Some Wondrous Effects of Inner Calm, as Described and Explained in Yu Yan’s Zhouyi cantong qi fahui
This essay examines what Yu Yan’s Zhouyi cantong qi fahui says about the suspension of breathing and pulse, as well as the extraordinary inner sensations and visions that accompany it. Yu Yan maintains that these things come about by simply bringing body and mind to the depths of stillness...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-01-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/10/1/31 |
| _version_ | 1818175069543727104 |
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| author | Stephen Eskildsen |
| author_facet | Stephen Eskildsen |
| author_sort | Stephen Eskildsen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This essay examines what Yu Yan’s Zhouyi cantong qi fahui says about the suspension of breathing and pulse, as well as the extraordinary inner sensations and visions that accompany it. Yu Yan maintains that these things come about by simply bringing body and mind to the depths of stillness; they are not instigated through deliberate procedures such as holding of breath, visualization, incantation, gulping air, swallowing saliva, etc. Through sheer inner calm and single-minded concentration, breathing and pulse are suspended while an inner qi 氣 is generated that surges and circulates the body, bringing forth ravishing sensations and strange visions. Yu Yan explains why the inner qi and the visions come to be generated, and why one should and can disregard the visions. Yu Yan’s descriptions and explanations regarding inner calm and its wondrous effects help shed light on the Neidan (inner alchemy) methods of the major traditions of his time (especially Nanzong and Quanzhen), revealing details that tended to be obscured in abstruse metaphor or reserved for oral transmission. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T19:54:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-15b9d9e63203473a9988f13b781eebb5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T19:54:26Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-15b9d9e63203473a9988f13b781eebb52022-12-22T00:52:40ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442019-01-011013110.3390/rel10010031rel10010031Some Wondrous Effects of Inner Calm, as Described and Explained in Yu Yan’s Zhouyi cantong qi fahuiStephen Eskildsen0Department of Humanities, College of Liberal Arts, International Christian University, 3-10-2 Osawa, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8585, JapanThis essay examines what Yu Yan’s Zhouyi cantong qi fahui says about the suspension of breathing and pulse, as well as the extraordinary inner sensations and visions that accompany it. Yu Yan maintains that these things come about by simply bringing body and mind to the depths of stillness; they are not instigated through deliberate procedures such as holding of breath, visualization, incantation, gulping air, swallowing saliva, etc. Through sheer inner calm and single-minded concentration, breathing and pulse are suspended while an inner qi 氣 is generated that surges and circulates the body, bringing forth ravishing sensations and strange visions. Yu Yan explains why the inner qi and the visions come to be generated, and why one should and can disregard the visions. Yu Yan’s descriptions and explanations regarding inner calm and its wondrous effects help shed light on the Neidan (inner alchemy) methods of the major traditions of his time (especially Nanzong and Quanzhen), revealing details that tended to be obscured in abstruse metaphor or reserved for oral transmission.http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/10/1/31Yu YanZhouyi cantong qi fahuiNeidanqibreathingpulsevisionsNanzongQuanzhen |
| spellingShingle | Stephen Eskildsen Some Wondrous Effects of Inner Calm, as Described and Explained in Yu Yan’s Zhouyi cantong qi fahui Religions Yu Yan Zhouyi cantong qi fahui Neidan qi breathing pulse visions Nanzong Quanzhen |
| title | Some Wondrous Effects of Inner Calm, as Described and Explained in Yu Yan’s Zhouyi cantong qi fahui |
| title_full | Some Wondrous Effects of Inner Calm, as Described and Explained in Yu Yan’s Zhouyi cantong qi fahui |
| title_fullStr | Some Wondrous Effects of Inner Calm, as Described and Explained in Yu Yan’s Zhouyi cantong qi fahui |
| title_full_unstemmed | Some Wondrous Effects of Inner Calm, as Described and Explained in Yu Yan’s Zhouyi cantong qi fahui |
| title_short | Some Wondrous Effects of Inner Calm, as Described and Explained in Yu Yan’s Zhouyi cantong qi fahui |
| title_sort | some wondrous effects of inner calm as described and explained in yu yan s zhouyi cantong qi fahui |
| topic | Yu Yan Zhouyi cantong qi fahui Neidan qi breathing pulse visions Nanzong Quanzhen |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/10/1/31 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT stepheneskildsen somewondrouseffectsofinnercalmasdescribedandexplainedinyuyanszhouyicantongqifahui |