I was listening to an interview with Robert Thurman, a Tibetan Scholar and Teacher. He was a professor at Columbia University, before he retired.
The interviewer asked him if he did any form of exercise. To Which he replied, “I do 250 Prostration every day!”
As for myself I use to do 200 Prostration per day; years ago. Life got in the way, and that caused me to let go of the practice.
That interview lit a fire in me and propelled me to get back in the saddle! I am now up to 50 Prostrations, as of this morning! I’ll add on 10 more each day; until I reach my goal around October 2nd! Hopefully I can keep the pace up. If I miss a day, I’ll make it up the next day by adding 20! 250 is in my reach; and it my goal!
You may wonder what Prostrations are? It is one of the oldest and most sincere ways for Tibetan Buddhists to pray to the Buddha, also called Kowtow. Thus, you’ll find many Tibetan Buddhists prostrating themselves, especially during pilgrimages or immersion trips to sacred shrines.
For example: Kowtow, stand up and continue with the next round, move one step and bend down, Kowtow again, and so on. During the Prostration, Tibetan Buddhists grovel on the ground, to show respect with their body; while Chanting a specific Mantra constantly, to show respect in speech; holding the thought of Buddha, to show respect in mind.
These three means have been unified well for prostration. When people make prostration, they put their hands together to express understanding of the Buddha’s leading and teachings. Touching the forehead, mouth/throat and chest indicates that the body, speech, and mind are in harmony.
Prostration in Tibetan Buddhism is a practice of showing reverence to the presence of the Triple Gem. The Triple Gem is a term used to refer to Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. The Buddha means the fully enlightened one; The Dharma means the teachings expounded by the Buddha; The Sangha means the Monastic order of Buddhism that practice Dharmas.
When you do a ritual as a daily practice it builds good merit for one in this life and the next. This practice also keeps one flexible and agile in the position of Prostration, due to the increased blood supply, the brain receives more nourishment, which has a good effect upon memory, vision, hearing, concentration, psyche and all other cognitive abilities.
I encourage you to pick a practice, set a goal, and go at it; full steam ahead! Maintaining a regular practice will keep you strong, disciplined and on target with all your other goals in life!
I wish you the Best in your Health, Wealth & Happiness!
Dr. Wu Dhi
Sherwood S Swartz AP, MMQ, DMQ, DOM.
