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The Point- Volume IV Issue II

Beginning Meditation - Meditation by David Scott

As often stated in the arts, the art begins with someone who knows. It is passed on from generation to generation. Such generational arts become a scientific study over time as students become the classrooms where teachers learn. Can someone learn from a book, or discover meditation on their own? Yes, and like any other art different people have different gifts which help them through their journey into the world of meditation. My first teacher had a system of 7 levels of meditation and the journey took an undetermined amount of personal growth and exploration. There are many systems of meditation with different approaches to its effects. Often this journey is only open to advanced students of a system of Kung Fu, Yoga, Qi Qong, and other such systems. Most meditation systems begin with breathing as a foundation. Although where and how we breathe is controversial. Flowing energy is a second step with many different variations across the meditative schools of thought. Quieting the mind is an important third step. Breathe deeply into the Tan Tian (Ren 6, only deeper within the belly). Let the air fill the lower abdomen. Immediately, a large group of people cannot do this or get short of breath when they try. If so, breathe into the upper lung and exhale while pushing out at the Tan Tian. This will prepare the body to accept a full breath. It trains the nerves, muscles, and breath to respond in the proper sequence. The body can then transition to breathing deeply in the lower burner. Give the body time to learn the sequence. Breathe deeply and slowly as if the breath were a whisper. Imagine that a feather by your nose would not be disturbed either by the inhale or the exhale. Count slowly and even out the count from inhale to exhale. Practice once a day at slowly increasing the count. Imagine your lungs filling up from the bottom first where air would normally remain stagnant. Push the air out of the lungs with the belly first so the entire lung is cleared each time. The amount of oxygen will increase and effect many different sensations within the body. Stay aware of these heightened actions. Let the calmness of smooth flowing air be a contagious feeling across the skin, inside the muscles, through the nerves, and let it penetrate the mind. Fill up like a balloon deeply in the lower abdomen. It then fills the lower back and middle abdomen area. Let it continue to fill the chest and upper back area. Exhale from the belly first and empty from the bottom up. Think of a passageway trip from the front to back through all burners. Use the count to help calm the mind and soothe the spirit. Later the count will disappear as the body begins to find its own rhythm and purpose in meditation. Use the Tan Tian to begin to feel and move from this area as the center of the body, mind, and spirit. Every move will gain from an action that works from our center outward. It will be felt as a whole body movement with the intention of our being behind it.

Be still as a mountain; move as a great river.

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Feng Shui: Acupuncture’s Good Buddy by Marsha Linquist, FSII

The three underpinnings of feng shui are very common terms to anyone studying Chinese medicine. They are Qi, yin/yang and Tao. In pyramid feng shui the main consideration is the client’s desire to enhance or change things in their life (not their space.) Feng shui is a healing art taking the person into utmost consideration. The space is the tool used for healing. The goal of feng shui is to set up his/her environment for consistent benefit, protection to maintain maximum support. Just like the cells within the body that communicate to sustain life, the environment outside the body speaks a language directing that which is within.

Like an acupuncturist, a feng shui practitioner is taught to make a diagnostic assessment of the client. The FS practitioner begins by evaluating the client’s symptoms and complaints of things in their life they desire to change, history of their space, community and neighborhood connection, direct evaluation of their space physically and psychologically (clutter, symbols used, etc.) and their current habits such as patterns of moving through the space. Instead of evaluating through facial or tongue color, FS practitioners look at the colors on the walls and furnishings with which the client chooses to surround themselves. We look, we listen, we smell, we feel, we experience the space from the perspective of the client.

Qi is interpreted through our biological communication system composed of our senses, intuition and knowing. Yin/yang is used to bring into balance and Tao is connection.

We are not alone. Every cell in our body joins together composing the whole. But, we don’t stop there. Our bodies are connected to our environment which sometimes makes us feel good or can make us feel unsettled. Our home connects to our family, which connects to our neighborhood, which connects to our community, which connects to our country, which connects to our world and so on, and so on.

Practice assessment on your space at home. Does your space support you? Is it a garden in which you can thrive? Does your study area support a good flow of mental activity? How is the lighting, temperature, and what do you hear or smell? Do you feel balanced and connected to the whole in your space? Sometimes, the flow of Qi may be blocked by empty pizza boxes and other clutter. Learn to interpret what your space is saying to you and set it up for joy, life and love. You will thrive.

Blessing,
Mo

The Student Council is bringing Marsha “Mo” Linquist to San Diego for a Feng Shui workshop next semester on May 20th and 21st. This workshop will be free for students. For more information email: jlinquist@sportvendors.com

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Food for Thought by Anonymous

A Mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package. "What food might this contain?" The mouse wondered - he was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap. Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning. "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it." The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The pig sympathized, but said, "I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers." The mouse turned to the cow and said "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The cow said, "Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose." So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and de jected, to face the farmer's mousetrap alone. That very night a sound was heard throughout the house -- like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey. The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital, and she returned home with a fever. Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient. But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig. The farmer's wife did not get well; she died. So many people came for her funeral that the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them. The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness. So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you, remember -- when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk. We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another.

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Loose Teas Find A Home in the Student Kitchen by Jeremy Linquist

In our ongoing attempt to create a home-like atmosphere around school, the PCOM student council replaced the dragon tea bags with a selection of lose teas. The tea choices consist of green, black, and herbal teas with a couple of white teas on order. All teas are ordered from the Pannikin Coffee and Tea house in Del Mar. We are always looking for student comments and requests to find out which teas you like the best and also which teas you would like us to order

It is important that we, as a student body, take the responsibility of being careful not to waste the tea. For those of you who are new to the experience of using loose teas there are directions posted on the door of the tea cabinet. A little tea goes a long way and the teabags can be used multiple times to refill your cups.

The student council committed to making your experience at PCOM a memorable and enjoyable one. We are always looking for suggestions and ideas to create a better atmosphere.

All comments about the tea selection can be emailed to Jlinquist@pacificcollege.edu

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