坐忘
Zuowang
Taoism · practiceSitting in forgetfulness — a Taoist meditation practice of emptying the mind, forgetting the self, and merging with the Tao. Described in the Zhuangzi. Described in the sixth chapter of the Zhuangzi, zuowang means letting go of body, mind, knowledge, and self. It is one of the earliest Taoist meditation forms and influenced Chan/Zen sitting practice.
What Are the Key Facts About Zuowang?
- Tradition: Taoism
- Chinese: 坐忘
- Category: Practice
- Definition: Sitting in forgetfulness — a Taoist meditation practice of emptying the mind, forgetting the self, and merging with the Tao.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Zuowang
What is zuowang?
Zuowang (坐忘, 'sitting in forgetfulness') is a Taoist meditation practice of emptying the mind and forgetting the self to merge with the Dao. It is described in the Zhuangzi, chapter 6.
How is zuowang practiced?
In the Zhuangzi, Confucius's disciple Yan Hui describes it as progressively forgetting limbs, senses, and finally even the distinction between self and Dao. It is an image of releasing fixed identification rather than a step-by-step technique.
What is the difference between zuowang and mindfulness?
Both cultivate non-grasping attention, but zuowang specifically aims at forgetting the self and conventional distinctions, whereas contemporary mindfulness often aims at bare awareness. They overlap without being the same practice.
Is zuowang a Taoist or Buddhist practice?
Zuowang is a Taoist practice from the Zhuangzi. Similar forgetting-the-self motifs appear in later Daoist meditation and were sometimes mirrored in Buddhist-Chinese synthesis, but its root is Taoist.