Customer Reviews

The Great Stillness, the Water Method of Taoist Meditation

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At last, after years of search through various courses and readings, I have found in this book a clear explanation of what the word "Meditation" really means, and how to safely practice it.

Many teachers, even the most renowned, have talked or written about meditation, only rarely caring to define it, or when they did, it was either through obscure metaphors, or cryptic zen-like comments that only the enlightened could constructively make use of.

Here the author, expanding on the precise relaxation methods described in the precedent volume in the series, takes the reader through a precise and technical description of the meditation process : the exploration and cleansing of one's emotionnal, mental, and more and more refined bodies, through inner perception and the practice of "inner dissolving", a higher form of relaxation.

All the material in the book is clearly described, with step-by-step explanations everywhere needed, as well as theoretical explanations that help keep a global view of the work he proposes. Warnings and answers to frequently asked questionsare there to avoid all possible risk of bodily, energetic, or emotionnal injury. It is clear from reading his books that the author has a great experince of teaching. Stories from the author or his teacher's experience keep the book entertaining and give an idea of the possible depth that can be reached in this field of research.

Even such obscure subjects as Sexual meditation, that are often alluded to in mysterious exotic terms (the like of "golden clouds rise from the Jade pillar" and others) are here treated openly and simply. The technical aspect of the work keeping it from getting esoteric, and the insistance on respect of the other and openness of feelings keeping it always very humane.

This book, along with the previous tome in the series ("Relaxing into your being"), and the author's other didactic work "Opening the Energy Gates of the Body", give detailed instructions for years of safe and fruitfull inner workout. And for those who do not wish to engage into the deep work of meditation, the book can still be helpfull, as it clarifies a lot of misconceptions about the goals and methods of a vastly misunderstood field of human activity.

My only regrets about this fascinating book would be that it does not cover all of the material it alludes to, but only gives access to the first levels of meditation, and roughly outlines the higher levels. I strongly wish for a further book expanding on the intricacies of clearing beyond the emotionnal body. Hopefully it will take me a few years of meditationg work before I get to a level where I need these indications. By then the author has the time to expand the series.

Frantzis, who has written a few other good books on Taoist arts, gives a good overview of the "water" method for meditation. This style of meditation is basically Chan (Zen) meditation that is closer to its Taoist roots than the pure Rinzai and Soto schools.

Water meditation is basically just a variant on the Vipassana Buddhist type of following-and-becoming-one-with-the-breath. Frantzis emphasises awareness and following energy within the body; there is no attempt to direct energy. This is in contrast with the normal Qigong style of "fire" meditation that may involve actively circulating energy through the meridians and microcosmic orbits.

I think Frantzis does an admirable job interspersing the simple progression of lessons with text on other subjects. I enjoyed his section on cults and gurus but suspect that his warning will likely fall on deaf ears given the sheer quantity of "masters" and people with "genuine Indian names" running around handing out "certificates" of achievement for meditation.

Anyone who enjoys this will also like "Mindfulness in Plain English" and "Zen Training". I also recommend looking at Deng Ming Dao's "Scholar Warrior".

In my own Tai Chi and Chi Gung practice, based on Bruce's teachings, inner dissolving is possibly the skill I value the most. It's also one of the most difficult to understand without a skilled instructor and many hours of practice. That said, this book contains a very helpful instruction on this form of meditation and unless you have the opportunity to study with Bruce himself (or even, I suppose, if you do) it is a great reference to turn to. I've also found that occasionally listening to the liturgies in Ancient Songs of the TAO: Music of the Spheres complement this practice, as they are what Bruce has used in several of his meditation workshops.