Many years ago I was studying with a teacher of Zen Meditation and breathing in Marin County, California; and he told me this great story, one morning in the meditation hall.
My teacher started his Zen training as a teenager and as most teenagers do, he acted as if he was both all knowing and immortal.
Youthful arrogance and Zen are not the best combination specially when the teacher carries a stick.
Regular beatings were required to speed up the process of enlightenment but to his credit he stuck with it.
He was also fortunate enough to have a teacher that was trained in several different schools of Zen and was well versed with many different breathing techniques.
Zen is not commonly known to have a multitude of “yogic”breathing exercises as do the Indian or Tibetan schools. In Zen the philosophy is generally to simplify the method and focus on the breathing itself.
Now imagine a hormonally hyperactive 16-year-old boy fidgeting on his meditation cushion, trying to focus on HIS breathing. To make matters worse this same boy was plagued with sinus trouble and rarely had more than one nostril that was clear.
The boy was not the only one focusing on HIS breathing. The sounds of mucus and snot bubbles coming out of his nose were often the loudest things during meditation practice.
The mere presence of the boy in the meditation hall was a psychic disturbance that could not be ignored no matter what your level of training.
So what to do?
The Zen Master called the boy aside.
“Do you Breathe or are you Breathed?” The Zen Master asked.
Naturally the arrogant youth replied, “I Breathe.”
“If you Breathe then show me Breathing.” The Zen Master instructed.
The boy sat down diligently and began to sniff and snort with purpose and measure through his stuffy nose.
The Zen Master rolled his eyes and held up his hand and said, “STOP! If you Breathe now show me not Breathing.”
The boy held his breath and the Zen Master watched diligently.
Several moments passed while the boy gradually started to turn blue. Suddenly he exploded and gasped for air.
“What’s a Matta?” the Zen Master asked.
“Even if you manage to pass out by holding your breath you will start breathing again on your own. I think that you should investigate this further.” With that the Zen Master sent the boy away to meditate on whether or not he breathed or was breathed.
The next day the Zen Master stepped into view, in front of the boy while he was in meditation. In his hand he held a crumpled up paper lunch bag that he was breathing into. The bag expanded and collapsed with every breath the Zen Master took. He looked quizzically over the bag at the boy.
As many Zen Masters do, this particular teacher had a special look that he would give a student that meant they should ask what he was doing.
“What are you doing…” the boy reluctantly moaned, knowing full well there was a potential stick whacking in it.
The Zen Master lowered the bag with a great big smile and said “Me? Nothing. But this bag… this bag is Breathing!”
Not all whacks are delivered with a stick. The shock of realization can be delivered even as a joke.
The boy did change his breathing and his focus. He was no longer the distraction in the meditation hall. His breathing became effortless and natural. He healed his sinus problems and eventually he himself became the Master.
Changing the focus from breathing to Being Breathed is a big step, but one in the right direction if you want to really open the flow of Qi in your body.
I rarely use a stick but I’m a big fan of the jokes as many of you have seen in the Recharging Qi Gong.
It’s ok to laugh, it opens the lungs.
If you don’t have the Recharging Qi Gong there’s no excuse not to get it today at http://rechargingqigong.com and clear the Internal Clutter and superficial tensions from your body.
You might even have a laugh or two.
Wishing you Health, Wealth & Happiness!
Dr. Wu Dhi
Sherwood S. Swartz AP, MMQ
