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.
Question I have stammeing at the age of 3. I tried a lot to over come this problem. Can u suggest any therpy to cure stammeing. I am civil enginner and always busy in my work.
Answer Aloha Nixon.
Here are some thoughts and ideas on clear flowing speech.
1'st, notice that I am referring to your goal as "clear flowing speech" as a positive rather than as 'stammering' which has a negative imprint.
In Hawaii I understand that the ancient people here never had a written language, and it was only made as such by the missionary folks in the 1800's. Thus the Hawaiians of old spoke with 'Mana'. Mana is the core vitality, the energy of life. It is know as Chi in Tai Chi Chuan, as Prana in Yogic practices, etc.
Mana is centered in the lower abdomen, our belly. Hawaiians were very centered and in speech each word, phrase, communication was arising from the belly. What this means is when they had something to communicate is came directly from the belly, where as people who learn a written language have to first organize their ideas in words and then into speech.
Thus the Hawaiians, centered with Mana, are not encumbered with the symbolic translation process.
You might work on developing Mana in your belly. This can be assisted by the practice of Tai Chi, or a style of yoga that incorporates Pranayama breathing exercises. However a very qualified teacher is essential so take care in finding a good one. Another practice would be meditation, especially Tibetan Buddhist style that begins with what is called Shiney which is one pointed concentration on an object, such as a vase of flowers, on your relaxed, smooth inhale/exhale, etc.
Any practice you enter into needs commitment such as 1 or 2 hours a day. and i practice session should be early when you first arise in the morning. Stretching, relaxing, loosening, and grounding with the earth will help.
As a engineer I imagine you have much awareness arising in your brain. However there heart and body awareness as well, so anything that can get you out of your head and develop body awareness is good. Light massage may help as the contact and sensations are very body oriented.
I'll close again with the phrase,'Clear flowing speech'....arising from a 'always relaxed lower abdomen'. Easy to say, not so easy to learn. If you follow any of my ideas let me know. Best of good fortune!
