Question on Secret of the Golden Flower

[Daeluin]

Understanding the nature of how the optic nerves cross in the optic chiasm, and how the visual cortex is in the back of the brain, helps me to appreciate the connection between the eyes and the left-brain right-brain division. In addition there seems to be something special related to the meridians around the eyes and nose, and how they cross from left to right as well.

 

I'm told in vipassana there is focus on the cleft in the middle of the upper lip, or the area underneath the nostrils. Interestingly, the acupuncture point here is called "man's middle", a point where the energies of the governing and conception vessel's meet, affecting a union and harmonization of yin and yang with the breath. The Large Intestine channel crosses itself at this point. The Large Intestine channel also meets at the spine between the shoulders. The higher up the nostrils, the closer to the eyes, which have their own relationship to breath.

 

Remember to the ears are connected to the nasal passages.

 

Putting all of it together in practice helps me balance awareness of the criss-crossing, left-right nature of the energy flow. Often focusing on breathing inward from my ears helps me more correctly align my neck, pulling my chin in and up. Affecting a slight smile also helps an uplifting of qi to the place where the spine meets the back of the skull, and helps stimulate the flow of chi between the teeth, which in turn seem to interact with the channels around the eyes/nose.

 

The SotGF refers to the eyes as the sun and the ears as the moon, if I recall correctly. I find it interesting that focusing on breathing from the ears helps me to relax deeper into my spine, even as the Large Intestine channel meets underneath the nose and also at the spine between the shoulders. The Large Intestine channel is the counterpart of the Lung channel, both part of the metal channel and related to the breath.

 

So I think the half-open, cross-eyed eye position is to assist in attuning to the natural criss-crossing of energies... as well as helping to stay alert by allowing some light to enter the eyes. While in this state, perhaps get deeper while maintaining stability by bringing awareness to the ears / visual cortex area, and allowing the unification of the whole head area to rest upon the breath deeper and deeper into the body.

 

Please take all this with a grain of salt... just remember that focus on a specific part of the whole is only a temporary tool to assist in slipping into awareness of the whole.

Edited August 29, 2014 by Daeluin

[joeblast]

hehe, that was what made me say "anterior longitudinal ligament breathing" in the deep center thread

 

how's that note sound

[Harmonious Emptiness]

I think there is a time for both open and closed and knowing when and how is part of the work. I know that in Zen, there is an importance put on not moving anything whatsoever, but the two are not the same. I would say start with the eyes open, head slightly tilted down like being pulled up by a string from the crown. At this position, the eyes naturally look down the nose. That's what your "looking for" imo, according to the parts of the text which talk about this (mentioned earlier in the thread). As in "turning the light around," sometimes closing the eyes is necessary to keep the light internalized, but you need to recognize when you start "dreaming" and thoughts are taking you on a journey. Then it's necessary to slowly open the eyes to the same position so that you're back "where you are." Also having the eyes open at times helps to ensure that you can be in the material world while still in the deep state.

 

Or maybe that's just where I'm at with it. It may be different for others...

 

 

Then there's the thing about thoughts. The Nei Ye says that thoughts come from chi and that once they have manifested from chi to thought to knowledge, it's time to stop thinking about it.

 

So, it's not bad to allow some thoughts when they are simply expressions of the chi-knowledge that is being processed in the process.

 

It also says in chapter four

 

然则欲无念乎，不能无念也

"So should one have no thoughts? To be without thoughts is impossible."

[joeblast]

clear, lucid, and relatively free from thought-form-energy; a byproduct of the habit energy of turning the light around.

[Mystique Enigma]

its amazing how much humans struggle to do what comes naturally i.e. Breathe...

 

Ahhh well

 

[FraterUFA]

Greetings brothers and sisters,

 

As I was the one who started this thread, I thought I would check in with my progress.

 

I have had a very difficult time with this recently. In the beginning, I was quite clear after meditation. Then for the past week or so, I became foggy and irritable. Each meditation seemed to get worse and worse.

 

Finally yesterday, I asked myself what it is that I am doing wrong? And the answer that came to me was that I was forcing things. Instead of approaching meditation in a rigid, step-by-step manner, that I should "melt" into it and trust the process.

 

I sat down today and dispensed with the usual preliminaries (such as focusing on my breathing for 5-10 minutes, etc). Instead, I just stretched a bit and sat down. The lighting was very dim and it was quiet. I had the impression that I should lift the crown of my head up and tip my chin down a bit. I immediately felt a small spot in the center of my head.

 

This was the first time I have ever felt this point. It was below the crown and behind the eyebrows... behind the eyes somewhere. It felt like a small pea. I focused on it and gradually my thoughts subsided. I think I saw a tiny spark of light once. Over the course of the session, I felt little waves on it as well as pressure at times. Also, my lower dan tien got very hot without any effort whatsoever on my part. It was just there and really "lit up".

 

Near the end of the meditation (40 minutes or so), the mind began to "hang on" to the point by itself for a few seconds at a time... again without requiring any effort.

 

I came out of meditation and while walking down the street, I began to think about my spiritual practices. Recently, I have been overwhelmed with them... but when I thought about this time, instead of feeling worry, I felt a sense of lightness and joy. It was a happiness to be able to study these things... to just enjoy the process.

 

I then noticed that I felt very, very light and very, very soft. I ordered some lunch and noticed that I was talking so softly that the cashier could barely hear me (this would be funny if you knew me in real life, I am a very outgoing individual!) Over the next few minutes, this pleasant feeling gradually went away.

 

I hope this helps someone and welcome your comments.

[Bearded Dragon]

Over the next few minutes, this pleasant feeling gradually went away.

 

This is a key point. You want to be able to take the bad and the good, and not be bothered if they are there or if they don't last.

 

The foggy thing is something I get every morning after waking up. It's a chance to penetrate through it in order to learn how (not that I'm too good at it since I never saw it in this manner until not that long ago).

 

If you're anything like I've been with these experiences you'll sit down tomorrow and try and make it happen again. I eventually realised that in trying to make it happen again I was not correctly replicating the conditions that made it occur in the first place. So obvious, but that didn't stop me from trying.

[joeblast]

If you're anything like I've been with these experiences you'll sit down tomorrow and try and make it happen again. I eventually realised that in trying to make it happen again I was not correctly replicating the conditions that made it occur in the first place. So obvious, but that didn't stop me from trying.

nope, just sit and execute the fundamental points of practice

[Silent Answers]

I then noticed that I felt very, very light and very, very soft. I ordered some lunch and noticed that I was talking so softly that the cashier could barely hear me (this would be funny if you knew me in real life, I am a very outgoing individual!) Over the next few minutes, this pleasant feeling gradually went away.

 

I hope this helps someone and welcome your comments.

 

Haha...sometimes I look back after a break away from practicing (if I'm bogged down with work) and think "What the ....did I really feel/do that??". After an intensely refreshing meditation it's common to have that other worldly/out of body/oneness feeling, linger on for a while.

 

Typing this, while I'm still stuck in the office at 9pm really makes me miss days on the mountain, playing with the trees. Mid Autumn Day is coming this Monday, though! I'm going to have a full night and day catch up session with the moon.

[FraterUFA]

If you're anything like I've been with these experiences you'll sit down tomorrow and try and make it happen again. I eventually realised that in trying to make it happen again I was not correctly replicating the conditions that made it occur in the first place. So obvious, but that didn't stop me from trying.

 

Yes, I am exactly like you! And thanks to your reminder, today I will just sit and watch and forget about yesterday.