AboutJonathan Gaines Expertise T`ai Chi and meditation. I am a 30+ year student and teacher of T`ai Chi Ch`uan. My teacher was the late Grand Master Cheng Man-ching with whom I studied for seven years. I am knowledgeable about the principals, practices and the applications of Tai Chi as well as the many benefits and some of the pit falls of practice. I am also knowledgeable about Chi Kung and have developed my own `simple and easy` method. The benefits of T`ai chi Ch`uan and Chi Kung include health and wellness as well as self defense based on principles of yielding rather than resisting. Fascinating! As a life long spiritual seeker I am also knowledgeable about meditation and contemplation. My principle practice is Dzog Chen which I am learning from Chogyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche. The benefits of Dzog Chen are the potential to discover your own mind stream and master it. The point is to enter into the non dualistic state of `no thought` and then learn to be aware of this state while entering into thought. Self liberation from samara and for the sake of all sentient beings is the purpose of Dzog Chen practice.
Expert: Jonathan Gaines Date: 1/16/2008 Subject: Tai Chi or something else for me?
Question I won't ask the "solve all" question of what is best, since it depends on one's expectations, however, for me, I am a 38 year old male, (diabetic, need to lose 20 pounds, stressed and anxious with an increasingly shorter fuse, trouble sleeping - can't shut the brain off due to thoughts racing through my mind, and always in a hurry). I recognize that I need to do something now. Is there a "catch all" technique or do I need to combine a couple activities (Tai Chi, Yoga, push-ups etc.? Although I am an instant gratification type person, I would learn patience if Tai Chi is the correct path for me. I do not have time for gyms to work out or several hours to spend, but would like to minimize the above mentioned issues, or at least upon seeing progress, would allow myself more time for an activity or two. Any suggestions on what would work in my situation, and any order of trying them to begin getting results?
Answer Aloha Beau.
Well kiddo, you have some problems, but don't we all.
The first thing I suggest is to learn how to meditate. This is because a simple meditation practice can address your most pressing issue as I see it, which is the racing mind. The next thing is to improve your diet. Keep it simple with vegetables, just a little meat or fish, no diet sodas are sweets (unless you need a show stopper, something to get you thru the next 5 minutes, know what I mean?)
Then some form of easy going exercise....walking an hour a day cost nothing....practice meditation while walking, stay with your relaxed breathing and connect with the ground.
T'ai Chi is wonderful...I practice the simplified method taught be my master Cheng Man-ching (now deceased. Check out different teachers until you find a humble one who knows very well what they are teaching. Then go to every class and practice every day even tho your legs will hurt until the new strength develops. Plan on a few years work to hit pay dirt!
Here is a easy meditation practice (as easy as it gets but not so easy at first).
Sit on a hard cushion, bring left leg in and place right leg over it...this is the 1/2 lotus posture. Make the spine very straight, relax the shoulders. Eyes not quite closed (eyelids just hang down like curtins. You mind is with your breathing, inhale/exhale...inhale, exhale...20 minutes minimum every morning when you get up. The breathing gradually becomes slower, longer, thin thru the nose and quiet to the ear. After a few days learn to keep you attention in your lower abdomen...in Tai Chi called the Tan Tien. Train each inhale to arise from there, as well as each exhale. Relax, breathe, relax, breathe etc etc etc. No hurry, you are simple, present with your mind awareness (non-conceptual) in every lovely atom of your physical existence.
Over time mediation will become physically comfortable and you will notice your mind beginning to become relaxed, even tranquil. Remember anger has no redeeming value, none what so ever! (Maybe read H.H. The Dalai Lama's book on Healing Anger) So when frustration begins catch it early before the poison's enter your system and you are caught in angers web. Think fondly of everyone, even people who you might judge as less than worthy. hey, they have their own problems so why make things worse???????????
If this practice and lifestyle change appeals to you make it 100 part of your wonderful life!
Jonathan Gaines
P.S. I favor Tibetan medicine for improving any health issue. It is all natural and it works.
