By Paul Cavel, Posted 8 March 2010
The aim of the game is arriving in the space where you are completely open, relaxed and to some degree awake. To get there you must fully release your nervous system, become more present and quiet the mind.
A lot of practice is required, but on arrival you will bring with you excellent health and vitality in mind and body, and be prepared for embarking upon deep meditation practice. That is, a true spiritual journey where you neutralise all negative influences within yourself to become awake, realised or enlightened (depending on the tradition for which you aspire).
Relaxation meditation is a method for releasing deeply bound tension in the nervous system as this is the major hurdle in progressing into the advanced Water method material. In other words, until you can fully relax, let go and release the nervous system to a profound depth, you will continue floating around in the beginner-to-intermediate realm no matter how smooth and connected your movements and no matter how much chi you can generate.
At the end of the day, all Water method practices are concerned with your whole being—not only your body and its energy. All practices are designed to prepare you and lead you to the point of spiritual practice, but it’s your decision whether you take that step. If you are heading in that direction, relaxation meditation can prepare you for the long road ahead. If not, relaxation meditation will provide practical and potent tools for combating stress, focusing your mind’s intent, healing your body, smoothing out your emotions and producing an abundance of energy.
Becoming Present
Sit comfortably and relax. Put your awareness on your nose. Follow your breath in and out of your nose. Don’t think of anything and let go of the need for something to happen. It’s enough just to be in the moment following your breath.
Notice when you drift off, space out or start thinking about other things. When it happens, simply and gently bring your mind back to the breath moving in and out of your nose.
To stay with the breath you cannot be hard or try to make a prison for the mind not to move. So don’t punish yourself with negative internal dialogue and stray off task. You’re looking for a relaxed internal space where you can let go and remain present and awake.
Practise any time you can find a few free minutes. You may be surprised by how tired you get. This is because as you relax and become present your nerves release. Clearing your nerves at each new depth of your being is an exhausting experience. Once any given layer is cleared, you can operate there without fatigue. So gradually lengthen your practice time. Let yourself become comfortable with a regular practice that is very simple yet difficult to achieve.
This aspect of practice is very important as everything you do in the internal energy arts depends upon the ability to be present. Don’t worry if in the beginning, or at any time in the future for that matter, your mind cannot stay on the exercise. As Lao Tse practically and tersely advised, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
Keep practising and slowly but surely your mind will settle down and focus. Practice doesn’t necessarily make perfect, but it definitely creates improvement.
Enjoy!
Paul
Any physical and/or energetic exercise can carry risks. Do not attempt these exercises if you have any physical, emotional or mental conditions that may make you susceptible to injury.
© 2010 Paul Cavel—All rights reserved.
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