dao sound

sound Wind in the cave; Movement in stillness. Power in silence. In a cave, all outer sounds are smothered by rock and earth, but this makes the sounds of one’s own heartbeat and breath audible. In the same way, contemplative stillness turns us away from everyday clamor but allows us to hear the subtle in our own lives. When listening not with the ear but with the spirit, one can perceive the subtle sound. By entering into that sound, we enter into supreme purity. That is why so many religious traditions pray, sing, or chant as a prelude to silence. They understand that the repetition and absorption of sound leads to sacredness itself. The deepest sound is silence. This may seem paradoxical only if we regard silence as an absence of life and vibration. But for a meditator, silence is sound unified with all of its opposites. It is both sound and soundlessness, and it is in this confluence that the power of meditation emerges. sound 365 Tao daily meditations Deng Ming-Dao (author) ISBN 0-06-250223-9 duckdaotsu.org tao hub Ordination Scroll of Empress Zhang (detail) Ming dynasty1, Hongzhi reign, dated 1493 Handscroll2; ink, colors, and gold on paper 54.6 x 2,743.2 cm San Diego Museum of Art; gift of Mr. and Mrs. John Jeffers cat. no. 57 Ordination Scroll of Empress Zhang This scroll documents the ordination of a Ming-dynasty empress as a Taoist priest. It is one of the most important surviving documents of the relationship between Taoism and the Ming imperial family. The complete painting shows the empress Zhang (not seen in this detail), wife of the Hongzhi emperor, with a group of divine ladies called "jade maidens," the Taoist priest who ordained her, and a procession of deities. Each deity can be identified by an accompanying inscription, making this work an invaluable source for the identification of images of Taoist gods in the Ming dynasty. The depiction of empress and priest together with Taoist gods indicates that the human figures have achieved divine status. This detail shows a female deity followed by four male deities. All but one of the gods wears the robes of a Taoist priest and a cap topped with the symbolic flame of spiritual enlightenment. The fourth figure from the right wears the robes and cap of a scholar. All carry ivory tablets3 modeled after those held by officials during meetings with the emperor, indicating that they are taking part in a similar celestial audience. The background of clouds suggests that the ceremony is taking place in the heavens. Five-clawed dragons against a yellow background decorate the upper and lower borders: in this context, both the dragons and the color yellow symbolize the emperor. 1 Ming dynasty (1368—1644) the period following the Yuan dynasty in which native rule was restored. Ming emperors and empresses sponsored the renovation of Taoist sacred sites and the practice of reformed Taoist rituals. In the Ming dynasty, the Taoist god Zhenwu became a national protector. Paintings characterized by great energy and vigor flourished during this time, and the porcelain industry received major imperial patronage. Early Ming energy was followed by a powerful conservative movement, echoed in the efforts to isolate China from the outside world. Nevertheless, the Portuguese landed in China in 1514. In the 17th century, trade with the Netherlands began and Jesuit priests entered southern China. Corruption in the late-Ming imperial court ultimately led to another foreign occupation. 2 handscroll a painting or piece of calligraphy made in the form of a horizontal scroll specifically intended for occasional, intimate viewing. Handscrolls are viewed just as Chinese is read: a section at a time, from right to left. Handscrolls vary considerably in length; although some are quite short, others may extend to over 70 feet in length.n Outer Alchemy, a magical potion that bestows immortality when swallowed; in Inner Alchemy, the life-prolonging energy attained through spiritual purification 3 tablet an ivory or jade ceremonial object that indicated rank or status by the Tang dynasty. Tablets are usually flat and bladelike in form, with a flat, rounded, or sometimes pointed tip. Their surfaces were either plain or incised with characters; the latter indicated rank. receive a full HTML copy of the daily meditation sent directly to your inbox, please send a note with the words "subscribe tao" in the subject line to duckdaotsu