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)
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Treasures_%28traditional_Chinese_medicine%29>
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
/<[email protected]>/* wrote:
From: Jue Miao Jing Ming - 覺妙精明 <[email protected]>
Subject: [Zen] Lotus Posture
To: [email protected]
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 or injury. On the floor with a
cushion to raise the hip by about 2-3 inches, so that the
knees are lower than the hip. This reduces the strain on
the lower back and enable the spine to be straight. Then
slowly lower the cushion as practice continues. We have
plenty of witness informed us that these symptoms can be
self-healed after dedicated practice by following our
instructions.
3. Everyone else, half lotus is a minimum. May begin with easy
lotus, cross legged, but half lotus is minimum.
These are our experience and instructions through out all our
classes for your reference.
JMJM
Hear Teacher
Order of Chan
--
Be Enlightened In This Life - We ALL Can
http://chanjmjm.blogspot.com <http://chanjmjm.blogspot.com/>
http://www.heartchan.org <http://www.heartchan.org/>
