Sitting in Oblivion: The Heart of Daoist Meditation
Livia Kohn is a prominent scholar of Daoism and a pioneer in the comparative study of meditation; her rigorous academic approach is combined with long-term experience with various meditative practices. This book provides translations of the basic texts of the highly influential tradition of Daoist oblivion meditation, as well as a very readable discussion of its more than two thousand years of historical development. It gives a unique overview of the body and mind techniques, mental states, and philosophical systems associated with this tradition from the beginning and up until today. --Halvor Eifring, University of OsloSitting in Oblivion provides a wealth of important and fascinating materials, accompanied with insightful analyses, about essential Daoist methods of contemplative practice. At the core of the book is a masterful translation of the Zuowang lun, a seminal treatise of the Tang era. There are also clear and reliable explanations of a number of important issues and pertinent developments, including the earliest formulation of sitting in oblivion in classical texts such as the Zhuangzi, the teachings of the Twofold Mystery, the main elements of mature systematizations of Daoist meditation, and the influence of Buddhist models of contemplative practice. Livia Kohn s extraordinary erudition and high level of scholarship are evident in both the discussion and translation sections, yet the book is eminently readable and will be readily appreciated by scholars, students, and practitioners alike. --Mario Poceski, University of Florida