Saturday morning post about something i have yet to explore on the Unlearn front but something that i practice (almost) daily is meditation.
My own journey is about 3 years old. I turned to it in HARD times when my world had crumbled following my daughters illness.
I'm not suggesting that it is for everyone but what i do know is that for me it often delivers a state of serene calm that i had'nt found from anything else..........................I take that back.......music has delivered also in times of greatest need.
It was in fact music that was the catalyst for this profound life change after coming across and subsequently administering some
Chinese 5 Tones which is based on the Five element theory in traditional Chinese medicine. I cant overestimate the quality of this spirit-lifting music and as a result it inspired me to explore other cultures approach to what i consider to be the only universal language.
In them early days i played it night and day and felt its influence profoundly. Anyone who has ever been moved to tears (regularly) by music knows what I'm talking about.......it nourishes the soul. The actual CD is on the Chairman's Boss Sounds List on the right. My favourite tone is Chueh which relates to Spring and corresponds to the characteristics of wood.
Spiritually it is for awakening and relaxation. Therapeutically it is suggested for chest digestion, lack of appetite, low libido !! and helps with inspiration, impatience and irritation.
Anyway...........back to the point of todays piece the practice and art of meditation. The main reason im posting on this subject is due to a pukka little book that i have just read entitled
'Breath Mind and Consciousness' by Harish Johari. Breathing plays a major part in meditation and the understanding of the action of breathing of course makes a difference. I quote from the introduction
"Breath is the physical counterpart of the mind. The mind uses the cerebral cortex of the brain (the twin hemispheres) as its tool
These two hemispheres coordinate with the entire organism through neuromotor responses. All neuromotor activities, all sensory and motor functions of the body, are performed with the help of the breath"
Mind and consciousness are abstract terms..whereas breath is a physiological reality. The study of consciousness begins with the study of the true science of breathing. Breath induces movement and according to Dr David Shannahoff-Khalsa of the Salk institute for biological studies "The nose is an instrument for altering cortical activity. The implication of this is that we are not helpless victims of a given emotional state and if you want to alter an unwanted state just breathe through the more congested nostril"
So by altering the flow of nasal breath, the body chemistry gradually changes and unwanted emotional or physiological states slowly disappear. Believe it or not (as you see fit) for me it makes absolute sense and is easy to verify for yourself.
Just remembered.........i caught something on the radio the other day which was some kind of talk show that posed the question:
Is meditation just 'mumbo jumbo'
As you can imagine the answers were all in the positive but for example one geezer said that he tried it once for 5 minutes but couldn't 'still the mind' therefore he concluded that it was a load of old cobblers.......!!!
Each to their own.......but 5 minutes? something that has been practiced for thousands of years by almost every single culture surely isn't 'Mumbo Jumbo' Some may argue that point but to do so they must be informed and books like Johari's are a key to opening the doors of perception. I'll link the book and maybe some of you will buy it, read it and judge for yourselves.
Soundclash III contestants........Hold tight and buckle up for the 12 week ride, beginning tomorrow
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