seventh world of chan buddhism - Zen Buddhist Order of Hsu Yun

for as long as possible - the duration being the determinant of the proportionate counts. The
entire chest must be held in tremendous tension. The exercise proceeds as in the regular
Healing Breath.
Prolonged muscular tension results, upon sudden relaxation, in the release of natural
body chemicals that really conduce to profound spiritual states.
ALTERNATE NOSTRIL BREATHING
Pinch the nose between the thumb and curled ring finger, the index and middle
fingers resting on the forehead with the little finger curled and relaxed downwards. To inhale
or exhale through a nostril, simply release the pressure on the desired side.
This exercise can be done in two ways: first, by breathing entirely (in and out)
through one nostril for fifteen minutes and then repeating for fifteen minutes using the other
nostril; Second, by inhaling through one nostril, closing that nostril, and then opening the
other nostril to exhale through it and leaving that nostril open to permit the next inhalation
through it.
HEEL BREATHING
Heel Breathing - not to be confused with `Healing Breath'- is an advanced form of
pranayama used by Daoists in the Microcosmic Orbit, their version of Kundalini Yoga.
Heel Breathing, though different from the clearing the nadis or channels preliminary
exercises, is nevertheless an excellent substitute for these clearing practices.
First, an explanation: Pleasure centers in the brain being what they are, it is
impossible to take the sex out of deep meditation. There is a limited number of ways for a
person to experience ecstasy. Actually, maybe only one. People who follow any of the "lefthand"
(meditation with a sex partner) schools can do whatever they like. Their rituals are
extremely complicated and, obviously, these instructions are not for them.
In the Orient, monks sometimes place an padded cup-cake like ball on their hard
cushions. When sitting, the entire weight of their trunk presses down on this ball. Officially,
the ball (called a "man-tou" which is a steamed bread bun) is said to be pressed against the
anus so as to prevent Qi from leaking out. Actually, the ball serves to supply rectal
stimulation and to put perineal pressure on the prostate gland which many men also consider
to be arousing.
However, in most tropical locations, monks sit on the ground, not on cushions. They
also go barefoot and are, therefore, "discalced." Going barefoot, especially to a mature
person, is a sure way to get a hard, protruding ring of callous around the base of the heel.
CHAPTER 19 RIGHT MEDITATION
S EVENTH W ORLD O F C HAN B UDDHISM
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