禪修與健康繁體版第24期目錄

相約在禪修最美不過夕陽紅

騰福騰禧加拿大溫哥華圖文由加拿大溫哥華藥師禪院提供

他們是一對年邁的老夫婦，一年前因為74歲的妻子騰福患上抑鬱症，80歲的丈夫騰禧陪同她一起走進菩提。走進菩提後，夫婦倆紛紛收穫著身心的健康和快樂，並將這份收穫傳遞給了更多的有緣人。在絢麗的夕陽裡，他們就這樣一起詮釋著感恩的真諦，執手共剪一段幸福的時光……

2013年3月份，騰禧的太太騰福患上了嚴重的抑鬱症，那段時間裡她終日夜不能寐，心情抑鬱痛苦，大腦裡總是無法控制地像放電影般一幕幕地出現負面的景象。不僅如此她還常覺得全身無力，走路時兩腿像棉花一樣軟綿綿的，坐立難安，茶飯不香。看過醫生吃了6個月的藥以後，也沒見一絲好轉。那時候面對每日飽受著病苦折磨的太太，騰禧是看在眼裡疼在心上，除了整天在身邊照顧她之外，也只是束手無策，唯有默默地嘆息…… 然而天無絕人之路，一個偶然的機會，騰禧在超市拿到了一本《禪修與健康》雜誌，這本雜誌深深地吸引了他。抱著一線希望，回到家後他說服了太太去試一試禪修。就這樣2013年8月底，他陪着太太一起來到禪堂參加了菩提禪修的能量調理。緊接著又參加了9月份的菩提禪修健身班。沒想到才初次體驗禪修，他的太太就驚喜地發現自己的身體竟然漸漸地輕鬆了很多，胃口變得好起來, 睡眠也有了改善！為了繼續康復身體，他們又繼續參加了多個健身班和念佛班。兩個月後，太太已從嚴重憂鬱症中完全解脫了出來！過去她每晚只能睡1個小時，而現在每天卻能睡 6小時，飯也吃得香，不僅如此她的心情變得快樂開朗了許多，經常與旁人有說又有笑。看著太太一天天的變化，騰禧也開心不已！在太太生病時，騰禧把注意力都放在了她身上，也從來沒有心思顧及自己的健康。然而沒想到來陪太太禪修這一年多，除了太太的抑鬱症得到康復，通過「大光明」及走「八卦」，他的身體狀況竟然也得到了改善。十多年來，由於血液不通暢，騰禧一直都有手冰凍的毛病，尤其是在冬天經常生凍瘡。不僅如此，他的鼻子過敏超過十年，經常打噴嚏流鼻水。禪修後，他發現自己過去手冰凍和鼻子的過敏竟然全部都好了！更神奇的是原先他有一頭的銀白髮，自從禪修後竟然開始漸生出黑髮來！現在的他每天的禪修時間都在2－3個小時之間，精力也越來越充沛。對於他們夫婦而言，菩提禪修就好像是一道溫暖的陽光照進他們的世界裡。它不僅讓太太騰福從嚴重抑鬱症的痛苦中解脫出來，不再飽受病苦的折磨，而且也讓騰禧品嚐到健康的喜悅。他們的生活因禪修的出現再次回歸到幸福快樂的彼岸。為此，他們內心對金菩提宗師充滿了深深的感恩！除了帶給他們健康，禪修也讓他們的晚年生活充滿了無限的幸福。怀揣一份感恩之心，如今騰禧與太太騰福每天都來到禪堂做義工。在做義工的過程裡他們受益良多，感受到一種前所未有的充實和快樂。在這裡，他們希望自己可以永遠成為感恩的傳遞者，將宗師給予他們的健康和快樂，傳遞給與更多的有緣人！

<<在這裡，我找到了生命的意義

>>禪茶與人生

禪修與健康繁體版第24期目錄

Prostration: A Simple Way to a Better Life

Prostration is a spiritual practice unfamiliar to many Westerners, but one that has a long and significant global history. In both religious and secular contexts around the world, prostration has held an important place for its ability to foster wisdom and physical health, and demonstrate respect and openheartedness – qualities that are the fundament of bridges between people.

Major faiths including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism and Baha’i have all incorporated prostration into their repertoire of spiritual practices at some point. The Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Anglican churches utilize prostration during the Imposition of Holy Orders, Religious Profession and the Consecration of Virgins. The Islamic tradition considers it “the most supreme state and spiritual position for a human being.” Many Hindus believe that prostration provides sufficient exercise in addition to serving as a valve through which the vital force of the Universe can be received and passed into the reservoir of the body.

The practice can also be found in multiple non-religious settings as a means of spiritual advancement, a pathway to physical health and as a show of deep respect. In ancient Hawaii and Imperial China and Japan prostration was commonplace, and in a contemporary context it appears in some forms of martial arts and in yoga as “sun salutations.” In the modern world, many people are rediscovering this primordial practice as a means to enrich their spiritual and physical experience. Poet and prostration advocate John Omniadeo’s pithy verse encapsulates its power:

Stand up straight into Heaven

Throw yourself upon Earth

Give ‘em everything you got

Myriad Bodhi Meditation practitioners place high value on prostration because of its transformative effects. In addition to promoting weight loss, the practice is revered for healing constipation, encouraging blood circulation, strengthening the immune system, alleviating allergies, optimizing organ function, improving mental focus, vitalizing meditation, balancing subtle energy currents, freeing energy locked in addictive patterns, developing compassion for the self and others, and facilitating virtue, patience and wisdom. Many Westerners are initially skeptical, perceiving it solely as a ritual of religious worship. Those who have tried it, however, become enthusiastic advocates. Dedicated Bodhi practitioner Sima Abelev is one such advocate. “I’ve always seen Buddhism more as a philosophy than a religion. And what we take as religious expression perhaps is simply a show of respect to the teacher, which is an integral part of Eastern culture and a great exercise that helps to conquer your own ego. All the Buddhas started as actual human beings who became enlightened. So we simply show respect. I chose to accept that and I’m very happy with my understanding of this practice,” she said. When Sima saw Grandmaster JinBodhi himself prostrating to Buddha, she found his vulnerability inspiring, and decided, “If such a great man can do it, why can’t I?”

Similarly, committed Bodhi practitioner Joseph Ferguson cherishes prostration. Like many Westerners, he was initially taken aback. “Prostrating is an everyday part of Master’s teachings. To me it was quite exotic, quite foreign. To my Western mind, it was quite alien. I guess I reacted in the way that probably many Westerners do…my sense of democracy was a little irritated and I thought that if you bow or prostrate to a person you’re showing defeat or even humiliation. So it was jarring for me to observe this, and it was something that I wasn’t sure that I could ever get into. I had heard Master and I wanted to hear more of his teachings, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to prostrate myself. And it was only by continuing to listen to Master’s teachings and observe Master, by being around him and listening to what he was actually saying, by seeing his own sense of humility about who he is, his own willingness to bow to other people…his life is dedicated to other people. That was a very significant part of me opening up to what he was telling me. And of course what he was telling me was that it’s quite appropriate to bow to each other, to acknowledge and recognize the Divinity in one another.”

Gradually, Joseph began to embrace the practice, thereby uncovering his true nature.

“It didn’t happen right away, but I became more comfortable with the idea of bowing. I think I started off by doing short little bows to people, and it actually felt good. It felt natural. Acknowledging someone else is a wonderful thing to do. In Tibet and Nepal, people say ‘Namaste’ and bow to each other. What Master said about prostrating, about having respect for all sentient beings, was what opened that willingness in me. It’s a difficult thing to explain intellectually, and I don’t even think it matters because it’s really a matter of the heart. Prostration works on the ego in a very direct way, sometimes very suddenly and sometimes incrementally. It does transform one…it reduces self-centeredness, it reduces separation between myself and Divinity, between myself and all sentient beings. My heart really opens when I prostrate. I really feel the connectivity to…all of Creation. Sometimes tears will flow during prostration and I think that’s because of gratitude for the experience.”

It is critical for people to realize that spiritual prostration is not about institutional power, but rather about freeing the self from the prison of the ego and harmonizing mental and physical energies with all of Creation. According to Grandmaster JinBodhi, it is acceptable to begin a regular prostration practice with one’s focus exclusively trained on the physical benefits it offers, such as weight loss and fitness. Everyone must start where they’re at, and if a person has reservations there is no need to add pressure by insisting on large spiritual goals. Moreover, although it is important to prostrate toward something, it need not be a spiritual symbol. Obviously, Buddhists typically prostrate before an image of the Buddha and those of other spiritual persuasions, religious or otherwise, choose images accordingly, but it is entirely acceptable to use a natural object, which is an expression of Divine life-force. Prostration can be done either indoors or out, as long as the environment is quiet, clean and pleasant. Use a cotton mat to protect hands and body – synthetic materials and wool can create static electricity when rubbed, which is detrimental to health.

Most everyone is suited to the practice. Even people with health challenges such as heart disease and cancer can prostrate, provided their condition is stable. Those with high blood pressure should rest first. Post-surgery patients must wait until their incision heals.

A focused, tranquil state of mind is essential, as is using an even rhythm. Refrain from rushing. The emphasis should not be on achieving a particular number of repetitions, but rather on committing to continuous prostration for a certain length of time – for example, half an hour. People who are suffering from bodily weakness should begin with five minutes of practice followed by a rest period, and then resume prostrating for another five minutes if able. Senior citizens in good physical condition are advised to begin with ten minutes of practice, increasing duration as stamina improves. Prostration can be done in the morning, afternoon or evening, and dividing total practice time into three or four sessions can be a good way to achieve one-hour daily. Don’t practice when exhausted or right after a meal.

Prior to beginning, perform a few warm-up exercises to ensure the body is limber. After practice, rub your hands together and run them over your face. Practitioners often sweat, and if that is true for you, avoid drafts, cold drinks, cold water hand- or face-washing and the use of air-conditioning or a fan immediately following the session.

Countless prostration practitioners have been astonished at the benefits wrought by regular practice. Many have been delighted by significant weight loss and markedly improved fitness generated by this seemingly simple technique. People suffering from serious illnesses have regained health they had thought permanently lost. Indeed, Grandmaster JinBodhi knew a Tibetan woman who survived the liver cancer death sentence pronounced by her doctors and went on to thrive physically and mentally because of her dedication to prostration.

An easy practice that has the power to create physical, mental, emotional and spiritual empowerment is a true gift. Consider exploring the possibility of greater wellness through adding a few minutes of focused, daily prostration to your life. The profound perks may surprise you.