What is the Contemplation 存思
Paul PengShare
Contemplation, also known as 'Cunxiang' or 'Cunshen', refers to the act of storing and thinking about one's spirit.
Sima ChengCun in his 'Tianyinzi' states: 'Cun means to store my spirit, and xiang means to think about my body.' This implies contemplating the spirits within oneself. Taoism believes that the spirit is omnipresent and ever-present; there are spirits both inside and outside the body. If one can cultivate these thoughts, the spirits will settle upon them, achieving the goal of eternal life and vision.


Part of the Series
This article is part of our comprehensive guide covering all core Taoist philosophies, concepts, and practices — curated from the classic Encyclopedia of Taoism.
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About the Author
Paul Peng
Paul Peng is a Zhengyi Taoist priest from Longhu Mountain, Jiangxi — the ancestral home of the Celestial Masters' tradition. Ordained at 25 after a dream from the Celestial Master, he has practiced for 25 years under Master Zeng Guangliang. He is the curator of this store, which is officially authorized by Tianshi Fu. All items are consecrated at the temple by the resident priest team.
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