Daoist meditation is something that the Chinese don’t understand as meditation as the term is a western construct. In China, we say Wuji practice, and in this blog post, we will explain the meaning and use of internal martial arts. The typical western idea of sitting and meditating is also a Wuji exercise.
Understanding Wuji
What is Wuji? There are already many interpretations and translations of this word; related to Daoist practice, Wuji means the emptiness and the emptiness of the self.
To reach the absolute emptiness, one has to become free of everything. The Daoist understanding of complete emptiness is that no absolute emptiness can consciously take place. However, this is entirely possible unconsciously, so there are specific points that must be observed for beginners to reach the state of Wuji.
Usually, people who do a lot of sports should learn to rest and do Wuji exercises, and those who want to meditate should do more with their bodies. The Daoist way of life is about balancing the mind and body, which is usually not easy. Therefore, the things we struggle with should be deepened and considered. If you can’t sit still for 15 minutes, then Wuji training is for you.
Who should do Wuji practice?
Wuji exercises are essential for the inner performance of one’s energy and an increased sense of self. As long as the activity takes place in a healthy balance with physical training, over-sensitization can be ruled out. As long as the self remains harmonized, everyone should do some Wuji exercises to improve life quality.
The dangers of Wuji practice
If the exercise is not used in a compensatory way, it usually leads to over-sensitization in the long term. This leads to frequent mood swings and difficulty concentrating. One should keep in mind that the body blocks out specific signals to maintain inner balance. Overly sensitive people are quickly overwhelmed by all things and can only find peace in the Wuji exercise. If so, finding quiet moments in Wuji practice is the wrong way to go. Instead, you have to break out of this behavior and slowly adapt to natural situations with training.
How to do Wuji practice correctly:
For starters, the sitting position should be with your spine upright. The eyes should be relaxed and half-open to avoid falling asleep and poor concentration. During the process, one must constantly focus on breathing. Remember that you always breathe in the same rhythm and very slowly at 6-8 second intervals. Since one has to think about breathing all the time, the beginner is not confused with random thoughts. The Wuji exercise is not a memory processing exercise but an exercise to achieve absolute emptiness. Those who get familiar with the exercise find it easier not to think about anything, and later on, breathing will work by itself. The Wuji practice is increasingly becoming a state, the state of Wuji.
