Engaging in heavy daily work/play schedules that make it difficult
to find the time to practice concentration. With such a fast pace moving life
and over stressed for time how does one find the time to stop and practice the
art of concentration?
Every day I meet people who are over worked, stressed,
and exhausted. Time, which is relative, seems to be the master. But practicing
concentration only takes a moment. Master a moment, and you will want more, and
when you want more quiet moments, you will find the time to concentrate and acquire
them.
Here is how to practice a moment of quietude.
In my yoga class we do the sitting Zen. This
only takes about thirty seconds. We stop and sit in Lightening (thunder bolt)
Bolt or the Zen Pose. The pose is formed by a kneeling position with the tops
of the feet on the floor and the buttock resting onto the heels with the knees
touching each other. We then place our hands in our lap using the challis
mudra. Place one hand on top of the other, making a cup, with the tips of the
thumbs touching. This symbolizes being at peace and being content, and in that
our cup is always full.
There are more bones in the feet and hands
than any other part of the body. The weight of the body is constantly pushing
down into the feet. This is the nature of gravity. Zen Pose exerts pressure in
the opposite direction putting pressure on the tops of the feet, relieving
strain and muscle fatigue and pushing energy up into the body.
Mystically when sitting on the feet in Zen
Pose the body-mind feels lifted and elevated.
Pressing the tops of the feet into the floor produces a quieting of the
body-mind. In yoga the feet are
important spiritual symbols. When we sit on them we push fresh blood through
the muscles and bones. Pushing fresh blood into them symbolizes a regeneration
of our spiritual self. They are the foundation that supports the temple of our
soul, otherwise known as the body. They both support and carry us.
We then close our eyes, clear our minds, and
focus on three deep long breathes. The mind quiets, the body relaxes, and
serenity is found. Remember, the mind exists in three states. Serenity is one
of them.
Doctor Lynn
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