Differing styles of meditation have similar goals but different techniques to real those goals. some techniques requires doing while others ask the person to simply observe themselves without controlling anything. An example of a active meditation would be to chant a mantra repeatedly either aloud or silently until the mind ‘lets go’ of the outside world and other thoughts. This intense concentration on the mantra blocks out all other thoughts and the repetition can even make it an unconscious act emptying the mind if done long enough. In an observation method (also called listening) one would just observe the body and the breath but not control either intentionally. This does not mean not moving but allowing the body to move with its nature. Realize just by observing the body and breathe things will change due to the bodies increased awareness within the body’s natural balancing mechanisms. In Physics the term observer effect refers to changes that the act of observation will make on the phenomenon being observed. This is often the result of instruments that, by necessity, alter the state of what they measure in some manner. This effect also applies to all things and is part of the Heisenberg uncertainty principle states that certain pairs of physical properties, like position and momentum, cannot both be known with precision. This applies to meditation in that while doing many movements and especially with speed, it becomes harder to observe with any real precision. It is very hard to not want to change things when observing them. During YiQuan standing practice, one may feel as though one side of the body is different than the other and then try and correct this. This changes the practice from observing to controlling. I suggest that by simply observing one will feel your nature and the body will slowly adjust to the proper alignments. This will increase your awareness of the true nature and slowly bring real results. Controlling before having increased awareness can bring unnatural results since maybe the hip you feel is tight is actually fine and the other hip is too loose. Therefore I would suggest that one start their meditation by simply observing and then slowly expand into movement with observation. WHAT DO YOU THINK??
Zashkaser
If you are refering to the uncertainty principle, this means in quantum physics one cannot know the exact position and speed of an object at the same time since measuring one effects the other. In meditation even thinking of an area will change it to a small extent since some nerves are activated and muscles could be loosened or tightened. A study was done with basketball players where they were divided into 3 groups and one group shot baskets, one just imagined shooting and making baskets and the other just ran around. The group that imagined had almost as much improvement as the one who actually shoot baskets since thinking of the shooting slightly activated the nerves that control shooting and stimulated the muscles very slightly… I do tai chi and just doing the whole form in your mind can be a enlightening experience and show you what you are concentrating on while doing the form. hope this explanation helped.
Nice distinction! I believe that many yiquan practitioners are taught to just observe during wuji position and then switch over to using imagination (like imagning water or a expanding/contracting balloon to elicit a feeling) to teach the body how to move correctly.
I read on a blog somewhere that cheng manching taught to feel/observe the density of the air when moving. I like that because it achieves the same result but through observation.
Your post also made me think of the buddhist distinction between samatha (tranquility/absorption) vs vipassana (observation/insight) meditation. Worth checking out if you want to get ideas of how to use this type of meditation in your standing practice but also to see the value and function/purpose of each approach.
Brahma-vihara Yes Yiquan teaches expansion but teachers differ in how they transmit that. Mine is very much into more feeling and less imagination so he equates the expansion as one naturally feels the hands rise when standing and energy builds. We tend to use that feeling when moving and expanding with some imagination. Thanks for adding the enlightening comments on Buddhist meditation. I’m sure the readers will enjoy them.
jolietjett: Indeed, teachers differ! I wasn’t claiming that all yiquan teachers are into the “imagination” method, although it seems to me that most teachers are. I’m mostly familiar with taikiken (the japanese interpretation of yiquan) which is more into acquiring the feeling through imagination. And from what I know the Yao-lineage also favor imagination. I’m curious to know whether your teacher is more into observing because of his yiquan-lineage or did he pick it up from other sources?
Brahma-vihara,
My teacher Fong Ha studied with Master Han Xing Yuan and I do believe they did use the imagination method in later practice and Fong does during movements but is more into observation when standing in postures. The imagination comes in when doing the Shilli exercises. You might like to explore Fong’s website at http://www.fongha.com/ for more information.
I see.
A thought to ponder on: Is it it possible to go all the way and only do observation during zhan zhuang, shili and mocabu?
If observation is sufficient to train expansion because of the natural feeling that arise when energy builds, then could observation by the same token also be sufficient when it comes to teaching the body correct movement…
Hi Brahma-vihara,
Yes definitely something to think about but since both you and I know about the expansion it is in our mind and thus will enter into our thoughts as they drift during our meditation. So as we observe we may have the slight intention to feel the expansion and this maybe even cause it. We come back to the studies of athletes who imagine shooting baskets or other activities who scored almost as well as those actually practicing! Looks like the old Yogis and internal artists knew intention leads the chi which leads the movement well before these studies were done! Like in the Matrix ‘Neo did you take the cookie because”
I always wanted to be like Neo
From your reasoning, though, one might come to the conclusion that there is only imagination and pseudo-imagination. (Pseudo-imagination being ‘believing’ one is observing but in reality actually using imagination on a more subtle/indirect level).
But let’s say because of our pre-knowledge, you and I are doomed to practice imagination on some level despite the best of intentions to just observe. But what about a total newbie who wasn’t contaminated beforehand with knowledge about expansion. If all the instruction he’d get came down to ‘just observe’, would he be able to just observe?
From my own experience on observing/following the breath, I found it nearly impossible to not ‘grab’ and start changing the breath… in the beginning. But through practice I’m now able to leave the breath and just observe it. And as it comes and goes I’ve noticed patterns that I had no knowledge of from before hand.
I believe the Buddhists have an answer that is relevant to the question Neo got. I forgot what it is though…
Hi again Brahma-vihara,
enjoying the conversation with you. I found as you have it is very hard not to influence ones nature during meditation. Also have watched the breath and when just observing feel it to many things while moving through my whole body. I do think for some moments we all can just observe and often those times an hour passes like a minute as we relax into just being and not thinking or doing. These times allow me to better realize when I am thinking and doing and better know my intention at work. I do not think it is wrong to use intention just you should know when you are. I think founders of many of the internal arts observed and then followed the natural motions they felt and then added some intention to make it fit what they wanted (self defense, meridian opening, ect) and that we all can do this which it sounds like you are already doing.
Likewise, I enjoyed the conversation with you! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Be well!
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Who would you say was the most approachable expert in this area?
Reiki Guide I would say Fong Ha who is at http://www.fongha.com is very easy to talk to on meditation and is glad to talk to all … just show up at one of his saturday berkeley classes and you can go to tea or lunch with him and talk like old friends. Good book on this subject the Power of now.
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