With the focus on health in my work with Metarobics, I thought it might be nice to take a break and touch on the philosophical side of mindful exercise. The below is from one of my workshops, touching on the philosophical and mindful part of tai chi and related exercises, as a form of kung fu training. It is adapted and heavily paraphrased from Chogyam Trungpa’s book SHAMBHALA – The Path of the Warrior (Available from Shambhala Books) related to my own experiences with mindful practices. Shambhala (or Sham-Bha-La), is a place of enlightenment, tranquility, and oneness, and is the bases of mythical kingdom of Shangri-La, from the book “Lost Horizon.”
SHAMBHALA – The Path of the Warrior by Chogyam Trungpa (Heavily paraphrased with commentary by Dr. Tony Gryffin) - PART 1
The key is in not being afraid of who you are.
Warrior in Tibetan is pawo – literally, one who is brave. Being brave enough to take flight in your dreams is being a warrior in the Shambhala tradition.
To make a change in the world we must discover what it is we have to offer. Despite all our problems and confusions, our emotional ups and downs, there is something basically good about our existence. Shambhala is waking up to the goodness in our lives.
Otherwise, life tends towards never feeling satisfied with what you have, always feeling you need something more, something else. A mad shopping or relationship frenzy which never ends until you become satisfied with your basic goodness and your gifts, and are psychologically able to use them.
The essence of warriorship, of bravery, is refusing to give up on anything, no matter how lost the cause may seem. This is one of the goals of kung fu training, including tai chi, to strengthen and prepare the mind.
To help yourself and the world you must make a personal journey, not just read or speculate. Action as kung fu, excellence through effort.
A great deal of chaos in the world occurs because people do not appreciate themselves. We have to appreciate and take responsibility for uplifting ourselves, rather than sinking into depression and feelings of devaluation. Zen/Mindfulness can create an awareness of how we self-sabotage, and of our weaknesses, and leave an empty space from which to grow into strength and appreciation.
JUST BEING
By meditating on a problem or question we can find the solution to it, arising from mushin, or no mind, beyond consciousness.
By sitting, by just being, you begin to feel that your life can become workable, even wonderful. This is true in doing tai chi, kung fu, or any mindful practice as well. You realize that you are capable of sitting like a king or queen on a throne, confident and full of power. If you practice tai chi or kung fu, imagine you are already a master. A black belt, the number of techniques you know, are all superficial – mastering your situation and your self is key to mastering life, and happens in the moment. What are you doing/thinking in this moment? Is it empowering, or self-sabotaging?
In meditation (and mindful exercise.) an upright posture is extremely important. Having an upright back is not an artificial posture – slouching is. Slouching is a sign of giving into neurosis. When you sit erect, you proclaim to yourself and the rest of the world that you are a warrior, a fully human being.
In meditation (this includes moving meditation such as tai chi/kung fu) – when a thought pops into mind, mentally state “thinking” and go back to your breath (or the focus on the leading hand in tai chi/kung fu). This gives you tremendous leverage over your mind.
The ideal state of tranquility comes from experiencing the body and mind as one, which is the purpose of meditation, as well as traditional martial practice. and mindful exercise.
SHAMBHALA – The Path of the Warrior by Chogyam Trungpa (Heavily paraphrased with commentary by Dr. Tony Gryffin) - PART 1
The key is in not being afraid of who you are.
Warrior in Tibetan is pawo – literally, one who is brave. Being brave enough to take flight in your dreams is being a warrior in the Shambhala tradition.
To make a change in the world we must discover what it is we have to offer. Despite all our problems and confusions, our emotional ups and downs, there is something basically good about our existence. Shambhala is waking up to the goodness in our lives.
Otherwise, life tends towards never feeling satisfied with what you have, always feeling you need something more, something else. A mad shopping or relationship frenzy which never ends until you become satisfied with your basic goodness and your gifts, and are psychologically able to use them.
The essence of warriorship, of bravery, is refusing to give up on anything, no matter how lost the cause may seem. This is one of the goals of kung fu training, including tai chi, to strengthen and prepare the mind.
To help yourself and the world you must make a personal journey, not just read or speculate. Action as kung fu, excellence through effort.
A great deal of chaos in the world occurs because people do not appreciate themselves. We have to appreciate and take responsibility for uplifting ourselves, rather than sinking into depression and feelings of devaluation. Zen/Mindfulness can create an awareness of how we self-sabotage, and of our weaknesses, and leave an empty space from which to grow into strength and appreciation.
JUST BEING
By meditating on a problem or question we can find the solution to it, arising from mushin, or no mind, beyond consciousness.
By sitting, by just being, you begin to feel that your life can become workable, even wonderful. This is true in doing tai chi, kung fu, or any mindful practice as well. You realize that you are capable of sitting like a king or queen on a throne, confident and full of power. If you practice tai chi or kung fu, imagine you are already a master. A black belt, the number of techniques you know, are all superficial – mastering your situation and your self is key to mastering life, and happens in the moment. What are you doing/thinking in this moment? Is it empowering, or self-sabotaging?
In meditation (and mindful exercise.) an upright posture is extremely important. Having an upright back is not an artificial posture – slouching is. Slouching is a sign of giving into neurosis. When you sit erect, you proclaim to yourself and the rest of the world that you are a warrior, a fully human being.
In meditation (this includes moving meditation such as tai chi/kung fu) – when a thought pops into mind, mentally state “thinking” and go back to your breath (or the focus on the leading hand in tai chi/kung fu). This gives you tremendous leverage over your mind.
The ideal state of tranquility comes from experiencing the body and mind as one, which is the purpose of meditation, as well as traditional martial practice. and mindful exercise.
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