First it’s worth mentioning what definition of mind I'm referring to, as mind has many interpretations and concepts in the spiritual and eastern arts. In this small article I'm pointing towards the cognitive mind of thoughts that leads to emotions.
Now, I'm no eastern scholar but from my perspective gain through personal experience, there are usually certain inaccurate expectations regarding Taiji (Tai Chi), Qigong and Nei Gong. These practices are all born out of Daoism. Daoism has mainly two aspects, the philosophy and concepts on one side and the practices on the other, which are two sides of the same coin completely embedded within each other.
Regarding the ‘practices’ of Daosim, arguably the ultimate practice is alchemy, a form of spiritual growth or more accurately the transformation or conversion of Jin, Qi and Shen. However, there are subdivisions which branch out from this alchemy practice such as understanding the emotional conditioning - mind, energy consolidation/absorption into the body (mainly through release) - the power behind the process, energetic awareness of the many layers of the ethereal bodies, health, longevity, combat and even a medical system to mention a few. But one could look at all of these subdivisions as side effects of the alchemical transformational development, meaning that if we focus on alchemy then we are not limiting ourselves to any one of the subdivision and can benefit from the entirety of this wondrous if not complex practice.
In the west, Taiji, Qigong and Nei Gong generally focus mainly on one subdivision, health, although it’s all interconnected with everything else. This is probably due to many misinterpretations and watered down versions of Daoist practices and through lack of correct teachings or translations between the two cultures, of which mind is one on them.
Focusing on just the health aspect, which generally people take as gentle physical exercise to mobilise joints, improve balance and having a feeling of relaxation, which in itself is not to be underestimated but is extremely limited, is not where the profound beauty and wisdom of this practice comes from.
Without understanding or practising the art as a whole, people will always find it an up hill battle to find any successes. Of course everybody has a different objective regarding the art and that’s absolutely fine, but what I'm highlighting is that there is so much more, and in my teachings I try to bring awareness to this, which sometimes doesn't meet people’s basic western expectations of the practice.
Daoism and Buddhism are intertwined with each other, although Buddhism only works with the aspects of the mind, thoughts and emotions and as the Buddhist viewpoint is that, it is the mind that manifests everything into being.
Daoism also understands this concept but also appreciates that energy is the driving force behind it. Some say, up to 80% of your life essences is use up by thoughts and emotions, so as we live in this realm and have a physical energetic body we can use this body to purge stagnated/blocked energy which was the creation of the thoughts and emotions of the mind. Consequently reducing the usage of our essence and at a high level of practice even restoring ones life essence.
We purge this energy through the body’s energetic systems using movements, breath and Yi (intention). We do this first to prepare and improve the qualities of the body and mind before we can focuses on the consolidation/absorption of energy. In the unpractised person this energy is usually dispersed and squandered throughout the body, but if consolidated through specific practice we can make our body more efficient so that our energy is not wasted and can be directed towards the alchemical process.
One of the biggest hindrance to this alchemical process taking place is our thoughts and emotions, but particularly the many facets of the fear emotion which comes out of our conditioning and trauma. This is why Daoist teachers/healers including myself will focus so much time on the fear emotion and its effects on the body’s numerous systems as it is heavily detrimental to the development of the practitioner. Just waving your arms around with a certain purpose and even if it’s in a concentrated manner will have very little effect on the purging process if the fear emotion is blocking the body's ability to purge.
Fear creates tension, tension creates inflammation and stagnation of the energy flow which allows energetic information to be past around the body. Inflammation and stagnation creates ill health, which was all manifested by mind.
Once we have a sound level of understanding and a certain level of awareness over our conditioning and trauma, the mind will become quieter and more concentrated and this alchemical transformation can begin.
By transforming the body and mind’s efficiency in a specific way, there will be a subtle change but then later a more significant change to your personality and outlook on life. Love ones, family members and friends will often struggle with this. This change in you may become alarming to them as they generally remain stuck in their usual patterns of conditioning and unconscious behaviour. Awareness of your transformation is something you really need to be switched on to as it may catch you off guard, and if you want to maintain your current relationships on some level you may need to adjust slightly while they also adjust, as they will not be able to grasp exactly what’s happening with you.
It is very rare that people grow together at the same rate in ‘normal’ life, but as we get older our perspective changes and we generally, or though it is certainly not a given develop more wisdom, but by doing these sorts of practices you could look at it as a fast track of accelerated development.
However, with perseverance your progression may lead to a number of unlimited possibilities regarding your understanding and evolution of who you truly are and the connectivity of everything that is, and ultimately be in a state of bliss and joyfulness in just being and nothing else. This understanding is all through an intuitive awareness and feeling and certainly not by thought or academic knowledge. Academic knowledge only helps in acquiring the correct information to start the process/instruction, but beyond that and attaining results is all through awareness which comes from an entirely difference place.
For me this is the main reasons for doing these practices and ultimately releasing ourselves from the cycle of samsara/reincarnation. Although from the majority of Buddhist’s perspectives, all awaken beings will sacrifice entering into Nirvana to help all other sentient beings attain enlightenment, as in the ‘Four Bodhisattvas Vows’ chanted at the end of each sangha service.
“Sentient being are numberless, I vow to save them”
So, we must be very aware of any fear arising within us, whether that's in our relationships and the freedom to express ourselves without rejection, control from others, financial worries, the government, personal safety, ill health or death. It is essential to have awareness of any emotion arising especially fear as this very process of change often creates fear in itself, as change frequently comes with a sense of fear due to the unknown, so if we are not mindful of this process it can impede our development.
However, regardless of any sort of attainment within the practice, without fear we are limitless, joyful and free………...it's all mind.
Kommentare