#e18 Meditation and Daily Life

Synchronizing the five senses is the skill of yoga, Zen, and meditation.

The purpose of skills such as meditation is a method to recognize and become aware that you are part of nature.
Zen, yoga, dreamtime, and many other words are used to describe it, but the purpose is the same for all of them.
It has been constructed since time immemorial under various civilizations, as it is nowadays called mindfulness.

During the course of human evolution, our brains have developed to be much larger and more complex than those of other organisms.
This has led to advanced thinking and creativity, but it has also led to distress and anguish.

From the challenges of daily survival that our ancestors faced, the modern world has shifted from material abundance and improved security to a search for inner fulfillment and spiritual peace.

This change implies that spiritual practices such as meditation and contemplation will be even more necessary in the future.
In other words, the more stable our daily lives become and the safer the world becomes and the easier it is to live in, the more meditation will become necessary, which is ironic in its own way.

Transition from childhood to adulthood

It can be felt in the process from childhood, when we lived in innocence, to adolescence and eventually adulthood.

As children, we often experience pure joy in life with little to worry about, but as we get older, the pressures of social responsibilities and personal goals increase.
In other words, in the process of becoming adults, where we come to understand many things, we begin to explore our relationship with ourselves and the meaning of life, and spiritual practices such as meditation play an important role in this exploration.

Yoga

Many people think of yoga as a physical stretching exercise.
In reality, however, yoga exists in all genres.

There are actually many different kinds of yoga, including music, meditation, diet, sleep, etc. Some Indians are even calling for the banning of the term “yoga” because they fear that only the physical exercise yoga has become widespread as yoga.

However, once a name has already been spread, even if it is a mistake, it is not possible to change the public consciousness.
It is just like false rumors and fake news cannot be dispelled once they have been spread all over the world.

So what is the purpose of yoga in gymnastics?

Stiff shoulders, cold feet

We have all experienced stiff shoulders, cold feet, and numb legs from holding the same position all the time.
Stiff shoulders are a sign that the shoulder muscles want more use and better blood flow.
The result is the sensation of stiff shoulders.

The answer to dealing with this is to move the shoulder muscles.
The toes, which have learned to be cold, should be moved as well to improve blood flow.
However, when many people learn to feel cold, they warm up the room, dress thickly, or put on blankets, instead of moving them.
The truth is that the body part is begging us to move, to warm up on our own, to get into the habit of moving regularly, and to work out more, but the cerebrum ignores such pleas and simply tries to get by with a warming treatment.

Stiff shoulders and coldness are easy cases for anyone to understand, but many such body signals are emitted.
However, in modern life, there are too many things to do with our brains compared to the primitive life when the body was the most important capital.

As a result, we have become accustomed to quick fixes, ignoring most of the body’s signals.

Gymnastic yoga is like a conversation that relaxes the body and “greets” each part of the body.
This means more than simply increasing physical flexibility and muscle strength.
The goal is to increase awareness of each part of the body and to bring the body and mind into balance.
This approach temporarily takes us away from a cerebrum-driven life and seeks harmony in the body as a whole.

That is why the yoga of gymnastics uses many positions (according to the physical capabilities of the person involved) to relax the body and greet each part of the body.
How are you doing, ankle?
How are your elbows and knees these days?
This is the original purpose of yoga in gymnastics.

Yoga is an all-encompassing practice that seeks not only physical health, but also peace of mind and spiritual satisfaction.
Yoga is also a powerful tool for promoting harmony between one’s inner self and the outer world.

Chakras

The concept of chakras is rooted in ancient Indian philosophy and spiritual practices and refers to the energy centers present in the human body and mind.

These chakras are on the pathways through which life energy (prana) flows, and each chakra is associated with one of the five physical senses, plus two senses, mental and emotional aspects.
These seven chakras are said to be present in every human being.

Animals also have the five senses .
(However, bats have an ultrasonic sense of space, which we do not have. So, in fact, there are probably more physical senses that we don’t know about.)

The other two senses are unique to humans.
One is the sense of having a bird’s eye view of oneself.
The other is a sense of the heart that empathizes with the feelings of others.

The Unique Human Chakra

The ability to look over one’s self and to empathize with the feelings of others are special human senses, through which self-awareness and human relationships can be deepened.

However, if we are unaware of these two senses and do not use them, we will live relying only on our physical senses and the five senses. In other words, we live like animals.

Balanced awakening and circulation of the chakras is the process of releasing one’s inner potential and evolving to a higher state of consciousness.

This process is facilitated through spiritual practices such as meditation, yoga, and breathing exercises.
Balanced chakra work promotes a sense of deep connection between self and the universe and encourages more conscious and harmonious activities in daily life.

Chakra exploration is a journey beyond mere physical health and peace of mind to a deeper understanding of self and oneness with the universe.
Through the chakras, we can rethink our relationship with ourselves and the outside world and gain insight into living a more meaningful life.
Viewing the self objectively and understanding its complexity and beauty paves the way for personal growth and spiritual journey.

And when these seven chakras are successfully stimulated, awakened, and elevated, the world of chakras is further opened up, increasing to 11, 13, and so on.
It is an interesting concept.

It is true that when talking about chakra awakening, the concept is often seen as religious, mystical, or impractical.
However, this awakening actually has a more realistic and practical aspect.
We believe that chakra awakening should be understood as a process of deepening self-awareness, spiritual growth, and personal transformation.

As the awakening of the chakras progresses, our ability to see ourselves objectively increases. As a result, you can more clearly understand the motivations and patterns behind your actions, thoughts, and emotions.

For example, when you feel anger, instead of focusing on the event or the person you feel anger toward, you think, “Oh, this person (you) is angry….
Then, in order to calm your own anger, you can meditate, have a cup of tea, and talk to yourself. (It’s not easy, but…)

This behavior promotes a deepening of empathy for oneself and others, leading to the development of a more tolerant and understanding attitude.
This awakening also allows us to become aware of the small beauties and pleasures in our daily lives and to develop an aesthetic sense, such as wabi-sabi.

It offers a path to living a richer, more fulfilling life by building a relationship between one’s inner self and the outer world.
It is a practical and profound self-development process that goes beyond religion and mysticism, one skill of which is chakra awakening.

Zen, mindfulness, yoga, meditation – underlying all these practices is the common goal of diving deep into one’s inner self and raising awareness.
I believe it is important to find a method that works for you and practice it.

Twenty-four solar terms, 72 seasons, synchronized with the natural cycle

One form of meditation that we can easily incorporate into our daily lives is synchronization with the natural cycles.

In a country like Japan, where the four seasons are abundant and the temperature changes, food is in season, and the activities of birds and animals vary throughout the year, we can deepen our connection with nature by being aware of the Nijushisekki or 72-weather cycles.

If we think of our unchanging life in a building, where the temperature is adjusted to the right level all year round, as a life that relies on our cerebrum and is misunderstood, then to live with an awareness of the cycles of the 24 seasons, which change about every two weeks, and the 72 seasons, which change about every five days, is like stimulating the five senses and talking to one’s chakras.

When the opportunity arises, I would like to talk again about the 24 seasonal divisions, which are in sync with the cycles of nature, and the lifestyle habits that are in sync with the 72 seasons.