Chris, Yes, I get what you're saying. By sitting regularly over a period of time we get used to certain discomforts and are better prepared, and more proactive, regarding things like physical and environmental inconveniences. But I'm not really referring to these kinds of factors. I'm interested if anyone else experiences, and has a theory, as to how the spine itself seems to 'come alive' at certain times during meditation, such as straightening itself - to the point of feeling like you're a passenger that can only observe this happening. I don't think it's "spooky" or anything mystical, I think it's perfectly natural and explainable, but the spine does seem to be central to something that is largely untapped (at least in the west). Just wondering if anyone else here has had such experiences.
Mike ________________________________ From: Chris Austin-Lane <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, 17 October 2012, 0:26 Subject: Re: [Zen] Sitting straight This is one of the pitfalls, I mean teaching opportunities of sitting zazen - you become more practised as you sit more. I'm much more likely to sit down on the zafu in such a way as to maximize my comfort for the period now than I was years ago (even along the lines of being more aware of my chances to pee without disrupting the sangha or my sitting period schedule). I actually didn't mean practise as "some spooky mystical thing" but "repeatedly doing the same physical task over and over again." One becomes more practised at the physical goals of zazen (at least I am), and one tries to attach some notion of "progress in life" to this change in circumstances (well, certainly the thoughts have arisen for me). I have no comment on "samadhi/jhanas." I think meditators experience everything as happening effortlessly from time to time, keeping the posture is no exception. (I also think meditators experience everything as being sluggish and difficult from time to time, keeping the posture is no exception.) Thanks, --Chris [email protected] +1-301-270-6524 On Tue, Oct 16, 2012 at 4:04 PM, mike brown <[email protected]> wrote: > > >Chris, > > >Your statement implies practice as a process of progress and improvement, but >it's a bit more than that in this regard. Not all practioners experience >samadhi/jhanas (I'm referring to the ones who desire to) in the same way that >not all meditators experience the involuntary straightening of the spine I'm >referring to. > > >Mike > > > >________________________________ > From: Chris Austin-Lane <[email protected]> >To: [email protected] >Sent: Tuesday, 16 October 2012, 21:52 > >Subject: Re: [Zen] Sitting straight > > > > >And that my friends is called practise. >On Oct 16, 2012 12:00 PM, "mike brown" <[email protected]> wrote: > > >> >> >>Chris, >> >>Yes, but there's a difference between forcing yourself to sit upright, >>resulting in fatigue, and a seemingly unconscious mechanism that keeps the >>spine upright effortlessly. >> >>Mike >> >> >> >> >> >> >>________________________________ >> From: Chris Austin-Lane <[email protected]> >>To: [email protected] >>Sent: Tuesday, 16 October 2012, 19:16 >>Subject: Re: [Zen] Sitting straight >> >> >> >>I was always told to sit up straight. Slumping over is definitely not >>zazen-ish. >> >>Thanks, >> >>--Chris >>[email protected] >>+1-301-270-6524 >> >> >> >>On Tue, Oct 16, 2012 at 10:41 AM, mike brown <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >>> >>> >>>Joe, >>> >>> >>>I recall you advising someone here about not using their muscles to hold up >>>their spine. I find that just before I enter samadhi my spine sometimes >>>corrects itself - sometimes audibly. From that point on, physically at >>>least, the meditation is quite comfortable as the spine is supporting all my >>>limbs like hanging a hat on a coat stand. Do you experience something >>>similar? I won't go into kundalini like experiences here, but the role of >>>the spine seems to be quite central (literally!) in it. >>> >>> >>> >>>Mike >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> >> >> > > > >
