Daoist Cultivation, Book 14 - Discourse on Sitting in Forgetfulness: Translation and Commentary

This book was updated to the Second Edition and released on July 9, 2025.If you bought it before, contact the author via Facebook or Instagram for a free e-book.This edition of Discourse on Sitting in Forgetfulness (坐忘論, Zuò Wàng Lùn) presents a complete and carefully compiled version of the classic Daoist text by Sīmǎ Chéngzhēn (司馬承禎), a leading Tang dynasty master of the Shangqing tradition. Drawing from both major manuscript traditions, this volume includes:The full seven chapters of the main treatiseThe complete Preface by Sīmǎ ChéngzhēnThe Preface by Hermit Zhēn JìngThe concluding chapter Pivot and Wings of Sitting in Forgetfulness—a key summary of the supporting methods that help stabilize and elevate practiceTogether, these materials provide a comprehensive map for Daoist meditation, virtue cultivation, and inner transformation. The text outlines a step-by-step progression: from establishing faith and reverence, to releasing karmic entanglements, calming the heart–mind, observing reality clearly, entering Profound Stillness and Calmness (定, Ding), and finally attaining unity with the Dao.Sīmǎ Chéngzhēn’s teaching integrates insights from Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism, reflecting a deep harmony between ethical conduct, mental purification, and metaphysical realization.This edition includes detailed commentary on the text itself, clarifying difficult passages, unpacking classical references, and guiding the reader through essential terms such as Original Wisdom (慧), True Observation (真觀). It also notes subtle differences between early manuscript versions and their implications for practice.This refined second edition offers both scholarly depth and practical instruction. It is ideal for students of Daoist meditation, internal alchemy, and the classical path of returning to stillness, clarity, and the Way. Read more