Oneness and Meditation

Many people have asked me about Oneness and Meditation, and many readers have mentioned that they had practiced meditation before. Here are the details of their differences and similarities.
Oneness and Meditation

Two traditions born from different lineages, ultimately converging toward body–mind unity.

Oneness practice and meditation originate from different philosophical and practical systems, yet both ultimately point toward the integration and elevation of body and mind.

Origins of Oneness: Rooted in Martial Arts, Nourished by Taoist Internal Practice

The birth of Oneness (Lichan Zhan Zhuang) was never about “standing still.”
Its purpose wasmovement—the most efficient form of whole-body martial expression.

1. Martial and Hunting Origins (the foundational roots)

The essence was “storing power” and “preparing to launch.”

In ancient hunting societies and early tribal warfare, warriors needed to maintain an intense state of readiness—a full-body, coordinated posture where one could explode instantly.
This poised, integrated preparatory stance was the earliest form of “post training.”
It was not created to stand motionless; it existed to allow the body to release maximum power—pouncing, charging, throwing—within a split second.

2. Animal Observation and Embodied Power

Chinese martial arts drew inspiration from animals—tiger, bear, monkey, crane—studying how they contain tremendous power in stillness.
Oneness practice emerged as the refined expression of these observations:

• the grounded density of a bear

• the alertness of a tiger

• the lightness of a crane

  It aimed to cultivateinstinctive, whole-body intelligence.

Taoist Integration: From Combat Efficiency to Inner Nourishment

Taoist practitioners later discovered the inner-nourishing value of this posture.

When the body is aligned in the state of
“relaxed but not slack, engaged but not tense,”
vital energy and blood flow freely, and inner vitality naturally gathers.

Thus, a posture originally designed for martial power gained a new purpose:
refining essence into vital energy, and vital energy into spirit.

Two lineages formed:

• martial post-training
  

• health and internal-cultivation post-training

  Different expressions, same underlying principle.

In its genetic makeup, Oneness practice carriesstructure,force, andvitality—
beginning with the pursuit of peak martial efficiency and culminating in the nourishment of the strongest life force.

Origins of Meditation: A Path for Mental Transcendence

Meditation was created for themind—to observe it, stabilize it, and eventually transcend it.

Encoded in its lineage are the qualities of:

• stillness

• inner witnessing

• transcendence

It begins with releasing mental entanglements and culminates in realizing deeper truths about consciousness and existence.

Summary: One Body, Two Wings—Different Paths, Same Destination

Feature

Oneness Practice

Seated Meditation

Original purpose

Combat efficiency, whole-body force, vitality cultivation

Liberation of the mind, truth-seeking, mental refinement

Primary pathway

From body → into mind

From mind → into body

Symbolic imagery

Warrior, vitality, earth

Sage, stillness, sky

“Oneness and meditation form a natural yin–yang pair.
Oneness is ‘movement within stillness,’ forging vitality and structural integrity through an upright posture.
Meditation is ‘stillness within stillness,’ observing thoughts and emotions with clarity.
They begin at different entry points but ultimately meet at the summit of body–mind unity.”

“Their fundamental difference lies here: meditation begins with refining the mind, while Oneness begins with refining the body. This difference shapes all their methods, experiences, and results.”

“For modern people—whose bodies are tense, depleted, and fragmented—starting from the body often provides a more grounded and accessible path.
Many psychological struggles originate from a body long neglected.
Returning through the body is, for many, the safest and most effective way home.”

THE FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE

Oneness is ‘body into mind’

meditation is ‘mind into body’

This distinction sits at the root of all differences.

Meditation

Works primarily with themind—thoughts, attention, observation.
Through breath awareness, visualization, and inner observation, meditation trains mental stability.
When the mind quiets, this calmness gradually filters into the body.

It is atop-downprocess.

Oneness Practice

Works primarily with thebody—structure, connective tissues, alignment, and breath.
By refining the body’s physical structure and allowing energy and blood to flow freely, the body’s tension dissolves, and the mind naturally quiets.

It is abottom-upprocess.

An Analogy

Imagine your inner world as a lake.

• When thoughts and emotions surge, the lake’s surface becomes turbulent.
  
  

• Meditationteaches you to sit by the lake and watch the waves (thoughts) rise and fall without reacting. Eventually the surface settles. This requires a trained mind.
  
  

• Oneness practicegoes directly to thelakebed—the body.
  When the sediment at the bottom settles and the water flows cleanly, the waves above naturally calm.
  
  

One works from the surface inward; the other works from the foundation upward.

Why Oneness Feels “More Effective” for Many People

(Not because it is superior—simply because it fits the conditions of modern life.)

1. Lower Entry Threshold: It Gives You a Physical Anchor

The challenge of meditation:
For beginners—especially those with anxiety—“sitting quietly and watching the breath” often becomes a wrestling match with their ownmonkey mind.
Physical discomfort and overactive thinking create huge resistance. Many give up.

The advantage of Oneness practice:
You donotneed to empty your mind.

It provides a concrete, physical anchor:

• Are your feet grounding evenly?

• Are your knees aligned with your toes?

• Are your shoulders soft?

• Is your pelvis relaxed?

Your attention naturally returns to your body.
There is no room for wandering thoughts.
For people who struggle to sit still, this is far more approachable.

2. Strong Physical Efficacy: Fix the “Hardware First”

Many psychological struggles originate from a “hardware failure”—the body.

Example:
Years of slumped posture compress the chest, create shallow breathing, and trigger physiological signals related to anxiety.

Oneness intervention:
Oneness practice directly resets posture:

• elongates the spine

• opens the chest

• frees breath

• balances the pelvis

When breathing becomes deep and smooth, the physiological foundation of anxiety softens.
You don’t need to “think your way out”—the bodylets you feelthe relief.

Meditation comparison:
Many say after meditation: “My mind is calm, but my body is still tired.”
After Oneness practice:
“The body feels open, warm, light—and my mood automatically becomes better.”

The grounded bodily feedback is something pure mental training rarely achieves.

3. Dual Energy Regulation: Not Just “Calming,” but Also “Replenishing”

Meditation (especially seated meditation):
Its dominant effects are stillness, quieting, emptying.
For people with depleted energy or chronic fatigue, prolonged sitting may feel “more draining,” because everything retreats inward.

Oneness practice:
It is “movement within stillness.”
Externally still, but internally deep activation of circulation, vital energy flow, and structural integration.

It not only settles overactivity (reducing heat/excess),
but also nourishes deficiency (replenishing energy).

This is why Oneness practice can help both:

• insomnia and anxiety (overactivation)

• fatigue and low mood (underactivation)

  It balances the entire energy system from the root.

4. Structure Creates Function: Reshaping the Body’s “Stress Container”

This is one of the most unique contributions of Oneness practice.

Core principle:

Psychological states shape physical posture (slumped shoulders, collapsed chest).
But physical structure also shapes psychological function.

Oneness intervention:

Through precise structural alignment, the practice reshapes the body into a more stable, neutral, and resilient “container.”

• Bones bear weight → muscles release unnecessary tension

• Postural neutrality → less pressure on organs

• Smooth circulation → fewer stress-accumulating bottlenecks

The result:
You don’t justfeelless stressed—
your body becomes a structure thataccumulates less stress by design.

A more durable form of “hardware update.”

Comparison Table: Key Differences at a Glance

Dimension

Meditation

Oneness Practice

Pathway

Mind → Body

Body → Mind

Entry difficulty

Higher (thoughts interrupt)

Lower (physical anchor)

Primary tools

Intention, breath, observation

Structure, fascia, breath, alignment

Core process

Observe thoughts → reach stillness

Refine structure → vital energy flows

Energy effect

Calming, inward-gathering

Stillness + replenishing

Physical improvement

Secondary, indirect

Primary, foundational

Ideal fit

Moderate mental activity; seeking inner clarity

Tension, energy imbalance, overthinking, modern stress

An Metaphor

“Meditation and Oneness are two paths up the same mountain—
one offers a serene view (meditation),
the other offers solid steps (Oneness).
For modern climbers carrying heavy loads—tension, exhaustion, anxiety—
the body-first path often feels more stable.
Once your body is rebuilt as a steady container, meditation becomes much easier.
They are not opposites but complementary.
Oneness simply offers our era a more grounded entry point.”

Disclaimer

This guide is for educational purposes only. It does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a previous medical condition, you must consult your doctor before practicing. Always work within your comfort zone, and stop immediately if you feel unwell or if pain persists.