A good Daoist practice to start with is to combine the mantra 清静 (Qīngjìng), meaning “clarity and stillness,” with gentle abdominal breathing and a simple visualisation of calm energy gathering in the lower abdomen.
It fits the Daoist principle of wú wéi (無為): allowing things to settle naturally, without forcing or struggling.
1. Your mantra: 清静 — Qīngjìng
清静
Qīngjìng
Clarity · Stillness · Inner tranquillity
This is a contemplative phrase associated with Daoist ideas of a clear, quiet mind. You don’t need to treat it as a magical formula; use it as a reminder to return to stillness.
You can silently repeat Qīngjìng with each breath, or repeat it 20 times as a short meditation.
2. Visualisation: The still pool
This is a simple visualisation inspired by Daoist nature imagery.
- Sit comfortably. Keep your spine naturally upright and relax your shoulders, jaw and abdomen.
- Breathe naturally. Allow your belly to expand gently as you inhale and settle as you exhale. Don’t force deep breaths.
- Imagine a still pool. Picture a clear pool of water in a quiet mountain setting. At first, the surface may be disturbed by ripples.
- Repeat your mantra. Silently say Qīngjìng as you breathe. With each repetition, imagine the water becoming a little calmer.
- Rest in stillness. Let the image fade if it does. Simply sit and experience the breath without trying to control your thoughts.
The aim isn’t to force the mind to become empty. It’s to stop feeding every thought with attention and allow the mind to settle.
3. Gather your awareness in the lower Dantian
The lower Dantian (下丹田, Xià Dāntián) is traditionally associated with the lower abdomen, roughly below the navel.
After your still-pool visualisation, bring your attention to this area. Imagine a gentle warmth or a small, steady glow there. Let it represent groundedness, vitality and composure.
- On the inhale, feel the abdomen expand naturally.
- On the exhale, relax and settle your attention.
- Let the imagined warmth remain soft and steady; don’t strain to feel anything unusual.
In Daoist internal practices, this kind of attention is used to cultivate calm and centredness. You don’t need to imagine energy moving through your body.
4. A simple 10-minute daily practice
Minutes 1–2: Settle
Relax your body and allow your breathing to find its natural rhythm.
Minutes 3–5: Mantra
Repeat 清静 (Qīngjìng) 20 times, slowly and silently.
Minutes 6–8: Visualisation
Picture the still pool, then bring your attention to the lower Dantian.
Minutes 9–10: Wu Wei
Stop repeating the mantra. Sit without trying to achieve anything.
A final thought: Don’t judge the practice by how peaceful you feel or whether you experience a particular sensation. Some days the mind will be busy; other days it will be quiet. Allow both. That’s part of practising wú wéi.
Tradition note: this is a simple, Daoist-inspired personal meditation, rather than a prescribed ritual from a particular Daoist lineage.