A Genuine Initiation into Daoist Meditation
华山睡功
Daoist Sleeping Meditation: Chen Tuan’s Sleeping Gong provides a unique window into the world of Daoist Mediation. Sleeping Meditation was purportedly passed down by Chen Tuan, a 10th century Daoist adept dubbed “The Sleeping Immortal.” Daoist Sleeping Meditation deftly guides the reader through the maze of symbols, metaphors and rituals that conceal the simple truths underlying Daoist meditation and Inner Alchemy practices.
Sleeping Meditation allows us to reach a state similar to that of animals in hibernation. The body seems to be asleep, but is internally aware. This state of “genuine sleep” produces “true rest”, untroubled by dreams which reflect and engage with our emotions and desires. The result is increased clarity of mind and energy. It has been said that one hour of Sleeping Meditation is as restful as 8 hours of normal sleep.
The basic practice method of Sleeping Meditation is clearly presented by author Tom Bisio. Also included are famous Chinese poems associated with the “Twelve Sleeping Immortals”, which provide further instruction on Sleeping Meditation by delineating the crucial stages of meditative practice. Bisio’s detailed explanations of each poem - including symbology, hidden meanings, and associations, and references to other Daoist texts like the Dao De Jing – are an initiation into secretive Daoist practices that were deliberately hidden in plan sight.
The original text on Sleeping Meditation, translated by Tom Bisio and Huang Guo Qi, comes from the Ming Dynasty book, Chi Feng Sui (Marrow of the Red Phoenix). The author’s extensive commentary and annotation clearly explain the foundational principles of Daoist Sleeping Meditation that are only hinted at in the original text itself. Summaries of the key points accompany and flesh out the original text.
Daoist Sleeping Meditation also includes a section on Sleeping Meditation for the treatment of medical conditions, such as diseases caused by cold, digestive problems, and loss of essence. These formerly scattered sections of the Chi Feng Sui are brought together, with commentary based on Bisio’s extensive experience as a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine.
Daoist Sleeping Meditation: Chen Tuan’s Sleeping Gong is a companion work to Tom Bisio’s earlier work, Decoding the Dao: Nine Lessons in Daoist Meditation.
