Hi M,
In Chan practice, instead of noticing "body sensations", we actually ask
our practitioners to focus on Ten major chakras (acupressure points)
inside of our body.
This not only redirects our mind, connects to the state of being of our
body, also rejuvenating our major organs, so that we could eliminate our
physical hindrances.
If you are interested, we offer free classes of this technique online at
http://www.chanliving.org
JM
Ordained Teacher of Chan
On 7/29/2013 6:47 AM, Eccentrics.R.US wrote:
uerusuboyo replied " I guess counting the breath is 'bread and butter'
for most people starting out (and also for seasoned meditators). I
have found, however, that the meditation on the breath as taught in
the sutras says nothing whatsoever about counting our breaths.
Instead, we just focus on the breath entering and leaving the
nostrils. This works for me much better than counting because counting
can soon become a mantra taking our focus away from the body. Actual
bodily sensations are our doorway into reality rather than concepts
(such as numbers)"
i do want to reply that when i started focusing on body sensations
during meditation instead of counting, i felt more successful in my
meditation.
it was a brand new concept to me and if i remember correctly from
instruction is that body sensations cause the intrusive or running
stream of
thoughts and if a thought does arise during meditation, gently turn
away from thought and see what the body is experiencing, be it tension,
a slumping in the posture, a tightening of the hands or wrists or
heaviness in stomach or chest. i have been using this as my meditation
for over
a year now but it is the first time i have heard of someone else that
is familiar with the practice of it.
Thank you
M
On Mon, Jul 29, 2013 at 6:33 AM, Bill! <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
Mike,
Counting the breaths is just the initial part of the teaching
technique, at least as it was taught to me. The full techniques is:
1. Counting the breath:
1.1 - 1 on 1xhale, 2 on inhale, etc..., to 10 and then repeat
1.2 - 1 on exhale, 2 on next exhale, etc..., to 10 and then repeat
2. Following the breath:
2.1 - No counting, just following exhale and inhale
2.2 - No counting, just following breath, exhale only
3. Drop the following - shikantaza - Just THIS!
...Bill!
--- In [email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>, uerusuboyo@... wrote:
>
> Hal, Bill!,<br/><br/>I guess counting the breath is 'bread and
butter' for most people starting out (and also for seasoned
meditators). I have found, however, that the meditation on the
breath as taught in the sutras says nothing whatsoever about
counting our breaths. Instead, we just focus on the breath
entering and leaving the nostrils. This works for me much better
than counting because counting can soon become a mantra taking our
focus away from the body. Actual bodily sensations are our doorway
into reality rather than concepts (such as
numbers).<br/><br/>Mike<br/><br/><br/>Sent from Yahoo! Mail for iPad
>
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