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Infinite Path Martial Arts
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Meditation: The Infinite Path Within |
| Meditation: Part One |
| How to Meditate:
~ Sit with the spine straight: cross-legged or in seiza (kneeling posture) ~ Eyes closed or half-closed ~ Eyes slightly upturned (focused on the point between the eyebrows) ~ Tongue touching the roof of the mouth ~ Palms preferably upturned, resting on the juncture where thighs meet the abdominal region ~ Kneeling or sitting cross-legged, the palms can be upturned or down, resting on the thighs ~ Don't Move! ~ Breathe from the diaphragm. Breathe in/out through the nose |
Watching the Breath: Allow the breath to flow freely, without controlling, forcing, holding or judging the breath. Devote your entire focus and awareness to watching the breath. Every time you find that your mind has wandered, gently return it to watching the breath. Watch the breath as if observing the breath of another. The ability to consciously free the mind of all thought has been called the highest level of human activity. It is a discipline of self-knowledge that can only be known through direct experience. |
Getting Started: Forming the meditation habit is the key. Commit yourself to meditating 5 minutes every single day for one month - without concerning yourself with judging your progress.The key is consistency and depth. |
| Meditation and Martial Arts: First discovered by the Rishis, meditation is inseparable from the origin and practice of Shaolin Kung Fu. With continued practice, meditation allows the student to foster Wushin (Chinese) / Mushin (Japanese) consciousness: "Movement without conscious thought, spontaneous creativity". Meditation is the most difficult part of the practice (mastering the hook kick is child's play compared to watching the breath). Aside from formal instruction given during training, it is entirely up to the student to pursue meditation in daily living. |
©2003 Infinite Path Martial Arts