von Hans-Peter Dannenberg | 9.Nov. 2024 | Allgemein
This is a supplementary text from „How can I bear the suffering?“
Train your mind! Nothing else will get you out of this chaos!
The cause of the concentrated mess in our mind is the mind itself, nowhere else. Not „out there“ in the world. Not with our life partners, with our children, with our parents, our neighbors, our bosses, the politicians…etc.
The suffering happens between the ears, or wherever you imagine the human mind. The tragedy of old age, illness and death also takes place there. Not in the body.
Once again: nothing, absolutely nothing, takes place out there. By nothing and no one.
Mind training, often referred to as mental training in Zen Buddhism, is a central aspect on the path to enlightenment, or awakening. That is nothing other than peace!
It is about taming the mind, freeing it from negative emotions and thought patterns and focusing it on what is essential.
Imagine your mind is like a wild horse. Through mental training we learn to ride and steer the horse.
It is not about suppressing or controlling the mind, but rather observing, understanding and accepting it. And it is about discernment. In concrete terms, mental training can take many forms:
*Meditation*: Through meditation we learn to calm the mind and observe thoughts without letting ourselves be carried away by them. “Sitting in silence”, as we call it in Zen circles, is one of the main training methods.
*Mindfulness:* Being mindful in everyday life means consciously perceiving every moment without judging.
*Ethical action:* An important aspect of mental training is to live according to ethical principles and not to harm other beings.
According to Zen Buddhism, mental training is a lifelong process that requires patience, discipline and dedication. But it is worth it because it leads to inner peace, freedom and happiness.
In the context of “A Course in Miracles,” mind training is about consciously directing and changing thoughts. It is a process in which you learn to see through the illusions of the world and instead focus on the reality of the mind.
Kenneth Wapnick, probably the best-known interpreter of the course, describes mind training in his lectures as “unlearning” false thought patterns that separate us from the experience of love and peace.
An important aspect of mind training is forgiveness, which helps us to let go of resentment and guilt.
In the lessons of the course’s workbook, the student is repeatedly asked to observe and question thoughts. It is about recognizing the voice of the ego and no longer following it.
Here, mind training is explained as a path of transformation that leads us to the realization of our true nature.
In Mary Baker Eddy’s Christian Science, mind training is described as follows:
It is understood as a continuous process of spiritual transformation that enables us to see more and more clearly the reality of God (Pure Mind) and our true self as His image. It is about deteaching our minds from the illusions of the material world and mortal thought and aligning ourselves with spiritual reality.
Mary Baker Eddy writes in Science and Health (p. 4): **“The gaze must be turned away from matter and toward the mind in order to grasp the reality of being and to solve the problems of being.“**
This turning away from matter and toward the mind requires constant vigilance and practice. We must learn to observe our thoughts, identify false beliefs and replace them with spiritual truths.
As in Buddhism, there are several pillars of mental training:
*Study* of the Bible and the book “Science and Health”: Daily study of these two books helps to understand the laws of God (the Pure Spirit) and the true nature of man.
*Prayer*: Through prayer we connect with God and open ourselves to His healing influence.
*Vigilance*: We learn to observe our thoughts and actions and recognize negative patterns.
*Practice*: We apply spiritual truths in our everyday lives and thus experience their transformative power.
A notable aspect of “Christian Science” is the emphasis on the synchronicity of mind and body. If the mind is healthy, so is the body. If the mind is sick, so is the body and the person experiences illness.
Mental training in the Bible:
In the Bible, Romans 12:2 says: „Do not be molded by the transitory things of this world, but be transformed from the inside out by the renewing of your mind. Then you will discern what is the will of God, what is good and perfect and acceptable to Him.“
We notice quite clearly: despite cultural differences and temporal differences, there is agreement that it is the spirit that must be trained if man wants to escape the cycle of human tragedy once and for all.
Here is a poem in the format of a Japanese haiku:
Elevate thoughts,
Find the truth in the spirit,
Experience healing.
von Hans-Peter Dannenberg | 9.Nov. 2024 | Allgemein
Dies ist ein Ergänzungstext aus „Wie kann ich das Leid‘ ertragen?“
Geistesschulung: Muss sein! Hilft nix!
Die Ursache für den geballten Schlamassel in unserem Geist, ist der Geist selbst, nirgendwo anders. Nicht „da draussen“ in der Welt. Nicht bei unseren Lebenspartnern, bei unseren Kindern, bei den Eltern, den Nachbarn, den Chefs, den Politikern…usw.
Das Leiden passiert zwischen den Ohren, oder wo immer man sich den menschlichen Geist vorstellt. Auch die Tragik von Alter, Krankheit und Tod findet dort statt. Nicht im Körper.
Noch einmal: nichts, aber auch gar nichts findet da draussen statt. Von nichts und niemandem.
Geistesschulung, im Zen-Buddhismus oft auch als Geistestraining bezeichnet, ist ein zentraler Aspekt auf dem Weg zur Erleuchtung, bzw., zum Erwachen. Das ist nichts Anderes als Frieden!
Es geht darum, den Geist zu zähmen, von negativen Emotionen und Gedankenmustern zu befreien und ihn auf das Wesentliche auszurichten.
Stell dir vor, dein Geist ist wie ein wildes Pferd. Durch Geistesschulung lernen wir das Pferd zu reiten, zu lenken
Dabei geht es nicht darum, den Geist zu unterdrücken oder zu kontrollieren, sondern ihn zu beobachten, zu verstehen und anzunehmen.
Konkret kann Geistesschulung viele Formen annehmen:
*Meditation*: Durch Meditation lernen wir, den Geist zu beruhigen und die Gedanken zu beobachten, ohne das wir uns von ihnen mitreißen zu lassen. Das „Sitzen in Stille“, wie wir das in Zen – Kreisen nennen, ist eine der Haupt – Trainingsmethoden.
*Achtsamkeit:* Im Alltag achtsam zu sein bedeutet, jeden Moment bewusst wahrzunehmen, ohne zu urteilen.
*Ethisches Handeln:* Ein wichtiger Aspekt der Geistesschulung ist es, nach ethischen Prinzipien zu leben und anderen Wesen nicht zu schaden.
Geistesschulung ist, so der Zen – Buddhismus, ein lebenslanger Prozess, der Geduld, Disziplin und Hingabe erfordert. Aber er lohnt sich, denn er führt zu innerem Frieden, Freiheit und Glück.
Im Kontext von „Ein Kurs in Wundern“ geht es bei der Geistesschulung darum, die Gedanken bewusst zu lenken und zu verändern. Es ist ein Prozess, in dem gelernt wird, die Illusionen der Welt zu durchschauen und sich stattdessen auf die Realität des Geistes zu konzentrieren.
Kenneth Wapnick, der wohl bekannteste Interpret des Kurses, beschreibt Geistesschulung in seinen Vorträgen als das „Entlernen“ falscher Denkmuster, die uns von der Erfahrung der Liebe und des Friedens trennen.
Ein wichtiger Aspekt der Geistesschulung ist die Vergebung, die uns hilft, Groll und Schuldgefühle loszulassen.
In den Lektionen des Übungsbuchs des Kurses wird der Schüler immer wieder aufgefordert, die Gedanken zu beobachten und zu hinterfragen. Es geht darum, die Stimme des Egos zu erkennen und ihr nicht länger zu folgen.
Hier wird Geistesschulung zu einem Weg der Transformation, der uns zur Erkenntnis unserer wahren Natur führt, erklärt.
In der Christlichen Wissenschaft der Mary Baker Eddy wird Geistesschulung wie folgt beschrieben:
Sie wird als ein kontinuierlicher Prozess der geistigen Transformation verstanden, der uns befähigt, die Realität Gottes (Reiner Geist) und unseres wahren Selbst als sein Abbild immer klarer zu erkennen. Es geht darum, unsere Gedanken von den Illusionen der materiellen Welt und des sterblichen Denkens zu lösen und uns auf die geistige Wirklichkeit auszurichten.
Mary Baker Eddy schreibt in Wissenschaft und Gesundheit (S. 4): **„Der Blick muss von der Materie abgewandt und auf den Geist gerichtet werden, um die Realität des Seins zu erfassen und um die Probleme des Seins zu lösen.“**
Diese Abkehr von der Materie und Hinwendung zum Geist erfordert ständige Wachsamkeit und Übung. Wir müssen lernen, unsere Gedanken zu beobachten, falsche Überzeugungen zu identifizieren und durch geistige Wahrheiten zu ersetzen.
Wie im Buddhismus, gibt es auch hier mehrere Säulen des Geistestrainings:
*Studium* der Bibel und von dem Buch „Wissenschaft und Gesundheit“: Das tägliche Studium dieser beiden Bücher hilft, die Gesetze Gottes (des Reinen Geistes) und die wahre Natur des Menschen zu verstehen.
*Gebet*: Durch das Gebet verbinden wir uns mit Gott und öffnen uns für Ihren heilenden Einfluss.
*Wachsamkeit*: Wir lernen, unsere Gedanken und Handlungen zu beobachten und negative Muster zu erkennen.
*Übung*: Wir wenden die geistigen Wahrheiten in unserem Alltag an und erleben so ihre transformative Kraft.
Ein bemerkenswerter Aspekt der „Christlichen Wissenschaft“ ist das Hervorheben der Synchronizität von Geist und Körper. Ist der Geist heil, ist es auch der Körper. Ist der Geist krank, ist es auch der Körper und der Mensch erfährt Krankheit.
Geistesschulung in der Bibel:
Die Bibel ist voll von Beispielen für Geistesschulung. Jesus lehrte seine Jünger, ihre Gedanken auf Gott auszurichten und sich von den Versuchungen der Welt nicht verführen zu lassen.
In der Bibel heißt es in Römer 12,2: „Lass dich nicht von den vergänglichen Werten dieser Welt formen, sondern lass Gott dich von innen heraus verwandeln durch die Erneuerung deines Denkens. Dann wirst du erkennen, was Gottes Wille ist – was gut und vollkommen und Ihm wohlgefällig ist.“
Wir bemerken ziemlich eindeutig: trotz kultureller Unterschiede und zeitlicher Verschiebung, besteht Einigkeit darin, dass es der Geist ist, der geschult werden muss, will der Mensch aus dem Kreislauf der menschlichen Tragik ein für allemal aussteigen.
Hierzu ein Gedicht im Format eines japanischen Haiku:
Gedanken erheben,
Im Geist die Wahrheit finden,
Heilung erfahren.
von Hans-Peter Dannenberg | 22.Okt. 2024 | Allgemein
„Surrounded and trapped by the thicket of suffering, we do not see the light at the end of the path.“
Some time ago, an email arrived with a simple but profound question:
„Dear ladies and gentlemen,
I have been suffering since my husband committed suicide.
How can I bear the suffering?
Thanks and best wishes.“
That sounded serious and suggested great distress. There was a deep despair in these manageable sentences. The minimalist content suggested that the author was not just trying to express his heartache.
Without much ado, without exaggerated tragedy or expressions of pity, someone typed his despair into the keyboard and formulated his request for help succinctly and precisely: „I am suffering! How can I bear it? Thank you. Best wishes.“ He was only looking for an answer in the hope of pain relief.
I was impressed and touched at the same time. And although I am usually inclined to waste both time and leisure in answering ‚life questions‘,“ I felt the need to send a few lines back immediately.
It was clear to me: Leander Crohn did not want any flat, esoteric babble. He already knew all this. I had the feeling that he had covered all the usual topics in intellectual, religious and spiritual fields.
As it turned out in the course of our subsequent „conversations,“ the feeling turned out to be correct.
Leander Crohn and I have never met in person, neither face to face, nor on the phone or during an online meeting. We don’t actually know each other, and yet we are spiritually close. Our encounters took place on a spiritual level and are expressed in the written word. And one more thing: this is not a story born of mere imagination. All of this was revealed truthfully and vividly in the lives of two people living in this world.
The email exchange between me and Leander Crohn will be published here over the next few weeks and months at variable but binding intervals. Because in a world full of tragedy and drama, a world in which the sword of Damocles of transience constantly hangs over us, many people ask themselves exactly this question:
„How can I bear the suffering?“
Hans-Peter Dannenberg (Thundering Silence)
Mail 1
Ladies and gentlemen,
I have been suffering since my husband committed suicide.
How can I bear the suffering?
Thanks and kind regards,
Leander Crohn
Answer
Hello Leander Crohn,
I don’t know.
I could offer you some pleasant-sounding platitudes from various areas of spirituality, but that wouldn’t help you. So I don’t want to fool you and repeat:
I don’t know, because I don’t know you. I don’t know anything about you. I don’t know what makes you tick inside, I don’t know where you stand, I don’t know anything about your life.
You are basically asking THE big question of humanity: how can I bear suffering? There are answers to this. But there is not the ONE answer for all of us. Everyone has their own path.
Death is a big challenge. And if it is the suicide of a loved one, then there is usually another lump that is hard to swallow: GUILT.
I don’t know you, so I don’t know whether and how you have already looked into the question. Perhaps you are in a self-help group, or are currently in therapy?
In my opinion, mental training is ultimately the only way. The problem lies in the mind…and also the solution. Only in the mind answers can be found. The truth about suffering, about death, about guilt and – most importantly – about yourself. Freedom is always the freedom of the mind. That is where we have to look. Not out there in the matrix, the world of madness.
I would like to assure you of one thing: the „reality of the world“ is different from how it appears in our imagination. „Imaginations take precedence over reality,“ Zen master Harry Mi Sho Teske once said.
„There is an end of suffering,“ preaches the Buddha. And it is worth pursuing this daring statement. Jesus promised the same thing. And where the two also agreed was the point that the suffering that makes us so desperate and breathless is, on the other hand, the gateway to peace and can be found nowhere else but in the mind.
Life is constantly presenting us with lessons. If we pass them, great. If not, we are presented with them again. Until we get it.
Be careful. I’m just noticing how I’m slipping dangerously close to the platitudes mentioned above. That’s why I’d better end here.
One last tip: look for a path, your way. Feel inside yourself – what seems right to you. Research and discover. Where do you notice resonance!? Buddhism, Christ, Advaita Vedanta, or whatever. Look closely. And maybe you can open yourself up to a path.
A teacher can also be helpful for a while.
I apologize for not being able to offer you anything concrete in your time of need. But you are your own person, unique. You need a „plan“ that is unique to you.
Please get in touch if you need it!
I wish you and your husband all the best from the bottom of my heart.
Hans-Peter Dannenberg
**Addition:**
How can I endure suffering? This question contains a serious error! At least from a spiritual point of view. It implies that suffering is an irrevocable fact in our lives and we can only try to find a way to endure it, to accept it.
Suffering is an invention of the ego. It is nothing more than a persistent misunderstanding.
Instead of: „How can I endure suffering?“, it should be: „What is the cause of suffering?“. Because if you know the cause, you are simultaneously given the means to be free from suffering.
By the way: the sender’s name has been changed.
Mail 2
Hello Mr Dannenberg,
You have helped me a lot with your words.
I expect psychotherapy.
A circle of friends is supportive.
I always felt drawn to the Far Eastern worldview.
No answer here and now, that is a strange relief for me.
Spiritual reality does not allow for words.
That is why it seems undervalued to me.
I would like to get in touch for my „further plan“ that you are formulating.
With thanks and kind regards
Leander Crohn
Mail 2 answer
Dear Leander Crohn!
The „further plan“ has already been formulated. However, neither by me nor by you.
At least not by the part that you consider to be Leander.
I would like to accompany you in this. And perhaps together we can identify the resistance that is likely to arise and find a helpful way of dealing with it.
Psychotherapy is mostly about helping you deal with yourself. How do I deal with my fears in everyday life, with my grief, with all the emotional pitfalls that push me to the limits of what I can bear? Often traumatic events are uncovered and examined. The therapist then tries to find ways to deal with them in a healthy, healing way together with the person affected.
What we want to do is train the mind. The mind is the creator of our world of experience. And only the mind!
And to get straight to the point: it is not external circumstances, conditions, events or people that are responsible for our suffering. NEVER! Never! Never!
„Yes…but,“ I often hear.
No „Yes…but.“
Judging by your words, I think this is no news to you. You already thought of it. You suspect it. But what should you do with this suspicion? Look! At the source, mind, God, Buddha, etc. Train the mind.
Psychotherapy and mental training go well together for a while. Both can be mutually beneficial for a while. It’s not about fighting the ego and possibly trying to get rid of it. That’s what spiritual circles like to propagate. But it’s complete nonsense. It’s more about questioning the dominance of the ego and pushing it from the front row back to its assigned place.
That’s it for today.
I’d like to suggest an „exercise“ to you the next time we meet. A mental exercise. It’s going to be exciting because:
„The ball that’s now rolling will pick up speed.
Best wishes from the north,
Hans-Peter Dannenberg
Mail 3: The mind! A false prophet!
Hello Mr. Dannenberg, Your words in responding to my inquiries open my interest.
I thank you for that. After some reflection, I feel that excessive restraint can be stupid. I’m currently receiving the email. For this reason, I think that information via email, which may be public anyway, is important for starting a helpful exchange. This is still important to me at the moment. We’ll see what happens next. So a few quick facts:
1. Age 66
2. Study
3. Diploma
4. World views open
5. More of a loner
6. Introverted
7. Seeking “meaning” for 66 years
8. Interested in metaphysics, transcendence
9. No “answers”
10. No “judgments”
11. Philosophy, “Theology”
At the moment I feel that rationality and irrationality are equally important. Monism and dualism worth considering. Search for „salvation“ thoughtfully. Search for “Savior” very questionable. Suffering from transience cannot be rationally overcome. Unable to cope with suffering at all. Acceptance is important, but not accessible to me. Still. I feel that this initial information can initially provide access and be enough. Thank you for your efforts and helpful openness.
Kind regards
Mail 3 Answer
Dear Mr. Crohn!
You have given me a few key points about yourself. Thank you for that.
I would like to find out more about you.
Would you be willing/able to tell me what you understand by “love”?
What does “happiness” mean to you?
What disappoints you?
What hurts you?
Are there moments when you feel “one” with everything? Connected?
Do you believe that we have “free will”?
These are very personal questions. If you don’t want to answer me, that’s fine, of course. But I would recommend that you take the questions yourself and “dig” as deeply as possible.
Especially the question about “love”.
And last but not least, a “koan”:
“Who were you before your parents were born?”
And as another “last but not least” idea:
“What if there is nothing “out there”?”
With kind regards,
Hans-Peter Dannenberg
**Addition** It is impressively clear how much power is attributed to the “power of the ego – mind”. This is not surprising, as we are so conditioned to our mind, our intellect, from birth. This is where we hope to find the solutions to all human problems. A sharp mind, analytical thinking, promises a successful life. However, a sharp mind also restricts us to a considerable extent. The mind, like the body, is a tool of the ego and is not connected to our heart, our intuition. It is a program created to raise the ego to a pedestal and keep it there. However, this program has caught a virus from the very beginning: separation. In addition, the mind, like the body, subject to transience. But more on that later.
von Hans-Peter Dannenberg | 19.Juni 2022 | Achtsamkeit, Allgemein, Gong Fu, Kloster Otterberg, Kung Fu, Meditation, Qi Gong, Tai Chi, Zen
„Don’t ask so much. Just do it!“
As a young person, I found things like Qi Gong and Tai Ji to be rather boring. Too little action, too little power. Nothing that I had in my mind. I wanted martial arts the way Bruce Lee and later Jackie Chan did. There had to be battle cries, hand edges, kicks and acrobatic high jumps. That was cool – I thought. Anyway! When I twisted my knee at a judo tournament and was carried off the mat, my enthusiasm for action and fighting vanished.
In this wild and disoriented time it was hardly possible for me to grasp the essence of the Qi – Gong discipline, which is inseparable from martial arts. During the meditation sessions during the long Zen sesshins in early years, I found the exercises of Qi Gong and Tai Ji to be very pleasant because they relaxed the tense body regions in the leg/hip and back areas. However, I couldn’t get more out of it.
After years of ignoring Qi Gong, I began to get a vague idea of the effect and depth of this gentle and harmonious „movement meditation“ after another „accidental encounter“. Things changed, things showed up, things cleared up, and: things got better. Not dramatically „straightforward“. No, rather gently and harmoniously through the back door.
I started to wonder how does this work? What’s behind it? The mind wanted answers. Preferably as intellectually as possible…preferably in the form of scientific papers. Checked and confirmed. So I signed up for the Qi Gong retreat at the Shaolin Monastery in Otterberg.
I’ve been there before, at the „temporary monastery“, so I should have known: people only talk very sparingly here, but practice all the more here. Shifu Shi Heng Yi led the retreat and instead of lengthy explanations, we immediately went to the practice site. More than 20 participants had gathered here in Otterberg to learn or deepen the Qi Gong sequence „Yi Jin Jing“ over the next few days.
Although the focus was on the practical exercise of the movement sequences, there were always explanations on the individual aspects of Qi Gong such as breathing, energy, movement, mindfulness, but also on topics that went much more in-depth. And they really had it all. Inspiring and eye opening!
Something I like to share.
Mindfulness: Healing and Freedom!
Qi Gong trains mindfulness/awareness. Qigong is mindfulness. The concentration on the movements, on the flow of the breath. Mindfulness means paying attention; conscious, in the present moment and non-judgmental. A Zen master was once asked why he was always so relaxed and balanced. He replied: „When I drink tea, I drink tea. When I eat, I eat and when we both talk, I listen to you.“ The questioner said: „But we do that too!“ „No,“ replied the master. „When you drink tea, your mind is elsewhere. Perhaps with your family or work. When you eat, you read the newspaper. When you talk, you are not with the other person. You are only with your own ideas.“
If we are not mindful, we live past – reality. Life is constantly overtaking us and we don’t even realize it. Reality is only in this moment.
And one more thing: body awareness (mindfulness) brings us into contact with our inner world and allows us to look into the landscape of our organism. Physically as well as mentally. We simply become aware of our blockages, our anger, our „construction sites“.
Fear, nervousness, grief, whatever is slumbering in us and always tormentingly interferes with our lives: Awareness or mindfulness immediately helps us to change our perspective and opens up new options. Unlike our automatic, habitual responses.
We perceive the impermanence of our feelings and perceptions. When we pay attention to bodily sensations, we can see the ebb and flow of our emotions. And with that, we increase our control over them.
Practical mindfulness, i.e. Qi Gong, calms the sympathetic nervous system, which ensures that you are less thrown into „fight or flight“ mode. This opens up the possibility of observing and at best tolerating the corresponding physical reactions.
However, „natural mindfulness“ only works when we no longer have to remind ourselves to be mindful. Therefore it is important that the Qi Gong exercise becomes second nature to us. That means we should practice regularly. Otherwise we are too often stuck in physical as well as mental movement.
Challenge: One Qi Gong unit every day in the morning and evening for 3 weeks. After that it has become a habit and regular practice is no longer difficult for you.
Fascia – „autobahn“ of energy
Qi means life energy, Gong stands for work or exercise. The Qi Gong practitioner works with life energy.
This energy is everywhere. In each of us, in every animal, in every plant. Every room is filled with it. It is in the earth as well as in the water. There is not a single space in the universe without this energy. In every animate and inanimate matter. Only the frequency or the vibration is different.
Most people don’t know about this energy. Accordingly, they also do not know that this energy decreases over time, but that you can do something to replenish this energy.
If the life energy decreases, the person becomes weak, sick and dies. What makes her lose weight? Stress, lack of exercise, little sleep, bad food… and way ahead: negative thoughts. An eternally restless mind with destructive content noticeably drains one’s life energy.
If we practice Qi Gong, we use the mind, keep the body moving, and thus supply our organism with life energy. Very practical and lifelike. This also has nothing to do with esoteric mumbo-jumbo. Try it.
Interesting is the statement of Shifu, the energy moves on the fascia of the muscles. The fascia as a kind of highway of the body. The fascial system (fascial network) is the only system that is continuously connected from top to bottom. All other structures have interruptions in their path.
Frequency
At school, my interest in physics was always very limited. That has basically not changed until today.
However, I think the topic „energy – frequency“ is pretty interesting in the context of human consciousness, because it is easy to understand and conclusive. Even for me. Each of us is more or less endowed with energy. And energy always vibrates at some frequency. Every healthy cell, every organ in the human body vibrates at a certain frequency, and every deviation from the biological norm is reflected in a change in this frequency. Most of these changes don’t bode well. Wouldn’t it be a blessing if there was the possibility of keeping this frequency stable in a healthy vibration, or leading it back into a healthy vibration?
There are many ways to change the frequency and thus influence the mood and well-being of people. Both positive and negative.
Physical movement provides life energy and a „stable frequency“. A clear, mindful mind as well. Conscious breathing carries everything to its right place. All of this is included in the practice of Qi Gong.
Qi Gong and breathing!
The breath plays a major role in Qi Gong. A lot of books have been written about it. So I would like to keep this brief. The breath acts like a taxi, guiding the Qi through the body. Guided by the mind.
Experienced Qi Gong practitioners are even able to navigate this life energy to certain parts of the body with the help of their breath. In this way, blockages can be released, or impressive physical abilities can be accomplished: halve several bricks with the edges of your hands, splinter a wooden slat over your head or stomach, or lie on the tips of a sword without the aspirant being pierced. In my opinion, these exercises are somehow pointless, but they show the power of the mind. And that’s what it’s all about.
The breath is also an excellent object of meditation. When you focus on the breath, other (disturbing) factors have little chance of taking over your mind. The breath plays the most important role in Zen meditation. Sit! Sit and just breathe. Incredibly difficult!
Fine tuning of body and mind!
I think the „fine tuning“ aspect was the aspect that led me to get an inkling that Qi Gong had to be more than a simple „wellness exercise“. And I can’t really put that into words. There was a sense of a finer awareness of the body. Outside and inside. This also seemed to lead to a finer perception of the spiritual content. Logically somehow. In sport it is said: the mind goes first, the body follows. But it also works in the other direction.
You’re more intimate to what is happening in the body as well as in the mind. There is a feeling of „togetherness“. Before there was the feeling of: there is my body, there is my spirit. Now it is: I am – body and mind. I am that. There is nothing separate. Now just imagine if this feeling were not limited to your own body and mind, but also to the so-called „outside“. Unthinkable. A revolution. Some call this enlightenment.
From the 10000 things back to the one!
During the retreat, Shifu Shi Heng Yi first drew a simple circle in the sand of the „Arena“. In Zen/Chan this circle is the symbol of unity. Everything springs from this unity. I was impressed that he could get a really round circle. Just like that, with a branch lying there on the edge of the arena. Then he drew a second circle. This time the yin-yan symbol was drawn in the circle as a sign of duality (twoness). The world in which human life takes place. The world of contrasts: small and large. Good and bad, empty and full…etc. And the third circle contained the 10,000 things. In Buddhism, these „10,000 things“ symbolize the infinite variety of all phenomena. In other words, everything that creeps and flees in the universe and that we can perceive as an object.
When we practice Qi Gong, we initially isolate all aspects of the practice. There is the breath we focus on. Then we take care of the correct sequence of movements, the correct hand position, the rotation of the upper body. We try to keep our mind calm, because otherwise we will not be able to harmonize breath and movement.
After a period of practice, everything comes together again…into unity. Then there is no breath, no movement, no mind, no more practitioners. To be compared with listening to a piece of music that moves you, or looking at a work of art, on a walk in nature. Everything has become „One“. A revolution. Some call this enlightenment.
Spongebob !
Shi Heng Yi: It’s like a sponge: squeeze (compression) and release (expansion).
Life is tension and relaxation. Open and close. Accept and let go. Expansion and compression. Life and Death – Life is expansion, death is compression. Like everything in human existence. Inhale and exhale. Muscles have to be tensed and relaxed before they can achieve the desired range of effects.
We also find this principle in Qi Gong. We open the spine and close it. We stretch and we shrink. Both are necessary, otherwise there is stagnation or one-sidedness. A principle of life. Both must take place so that the dynamics of a healthy life can experienced. Both principles must be equally active or passive. Otherwise, we experience an imbalance, an unhealthy instability in our lives.
In today’s society, one principle seems to have gained the upper hand: Compression, or tension! Stress, burn-out, mental decompensation. And as an unwanted and uncontrollable „forced relief“: depression!
Qi Gong can bring us closer to this principle of compression and expansion in a gentle way. Our subconscious remembers and passes this message to the conscious mind.
„The Pain of Comfort- The Pain of Laziness!
At the end of the retreat in Otterberg we were still sitting comfortably with the Shifu under a large pine tree. He answered our questions and provided us with many statements about Qi Gong practice and the advice that one can talk about anything, but the point is to do it. Action is the only way to get results. And then when he talked about „the pain of laziness“, I almost felt caught. In fact, I think he looked at me with a grin on his face and meant me. It definitely was. It must have.
I do a lot of sports. However, I have to incorporate regular stretching and strength exercises into my daily routine so that my back and other parts of my body don’t ruin my day with pain. But I don’t do that regularly. I’m a lazy guy. I do it when it hurts. How stupid actually…and how fitting isn’t Shifu’s statement!?
The pain of laziness! Doesn’t sound particularly charming, but hits the nail on the head. At least for me. Basically, we only „get into the slippers“ when something hurts. Physically or mentally. Then the howling is great and we wallow in self-pity. We are all experiencing that. With ourselves or with others.
Well: for my part, I have made it my goal to practice regularly. The positive aspects of the Qi Gong exercise listed above are simply too overwhelming to continue to pay homage to and uphold the „laziness“. I was already allowed to taste the sweet nectar. it would be stupid not to pay attention to this delicacy in the future. What do you think?
Well then…cheers!
What I would like to mention here: I have never dealt intellectually with the topic of Qi Gong. I’ve never read a book about it either. Actually I have no idea at all. Perhaps the 25 years of ZEN practice are responsible for a certain openness towards the topic and the feeling that behind the curtain of the obvious, a real treasure can often be revealed. And of course the very practical experiences that happened to me while practicing. On the one hand there is meditation in silence, on the other hand meditation in motion. Zen Master Hakuin once said that the supreme meditation is meditation during everyday experience. When moving, when speaking, when working, during an argument, when breathing…every day-to-day action.
With the above text, I would like to share my experiences and thoughts related to my own Qi Gong practice…garnished with the Shifus performed during the Yi Jin Jing Retreat in June 2022. And if things go well, these words might motivate one or the other to dedicate themselves to the topic. In my opinion Qi Gong is much more than a wellness discipline. It is a complete path to holistic knowledge. Certainly, regular practice supports a healthy physical and mental life.
Amituofo!
By the way: have you ever seen the free videos from Master Shi Heng Yi about Qi Gong on his website? If not…do it:
www.shihengyi.online
von Hans-Peter Dannenberg | 19.Juni 2022 | Allgemein, Gong Fu, Kloster Otterberg, Qi Gong, Tai Chi
„Frag´ nicht so vielviel. Mach´ es einfach!“
Als junger Mensch empfand ich solche Sachen wie Qi Gong und Tai Ji als eher langweilig. Zu wenig Action, zu wenig Power – dachte ich. So ganz und gar nicht meinen Vorstellungen entsprechend. Ich wollte Kampfkunst a´ la Bruce Lee und später Jackie Chan. Da mussten Kampfgeschrei, Handkanten, Fußtritte und meterhohe Sprünge her. Das war cool – fand ich. War es auch. Irgendwie. Als ich dann aber bei einem Judo – Turnier mein Knie verdrehte und von der Matte getragen wurde, schwand auch hier die Begeisterung für Action und Kampfgetümmel.
In dieser wilden und orientierungslosen Zeit war es mir kaum möglich, die Essenz dieser von Kampfkunst nicht zu trennenden Disziplin zu erfassen. Bei den Meditationssitzungen während der langen Zen – Sesshins empfand ich die Übungen des Qi Gong und Tai Ji als sehr angenehm, weil sie die angespannten Körperregionen im Bereich Beine/Hüfte und Rücken auflockerten. Mehr konnte ich den Übungen allerdings nicht abgewinnen.
Nach Jahren der Ignoranz gegenüber Qi Gong begann ich nach einem abermals „zufälligen Aufeinandertreffen“ eine vage Ahnung von der Wirkung und der Tiefe dieser sanften und harmonischen „Bewegungsmeditation“ zu erhaschen. Dinge veränderten sich, Dinge zeigten sich, Dinge klärten sich, und: Dinge verbesserten sich. Nicht dramatisch „mit der Tür ins Haus fallend“. Nein, eher sanft und harmonisch durch die Hintertür.
Ich begann mich zu fragen, wie funktioniert das? Was steckt dahinter? Der Verstand wollte Antworten. Gern so intellektuell wie möglich…am besten in Form wissenschaftlicher Abhandlungen. Geprüft und bestätigt. Also meldete ich mich zum Qi Gong Retreat im Shaolin Kloster in Otterberg an.
Ich war schon mal vor Ort, beim „Kloster auf Zeit“, deshalb hätte ich es wissen müssen: hier wird nur sehr sparsam geredet, hier wird umso mehr praktiziert. Shifu Shi Heng Yi leitete das Retreat und anstatt langatmiger Ausführungen ging es sofort auf den Übungsplatz. Mehr als 20 Teilnehmer/innen hatten sich hier in Otterberg eingefunden, um an den nächsten Tagen die Qi Gong Abfolge „Yi Jin Jing“ zu erlernen, oder zu vertiefen.
Zwar stand im Vordergrund das praktische Üben der Bewegungsabläufe, dennoch gab es immer wieder Erklärungen zu den einzelnen Aspekten des Qi Gong wie Atmung, Energie, Bewegung, Achtsamkeit, aber auch zu Themen, die doch sehr viel mehr in die Tiefe gingen. Und die hatten es wirklich in sich, wie ich finde.
Ich erlaube mir mal, diese Aspekte gemäß meines Verständnisses, hier preis zu geben.
Achtsamkeit: Heilung und Freiheit!
Qi Gong schult die Achtsamkeit. Qi Gong ist Achtsamkeit. Die Konzentration auf die Bewegungen, auf das Fließen des Atems. Achtsamkeit bedeutet, aufmerksam zu sein; bewusst, im gegenwärtigen Moment und ohne zu bewerten. Ein Zenmeister wurde mal gefragt, warum er immer so entspannt und ausgeglichen sei. Er entgegnete: „Wenn ich Tee trinke, dann trinke ich Tee. Wenn ich esse, dann esse ich und wenn wir beide uns unterhalten, höre ich Dir zu.“ Der Fragesteller meinte:“Aber das machen wir doch auch!“ „Nein“, antwortete der Meister.“Wenn ihr Tee trinkt, seid ihr mit den Gedanken woanders. Vielleicht bei Eurer Familie. Wenn ihr esst, lest ihr Zeitung. Wenn ihr Euch unterhaltet, seid ihr nicht bei Eurem Gegenüber. Ihr seid nur bei dem was ihr selbst erzählen wollt.“
Wenn wir nicht achtsam sind, leben wir an der Realität vorbei. Das Leben überholt uns ständig und wir bekommen es gar nicht mit. Realität ist immer nur in diesem Moment.
Und noch etwas: Körperbewusstheit (Achtsamkeit) bringt uns in Kontakt mit unserer inneren Welt und gewährt einen Blick in die Landschaft unseres Organismus´. Körperlich, wie auch mental. Wir werden uns einfach unserer Blockaden, unserem Ärger, unseren „Baustellen“ bewusst.
Angst, Nervosität, Trauer, was auch immer in uns schlummert und immer wieder quälend in unser Leben eingreift: Bewusstheit, bzw. Achtsamkeit, hilft uns sofort unsere Perspektive zu ändern und eröffnet neue Optionen. Anders als unsere automatischen, gewohnheitsmäßigen Reaktionen.
Wir nehmen die Vergänglichkeit unserer Gefühle und Wahrnehmungen wahr. Wenn wir den Körperempfindungen Aufmerksamkeit schenken, können wir das Auf und Ab unserer Emotionen erkennen. Und damit erhöhen wir unsere Kontrolle über sie.
Praktische Achtsamkeit, also Qi Gong, beruhigt das sympathische Nervensystem, was dafür sorgt, weniger in den „Kampf oder Flucht“ – Modus geworfen zu werden. Das eröffnet die Möglichkeit, die entsprechenden körperlichen Reaktionen zu beobachten und bestenfalls zu tolerieren.
„Natürliche Achtsamkeit“ funktioniert allerdings erst dann, wenn wir uns nicht mehr daran erinnern müssen, achtsam zu sein. Deshalb ist es wichtig, dass uns die Qi Gong Übung in Fleisch und Blut übergeht. Das bedeutet, wir sollten regelmäßig üben. Ansonsten stecken wir zu oft in der körperlichen, wie auch mentalen Bewegung fest.
Challenge: 3 Wochen lang jeden Tag morgens und abends jeweils eine Qi Gong Einheit. Danach ist es eine Gewohnheit geworden und Dir fällt regelmäßiges Üben nicht mehr schwer.
Faszien – Autobahn der Energie
Qi bedeutet Lebensenergie, Gong steht für Arbeit, oder Übung. Der Qi Gong – Praktizierende arbeitet also mit der Lebensenergie.
Diese Energie befindet sich überall. In jedem von uns, in jedem Tier, jeder Pflanze. Jeder Raum ist erfüllt davon. Sie steckt in der Erde genauso wie im Wasser. Es gibt keinen Millimeter im Universum ohne diese Energie. In jeder belebten und unbelebten Materie. Lediglich die Frequenz, bzw. die Schwingung, ist unterschiedlich.
Die meisten Menschen wissen nicht um diese Energie. Dementsprechend wissen sie auch nicht, das diese Energie mit der Zeit abnimmt, das man aber etwas dafür tun kann, diese Energie wieder aufzufüllen.
Nimmt die Lebensenergie ab, wird der Mensch schwach, krank und stirbt. Wodurch nimmt sie ab? Stress, Bewegungsmangel, wenig Schlaf, schlechtes Essen…und ganz weit vorn: negative Gedanken. Ein ewig unruhiger Geist mit destruktivem Inhalt entzieht einem merklich die Lebensenergie.
Praktizieren wir Qi Gong nutzen wir den Geist, halten den Körper in Bewegung, und führen unserem Organismus somit Lebensenergie zu. Ganz praktisch und lebensnah´. Das hat auch nichts mit esoterischem Hokuspokus zu tun. Probier´ es aus.
Interessant ist die Aussage vom Shifu, die Energie bewege sich auf den Faszien des Muskulatur. Die Faszien quasi als Autobahn des Körpers. Das Fasziensystem (Fasziennetz) ist das einzige System, das von oben bis unten durchgängig in Verbindung steht. Alle anderen Strukturen weisen auf ihrem Weg Unterbrechungen auf.
Frequenz
In der Schule hielt sich mein Interesse an Physik immer sehr in Grenzen. Das hat sich im Grunde nicht geändert bis heute.
Allerdings finde ich das Thema „Energie – Frequenz“ im Kontext zum menschlichen Bewusstsein gar nicht so übel, weil gut verständlich und schlüssig. Sogar für mich. Jeder von uns ist mehr oder weniger mit Energie versehen. Und Energie schwingt immer auf irgendeiner Frequenz. Jede gesunde Zelle, jedes Organ des menschlichen Körpers schwingt mit einer bestimmten Frequenz, und jede Abweichung von der biologischen Norm spiegelt sich in einer Veränderung dieser Frequenz wider. Diese Veränderungen verspricht meist nichts Gutes. Wäre es da nicht ein Segen, gäbe es die Möglichkeit diese Frequenz stabil in einer gesunde Schwingung zu halten, bez., wieder in eine gesunde Schwingung zurück zu führen?
Es gibt vielerlei Möglichkeiten, die Frequenz zu verändern und somit die Befindlichkeit und das Wohlbefinden des Menschen zu beeinflussen. Positiv wie negativ.
Körperliche Bewegung sorgt für Lebensenergie und eine „stabile Frequenz“. Ein klarer, achtsamer Geist ebenso. Eine bewußte Atmung trägt alles zu seinem rechten Platz. Das alles ist in der Übung des Qi Gong enthalten.
Qi Gong und das Atmen!
Der Atem spielt eine übergeordnete Rolle im Qi Gong. Da sind eine Menge Bücher drüber verfasst worden. Deshalb möchte ich mich diesbezüglich auch kurz halten. Der Atem fungiert quasi als Taxi, und führt das Qi, also die Lebensenergie, durch den Körper. Vom Geist geleitet.
Geübte Qi Gong Praktizierende sind sogar in der Lage, diese Lebensenergie mit Hilfe des Atems in bestimmte Körperregionen zu navigieren. So können Blockaden gelöst, oder auch beeindruckende körperliche Fähigkeiten vollzogen werden: mit Handkanten mehrere Ziegelsteine halbieren, eine Holzlatte über Kopf oder Bauch zersplittern lassen, oder auf Schwertspitzen liegen, ohne das der Aspirant durchbohrt wird. Diese Übungen sind meiner Meinung zwar völlig sinnfrei, zeigen aber die Macht des Geistes. Und das ist es, worum es geht.
Zudem ist der Atem ein hervorragendes Meditationsobjekt. Wenn Du Dich auf den Atem konzentrierst, haben andere (störende) Faktoren nur wenig Chance, sich in Deinem Geist breit zu machen. Der Atem spielt in der Zen – Meditation DIE große Rolle. Sitzen! Sitzen und einfach nur atmen. Unglaublich schwer!
Feintuning von Körper und Geist!
Ich glaube, der Aspekt des „Finetunings“ war der Aspekt, der mich dazu brachte, eine Ahnung davon zu bekommen, dass Qi Gong mehr sein muss, als eine simple „Wellness Übung“. Und ich kann das gar nicht so recht in Worte fassen. Da war ein Gefühl einer feineren Wahrnehmung des Körpers. Aussen wie innen. Dadurch schien es auch zu einer feineren Wahrnehmung der Geistesinhalte zu kommen.Aber logisch irgendwie. Im Sport heißt es: der Geist geht voran, der Körper folgt. Aber auch in die andere Richtung funktioniert es.
Man ist dichter dran. An dem was im Körper, wie auch im Geist passiert. Es entsteht ein Gefühl von „Zusammengehörigkeit“. Vorher war da das Gefühl von: da ist mein Körper, da ist mein Geist. Nun ist es: ich bin – Körper und Geist. Ich bin das. Da ist nichts voneinander getrennt. Nun stelle man sich bloß mal vor, dieses Gefühl wäre nicht beschränkt auf den eigenen Körper und Geist, sondern auch auf das so genannte „Äußere“. Gar nicht auszudenken. Eine Revolution. Manche nennen das Erleuchtung.
Von den 10000 Dingen zurück zum Einen!
Während des Retreats malte Shifu Shi Heng Yi zuerst einen simplen Kreis in den Sand der „Arena“. Im Zen/Chan ist dieser Kreis das Symbol der Einheit. Alles entspringt dieser Einheit. Ich war beeindruckt, dass er einen wirklich runden Kreis hinbekam. Einfach so, mit einem Ast der da am Rande der Arena lag. Dann malte er einen zweiten Kreis. Diesmal war das Yin-Yan Symbol in dem Kreis als Zeichen für die Dualität (Zweiheit) eingezeichnet. Die Welt in der das menschliche Leben stattfindet. Die Welt der Gegensätze: klein und groß. Gut und böse, leer und voll…usw. Wir kennen das. Und der dritte Kreis beinhaltete die 10 000 Dinge. Diese „10 000 Dinge“ symbolisieren im Buddhismus die unendliche Vielfalt aller Phänomene. Also alles, was da im Universum kreucht und fleucht und was wir als Objekt wahrnehmen können.
Wenn wir Qi Gong üben, trennen wir anfangs alle Aspekte der Übung voneinander. Da ist der Atem auf den wir uns konzentrieren. Dann kümmern wir uns um den korrekten Bewegungsablauf, um die korrekte Handhaltung, die Drehung des Oberkörpers. Dabei versuchen wir Geistesruhe zu halten, weil wir sonst Atem und Bewegung nicht in Einklang bekommen.
Nach einer Zeit des Übens fügt sich dann alles wieder zusammen…in die Einheit. Dann gibt es keinen Atem, keine Bewegung, keinen Geist, keinen Übenden mehr. Zu vergleichen mit dem Lauschen eines Musikstücks von dem man ergriffen ist, oder beim Anblick eines Kunstwerkes, beim Spaziergang in der Natur. Alles ist zu „Einem“ geworden. Eine Revolution. Manche nennen das Erleuchtung.
Sponge Bob !
Shi Heng Yi: Es ist wie mit einem Schwamm: zusammendrücken (Kompression) und wieder loslassen (Expansion).
Das Leben ist Anspannung und Entspannung. Öffnen und schliessen. Annehmen und loslassen. Expansion und Kompression. Leben und Tod – Leben ist Ausdehnung, Tod ist Kompression. Wie alles in der Existenz des Menschen. Ein- und Ausatmen. Muskeln müssen angespannt und entspannt werden, erst dann erreichen sie die Bandbreite einer gewünschten Wirkung.
Auch dieses Prinzip finden wir im Qi Gong wieder. Wir öffnen die Wirbelsäule und schliessen sie. Wir strecken uns und wir machen uns klein. Beides ist notwendig, ansonsten ist da Stagnation, oder Einseitigkeit. Ein Prinzip des Lebens. Beides muss stattfinden, damit sich die Dynamik eines gesunden Lebens erst entfallen kann. Beide Prinzipien müssen gleichermassen aktiv, bzw. passiv sein. Ansonsten erleben wir ein Ungleichgewicht, eine ungesunde Instabilität in unserem Leben.
In der heutigen Gesellschaft scheint ein Prinzip die Oberhand gewonnen zu haben: Kompression, bzw. Anspannung! Stress, Burn – Out, Psychische Dekompensation. Und als ungewollte und unkontrollierbare „Zwangsentlastung“: Depressionen!
Qi Gong kann uns auf sanfte Weise diesem Prinzip der Kompression und Expansion wieder näher bringen. Unser Unterbewußstsein erinnert sich und gibt diese Nachricht ein Stockwerk weiter an das Bewusstsein.
„Der Schmerz der Bequemlichkeit“
Am Ende des Retreats in Otterberg saßen wir mit dem Shifu noch in gemütlicher Runde unter einer großen Kiefer. Er beantwortete unsere Fragen und versorgte uns mit vielen Statements zur Qi Gong – Praxis und dem Hinweis, dass wohl über alles geredet werden kann, es aber darum geht, es zu tun. Erst das Handeln sorgt für ein Ergebnis. Und als er dann über „the pain of laziness“ (den Schmerz der Faulheit) sprach, fühlte ich mich fast ein wenig ertappt. Ich glaube sogar, er schaute mich mit einem Grinsen an und meinte mich. Ganz bestimmt war das so.
Ich treibe viel Sport. Allerdings muss ich regelmässig Dehn- und Kraftübungen in meine tägliche Routine einbauen, damit mir der Rücken und andere Körperteile vor Schmerz nicht den Tag versauen. Das mach´ ich aber nicht regelmäßig. Erst dann, wenn’s weh tut. Wie blöd eigentlich…und wie passend ist da nicht die Aussage des Shifu!?
Der Schmerz der Faulheit! Klingt nicht unbedingt charmant, trifft den Nagel aber zielsicher auf den Kopf. Zumindest bei mir. Wir kommen doch im Grunde erst „in die Puschen“ wenn etwas weh´ tut. Körperlich oder seelisch. Dann ist das Geheule groß und wir schwelgen erst einmal in Selbstmitleid. Wir kennen das doch alle. Bei uns selbst, oder bei anderen.
Also: ich für meinen Teil jedenfalls habe mir fest vorgenommen, regelmäßig zu üben. Die oben aufgeführten positiven Aspekte der Qi Gong – Übung sind einfach zu erdrückend, um der „Laziness“ weiterhin zu huldigen und aufrecht zu erhalten. Ich durfte bereits von dem süßen Nektar kosten. es wäre doch schön blöd, dieser Köstlichkeit nicht auch zukünftig Beachtung zu schenken. Oder?
Na denn…Prost !
Was ich noch los werden möchte: ich habe mich noch nie intellektuell mit dem Thema Qi Gong auseinandergesetzt. Ich hab´ auch noch nie ein Buch darüber gelesen. Eigentlich habe ich überhaupt keine Ahnung. Vielleicht sind die 25 Jahre ZEN – Praxis verantwortlich für eine gewisse Offenheit gegenüber dem Thema und das Gefühl, dass sich hinter dem Vorhang des Offensichtlichen, häufig ein wahrer Schatz um Vorschein kommen kann. Und natürlich die ganz praktischen Erfahrungen, die sich mir beim Üben widerfuhren. Da ist zum Einen Meditation in Stille, zum Anderen die Meditation in Bewegung. Zen – Meister Hakuin meinte einst, dass als allerhöchste Meditation, die Meditation während der Erfahrung des Alltags zu nennen sei. In der Bewegung, beim Sprechen, beim Arbeiten, während eines Streits, beim Atmen…eben bei jeder tagtäglichen Handlung.
Ich möchte mit dem obigen Text meine Erfahrungen und Gedanken im Zusammenhang mit meiner eigenen Qi Gong Praxis teilen…garniert mit den Ausführungen des Shifus während des Yi Jin Jing Retreats im Juni 2022. Und wenn’s gut läuft, kann der Text dem ein, oder anderen, bzw., der einen oder anderen dazu motivieren, sich dem Thema zu widmen. Zu sagen, es lohnt sich, würde der Qi Gong Praxis nicht genügen. Meines Erachtens ist es ein vollständiger Pfad zur ganzheitlichen Erkenntnis.Ganz sicher aber unterstützt ein regelmäßiges Üben ein gesundes körperliches und mentales Leben.
Amitoufo !
von Hans-Peter Dannenberg | 18.Mai 2022 | Allgemein
Don’t take yourself too seriously!
It was time again: another week in the Shaolin Monastery in Otterberg. My second tour there, to the place that had so impressed and inspired me last summer. So I wanted to dive into the world of silence for a second time. Quiet and yet not quiet. A world that feels like it’s working at the core of being human. No frills, no distractions. Without having to explain or justify yourself. Already in the last year I found it remarkable when egos wanted to rear up and gently evaporated into „nothing“, because there was nothing and no-one available to receive them. Lessons that go without words but are understood. Of everyone. If not the first time, then the second or third time.
The Shifus, Novices, Disciples – the entire „permanent staff“ of the monastery are patient and loving. According to the motto: „You are important – but don’t take yourself so seriously“. During the days in the monastery it becomes clear that life does not play a role here, with the urge for attention, for recognition, for having to explain oneself. And you might notice, basically without all this, it gives you a much more relaxed life – especially outside the monastery walls. The daily hunt for profiling and the satisfaction of the insatiable needs of the ego structure are so tiring, so exhausting and make us sick. On a mental as well as on a physical level.
The joint was to blame
At around 12:00 p.m. I pulled my Toyota into the monastery parking lot. I wasn’t the first to arrive, I was excited to meet my temporary „brothers and sisters“. Kati and her travel companion were already there. Then a participant came along who had made the long journey from the USA to Otterberg. Three long days of travel behind her.
A little later they all trundled in. From France, Luxembourg, Holland, Belgium and of course from all regions of Germany. I was amazed at the number of young participants. The youngest just 14 years old.
I wondered whether the youngsters were all here voluntarily, or whether the „educational“ ambitions of the legal guardians might have played a role?! One thing was clear: the coming days will be anything but a „5-star wellness week“.
When I asked questions later, it turned out that the martial arts and the life of the monks in particular were of great interest.
Only one said with a smiling grin: „My mother caught me smoking weed. That’s why I’m here. But I think it’s great. Exhausting, but great!“
We were then picked up from the parking lot at exactly 1 p.m. and assigned to the appropriate rooms. Afterwards there was a little something to strengthen from the kitchen, words of welcome and a few clear and unambiguous words about behavior and common interaction within the monastery community.
The arena“! The fight for survival.
Then the first training followed: Running! Of course. What else!?
After a small but hilly lap, there were a few more mountain sprints. I hate sprints.
Then directly in the „Arena“, the training ground, which I have named Arena because it reminds me of the gladiatorial arenas of ancient Rome. OK. A bit far fetched, but if you transfer the battle of the egos – who are fighting for mere survival – to this sandy place, it fits quite well again…I think!
This is where inner and outer dramas take place over the next few days. And if you manage not to get caught up in the drama of your mind, you will find peace and no longer struggle with yourself. That’s part of the exercise. Probably the more important part of this exercise!?
„Don’t get caught up in the dramas of your mind!“ Shifu Shi Heng Yi
The main attraction of this afternoon is a training session with Shifu Shi Heng Yi. However, he doesn’t leave us floating on the „cloud of devotion and infatuation“ for too long, as his program throws most of us rock-hard back to reality. No time for „groupie – romance“. It hurts. Body pain! Body tremors. Nobody wants to show weakness in front of the master. Or is it just me? The comfort zone is miles behind. The dramas in the mind go full program. The Shifu „cracks“ us into „Push Ups“…on our fists. For hours… at least it feels like that. The small stones on the sandy bottom dig into our fingers. Ouch! That hurts! Wimp! What are the others doing? Can’t I cheat without being noticed? Pah…I’m doing the best I can and a little more. Then I switch to the palms. The dramas in the mind don’t matter anymore anyway. Mind is „one-pointed“. There is no Shifu, no other, no I…. just something like a shaky, groaning, painful „being aware“.
The first day ends as it ends here every day. After dinner there is a Buddhist-Taoist-Confucian – Question/Answer Time. We have the chance to ask the abbot of the monastery questions about these 3 overarching themes. Gladly in connection with everyday life situations. This is followed by a Buddhist ceremony.
Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
In the monastery in Otterberg people eat in silence. This is how it is done in all monasteries in the world. This should help to accept the food offered to us consciously and with gratitude. Something we have lost in everyday life. We often swallow the food without actually being „there“. Usually, all we care about is eliminating a feeling of hunger.
The „Arena“: the ego as a gladiator!
The next morning, one thing cannot be denied in its unambiguousness: sore muscles. But nobody really talks about it. Why should one anyway!?
After meditation in the Buddha Hall, breakfast is served. Then we participants pant behind the novices and disciples through the forest over hill and dale. There is still some snow in the shady passages and across the paths of the forest obstacles in the form of broken trees ensure acrobatic running fun. In the last week it snowed heavily here and impressive storms flattened many pot-bellied trunk trees with their force.
Back on the monastery grounds, it’s back to the „Arena“. During the 2-minute break, you can give your body something to drink and, if necessary, change your shoes. Last year I was late and had to do 80 penalty push-ups. I am late again today. But nobody notices. Phew! Lucky me.
„Combat Kung Fu“ at its finest !
Then we got to know our combat – shifu. We should complete a number of training hours with him over the next few days.
A longer run the next morning took us through the beautiful heathland, pine forests and usual undulating terrain with great weather and forgotten muscle twitching. Then again gladiator fights in the arena. But: noticeable that, now in the middle of the week, there is less blood and severed heads * in the sand.
* as a metaphor for pride and ego
Working Meditation
Every morning from 11 a.m., the so-called „working meditation“ is on the daily schedule. In Japanese – ZEN this is called „Samu“ and it is an essential part of monastic life and the regular meditation phases (sesshins).
Work and meditation – isn’t that a contradiction in terms? Aren’t we conditioned so that when we get to work, we’ll do it as fast as possible, effectively, profitably, and with maximum commitment? Isn’t „multitasking“ the measure of all things? So, as many work processes as possible at once? And doesn’t meditation mean rest and stillness? Being one-pointed? How does that fit together?
The working meditation has a different aim. In fact, there is no purpose or aim at all.
When you pull weeds, you only pull weeds and you are only with that. Of course, thoughts come, but you let them go, don’t stick with them. Thoughts like: „There’s still so much weed, that sucks, I need days for that…“ may arise, but move on, let them go like clouds. You pull weeds. You become „weed picking“. The babble of thoughts in the mind stops over time because you are no longer paying attention to it.
We need to learn to live in the moment, to be with what we are doing and not to be constantly exposed to our thoughts, feelings, emotions, countless guesses and speculations (fears, worries, needs). We live beyond and around life all the time because we are never really there. Even worse: we are not only really there, we are constantly chasing after life. We are in a hurry, nothing is ever complete, something new is always piling up. We are not satisfied. What follows is dissatisfaction, burn out, depression…..if we don’t take care.
Good and bad!
During the evening question time, there is a lively exchange of conversations. We were talking about it again and again over the next few days. On the one hand, it says, „Alcohol is fundamentally bad, if you look at the consequences of abuse,“ and on the other hand, „Alcohol is not fundamentally bad, it depends on how you deal with it.“
In this context, the question of whether Buddhism is not particularly concerned with transcending the duality of „good“ and „evil“?
In this regard, I would like to quote a few lines from a great and well-known Zen master:
The most important thing in our practice is to realize that we have Buddha nature. Intellectually we may know this, but it’s quite difficult to accept. Our daily life resides in the realm of good and evil, the realm of duality, while Buddha-nature resides in the realm of the Absolute, where there is no good or evil. There is a double reality. Our practice is to go beyond the realm of good and evil and realize the Absolute. It can be quite difficult to understand. – Shunryu Suzuki from Not Always Like This: Practicing the True Spirit of Zen
The Stairs!
Since a german tv -channel broadcasted a wonderful report about the „temporary monastery“, insider circles have been rumored about a very special training session: THE STAIRS!
Nobody talks about it too much. It’s a bit like Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter stories. You just don’t mention the name. If so…you are in trouble.
We were spared that last year. But this time it should happen. Our group made our way to Otterberg in a jogging manner (as usual). I can’t remember exactly how many kilometers it took there, but it wasn’t only just around the corner. Once there, things got down to business without much preliminary banter.
Some of you may know such moments. You face a situation and you think:
“ Come on…. you’re not serious. This must be a joke.“ And while you’re thinking that, you know fully well: it’s not a joke, it’s undoubtedly downright serious.
So then: jumping up the stairs and down again. Then up and down on all fours, piggyback, wheelbarrow…… goodbye comfort zone! The most impressive thing for me was the perseverance of all participants, especially those who basically and obviously didn’t have much to do with sport. I always felt particularly bad when I went into a resting position for a moment in the middle of it. Very briefly of course…I swear.
After an extended and good-humored „Kneipp break“ we went back on foot. And when we got back in the monastery, the brothers and sisters beamed from all cheeks. It was exhausting, yes, but everyone felt happy and content. So it works. „There’s more inside of you, than you think…just don’t get caught up in the dramas of your mind.“
On Friday we received another impressive lesson in the arena and on Saturday it was time to pack our bags again. How quickly such a week goes by.
There is always a conclusion at the end. This time there is NON. Because there is no end. It goes on. Gladly in this wonderful place with these wonderful people. But the location doesn’t really matter. I think only one thing is important: Don’t get caught up in the dramas of your mind.
With that in mind…see you! In Otterberg.
……..a world, quiet and yet not quiet. A world that feels like it’s working at the core of being human. No frills, no distractions. Without having to explain or justify yourself. Remarkable when egos want to rear up and softly fizzle out into „nothing“ because there is nothing and no one available to receive. Lessons that go without words, but are understood. Of everyone. If not the first time, then the second or third time…
Amituofo !
Many thanks to Zheng for his photographic view!
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