Basic Instructions for Meditation
Purposes of meditation.
Search for a peaceful mind. Trying to reach in state where the brain waves are between theta and delta. Theta is drowsy and asleep and delta is deep sleep.
Improving health and healing. A deep meditative state makes the mind-body communication more efficient. Relaxed breathing will enable more efficient intake of oxygen and expellation of carbon dioxide. Improved breathing improves the cell replacement process. Sitting meditation helps to calm the sympathetic nervous system and the "fight or flight response."
To Focus the Mind. Focusing the mind creates alertness, the ability to sense what is happening in life. It clears the mind and improves logical thinking. For martial artists sitting meditation trains alertness through feeling. This creates sensitivity called fighting with enlightenment, i.e. listening Jin.
General points.
Begin by sitting 20 minutes a day for a week to make sure you can sit comfortably. Adjust the height of your seat or cushion. Legs should not be pressing on each other. Hands should be held at the Dan Tian to "firm the center." There are two school of thought as to which hand is on top: Traditionally men put left hand on top, women right, or you can go with what feels most comfortable to you. Press the thumbs together to help the mind keep its focus in the center. Clothing should be loose and comfortable. Meditating in a group is better than meditating alone. Thoughts come, but just let them go. Keep yourself from fantasizing. Whenever your imagination takes you away from reality, you lead your thoughts back to reality.
Orientation and Timing
The back of the body is Yang and is repelling while the front of the body is Yin and nourishing. To nourish your body with Earth’s magnetic field, face South since the Earth’s magnetic energy flows from south to north. If you want to cool the body, face north.
Sun: Sunrise: meditate only until sunrise. After sunrise, the energy is too intense. Sunset is the best time for cooling, if you feel that your body is too energized and needs to calm down. Don’t face the sunset, it will take too much of your energy away.
Moon: face the moon only during the three days before the full moon when the moon’s energy is rising.
Meditate before exercise because after exercise the energy naturally moves outward.
Location
- Do not meditate on a carpet of artificial fibers because it can generate an electronic field that can interfere with your Qi. A wood surface is best.
- Stay at least one meter away from fluorescent lighting and stay away from electrical appliances.
- Outdoors is best if there are no disturbances.
- Use a sensitive compass to check the area for electrical fields.
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