Different ways to say 'meditate' in Chinese?

[hbuchtel]

Hello All,

I'm looking for some way to say 'meditate' in Chinese that doesn't have any specific religious connotation.

A friend suggested "坐禅" but as far as I know that means Buddhist meditation. What I'm looking for is a more general term for being being quiet and mindful.

Thanks!

Henry

[skylee]

冥想

[hbuchtel]

Thanks, I'll give that one a try.

Do you think it is a term most mainland Chinese would know? On the off chance they don't know what ming2 I'm talking about, which word should I use? 冥夜的冥？冥会？冥府？

Henry

[onebir]

I've heard 沉想 (more) & 冥想 on the mainland, used by people were interested in indian yoga - tho admittedly most of them were also interested in buddhism.

[roddy]

What about 静坐, where does that fit in?

[semantic nuance]

How about 內觀..(觀照自我的內心)?

[hbuchtel]

Cool, thanks for all the suggestions.

I gave "冥想" a try, and it definitely brought up associations with yoga. That is ok, I guess, cause my concept of meditation (as a Westerner) is probably heavily influenced by that tradition.

Any opinions from Chinese about 沉想，静坐 and 内观?

Thanks, Henry

[onebir]

I'm not Chinese, but I think I've seen 内观 used to mean vipassana meditation - which is a bit more specific than what you were looking for in the original post.