The Method of Holding the Three Ones: A Taoist Manual of Meditation of the Fourth Century Book by Poul Anderson (Preowned)

The present study is based on historical sources from the formative period of the Mao-shan sect (4th-5th century A.D.).

It deals with a meditational tradition associated with Jin-que-di-jun, the supreme ruler of the Millennium to come. The object of this meditation is the supreme trinity of gods, The Three Ones, who exist simultaneously in the universe and in the microcosm of the human body, and whose presence in the body is essential to the survival of the individual. Through visualization and concentration this presence is reinforced, and thus immortality is achieved. The work includes an integral translation of the basic scripture of this tradition, Jin-que-di-jun san-yuan-zhen-yi jing, accompanied by copious notes. The introduction further includes an exposition of the general background of the text with a discussion of the basic ideas of the meditational tradition in question.

Poul Andersen has studied Taoist ritual in Taiwan, and is now a research fellow in the University of Copenhagen.

Length: 80 pages

Publication date: 1995