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June 27, 2005
Qigong as a Training in Physical, Mental, Emotional and Spiritual Letting Go
"Much of our life we spend in frustration grabbing at
handfuls of sand."
Knowing how to "let go" is one of the very greatest secrets for
spiritual, mental, emotional and physical health. And my personal
experience in the energy and consciousness based practice of
qigong, convinces me that qigong is a superb practice for
developing this skill.
Last night in qigong class we were holding a still posture on one
leg from the Deer Frolic. After a few minutes, the one leg begins
to "ache, shake and bake."
The tendency for our minds when faced with these physical
sensations, is to panic and to persuade us not to continue.
The secret to standing staying power, though, is to remember
that, for all its perceived physicality, this qigong practice is
99% an activity of consciousness, of mind in the expanded sense.
Once you let go of your interpretations of the physical
sensations as uncomfortable and just observe them, staying
relaxed and breathing gently, a curious transformation takes
place. The mind sharpens to a great clarity, there is a sense of
substance and vitality, and of power.
The stillness practice, while building energy, begins to dissolve
our usual distinctions of body, mind, thought and emotion. The
method is to continually let go and simply be a witness.
Much of our life we spend in frustration grabbing at handfuls of
sand.
And of course, the harder we grab, the tighter we make our fist,
the more the grains of sand trickle and escape away between our
fingers.
The open, relaxed palm cups a large mound of sand in safety. The
fist that closes begins the process of loss.
See each cell in your body as either being a tight fist or an
open hand. How much money can you give to a closed fist? How
much water can a fist hold? How much happiness can enter a
clenched brain, a clenched heart, a clenched soul?
Certainly there is a time for closing, tightening and toughening
up. However, we need to be able to instantly release out from
that tension. Buddha is reputed to have said: "the only
difference between you and me is the speed with which I let go."
So, practice qigong to unclench "the tight fist" of your holding
patterns, for greater overall health and well being.
I will be teaching many wonderful qigong methods for letting go,
at Dragon Door's upcoming Unlock! Workshop.
If you can't make it to the workshop then check out my various
qigong resources.
Posted by james at June 27, 2005 6:05 AM