meditation

[mogi]

Hello

In his book Sifu sais about benefits of meditation. Sifu mentions meditation in motion. But I don't quite understand if chi flow when one practices chi kung is this kind of meditation. I'm particularly interested in problem solving. Sifu writes that subconsious can be working on a problem when one is meditating. After chi flow I stand for two minutes maditating as I was tought. I like it very much I usually feel very good. But it is only two minutes. Can I make it longer? Would it bring more benefits usually aquired by meditating?

I will be thankful for an advice.

Marek

[Anton S.]

Dear Marek,

you have posted some interesting questions.
But we may first define what meditation is - for the sake of a complete discussion.

What is meditation?

[mogi]

I can only said what I had read. I understand it as a state of mind when according to Your skills and experience is thoughtless You are relaxed, You may stand or sit or lay or mvoe. So I suppose chi flow is a kind of maditation and a standing after it is also.

[MaxP]

Meditation

Dear Brothers,


What is meditation?

According to my understanding, meditation is any activity that we undertake with the aim in mind to cultivate the spirit/heart/mind. In our school this generally takes the form of Standing Zen at the end of our Chi Kung or Kung Fu practice. However, we could say that our whole practice session is a training of mind, and therefore meditation.

With this in mind, we can extend the practice of meditation to encompass any activity. If I am not mistaken, many Zen masters placed equal empathsis on mindfullness in daily life as they did on formal seated meditation.

This reminds me of Sigungs definitions of Zen that he has shared in his books and on his website: http://www.shaolin.org/zen/what-is-zen.html

"
What is Zen?


Many people are confused because they are unaware that the term Zen has a few meanings. Basically, the word “Zen” means meditation. Sometimes it may refer to a transcendental glimpse of cosmic reality, or even the transcendental reality itself. Often Zen is used as a short form for Zen Buddhism. The following examples illustrate the use of Zen in these four meanings:

1. I sat cross-legged on a hard pillow, closed my eyes gently and practiced Zen.
2. My teacher came in and hit my head to test if I had a Zen experience.
3. I was shocked when he said he did not hit me, but years later I realized my kind teacher was trying to make me aware that there was no hitting, and no nothing, in Zen.
4. Lacking a deep understanding, many people may think Zen masters are mad. "

- Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit

I am sure this will be an interesting discussion!

With gratitude,

Max

Namo Amitabha Buddha, Namo Amitabha Buddha, Namo Amitabha Buddha

[Anton S.]

Hey Brothers!

Thank you for your enlighting posts!

If I am not mistaken, many Zen masters placed equal emphasis on mindfullness in daily life as they did on formal seated meditation.

Dear Max,

You are not mistaken. As Sifu Kai says: always train your Shen, be aware of what is happening!

Again, I cannot say often enough: One of the biggest mistakes one can make is to start practice internal arts without proper guidance! From my own experience I can tell, that learning meditation techniques from books owns the potential to cause a lot of harm.

But back to the Question:

"What is meditation?"

Please, state your concepts

[Chiahua]

Well, for me the sine qua non of meditation is focusing your mind; as Sifu clearly states, you may focus your mind on one or focus your mind on zero (non-thought). This not to say that any activity where your mind is focused on one thought or no thought, but mental focus is a key element.

Max's statement:

any activity that we undertake with the aim in mind to cultivate the spirit/heart/mind

completes this thought: intention.
There must be mental focus (on one thing or nothing), and there ought to be some intention to reap benefits.

Using Sifu's framework, I'll add that for "focus" in non-thought is not a tense focus, but a state where thoughts may arise but are let go of as quickly; ultimately the master will attain a point where thoughts don't even arise.

Not sure if this adds to the discussion, but why not?

[Guest]

But back to the Question:

"What is meditation?"

(Excuse me for reviving an old thread.)

This is what I think;

"Meditation" is to strenghten an understanding, or an awakening.

Not further try to understand, or intellectualize; but strenghten the understanding.

In other words to strenghten the mind.


But I believe meditation without certain understanding/ realisation, would be not a good place to start, at least not cost effective.

In our school we already practise pure zen by our Shaolin practise, this is much more effective, not only you strenghten the mind, also the body, then when you're ready you may strenghten certain understanding/ realisation by meditation alone.

This is my view, and any destructive view or comment would be most welcome!

Tim