The Religiousness of Cultivation in the Zhuangzi: “The Unity of Self” of Zuowang 坐忘
Religions May 6, 2023 Shanshan Ma 4 citations
A debate exists over how to interpret zuowang 坐忘, a practice in the Zhuangzi. Some scholars, following a mysticism paradigm, see it as a breath-meditation technique aimed at a transcendental goal, establishing a religious basis for cultivation. Others, mostly Chinese scholars, argue it is primarily a mental state independent of any technique, which they consider philosophically insignificant. The concept of qi 氣, both physical and nonphysical, can reconcile these views. Examining Harold Roth's mysticism paradigm shows that meditative techniques are a necessary step toward mystical experiences, not contradictory to viewing zuowang as mental cultivation. This mind–body transformation pursues authenticity and wholeness, broadening concern for others and other realms, following the universe's perpetual growth. The goal is 'the unity of self,' substantiating the religiousness of Zhuangzi's cultivation.