Mike,
I meant to write a paragraph about the mudras.
My calling them hand-mudras in the subject line is redundant, but is just to
introduce the topic generically there. A mudra is a position of the hands used
in practice or teaching.
In the typical zazen mudra used in sitting practice, the hands touch. The
fingers of the right hand are on the bottom and the fingers of the left hand
rest on top of the fingers of the right hand. The thumbs touch, and form a
somewhat flattened circle. if we sit in half-lotus or lotus posture, the calf
and ankle area of the upper leg can be used as a rest for the hands. Some who
sit in other positions, including Seiza, sometimes use a small purpose-sewn
bean-bag support-cushion for the hands in mudra (like the rice-grain bags some
restorative-Yoga practitioners use over the eyes when lying prone).
When sitting most relaxed, where the thumbs touch at their tips some sensation
develops from the prolonged contact during the meditation period. This is
helpful because it often proceeds up the arms, to the shoulders, etc., to the
whole body. Perhaps in a while, the sense or sensation of the whole body
disappears. This helps us give all attention to the method of practice, at the
same time that our attention to the method of practice also lessens
distractions.
The mudra is a small thing that can have helpful effects.
The position of the right hand on the bottom has a small symbolism, if you
like. The right side of the body is considered the "active" side of the body
in various cultures, because of the commonness of right-handedness. In
meditation, we don't want activity in the body, so we cover that side with the
passive side, as if to "suppress" the usual activity. And the thumbs touching
to form a circle -- albeit a little flattened -- is a symbol of wholeness, and
continuity. Not to be carried away with the symbolism, though. The mudra is
for a physical purpose in our physical practice of sitting.
Mike, maybe this is identical to what you learned at Zen places. And perhaps
in the Vipassana work, too?
I've used variations of this Zazen mudra (also called the "Universal" mudra),
and sometimes prefer the variations. At other times I've used the mudra shown
in statues of meditating (not teaching) Buddhas. Sometimes a variation suits
me a little better, depending on how and on what I am sitting. The one
constant for me is that the thumbs touch, either at the tips, or at the sides,
in the last thumb digit joint. So it's been for over 40 years, even as a Yoga
sitter before formal Zen practice. In Yoga, I did not favor the mudra with one
hand on each knee. It seemed "dispersing" to me. Close to center of the body
seems more concentrating to me, as in the Zazen- or "Universal-" mudra. So I
favor that one.
--Joe
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