I was listening to an interview the other day with Robert
Thurman. You may know his daughter, Uma Thurman.She starred in the movie
"Kill Bill".
I have been following Professor Thurman's teachings for quite a few years. He is a Buddhist scholar and a practitioner as well. He was sitting crossed legged during the interview and they asked him why are you sitting cross-legged? Professor Thurman said, "It is the most comfortable way for me to sit; you ought to try it". Then he was asked if he works out? He says, "Not in the formal sense, but I do 250 prostrations every morning and evening."
This struck my interest so I started doing 3 prostrations each morning and evening before my meditation adding one more each day. If you aren't familiar with the term prostration or don't know how to do one let me explain.
A prostration is a gesture used in Buddhist practice to show reverence. Among Buddhists, prostration is believed to be very beneficial for practitioners.
• An experience of giving
• An act to purify the mind of conceit
• A preparation for meditation
• An act to accumulates merit (gives you good karma)
In Buddhism practitioners always do the prostrations before and after meditation.
Typically it's done three times, once to honor the teaching, then the teacher, and then the group you practice with.
Here's how to do a full Prostration...
First, stand with your feet about shoulder width apart; keep your toes pointing forward. Place your palms in the center of your chest as if you were praying. Raise your hands just above your head, touching the top of your head (Du 20). Then touch your hands to your third eye point, then your throat and back to your heart.
Next, bend at your waist to the floor and make your arms parallel to the ground with the centers of your palms facing down. Place your hands out in front of you to allow you to bend forward gracefully rise up with ease.
For the third step, allow your knees to touch the floor just after your hands and lie down on the ground. Form a straight line from your waist to your fingertips and keep your face down.
Finally, touch the ground. The 5 points, hands, knees and head must touch the ground in that order.
As soon as your head touches the ground, raise up. Use your hands to push up from the floor quickly. Come to standing position and place your hands in prayer pose again.
This exercise would be considered an internal exercise. As your focus is your meditation, flexibility, and agility, you're acknowledging a spirit or the divine to make your life better. It is the same when we do Qigong practices. In the Flying Crane Qigong we acknowledge the four directions North, South, East and West, allowing the body to move in different position to open the Meridians and Chakras. This practices are all beneficial to one's health and longevity.
I wish you the best in your Health, Wealth, and Happiness.
I have been following Professor Thurman's teachings for quite a few years. He is a Buddhist scholar and a practitioner as well. He was sitting crossed legged during the interview and they asked him why are you sitting cross-legged? Professor Thurman said, "It is the most comfortable way for me to sit; you ought to try it". Then he was asked if he works out? He says, "Not in the formal sense, but I do 250 prostrations every morning and evening."
This struck my interest so I started doing 3 prostrations each morning and evening before my meditation adding one more each day. If you aren't familiar with the term prostration or don't know how to do one let me explain.
A prostration is a gesture used in Buddhist practice to show reverence. Among Buddhists, prostration is believed to be very beneficial for practitioners.
• An experience of giving
• An act to purify the mind of conceit
• A preparation for meditation
• An act to accumulates merit (gives you good karma)
In Buddhism practitioners always do the prostrations before and after meditation.
Typically it's done three times, once to honor the teaching, then the teacher, and then the group you practice with.
Here's how to do a full Prostration...
First, stand with your feet about shoulder width apart; keep your toes pointing forward. Place your palms in the center of your chest as if you were praying. Raise your hands just above your head, touching the top of your head (Du 20). Then touch your hands to your third eye point, then your throat and back to your heart.
Next, bend at your waist to the floor and make your arms parallel to the ground with the centers of your palms facing down. Place your hands out in front of you to allow you to bend forward gracefully rise up with ease.
For the third step, allow your knees to touch the floor just after your hands and lie down on the ground. Form a straight line from your waist to your fingertips and keep your face down.
Finally, touch the ground. The 5 points, hands, knees and head must touch the ground in that order.
As soon as your head touches the ground, raise up. Use your hands to push up from the floor quickly. Come to standing position and place your hands in prayer pose again.
This exercise would be considered an internal exercise. As your focus is your meditation, flexibility, and agility, you're acknowledging a spirit or the divine to make your life better. It is the same when we do Qigong practices. In the Flying Crane Qigong we acknowledge the four directions North, South, East and West, allowing the body to move in different position to open the Meridians and Chakras. This practices are all beneficial to one's health and longevity.
I wish you the best in your Health, Wealth, and Happiness.
