Merging Oblivion Meditation: A Daoist method facilitating nondual experience through cosmic integration

Daoist meditation practices, such as Sitting in Oblivion and Inner Observation, are less commonly used than Buddhist meditation for psychological regulation due to their philosophical complexity. This analysis compared classical Daoist methods and developed a new technique called Merging Oblivion Meditation, which combines Inner Observation and Sitting in Oblivion. Inner Observation, which involves merging with the cosmic landscape, proved more adaptable for psychological use. Merging Oblivion Meditation uses guided imagination to reduce the sense of self by fostering experiential unity with cosmic landscapes, facilitating nondual awareness without apophatic operations. This approach simplifies traditional Sitting in Oblivion, making it more feasible as a psychological technique. It differs from Buddhist-derived practices in process and effects, potentially engaging distinct mechanisms for nondual experiences.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Daoist meditation has been less widely adopted than Buddhist meditation as a daily method for psychological regulation, partly due to the complexity of its underlying philosophical system. This study aims to explore how key Daoist meditation practices can be psychologized and adapted into a usable method for modern psychological training. A comparative analysis was conducted on classical Daoist meditation methods, including Sitting in Oblivion, Mind Fasting, Ingestion of Qi, Visualization and Imagination, Inner Observation, and Internal Alchemy. Based on this analysis, a novel psychological training method called “Merging Oblivion Meditation” was developed by integrating elements of Inner Observation and Sitting in Oblivion. Among the practices analyzed, Inner Observation—which involves merging with the cosmic landscape—was found to be more adaptable for psychological application. The proposed “Merging Oblivion Meditation” employs guided imagination to reduce the sense of self by fostering an experiential merging with cosmic landscapes, thus facilitating nondual awareness without requiring apophatic operations. This method simplifies the difficulty of traditional Sitting in Oblivion and increases its feasibility as a psychological technique. Rooted in the Daoist vision of the body as an immortal cosmos, Merging Oblivion Meditation differs from Buddhist-derived practices in both process and psychological effects. By dissolving bodily boundaries and encouraging experiential unity with the Dao, it may engage distinct mechanisms conducive to nondual experiences, offering a unique contribution to contemplative science and meditation-based interventions.