How to smile from the heart

[Paul Jolley]

This may sound ignorant, but I want to make sure that I optimize the Chi Kung pattern I am practicing at the moment. How does one 'smile from the heart'? Is it similar to eliciting the 'fruits of the spirit' in Christianity, i.e. joy, peace, compassion?

In practical terms, it is a precurser to my pattern, just wondered if anyone practising could help to fill me in.

[psychvet]

Hi Paul,
Our Sifu tells us to 'just do it'. Whatever works for you is what works. I personally find (and the psychology literature/science shows via brain scans) that making a smile with your face evokes positive changes, so I'd suggest if you can't figure out anything else that works for you, smile from your face and let it migrate to your heart!

[Jordan]

Hey Paul,

That's a great question!

One method you can try is to gently think of something which really makes you smile. It could be an image you hold temporarily in your mind, maybe of a loved one, a child, a pet, and just let it blossom from within you.

Of course, nothing compares to direct instruction from Sifu, but this method sure does help opening the heart

All the best.

[barrys]

Paul,

The first time I heard this instruction was at my first course with Sifu. He walked into the room beaming and, as I remember, said, "Smiiiiiiiiiiiile from the heart ... don't ask how just do it". It was like the sun went on in me. It was having permission not to worry. It was great and still is.

One of the biggest aspects of it for me is letting go of worrying about how to do it when I am doing it - just doing it to the best of my ability, right here, right now.

Not long until you get some direct experience of this teaching .

Barry

[Jonny Say]

Give it time

Hi Paul,

The following quote from Sigung may be of use:

Give yourself a few seconds to feel relaxed. Then smile from your heart. Don't worry how you do it; just do it. Just smile from your heart and feel, really feel, how relaxed, cheerful and happy you are. It is a big mistake to think I am being farcical. But I can tell you, in my capacity as a chi kung grandmaster, that this feeling of relaxation and cheerfulness from your heart may possibly be the best benefit of this exercise.

Rest assured that many people find it hard to smile from the heart at first, but it just deepens and deepens as we practice it without intellectualising or worry.

So if you feel even a small sense of joy from inside you this is a good starting point, and practice daily knowing that this will blossom and radiate out more and more.

All the best

[mping]

Has anyone seen the Sarawak documentary movie? One of the Sifus on the movie said that he always have a good time when he thinks that his ancestors did the exact same movements that he did, when he was practicing.

I sometimes use this 'technique' even though I'm not sure my own ancestors practiced kung fu (my ancestors were from Mozambique and somewhere in China/Macau, who knows... xD), and just the vision of lots of man and women practicing the exact same movements that I am going to practice makes me smile.

In the end, it's like Johnny said (no pun intended) just don't worry and give it some time, you will definetely become better at that skill

[Paul Jolley]

Many thanks for responses

Many thanks for your responses (I am finding the idea very etherial, to say the least). Your thoughts have helped, especially Sifu Jordan's approach.

Thank you!

[Fleur]

Many thanks for your responses (I am finding the idea very etherial, to say the least).

Hi Paul,

The idea of smiling from the heart may seem etherial. But in reality, our arts are very practical, and smiling from the heart is no exception.

As you're going to be at Summer Camp in less than a month, I wouldn't worry too much about this. I can virtually guarantee you will experience this key skill within a day of training with Sifu, and your doubts will be answered.

In the meantime, follow the instructions Jonny gave you to the best of your ability, but more importantly, enjoy your practice - this will help your heart open naturally. Actually the pattern you have chosen (Butterfly Dancing in Front of Flowers) is excellent for opening the heart, so you're in a win/win situation

On your other thread, you mentioned feeling lighter in mood after practicing this pattern. Perhaps try smiling from the heart then, as well; it may be easier for you to achieve when you're relaxed and happy, and give you some inspiration - a 'glimpse' of what you will achieve in time through your daily practice.

Look forward to meeting you at Summer Camp, Paul

Fleur

[Paul Jolley]

Many thanks

Thanks Fleur. If I remember correctly, you helped me with questions I had regarding Shaolin Temple UK a few years ago, sorry to go off topic

Actually I have found that my heart is tending to 'open' more and more throughout the day, and actually I feel more philanthropic (maybe someone could explain why this is).

Yes, I see that it is practical, very much like Zen I suppose.

I too look forward to meeting you in a few weeks, and that also goes for all the people who have been so receptive to a newcomer. Bless you all.

[Mark CH]

Paul,

The first time I heard this instruction was at my first course with Sifu. He walked into the room beaming and, as I remember, said, "Smiiiiiiiiiiiile from the heart ... don't ask how just do it". It was like the sun went on in me. It was having permission not to worry. It was great and still is.

One of the biggest aspects of it for me is letting go of worrying about how to do it when I am doing it - just doing it to the best of my ability, right here, right now.

Not long until you get some direct experience of this teaching .

Barry

Barry what a great reply. I remember being at a course in Ireland with you and remember Sifu saying this also and all of us talking about it after. The transmission that day of my first Chi Kung course never left me.

[barrys]

Jonny, Thanks for that quote. Just nice .

Paul,

maybe someone could explain why this is

At one level, who cares, just enjoy it .

At another level, maybe it is who we are and relaxing lets it shine through a little more.

All the best,

Barry

[classic]

This may sound ignorant, but I want to make sure that I optimize the Chi Kung pattern I am practicing at the moment. How does one 'smile from the heart'? Is it similar to eliciting the 'fruits of the spirit' in Christianity, i.e. joy, peace, compassion?

In practical terms, it is a precurser to my pattern, just wondered if anyone practising could help to fill me in.

hi paul...

im only a starter at qi gong , ( chi kung )
but smiling from the heart , i find is like having a private joke that no one else knows.
u smile on the inside as if somthing is funny , but u dont smile on the outside ,
its not always easy, but i always find that method is best , imagine somthing is amusing then when u feel inside that ur smiling then hold onto that feeling of joy and you will eb smiling on the inside.

hope i helped a little.

[Daniel]

Just relax and do it! smile from the heart! Let it come from the center of your being and just let go!

And most important, don´t worry and enjoy it, there´s no need to intellectualize it, if it goes well, good, if not, good too!
Greetings to all,

[Racheli]

Hello Paul,

Sometimes in order to get somewhere, you need a teacher that will not only show you the way, but literally take you there.
I promise you that the minute you'll meet Sifu in person you'll know how to Smile from the heart and you'll know it forever.
My daughter says that the minute Sifu walked into the room she felt something rising from her abdomen and she just had to smile, and now whenever she thinks of Sifu she starts smiling.

Waiting to hear about your experience after the course,


Racheli

[Evelyn]

A proposal from a venezuela baby student

Does some of you remember when we were kids (at age) and played thinking that if all the chineses
would jump at the same time, an earthquake would take place?

I wonder... what would you think it might happen if the whole chi kung community around the world...
would smile from the heart at once?

I certainly would love to live it. To unify our chi on a common intention at the very same moment,
independently of the physical distance and time zone... (according to the time we choose to do it,
if we decide to, some of us would have to make a small "sacrifice" by being awake at an unusual time).

I originally posted this proposal at the forums in spanish at ¿Qué Significa Sonreír desde el Corazón?

I think it would be sublime to do it and to experience kind of a backward "cosmic rain" (if I have started
to grasp the "cosmic rain" concept at all )

Somehow it would be like offering a gift to the universe. Some of its own medicine (king size)

p.s. Sorry I did not introduce myself. I´m Sifu Piti Parra´s venezuelan baby student. I initiated myself in
chi kung barely 2 weeks ago.

I guess I took the long way home...

nyleve