Modern life can be highly stressful, with various disturbances even after work. The accumulation of negative emotions and stress due to insufficient rest can have an impact on the body and mind. In such circumstances, individuals may consider trying meditation to achieve inner calmness and restore their spirit and health.
Renowned Chinese medicine doctor, Sheng-Pu Lee, has been practicing meditation since the age of 11 and has continued this habit for 73 years without interruption. He maintains a remarkably healthy state of body and mind. However, he admits that at the beginning of his meditation journey, he struggled with wandering thoughts and found it difficult to quiet his mind until the age of 28 when he grasped the essence of meditation.
Many people, like Dr. Sheng-Pu Lee in the past, may not know where to begin when attempting meditation. Dr. Sheng-Pu Lee suggests that meditation should be about “doing” rather than “thinking.” Once you “think” about controlling distractions, you are already following the path of the “voluntary nervous system.”
The human nervous system is divided into voluntary (somatic) and involuntary (autonomic) nervous systems. The “voluntary nervous system” refers to the nerves that can be controlled by consciousness, such as the movements of skeletal muscles and body actions. On the other hand, the “involuntary nervous system,” like the autonomic nervous system, controls functions that cannot be consciously controlled, such as heart rate, body temperature, and digestion.
Dr. Sheng-Pu Lee explains that the voluntary nervous system governs the physical body, while the autonomic nervous system regulates many functions, including the energy of organs like the liver, lungs, heart, and kidneys, or the energy of tissue metabolism. Many people do not understand the difference between meditation relying on the autonomic or voluntary nervous system. To illustrate, Dr. Sheng-Pu Lee uses the analogy of two figures in Zen Buddhism: “Shenxiu” represents the voluntary nervous system, and “Huineng” represents the autonomic nervous system.
He points out that Huineng said, “Bodhi is originally without any tree, The bright mirror is also not a stand. Originally there is not a single thing — Where could dust be attracted?” On the other hand, Shenxiu said, “The body is like a bodhi tree, The mind is like a bright mirror’s stand, At all times diligently polish it, And let no dust alight.” Meditating by trying to suppress distractions like Shenxiu is not actually correct, because not thinking is also a form of thinking.
At the age of 28, Dr. Sheng-Pu Lee noticed that people often feel uncomfortable and drowsy during meditation, which is actually due to the influence of gravity on the physical body. Therefore, he believes that in meditation, one should first understand the force of gravity, connect with it, and merge with one’s own weight.
Dr. Sheng-Pu Lee further explains that the force of gravity can allow a person to fully settle down, aligning the hands with the hands, the mind with the mind, and the heart with the heart, allowing all energies to return to their roots. During meditation, close your eyes, let go of the mind, and relax your entire body, surrendering it to the force of gravity, restoring physical health, and rejuvenating the mind. After 10 to 15 minutes, the body’s energy can recover up to 40% to 50%.
Meditation allows the mind to settle down, releasing distractions, providing both the mind and body with a period of rest and rejuvenation. Additionally, Dr. Sheng-Pu Lee mentions that the human body contains water. As people age, due to insufficient internal energy, the body cannot transform water into gas to be transported to the upper body, leading to problems such as dry eyes, mental sluggishness, and dry mouth. Meditation can help reinforce this aspect.
Dr. Sheng-Pu Lee explains that when a person relaxes the entire body and follows the force of gravity, the body generates heat invisibly. This heat gradually transforms the water consumed, the water in the bladder, and the water in the dantian (lower abdomen) into gas, activating the body’s functions and making the body feel lighter and more relaxed.
While people need to live, earn a living, and work, they should also understand the importance of proper rest. Dr. Sheng-Pu Lee encourages people to establish a sense of time for work and rest. After work, take the time to restore physical health and mental agility. Through meditation, one can completely let go of distractions, recharge, and regain personal well-being.
A healthy liver gives you the energy you need to live life to the fullest!
Originally from: Healthnews.com.tw
Healthnews/ Reporter Yi-Wen Wu and Yu-Qiao Pan reports
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