Hoshin Tao Chi Kung: Manual of Information, Exercises, Meditations About and for the Kundalini

43 Pages·0.302 MB·English

by  Glenn Morris

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Hoshin Tao Chi Kung
Manual
Of
Information,
Exercises,
Meditations
About and for the Kundalini.
Compiled by
Dr. Glenn J. Morris
Wayne R. Oliver
James Dowle
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The Jedi handbook
Foreword
What you now hold is more of a collection of several of the core Hoshin Tao students'
notes. Most of what you will find within these pages is raw; it comes straight from
our personal notebooks. Here is our stuff. This is (most of) the Hoshin Tao Chi Kung
system. Each of us who has contributed to this work has gained this knowledge
through direct experience. Luckily, we all did it together. I know how important it
was for me to have someone who understood what was going on when it started to
get really weird. Most of us are still dealing with the results of our "adventuring", the
exercises contained herein are what brought us to where we are today.
Some of the moving meditations included here have been practiced for centuries by
the Taoist masters, and they felt less wear and tear than their yogi counterparts. The
Taoists sanity-retention rate of their students was far higher. The path of Hoshin Tao
is one of personal involvement and experiential work. You must do it! No one else
can do it for you. It is a waste of time to be an armchair warrior, and chi transfer is
not always a blessing.
I asked Dr. Morris to write the introduction to this guide, as I feel that this is only
right. He is the Grandmaster of the ryu, and his interjection into my life is what
started me on this incredible journey. Glenn has traveled where few of us dare go, as
such; he is the ultimate source for this information and the method to the madness. I
am sure that I speak for the rest of the Hoshin Tao instructors in extending our
heartfelt thanks for all the time, energy, and patience which he has shown us.
Introduction
Glenn Morris
As the years go by most of what amazed me in the beginning strikes me as parlor
tricks now. The experience of energy works changes your perspective and
perceptions over time. The experience of the godhead becomes a "so what?" in
comparison to raising your children and keeping your career afloat.
I can't say going through the kundalini has brought me any joy. Most of my students
and accidental "impregnation" have had interesting experiences. I am too curious
and analytical a personality to be able to ride the waves of bliss forever. Perhaps that
is a good thing as so much is written from a second hand experience, which often
reports opinion as fact.
The psychological problems of being more aware are painful if you desire positive
outcomes and rewards for your existence. There are many well-meaning, wrong-
thinking egocentric individuals who will go out of their way to attempt to denigrate
your experience or defame your character. They suck up time and prevent you from
working expeditiously. There are times when I long for the monastic life. It becomes
very important to consider some of the magic and mythological applications of subtle
energy. God helps those who help themselves.
The major reason I formulated a scientific set of exercises to replicate my own
experience was, I was lonely. I didn't have anyone to play with except Hatsumi-san.
Now I have a bunch of buddies and more that have developed through reading and
experimenting on their own.
Hoshin Tao Chi Kung
Transpersonal Psychology and Esoteric Energy Meditations
Chi Kung is primarily the science of bioelectrical energy generation/cultivation and
circulation within the human body. The result of Chi Kung practice is increased
physical and mental health and vitality. Chi Kung is an ancient practice which has
been used by the Chinese for thousands of years. Its basis is on the direction of this
energy (called chi) and the intent of willpower through the use of the breath.
There are two main categories into which Chi Kung training is divided: Martial Chi
Kung (dealing with the combative arts) and pure Chi Kung which the purpose of is
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for increased health, longevity, and spiritual attainment. The practice of HoshinTao
deals with both forms.
Hoshin Tao Chi Kung focuses on opening the chakra and kundalini channels through
the combination of meditation, visualization, and physical techniques appropriate to
the healer, yoga practitioner, and martial artist. The practitioner of Hoshin Tao will
learn the theories and principles of Chi Kung and be able to bring its benefits into
every facet of life. Chinese medicine emphasizes balancing and strengthening the
body so that it can heal itself. The practice of these techniques allowed Dr. Morris to
reverse the effects of arthritis within his own body almost 10 years ago. In 1985, Dr.
Morris achieved the rising of the Kundalini (Greater Kan and Li) using these
techniques. Since then he has been able to guide over 40 of his students to
successful and relatively painless kundalini awakenings.
In Hoshin Tao (Way of the True Spirit/Warrior Heart) Chi Kung, we learn to master
meditative practices that increase and refine the inner energies of the body, while
also learning how those energies can be used in self-defense. In sharing his
teachings, Dr. Morris has encouraged us to go forth and share this wisdom with
others. As instructors of Hoshin Tao, we are able to focus on opening and balancing
the body's energy centers (chakras), as well as, the physical movements, postures and
defensive techniques associated with each center. As the name Hoshin Tao implies,
we seek to balance and integrate both sides in order to become better, more
complete human beings. In doing so, we may even reach enlightenment.
What is Chi Kung?
The purpose of Chi Kung is the attempt by the practitioner to consolidate the health
of the body, breath, and mind. However, the practitioner considers all three of these
to be as one, for what occurs in the physical is reflected in the breath, spirit, and the
mind. THE BODY KNOWS BETTER THAN THE MIND what it needs and likes to be
healthy. This is true in the pure Chi Kung practices, as well as the martial aspects of
training.
Taoist Chi Kung involved the extensive use of three substances produced or used by
the body. These materials came to be known as the Three Treasures. The ancient
Chinese internal alchemists described and cataloged the Three Treasures as follows.
Jing
.This involved the male sperm, hormones (feminine), the chemicals, the entire
endocrine system, and genetic makeup. It was basically what made a person what
they were. The sperm was empowered by the chi and traveled within the spine to
feed the body and brain with its nutrient rich makeup. In females, it was their
hormones from the ovaries and other organs that sustained this function. Chi Kung
allowed the sperm and the hormones to be transported where needed.
The jing was thought to determine most of that which was physical. The Taoists
believed that the amount of jing was a finite supply, which could be easily diminished
by such things as illness, overwork, stress, poor nutrition, lack of sleep, or the use of
drugs. However, lost jing can be replaced. The methods of jing cultivation are simply
through the use of a proper diet.
Chi
The simplest way to describe chi is as the energy of life, life essence, and breath.
These are almost literal translations of the term. This is the aspect that is most
heavily focused on by the practice of Hoshin Tao Chi Kung. Chi is that in the universe
which keeps us alive. We breathe chi when we inhale. We consume chi when we eat.
We use chi in healing and in combat.
Humans are born with a certain amount of chi that has been inherited from the
parents. From there, the child must begin to gather his own chi from the use of
breathing. Since chi is so closely associated with breath (except at the highest levels),
it is clearly married to circulation/blood, oxygen, and the nerve impulses. Strong chi,
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it is said, strengthens the immune system, increases stamina and longevity.
Shen
.The shen was the energy in the mind (which was thought of as higher chi or
transmuted chi). At the later practices and higher portions of Chi Kung training, the
Chi would be transformed into shen. It was said that this is what leads to
Enlightenment.
We have two theories as to what happens; the first is that through the practice of
meditation, the production and circulation of Chi grows to a personal limit, at which
point it transforms into shen and races up the spine to result in the kundalini. The
other is the actual process of kundalini is what changes the Chi into shen.
Chi circulates primarily in two manners: through the blood by traveling within the
oxygen and through invisible paths in the body known to Chinese medicine as
meridians, where the chi makes use of the tissues to go where it is needed. These
meridians are energy channels that cannot be found through the dissection of human
specimens. The ancient Chi Kung practitioners were made aware of their existence
by the use of introspective meditation. They looked inside their own bodies to see
and feel what was going on and experimented with cause and effect. In this manner
they compared the body to the universe, seeing it as a microcosm of all that was
around them. They reasoned that since the universe is in constant motion, there must
be a similar motion within the body. The ancient wise men found these paths of
motion and mapped them.
Early Chi Kung involved using and holding the breath in various ways. The regulation
of the breathing patterns (which they inherited from the Indian sages) for these early
Taoists came from beliefs which they held.
According to their philosophies, a human being was born with only a finite
number of breaths to their lives. Once those limited breaths were used up,
then the body died. They practiced holding their breaths for extended
periods of time, and formulated ways of slowing down the breathing patterns
in order to prolong life.
The early Taoists later incorporated meditations which were borrowed from the
animals around them. Into their practice they incorporated the movement’s styles
and postures of these animals, for their observations seemed to show that animals
meditated. They would watch for hours as a crane or turtle could stay completely
still, and deduced that the animals, which had far fewer health problems than
humans and were also in much greater harmony with the world around them, spent
most of their time in meditation. From these early practices, the sitting and standing
meditations were to become a major factor in the practice of Chi Kung.
There originally were only 13 static poses in the practice of Chi Kung. These were
the meditative poses, which they borrowed from the animals. As time went on,
movement was added to the poses as part of the meditative practice and for the
added health benefits. This is the precursor to the use of the Tai Chi form as a
system of vitality and meditation. Through the years, after much practice, the
methods of Chi Kung became more complex, refined, and diverse. The Taoists
gathered what they could through their travels, added it to what they already knew,
and refined it to suit their needs.
Taoist Chi Kung, as it was to be practiced by the monks, was composed of seven
individual disciplines; martial arts, weapons training sets, exercise, concentration,
visualization, meditation, and sometimes, mandalas. Each practice built upon the
foundation set by the previous practice.
Weapons were used for the effects that they had on the body and its conditioning.
Concentration was used to bring the chi to certain parts of the body; the melding of
the mental and physical aspects of breathing. (Where the mind leads, the chi will
follow).Visualizations were used which could consist of spheres of light, colors, or the
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figures of flowers, god/dess, and patterns within the body. The visualization
combined with the breathing and following of intent in a prolonged form of
concentration caused incredible effects within the body, as the practitioners of
Hoshin Tao have witnessed.
In the study of Hoshin Tao Chi Kung, we will be doing a great deal of work with
energy. This is not just a physical or kinetic type of energy, but also the bodies own
internal bioelectrical energy. Think for a moment about the coordination between all
the cellular and organic structural systems that keeps your body functioning. All that
activity requires immense amounts of information to be relayed, monitored, and
organized. This goes without even mentioning conscious mental processes.
Most of us are incredibly unaware of just how much information we deal with on an
unconscious level. Our nerve synapses, and even the brain itself require a certain
amount of electrical energy to handle all this activity. This is the chi we were talking
about. This is where the name Chi Kung comes from, since chi in Chinese means,
literally, "air," "power," "motion," "energy," or "life."
In Tai Chi and Chi Kung theory, its actual meaning is "intrinsic energy," "internal
energy," or "original, eternal and ultimate energy." Chi can be seen as bioelectric
energy, universal energy, human energy, or any number of things. The Chinese word
Kung means "discipline," "work," or "exercise." So, Chi Kung itself can mean "energy
exercise," "breathing discipline," "internal energy work," etc.
Huang Ti (2698-2597 B.C.) was the supposed founder of Taoist Internal Alchemy,
which came to be known as Chi Kung. This became, in time, a discipline practiced by
both Taoist and Buddhist monks and martial artists who wished to develop their
inner strength. One of the most notable groups who engaged in this discipline is the
legendary Shaolin monks of China, who learned their fighting skills as a way of
keeping fit and defending themselves while following their spiritual lifestyle. Little
was known in the West about the actual practice of Chi Kung until 1977, when
Mantak Chia became the first person to openly teach Chi Kung in the west. Chia's
books allow the student clear, concise descriptions of the practice, and are
recommended for intensive study in the art.
In Hoshin Tao we focus on training of the breath to amplify and direct the body's
natural flow of chi. While this may seem like a foreign concept, or maybe a little too
far "out there." Think about this. Have you ever felt drained around certain people?
Have you ever "felt" someone staring at you? Have you ever instantly liked or
disliked someone due to the "vibes" you got? Have you ever sensed another person's
presence without hearing or seeing them? All these things are results of interactions
of your body's internal energy field with those of other people. The human body is
surrounded and permeated by a field of Chi. Kirlian photography, have proven the
existence of the body's energy field known as the "aura."
According to Chinese medicine, the chi flow regulates the function of the organs in
the body. When there are physical problems, they can be sensed through the aura.
The practice of Chi Kung will help develop and strengthen the chi, as well as help
learn how to direct it for healing and self-defense applications.
In directing Chi, the mind (along with the breath and the intent) is used to visualize
the chi moving. In quantum physics, scientists are beginning to prove that all
"matter" is actually energy that is vibrating at different rates. In the exercises you
will learn, you can discover how to change the vibrations of your chi, and direct its
flow, using your consciousness. As you learn this, you will begin to become more
aware of subtle interactions of energy, both inside and outside your own body. This
awareness is available to everyone, and yet few people ever actually take the time to
develop it, as it is not generally accepted as a valid, natural human ability. It is
generally regarded as an "unexplained phenomenon," and yet in all probability, it is
simply something science is just now catching up with. However, Dr. Morris, a
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scientist and psychologist himself, states that "enlightenment is a biological process,
which has intellectual consequences." Teachings, which were hidden for centuries
are now becoming available due to science's work in proving their validity. In this
practice, it is best to have a open mind, as some things you will learn may be
surprising, and even enjoyable, depending on your openness to experience.
MEDITATION
Meditation is simply the act of relaxing and stilling the mind. While this may seem
simple, when one sits down and attempts to do this, the person may encounter
surprising difficulty. Silencing the mental "chatter" which the conscious mind
produces requires practice. There are many different techniques in meditation, some
of which include focusing on a certain object to the point of becoming absorbed in it,
or a certain word or sound, as well as guided meditations, in which the meditator
visualizes a certain setting or situation, like walking into a story. In Hoshin Tao Chi
Kung, we use certain meditation techniques for relaxation and stress relief, and
others for energy work. Studies have shown that people who meditate have lower
stress levels, calmer mental states, increased creativity and awareness, and when
following proper breathing techniques, are less prone to stress-related conditions like
heart attacks and nervous disorders. Meditation has also been used successfully in
overcoming addictions.
When in meditation, the mind enters a different state of consciousness from that
which is experienced in everyday life. The brain waves slow down, in conjunction
with the heart and breathing rates. Stilling the mind and silencing the "chatter" can
allow one to reasonably find solutions to problems by focusing the mind without
interference. It can also help one find a sense of peace within the self, sometimes by
simply enjoying the silence and escaping the pressures of everyday life. There is a
wide variety of music available that is composed especially for meditation, as well as
recordings of guided meditations. These are intended to help the listener achieve a
meditative state.
Meditation can be practiced practically anywhere that allows someone to remain
undisturbed for the needed length of time. It can be practiced in a chair, or lying
down, seated on the floor, or even while moving, walking, or jogging. Zen meditation
involves "mindfully" doing whatever it is you are doing at any given moment. This is
part of what we work toward in Hoshin Tao Chi Kung, by using meditation and
affirmations to internalize states of mind for building confidence, creativity, and the
ability to manage stress in a productive way.
OPENING UP
One of the most prevalent terms in modern esoteric literature for the main energy
centers in the human body is "chakras." Chakra is a Sanskrit word meaning "wheel,"
or "disk." The chakras are also known as "lotuses." The goal of most esoteric
practices is to open these "lotuses."
In Hoshin Tao chi kung, we work with a structure based on Togakure Ryu Bujinkan
Ninpo's Go Dai (Five Centers) system. With each chakra, there is a correspondence
with the physical body through the endocrine system and spinal nerve nexus, a
particular emotional and mental state, and a particular psychological value.
1st Chakra- "Earth/ Stability/ Muladhara (Bear)
Located at the perineum, in the base of the spine, the first chakra is primarily
concerned with security and survival issues. Its associated color is bright red, and
the endocrine glands it connects with are the ovaries and testicles. The martial
attitude is stability.
2nd Chakra- "Water/ Adaptivity/ Svadisthana (Dragon)
Located below the navel on a line across the hips, the second chakra is primarily
concerned with emotional and sexual issues. Its color is bright orange, and the
endocrine glands are the ovaries or testicles and adrenals. The martial attitude is
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defensiveness.
3rd Chakra- "Fire/ Intensity/ Manipura (Tiger)
Located at the solar plexus, the third chakra is concerned with issues of personal
power and will. Its color is bright yellow, and the endocrine glands are the stomach,
spleen and pancreas. The martial attitude is aggressiveness.
4th Chakra- "Wind/Generative/Anahata (Lion and/or Eagle)
Located at the center of the chest, the heart chakra deals with love and compassion.
Its color is bright lime green, and the endocrine gland is the thymus and heart. The
martial attitude is evasiveness and compassion
5th, 6th, and 7th Chakras- Void/Self-Actualizing/Vishuddha (throat), Ajna (third
eye), and Sahasrara (thousand pointed lotus) Spider and/or Crane
At this point, the three chakras in the head are grouped together as the Void element,
and are known individually as follows:
Throat: communication, creativity, tied to the thyroid, the associated color is sky blue.
Third Eye: intuition, imagination, dreaming, tied to the pineal, the associated color is
dark (cobalt) blue/indigo.
Crown: understanding, knowing, bliss, regarded by some as "cosmic consciousness."
The associated color is violet fading to white.
Chakra and the Japanese Go Dai are not perfect matches but there is enough
similarity in the traditions to allow a synchronous comparison across cultures. It is
interesting that the animal totems of many Asian and American Indian cultures have
similar meanings as well. There are also correspondences with elemental Western
Alchemy.
Further exploration of Chi Kung and the GoDai
What follows below is a deeper look into the chakras, for each element the feelings,
body positions and ideas of that element will be explained. For each element there is
also a visualization exercise.
EARTH
Earth/ Stability/ Muladhara (The Bear)
The posture is calm and relaxed with the shoulders down, the back straight, the head
erect with the chin pulled slightly in. The knees are slightly out as are the toes. The
pelvis rocks imperceptibly with your breath and shifts with your stride so your spine
is always supported and balanced. When you move, you move your whole body. When
you walk, you place your heel on the ground first and then shift your weight forward
along the side of the foot. Your shoulders and arms will swing in a rolling motion as
you walk and rotate your spine. Your knees and ankles should be relaxed, soft, and
flexible. Practice making this your everyday walk, it will do more than just benefit
your fighting style. You will become centered, smooth and flowing.
The thinking attitude of the earth is relaxed happy acceptance of the universe or
situation as it is. You have no fear as you are confident in your strength and
experience. You are steady, loving, and confident. You are curious, uninhibited,
practical, and enjoy a good laugh. You smile at others and make eye contact. You
reward service and kindness with praise and reciprocity. You are careful with the
truth of your words. You are honest and reliable. If there were still kings and queens
worthy of the name you would be their peer. You enjoy the way your body feels and
study how it reacts to the world and people around you. You do not use your strength
to intimidate others, but to help those who are weaker to find their own source of
strength. You use your anger to right wrongs and punish those who attack you but do
not initiate, only retaliate in an appropriate manner. You are a teacher of the Way as
well as a warrior.
The point of concentration is the perineum at the base of the coccyx, below the
genitals. When you want to assume a strong Earth attitude you touch your little
fingers to your thumb. If standing and want to quickly drop your center you simply
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rock down on your heels. The color of the aura and phosphenes behind the eyes are
bright red.
Our path to self-actualization and integration via the spinal column begins at ground
level, in the Earth chakra. As in all things, the key to being successful lies in starting
from the bottom and working your way up to the top. Build a strong foundation. In
Sanskrit, it is called Muladhara or "root." You may have heard someone refer to
"grounding" or being "down to earth," and indeed, developing an "Earthy" attitude
will promote this. This chakra relates to all solid earthly things, like the body, health,
survival, material and monetary existence, and the (st) ability to focus and manifest
needs. Its color, a deep, vibrant red, has the longest wavelength and the slowest
vibration in the visible spectrum. With the focus at the base of the spine, it connects
with the legs and feet to the ground. The sciatic nerve, which extends from the sacral
plexus down though the legs, is the largest peripheral nerve in the body (about as
thick as your thumb) and functions like a root for the nervous system. The nerve
endings in the feet provide us with much information as we walk. This can be
thought of as the first step in thinking with the spine and not just the brain. The
endocrine glands linked to this chakra are the genitals, which are activated in
situations where growth, creativity, sexuality and reproduction are necessitated.
Emotionally, the positive sides of this chakra are feeling strong, confident, stable,
nourished, and therefore ready to grow. The negative side is conventionality, rule-
boundedness, anger, and unbridled sexuality, as well as an attachment to security
and monetary things. "Grounding" is considered a state of mind in which you are
"here and now." We "plug in" the hardware of the body/ mind to receive and transmit
the enormous variety of energies like the finely tuned instrument that it is designed
to be.
"Measurements have shown that when the human body is standing on the ground, it
is electrically grounded as well. There is an electrostatic field surrounding the Earth
with a resonant frequency of about 7.5 cycles per second. Itzhak Bentov discusses a
micro motion of the body which consists of the constant vibration of the heart, cells,
and fluids of the body. This micro motion has been measured by him to vibrate at a
frequency of 6.8 to 7.5 cycles per second. Therefore, the body resonates with the
Earth's ionosphere. Connecting physically to this great body, as in walking or lying
on the Earth, our own bodies enter into this resonance more deeply."--- Anodea
Judith, Wheels of Life.
Walking is excellent for grounding higher energy, as is just about any exercise that
requires contact with the Earth, like yoga, Tai Chi, or other martial arts. Eating,
since it relates to survival, and redirects the body's energy to digestion, is also a
good grounding activity. In meditative practice, focusing the mind on the body and
developing awareness of physical condition could be helpful when working with the
Earth chakra. Meditations which lead into caves or other stone structures are good
for connecting with Earth energy. The following exercise from Amber Wolfe's
Elemental Power is one such meditation.
Stone Sanctuary: An Imagery Exercise for Strength
Imagine that you are walking through an earthen tunnel that leads into a limestone
cave. You carry an oil lamp to help guide your way. The light from the oil lamp
reveals fossil patterns embedded in the walls along the way.
Here and there, black smudges show that others have come this way before, perhaps
in ancient days. There are no indications that this tunnel has been visited in recent
times. You find that the passageway is clear and open. The limestone is pale and
brightly reflects the light that you carry with you -- and within you.
You find an opening leading to a small, quiet cavern, just large enough for you to
stand up. This small cavern is rounded, smooth, and silent. You step through the
opening and settle comfortably into this special place.
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Lifting your oil lamp, you search the walls and ceilings for fossils, symbols, or signs
that someone has been here before you. You search, but find nothing. Only the
twinkle of lights reflecting off the limestone is present in this quiet, pristine, place.
Slowly, you lower the flame of your lamp until the cave is comfortably darkened.
It is completely quiet in this, your private sanctuary of stone. You become aware of a
strong, steady rhythm. Its sound vibrates off of the walls, amplifying itself with
power. You wonder about the source of this sound, until you realize, with some
amusement, that you are hearing the sound of your own heartbeat. You laugh out
loud, and echoes of delight dance around inside your cave. After a few moments, the
sound fades away, and all is silent once more. You rest in the smooth comfort of your
stone sanctuary, and reflect upon the strength and the steadiness of your heartbeat.
You feel the steady strength of your Self as you rest there, centered and connected to
the quiet rhythms of your self-nature.
All around you is stillness and a silence of profound power and peace. You feel
yourself merging with this stillness, becoming part of this power, entering into the
silence, and finding the peace profound.
From deeper within the heart of Nature, you hear the steady rhythms of the Earth.
You feel them inside yourself, strong, stable, and abiding rhythms of power. You feel
the strength within. You feel supported completely by these peaceful abiding
rhythms of the Earth, of Nature, of your Self.
In silence, you connect with the core of your Self. You connect with the structures
inside your Self that bring you strength. In connecting to the heart of your Self, you
find your deepest power waiting and abiding within; you find the foundation of
patience and perseverance. You find that these have their origin in the profound
power of peace that exists within the sanctuary of your Self.
You know, with deepest assurance that this sanctuary is always there, abiding in
peace, waiting for you to enter into its silent power and find your strengths.
The meditation above could be added to the Earth door in Da Mo's Cave very easily
(Path Notes), or it could be used as a separate exercise to familiarize you with Earth-
type energy. Here on the ground floor, we work to build a strong foundation for the
process of self- actualization, so we can use that inner strength to keep reaching for
higher levels of potential. Internalizing the feelings of security, strength, self-
confidence, discipline, and stability is a large part of working with the Earth chakra.
Stability may be necessary on more than one level as you climb the spine toward the
upper chakras, since some strange and interesting things may happen along the way.
In your meditative practice, you may want to pay close attention (without attaching!)
to what goes on, as you may receive some surprising information about yourself.
Feeling strong and secure helps to prevent becoming fearful regarding information
we may receive in other realms of consciousness which is intended to assist in our
development. Sometimes truth manifests in strange forms, and is not always
pleasant, but remaining "grounded" can help us to cope. A quote from Frederich
Nietzsche comes to mind--"That which does not kill us makes us stronger." This is
typical of an Earthy attitude regarding challenges. One of the greatest challenges in
personal development is having the confidence to keep going through any number of
challenges to reach the goal.
WATER
Water/ Adaptivity/ Svadhisthana (The Dragon)
Primary motivation at Water is learning to use the power of emotional reaction in any
situation. The samurai thought the most powerful emotion was anger, but anger is
based on fear of loss. The most powerful emotion is actually love. A lover has a much
easier time opening this chakra than one who hates. The chakra being opened is the
point above your pelvis sometimes referred to as the dan tien, seat of the soul. We
usually refer to it as having guts. Or doing something even when you're afraid. The
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endocrine tie-ins include the adrenal glands, so this chakra teaches your body how to
channel the energy of reactive terror into power.
The posture is one of moving away but maintaining the ability to retaliate from a
safer position. The posture of ichimonji no kamae of the Togakure Ryu Ninpo Taijutsu-
the result of 800 years-plus of empirical combat research- best represents the
physical manifestation of this attitude.The legs are
spread wide for balance, one back in a drooping L (pointing away at an angle) rather
than a T as in cat stance. The hips are lowered and the knees are relaxed. One hand
loosely covers the center line of the upper body--throat and solar plexus. The other is
extended loosely to fend and ward off grabbing attacks. The drooping L back angling
step of the legs away from the attacker allows the individual using this posture to be
completely safe from attack even though they appear vulnerable. Study on this.
The movements of the water chakra are flowing using the natural body movement of
the attacker to direct you out of his or her way. It is like a wave wearing down a rock
by flowing out and back. You will learn to move circularly like water sucking someone
down into a whirlpool. Like a stream or flowing round your opponent and filling
every opening with your presence to unbalance and wear him down.
The thinking/feeling attitude of water is enjoying the challenge. Using every trick
you've got to defeat the attacker. You are a good listener and enjoy clever
conversation and artistic achievement. You are responsive to others and focused on
"getting the job done”. You like to try out new things, tend to be sensual and
seductive, as well as strong. You’re optimistic and ambitious for yourself and others.
You're a good friend, and a feared enemy.
The point of concentration is below the navel on a line across the top of your hips. To
quickly slip into water you place your ring finger against your thumb, or take one
step backwards as you draw in a deep breath. The color of the aura and phosphenes
behind the eyelids is bright orange.
We continue our path up the spine, moving from Earth to Water, from stability to
adaptivity. In Chinese alchemy, this is sometimes referred to as "steaming the
cauldron," using the warm Earth energy to "boil" the water and transform the inner
properties. When we in HoshinTao say someone is "cooking," chances are they have
at least reached the stage of opening this chakra, if not farther. In Sanskrit, this
chakra is named Svadhisthana or "sweetness," which becomes appropriate when you
consider that this chakra deals with sexuality.This relates to the function of the water
chakra in its correspondence to bodily functions having to do with liquid, such as
circulation, sexuality, and reproduction. This chakra is also the center of emotions,
sensation, pleasure, movement, and nurturance. Physically, its location is in the lower
abdomen centered between the navel and genitals, corresponding to the sacral
vertebrae and nerve ganglion called the sacral plexus. This plexus hooks into the
sciatic nerve and is a center of motion for the body. This is the reason for the title
"seat of the soul." In the Water chapter of Miyamoto Musashi's Book of Five Rings,
there is a reference to "tightening the wedge," or "wedging in”.
The movement described by Dr. Morris above describes how this principle is applied
to another Water property, which is movement, or "flow”. This is also a good example
of what is meant when Taoist sages refer to "becoming yin" or "feminine," as most
men carry their center of balance much higher than women, who tend to carry their
center of balance in the hips.
Learning to use the hips, walking, triangular postures and angular movement are
fundamental to opening this chakra. Here we make use of the innate survival instinct
along with the pleasure principle to move away from danger or pain and move
toward a solution to the adversity. The duality of existence as reflected in masculine
and feminine principles is another main feature of this chakra. This also brings us to
the subject of sexuality, which ties in to the emotions, pleasure, and desire. Healthy