the realm of the most advanced masters
of the martial arts.
Meditative states can be induced
through various postures incorporat-
ing breathing, movement, chanting,
stress, and visualization. Deep abdomi-
nal breathing is a fundamental practice
in many martial arts. Slow, smooth,
deep, long abdominal breathing in-
creases the volume of blood flow, calms
the mind, and brings more oxygen into
the body.
In China, Daoist meditation often
plays an important role in the internal
arts of taijiquan, baguazhang (pa kua
ch’uan), and xingyiquan (hsing i ch’uan).
Daoist meditation begins with an em-
phasis on breath control and posture and
moves on to visualizations and direction
of energy throughout the body. Three
major kinds of energy are cultivated: qi
(vital life energy), qing(sexual energy),
and shen(spiritual energy). By calming
the mind and eliminating our normal in-
ternal mental dialogue, meditation re-
stores access to what the Daoists call
original mind: a state of mind that is spontaneous and rejuvenating, more in-
tuitive than the conscious mind. Daoist meditation allows access to the nat-
ural potential for fluid and appropriate responses to the situation at hand.
Buddhism gives two major approaches to meditation: concentration,
or mindfulness, meditation; and insight meditation.
The most basic approach to mindfulness is awareness of breathing to
the extent that breathing occupies one’s full attention. Once concentration
is developed, this power is then used in insight meditation to gain wisdom
through observing the mind.
In Japan, the early martial arts (ca. A.D. 800–1200) were influenced by
Daoism, Shintô, and Mikkyo (or esoteric) Buddhism. Shingon and Tendai
are the two major schools of Mikkyo. Esoteric Buddhism utilizes visualiza-
tions, mudras, mandalas, and mantras to harmonize body, mind, and speech.
Zen arrived in Japan from China around A.D. 1200 and was often
used by the samurai as an adjunct to their martial training. The Zen ap-
proach to any task is single-minded concentration. Mushin (munen musô)336 Meditation
A sculpture of
Buddha in seated
meditation at
Borobudur Temple
in Indonesia, built
in the ninth century.
(Charles & Josette
Lenars/Corbis)