Re: [Zen] Lotus Posture & Awareness

[Kristy McClain]

JM,
 
Thanks for this!  i would agree with Bill about the boredom-thing, and their 
need for novelty and distraction.  people don't know  how to simply "be" 
anymore.  like the old saying abouta human-doing rather than a human-being. it 
seems that often people are afraid of themselves. Like doing nothing is the 
biggest fear of all.
 
The whole concept of chi is very interesting to me.  It has different 
connotations in different cultures.  I have great interest in what is known as 
'heart energy", and i could  write on about this, but my time is short now. I  
may expand on this soon, and    when i do, will welcome your feedback.
 
*bows*.. Kristy


--- On Thu, 2/10/11, Jue Miao Jing Ming - 覺妙精明  wrote:


From: Jue Miao Jing Ming - 覺妙精明 
Subject: [Zen] Lotus Posture & Awareness
To: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com, zenliv...@yahoogroups.com, 
chan-socal-engl...@googlegroups.com
Date: Thursday, February 10, 2011, 8:04 AM


  



Hi Kristy,

Well, it is not just westerners.  For the last ten years, our statistics shows 
about 80 percent of the people quit after 2 sessions, Asian or American.  The 
reasons being meditation is like detoxing our habits...  a cold turkey feeling. 
The first few months are tough, especially our stringent requirement in 
sitting. :-) 

I am not sure of your definition for awareness.  Let me use mine..  According 
to Traditional Chinese Medicine,  
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Treasures_(traditional_Chinese_medicine)  
Awareness is "Shen" or like our inner god, spirit, focus, clarity  "Shen" 
is supported by "Chi" or energy or liveliness.  In other words, if we are 
tired, we can think clearly and we can not focus.

In our practice, "awareness" is cultivated gradually as the "chi" is enhanced.  
In my experience, "awareness" gradually broadens its sensitivity as well as its 
region. Meaning it starts on breathing, then on chakra, then on energy channel, 
then on mind, then on spirit.  When it is able to be aware of our spirit, then 
it become a holistic, whole body and mind kind of awareness, an integrated 
complete oneness internally and externally.  We call that state of being 
synchronization to the universal energy and wisdom.  That's how Buddha 
"transmits" from heart to heart.

Historically western medicine is compartmentalized, the Chinese medicine is 
integrated.  Same applies to the term of awareness, it includes our body, mind 
and spirit as one.  

If you are still around the Bay area, we have a meditation center in Milpitas 
located at 1782 Clear Lake Ave #248, Milpitas, CA There is an English session 
at 2pm every Saturday with about 6-7 non-Asian. Feel free to contact Mr. 
Yenkang Liu 14082069325.

Thank you for the opportunity to share.
JM
Be Enlightened In This Life - We ALL Can
http://chanjmjm.blogspot.com
http://www.heartchan.org

On 2/9/2011 11:34 AM, Kristy McClain wrote: 
  






Hi JM,
 
Thanks for posting this!  Very interesting.  As a westerner practicing zazen, 
there is often a difference in training, and its always helpful to learn how 
its done in other countries and traditions.  I was very intrigued by the 
chi-flow  guidelines you mention here. Do you have many westerners at your 
school, and is there a difference in how they are able to "acclimate" to the 
teachings and practices?   Meaning-- is there any more, or less resistance to  
the process and  teaching models?  My experience in the USA , has been that 
many  students here  don't like being uncomfortable, and are easily discouraged 
if  there is not  meaningful or "fast" progress in their practice.  (Patience 
is not a typical American value, it often seems).
 
One other note..  when I was in college in Palo Alto, (CA), I took a course 
from a buddhist priest who was on-loan from the SF zen center.  He taught the 
fundamental principles of posture  for zazen.  Being young and fit, I was able 
to sit in half-lotus with no discomfort the first time I tried it, and could 
get into full lotus, but  chose not to sit that way back then.  But the 
practice was new to  me, so I had little knowledge  or awareness about the 
contemplative path.
 
My question? Does posture lead to the awareness, or does the awareness come 
first in your experience?  In my case, I didn't have the maturity to really  
understand, or embrace the practice.  It was not until after my car accident 
and recovery, that I  found a deeper understanding.
 
Thanks,  k 


--- On Wed, 2/9/11, Jue Miao Jing Ming - 覺妙精明  wrote:


From: Jue Miao Jing Ming - 覺妙精明 
Subject: [Zen] Lotus Posture
To: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, February 9, 2011, 9:00 AM


  

Good morning to all,

In our school, we have a practitioner named Dr. Jing Lun Huang.  One of his 
research paper told us, measured through scientific instruments, the chi flow 
enhanced through acupuncture needle is three times the a

[Zen] Lotus Posture & Awareness

[Jue Miao Jing Ming - 覺妙精明]

Hi Kristy,

Well, it is not just westerners.  For the last ten years, our statistics 
shows about 80 percent of the people quit after 2 sessions, Asian or 
American.  The reasons being meditation is like detoxing our habits...  
a cold turkey feeling. The first few months are tough, especially our 
stringent requirement in sitting. :-)


I am not sure of your definition for awareness.  Let me use mine..  
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Treasures_(traditional_Chinese_medicine) 
  
Awareness is "Shen" or like our inner god, spirit, focus, clarity  
"Shen" is supported by "Chi" or energy or liveliness.  In other words, 
if we are tired, we can think clearly and we can not focus.


In our practice, "awareness" is cultivated gradually as the "chi" is 
enhanced.  In my experience, "awareness" gradually broadens its 
sensitivity as well as its region. Meaning it starts on breathing, then 
on chakra, then on energy channel, then on mind, then on spirit.  When 
it is able to be aware of our spirit, then it become a holistic, whole 
body and mind kind of awareness, an integrated complete oneness 
internally and externally.  We call that state of being synchronization 
to the universal energy and wisdom.  That's how Buddha "transmits" from 
heart to heart.


Historically western medicine is compartmentalized, the Chinese medicine 
is integrated.  Same applies to the term of awareness, it includes our 
body, mind and spirit as one.


If you are still around the Bay area, we have a meditation center in 
Milpitas located at 1782 Clear Lake Ave #248, Milpitas, CA There is an 
English session at 2pm every Saturday with about 6-7 non-Asian. Feel 
free to contact Mr. Yenkang Liu 14082069325.


Thank you for the opportunity to share.
JM

Be Enlightened In This Life - We ALL Can
http://chanjmjm.blogspot.com
http://www.heartchan.org


On 2/9/2011 11:34 AM, Kristy McClain wrote:


Hi JM,
Thanks for posting this!  Very interesting.  As a westerner practicing 
zazen, there is often a difference in training, and its always helpful 
to learn how its done in other countries and traditions.  I was very 
intrigued by the chi-flow  guidelines you mention here. Do you have 
many westerners at your school, and is there a difference in how they 
are able to "acclimate" to the teachings and practices?   Meaning-- is 
there any more, or less resistance to  the process and  teaching 
models?  My experience in the USA , has been that many  students here  
don't like being uncomfortable, and are easily discouraged if  there 
is not  meaningful or "fast" progress in their practice.  (Patience is 
not a typical American value, it often seems).
One other note..  when I was in college in Palo Alto, (CA), I took a 
course from a buddhist priest who was on-loan from the SF zen center.  
He taught the fundamental principles of posture  for zazen.  Being 
young and fit, I was able to sit in half-lotus with no discomfort the 
first time I tried it, and could get into full lotus, but  chose not 
to sit that way back then.  But the practice was new to  me, so I had 
little knowledge  or awareness about the contemplative path.
My question? Does posture lead to the awareness, or does the awareness 
come first in your experience?  In my case, I didn't have the maturity 
to really  understand, or embrace the practice.  It was not until 
after my car accident and recovery, that I  found a deeper understanding.

Thanks,  k


--- On *Wed, 2/9/11, Jue Miao Jing Ming - 覺妙精明 
//* wrote:



From: Jue Miao Jing Ming - 覺妙精明 
Subject: [Zen] Lotus Posture
To: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, February 9, 2011, 9:00 AM

Good morning to all,

In our school, we have a practitioner named Dr. Jing Lun Huang. 
One of his research paper told us, measured through scientific

instruments, the chi flow enhanced through acupuncture needle is
three times the average speed of a normal flow.  Half lotus
enhances the chi flow by 8 times.  Full lotus enhances the chi
flow by 24 times.

Now why is chi flow important. When the Middle Channel, Ren & Du,
is open and flowing, we can enter stillness quicker and deeper.

Personally speaking, when I am in half lotus, my spine is bit
slanted, because one leg is higher than the other.  I don't sit as
long and not as comfortable.  When I am in full lotus, my chi
flows through both legs equally.  I feel a more solid base as well
as entering into a state of full chi without sensing my physical
body faster.  Therefore deeper.

We recommend three ways to sit.

   1. On a chair is for those had surgery or injury on the hip or
  knees. But the spine must be straight without leaning on the
  back of the chair.
   2. For those may have sore back, weak knees, arthritis, natural
  illness without surgery