(forw) [ANetofJewels] Listening to energy in the body

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michael

ANetofJewels

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[ANetofJewels] Listening to energy in the body

Wed, 27 Sep 2000 05:27:00 -0500

 

 

YOGA in the Kashmir Tradition

an approach inspired by Jean Klein

 

Listening: The Energy Body

 

This approach is based on the traditional art of listening. We don't

really know the real body. Through accumulated tensions and living in

the head, in a world of concepts and ideas, the body too has become an

idea, rather than something living, something felt.

 

The subtle energy of the body is paralysed in neuro-muscular tensions.

Only in listening without anticipation or choice can this original

energy feeling begin to manifest.

 

In this listening, and allowing the body sensation to unfold, we are no

longer an accomplice to reactions. First we will feel this energy in

particular parts of the body, later we come to the whole body as one mass

of sensation, the global sensation.

 

It is the energy feeling that is the real healing factor in the body.

Instead of the old pattern of heaviness, resistance and density we

discover a body that feels light, transparent and expanded in space.

We feel ourselves without centre, without border, one with space.

 

This feeling of openness, of expansion frees us from our ego-centred

world and leaves us open to deeper dimensions. Otherwise the body is

largely a defence mechanism to maintain our ego. If we approach the

postures without first awakening the energy body we merely reinforce

the old patterns; our practice is meaningless.

 

The Postures

 

When we do a yoga asana we live from moment to moment in the sensation,

we are one with the feeling, there is no intention or goal which could

only come from the mind, the ego. The posture is allowed to unfold

organically, it doesn't involve dominating the body or violence, as too

often is the case.

 

The muscles, the whole structure works in an entirely different way.

There is a total integration. There is no repetition. Each time we do

the posture, it is fresh, it is now.

 

Often we will do the posture only on the energy level, without moving

the physical body; This helps to free ourselves further from the

patterns and restrictions. Each posture stimulates particular parts of

the body but the real effect, the re-orchestration of energy occurs

after the posture, in our stillness.

 

 

Meditation

 

When the posture is really understood it becomes meditation. Here we no

longer emphasize the object, the body, but our awareness, presence.

There is a kind of switch-over when the asana has completely unfolded in

our awareness and is re-absorbed in stillness. In this meditation, there

is no one who meditates and nothing to meditate on. It is not

concentration, but choiceless awareness.

 

Breathing

 

In the same way our body has become restricted, so too, through fear and

tension our breath is largely reaction. We tend to grasp the inhalation

and push the exhalation, a continuous psychic manipulation.

 

In our practice we learn to "listen" to the breath, feel it in different

parts of the body and in the global sensation. We give the breath the

opportunity to become spontaneous, as in our infancy.

 

We use the breath, the prana, in certain yogic techniques to calm the

brain, stimulate and direct the body's energy, and on a more spiritual

level, by emphasizing the space between the breaths and the background

of all breathing, it brings us to a forefeeling of our real nature.

 

Freeing the Senses

 

An important aspect of the teaching is the deep relaxation of the senses:

skin, mouth, nostrils, ears, eyes and brain. Unconsciously the senses are

organised in grasping, which means they are contracted and tense.

 

Through the use of visualization and listening, allowing the sensation to

unfold, comes an openness and relaxation. Objects are allowed to come to

the senses, and we learn to live more with pure perception, without mind

interference. When the senses are really free all the body participates

in seeing, hearing, etc....

 

Transposing the Teaching

 

It is important that the understanding gained through the practice be

transposed to all aspects of our life. When we are no longer identified

with an image, an object, we are not bound psychologically to a

situation, we live in our wholeness, and act from our wholeness. Only

then are we really functional.

 

When we maintain the energy body we feel ourselves open and spacious;

fear and tension have no opportunity to take hold. “Only in our absence

are we truly present”.

 

http://home.clara.net/b.doyle/1_yoga.htm

 

http://www.breath.org/alchemy/advaita-review.htm

 

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