,

they will be at peace. There is a solace, in knowing that you are finally taking the wheel of your

life, and that you are no longer just a passenger.


Inner Vision

Meditation, in the beginning stages, is a time for peace, and a time for calm. Use this

time to train your mind and your body, and reach this state of calm. But once you have

mastered the blanking of your mind, and breathing techniques, meditation can be a time for

reflection.

While meditating, you may look deep into yourself, and find vast amounts of self-

realization. You will begin to know yourself, and who you truly are. A fog will start to drift away,

the one covering your true self, and your inner vision.

Once this cloud of haze begins to leave your mind, you will be able to definitively notice

your vision and your goals. You can begin to envision a life, and the things you want. With this

you will bring into your being, focus and determination. With these tools and this knowledge of

the self, you will open a world of vast potential. The power of just knowing what you want is

immense, and unrealized. When you don’t know what you want, and most do not, you are

wandering through a forest without a path. You are lost in the world, lost in your own life. Once

you find your path, you can begin to leave the wood, and move on to bigger and better things.

Find your Tao, find your Way, and you will become tranquil and happy.

Realizing this inner vision, is easier said than done, many do not find theirs until the later

years of their life. According to Taoism, the universe flows with or without you, so flow with the

river of the world, and let it take you where you may go. Become the person you want to be, not

tomorrow, but today. This is what Taoism teaches, is a radical realizing of your life, right now.

As we have learned, there is no tomorrow in Taoism, it is only now. Deal with the now, and keep

your visions of the future in your mind, deal with them one step at a time, and slowly, your

visions will become manifest.


Harnessing Inner Self

As we have seen, meditation has many benefits. But the practice is only one part of the

puzzle. The most important part, is taking the things you realize about yourself during

meditation, and using them to better your life outside of the practice.

Once you realize who you are, and what you want, you begin to strive towards those

things in your life. These things will not fall out of the sky and land quietly in your lap. You must

work towards them, and make them your goal. But with Meditation, and Taoism in your life, you

gain the power of great focus and determination. You can take these tools and turn your goals,

from dreams, into reality. Your life can become what you want, and with these practices, it can

be a much easier journey than most make it out to be. With a healthy, positive lifestyle, and a

tranquil mind, the cards are in your hands. You will have turned the tides in your favor, and what

you do with this opportunity, is your choice only.

Most people do not truly know who they are deep down inside. They wander through life,

with no goal or purpose. When you begin to know who you truly are, you can follow this

purpose, and lead yourself in the right direction. This will further your own life, realizing your

goals, aspirations and wants, will make you better. A person with purpose is someone drive,

someone who knows what they want and can work to attain that. It is not about the gaining of

the thing itself, as there will always be another goal, but the reward is working towards it. You

gain solely from the journey, not from the destination. This is why the present is so prevalent in

Taoism, because if you are only focused on what you want, then you will never be satisfied. You

have to focus yourself on the now, and enjoy what you have and what you are doing, because

always wanting more will only lead to an empty life.

Harness your inner self, take the power that your mind and spirit give you, harness your

Qi, and use it to your advantage. Take these tools that we have looked at, and make them your

own. Incorporate these practices into your daily life, and start living well, today.


Conclusion

Meditation and Taoism, are powerful tools. When used together, they can help you to

realize your true potential, and can bring balance and peace to your life. They can bring your

mind, body, and spirit together, to become one working organism, with the goal of improving

your life.

With Meditation you can improve your body through self-healing. You can rid yourself of

pain and even some illness with the mindset that meditation brings you. Better yourself, and

begin to live a healthy lifestyle. Meditation can also bring about a calm mind, and a peaceful life.

You can lift up your spiritual life, and start to better your soul. Using all of these this, you bring a

balance and and better the parts of your life that need it.

Taoism brings a different perspective on the world. It helps to start to look at life as

flowing, and to put yourself into this flow. When you live inside of the flow of the universe, you

will only bear the fruits of the universe and the things that it brings you. Living outside of this

flow will only cause extreme discomfort, the pain and the stress that most people feel on a daily

basis. Once you begin this journey, you will be at ease, knowing that the The Way has taken

you, and that you no longer have to stress or worry yourself over the past or the future, you are

only in the present.

The present is where Taoism is really held, the now, is where taoism exists. Escaping

that, by placing yourself always in the past or always in the future, is only damaging to your

mindset and your lifestyle.

In the end, when you put all of these together, and use the two practices in conjunction

with each other, the pieces will fall into place. With finding this balance, the yin and the yang of

your life, you will begin to come across things that you have lost. The positivity and the innocent

look that all children have and that begins the fade away as we grow old. You will notice a

mindfulness, and a sense of becoming present in the world. Your life will begin to change before

your very eyes, and you will seize the things that you want most in life. It is only The Way that

can bring these to you. Once you are present, you stop becoming absent in your life. You are

there, and you are experiencing it. This is the most important of all the benefits and practices of

this lifestyle, is experience. You are not escaping, you are where you are meant to be. You are

truly existing in the world, and once you begin to do that, you can finally live your life. Start these

things today, begin to practice Taoism and Meditation, today. You cannot wait to make your life

yours, do not stall or put off changing your life for the better, start to live your life right now.


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