State University of New York Press, 1998
Using a wide variety of original sources, this book brings to light how and why asceticism was carried out by Taoists during the first six centuries of the common era. It examines the practice of fasting, celibacy, self-imposed poverty, wilderness seclusion and sleep-avoidance, and it discusses the beliefs and attitudes that motivated and justified such drastic actions.
Asceticism in Early Taoist Religion demonstrates that although Taoist ascetics pursued austerities that were extremely rigorous, they did not seek to mortify the flesh. Through their austerities, they almost always sought to improve their physical strength and health, because they aspired toward physical longevity as well as spiritual perfection. Even though they sometimes taxed their bodies severely, they believed that their strength and health would eventually be restored if they persevered. The highest goal was to ascend to divine realms in an immortal body.
However, certain beliefs that emerged during this period--particularly those influenced by Buddhism--may have caused some Taoist ascetics to virtually abandon their concern with longevity, and to focus disproportionately upon the perfection of the spirit. Such ascetics were more likely to purposely harm and neglect their bodies, contradictory as this may have been to the cherished ideals of the Taoist religion. Eskildsen traces how this problem may have emerged, and how it was viewed and dealt with by those who maintained the ideal of longevity.
Contents
Acknowledgments vii
1. Introduction 1
2. The Lives of Taoist Ascetics (1)—Depictions in the Liexian zhuan and Shenxian zhuan 15
3. The Lives of Taoist Ascetics (2)—Depictions in the Daoxue zhuan 31
4. Taoist Methods of Fasting 43
The Fasting Regimen of the Zhonghuang jing 44
The Fasting Regimens of the Daoji tuna jing and Tuna jing 51
Imbibing the Five Qi 53
Imbibing the Essences of the Sun and Moon 56
Talisman Swallowing 58
Sucking on a Seed 59
Drug Recipes 60
Final Comments 67
5. Asceticism in the Shangqing Texts 69
The Buddhist Influence 72
NonBuddhistic Reasons for Celibacy 75
Gaining Divine Sympathy 79
Evils in the Worldly Environment 84
The Place of Asceticism in the Hierarchy of Spiritual Progress 90
The Glorification of Suicidal Methods 92
6. Asceticism in the Lingbao sc
The New Saintly Ideal 96
Precepts and Retreats 105
A Soteriological Puzzle 121
7. Criticisms of Heretical Asceticism in the Yuqing jing 129
8. Conclusion 153
Appendix: Summary Information on the Lingbao sc
Six 161
Notes 167
Bibliography 203
Index 215 MsSVig