Inner Alchemy In Meditation

Meditation and Inner Alchemy

In meditation there is alchemy, thus in zen there is Taoism. Focusing on a single thought before emptying the mind of all thoughts brings that single thought into the present moment.

A Single Thought and Inner Alchemy

As the mind remains clear in Buddha-mind, there is zen stillness, yet alchemy propels health and happiness with that single thought as its guidance.

Thoughts and Inner Alchemy

Negative thoughts preceding the Buddha-mind serve to cause confusion and chaos, leading to poor meditation.

Positive thoughts preceding Buddha-mind serve to cause desires and cravings, leading to poor meditation.

A single thought of nothingness preceding Buddha-mind propels zen into the present moment continuously as the mind remains still and free of attachment.

Happiness and Inner Alchemy

To be happy with nothing is not in human nature. Thus to achieve stillness of mind and thoughts of nothingness, though only the thought is required, leads many to shed attachments and cravings of physical forms in order to train the mind to focus on nothingness.

Zen and Inner Alchemy

The path of zen only follows an emptied mind, not an empty mind, and not an emptying mind. Once emptied, maintaining stillness is itself every moment zen.

Thus achieving zen and practicing Taoism can unite as with a still mind, a single thought can harness the energy of the thousands of thoughts we ignore every moment.

Distractions and Inner Alchemy

My foot itches, I'm hungry, where are my keys, need to save money, need to make money, getting tired, feet hurt, heart beats every second, breathing in and out, even hair slowly growing on our heads all require the brain to constantly function and exhaust itself running all the systems we don't often consider.

Stillness and Inner Alchemy

When the mind is still, a single thought has the power of all the brain's resources, thus focusing on the environment around us with a clear mind can allow alchemy to take shape.