| Here's a wonderful ~ simple & powerful ~ | | | | create a feeling of softness in them. |
| Taoist meditation practice, which can be done | | | | Now choose a gazing point, eight or ten feet in |
| either outside (in a beautiful natural setting is | | | | front of you. Rest your eyes very softly on that |
| best!), or indoors. It's similar in many ways to | | | | point (or area). (The meditation Masters of the |
| Buddhist Shamata sitting meditation practice, but | | | | past have discovered that there's a connection |
| ~ and hence the name! ~ you're standing. (So, for | | | | between the movement of our eyes, and the |
| one, it's less likely that you'll fall asleep ... J) | | | | movement of thoughts in our mind ... So making |
| Begin by standing with your feet parallel and | | | | the eyes still is a wonderful way to calm the |
| about shoulder-width apart. Take a couple of deep | | | | mind.) Try to let that spot you're looking at come |
| long breaths, saying "aaah" (either out loud or to | | | | into your eyes, instead of reaching out (with the |
| yourself) with the exhales. Let go of any tension | | | | energy of your eyes) to "grab" it. In other words, |
| you find in your shoulders, neck or face ~ simply | | | | let your eyes become receptive, instead of active |
| let it "melt" away, with the exhale ... as though | | | | ... Relax your jaw, so that there's space between |
| that tension were a frozen river, being touched | | | | your upper & lower teeth, even though your |
| now by a warm sun, and flowing downward, like | | | | lips are gently closed. |
| the gentle cascade of a waterfall, forming pools | | | | So now that you're in the Qigong Standing |
| at your feet. Feel your energy, your awareness, | | | | Meditation position, stay here, for awhile. Once |
| settling into your feet & legs & hips | | | | you've arranged yourself in this way, there's |
| & belly, connecting you strongly to the earth. | | | | nothing much to "do." Simply notice what's it's like |
| Bend your knees just slightly ~ just enough to | | | | being here, in this position. |
| feel a softness at the backs of your knees. | | | | If you're new to the practice, hold the position for |
| Let your arms hang down next to your sides, so | | | | a couple of minutes. You can make small |
| that your thumbs are gently touching your outer | | | | adjustments to it, as this feels necessary for |
| thighs (which means the backs of your hands will | | | | your comfort, but the idea is to do as little |
| be facing forward). Separate and extend your | | | | moving around as possible. Once you've got the |
| fingers downward, so that they're straight without | | | | correct alignment of the pose, holding it in a fairly |
| being rigid, and so there's space between each | | | | "motionless" way will support internal movements |
| pair of fingers (as though you had webbed | | | | of qi/life-force which will be very pleasant, and |
| fingers). Now, float your hands directly forward, | | | | healing. As you continue this practice ~ over |
| three or four inches, so they're hovering now just | | | | weeks or months or years ~ you'll be able to hold |
| in front of (but still to the sides) of your thighs. | | | | the position for longer periods of time (30 |
| This should create a feeling of hollowness in your | | | | minutes, a hour). But in the beginning, a couple |
| armpits. Let your elbows be bent just enough to | | | | minutes is wonderful! |