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The
Basics of Buddhist Meditation - Korean Style
By
Jane Hallander
Have you
ever wondered how Buddhist monks find their path towards enlightenment
with its many side benefits, such as good health, calmness, and
qi development?
Although there are different methods practiced within each
sect of Buddhism, all employ some degree of meditation in
their spiritual regimen.
Korean's principle form of Buddhism (called Son Buddhism)
closely parallels Chan Buddhism of China and Zen Buddhism of Japan.
As with those two types of Buddhism, the Son sect relies heavily
upon meditation as the vehicle towards enlightenment.
The dharma master of Pomo-sa temple, near Pusan, Korea is
recognized as a specialist in deep meditation. His name is Chong-yi
and although he talks in Buddhist metaphors, he is also very willing
to instruct laymen in the basics of meditation. This is how Chong-yi
prescribes that Buddhist meditation be done.
First, there are warming up exercises designed to
loosen and relax the body and mind prior to the meditation itself.
- A correct
half lotus position is first attained. The right leg is folded
under the seated person until the left foot is under and touching
the right hip joint. Then the right leg is placed on top, with
the foot drawn back towards the body as far as possible. Both
knees should be perpendicular to the floor. Should either leg
become numb, their positions can be switched.
- While in
a half lotus position, the person should lean to the left and
touch his left elbow to the floor, while at the same time his
right arm makes a half circle over his head. He then repeats that
to the right.
- Next the
student leans forward and touches his head to the floor, with
his hands on his waist. After leaning forward, he leans backward,
with the hands in the same position.
- The final
warm-up exercises involve breathing techniques designed to relax
the student and produce natural lower abdomen breathing. While
pressing into his abdomen with his hands, the meditation student
breathes in slowly and exhales hard, making a loud sound
while exhaling. This is performed three times. Then he breathes
in and out slowly and softly, again three times. Now he
is ready for the meditation itself.
Meditation should be done first for only 10 minutes, gradually
working up to one hour. Chong-yi speaks of two common methods of
meditative concentration that will achieve the much desired lack
of thought so common in Buddhist meditation. One way is for the
eyes to watch the nose and the nose to watch the navel. The
nose will gradually disappear to the meditation person and his eyes
will become connected to his navel, the area of qi development.
The other technique commonly used in Buddhist meditation
is that the eyes look down at the clasped hands until they disappear.
The actual hand position is not merely one position. In order
to give the beginning student relief from the invading thoughts
that appear after periods of time, the hands are changed as thoughts
appear.
In order to complete and balance the martial artist's meditation,
what Chong-yi calls a "cooling down massage" is essential. This
massage helps to lower the student's qi and brings him out of his
meditation in a manner that keeps him calm long after the meditation
itself. Cooling down steps are:
- The student
rubs downward across his eyes and face. This helps bring back
a balance of energy to the head. In keeping with the theory of
yin and yang, if the meditation has been successful, the top of
the student's head should be cold and his feet will be hot. By
massaging his face, he restores the energy evenly throughout his
head.
- Next, the
right hand is placed on top of the left hand, palms together,
and rubbed in a circle 28 times. Men rub clockwise and women rub
counterclockwise.
The hand are reversed (left on top of right) and rubbed in
a circle 36 times. Again, men rub clockwise and women counterclockwise.
These are exercises designed to develop the student's qi. His body
is already relaxed from correct breathing and meditation procedures,
and he is receptive to this qi development.
When Chong-yi sits in meditation, he sits on a board containing
three protruding pieces of metal, about four inches in length. The
reason: to train his mind and body to accept a certain amount of
pain.
"One shouldn't be too comfortable, whether meditation or
in everyday life. If he is too comfortable, he will always focus
on pain and discomfort, and will be unable to handle tough situations.
" Remarks Chong-yi.
Jane Hallender,
a professional writer and a student of Qi Gong, spent a day on a
Korean mountain-top monastery with this dharma master.
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