Moving Meditation

[THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED PREDICTION MAGAZINE, NOVEMBER 1998]

FOR CENTURIES MARTIAL ARTISTS HAVE KNOWN THE SECRET OF UNLEASHING

THE UNLIMITED POWER OF THE UNCONSCIOUS MIND. NOW NON-MARTIAL ARTISTS
CAN ALSO BENEFIT FROM THE TECHNIQUES OF `CONSCIOUSNESS IN ACTION'

If you were foolish enough to run very fast down a flight of stairs with your eyes closed you would
certainly fall. If you ran down the stairs with eyes open yet concentrating on each individual stair
you would also fall. Why? It is a matter of extremes. We fall with eyes closed because we cut off
visual awareness completely. But when we try to focus on each step our conscious mind is unable to
keep up with our feet so we fall. So both cutting off awareness and focused concentration do not
work when the body has to perform at speed. Although if we walked very slowly down the stairs we
could do so with eyes closed or concentrating on each step without falling. The trick of running
down stairs (which children master intuitively) is a balanced awareness. We look at the steps in
front of us without concentrating on any one of them. Our unconscious mind then intuitively leads
our feet to each step - even at rapid speed - and ensures we do not fall over.

This concept of letting our unconscious lead us (because the conscious mind is too slow and
limited) permeates the martial arts and creates the quality of "invincibility with no-effort". In
Kyudo, the Japanese Art of Archery, conscious effort would imply the likelihood of error but by
letting the unconscious lead, the archer finds that missing becomes impossible. Chinese and
Japanese martial artists masters use this unconscious no-effort to allow them to defeat several
opponents single handed.

So how is this almost super-human skill achieved? Paradoxically, the martial artist must first train
by focusing his conscious mind on physical techniques in order to open the door to the unconscious.

Practices such as Tai Chi Chuan and Zen-influenced disciplines such as Kyudo, Fudo, (calligraphy),
the tea ceremony and flower arranging are all forms of moving meditation which free the
unconscious mind. The slow and deceptively simple movements of such practices demands a
balanced state of mind which is the essence of the martial arts. This mysterious state of
consciousness can be defined as simply paying great attention to every movement, posture and
gesture. The Tai Chi Chuan form, for example, is rather like walking very slowly down a flight of
stairs being aware of where you are placing your feet. If we suddenly had to run down the stairs we
would intuitively `switch off' conscious attention and our unconscious mind would take over.
Similarly, when we pay attention to the slow and meditative movements during Tai Chi Chuan's
solo form, we can, if attacked, react instantly and our unconscious will lead us beyond mere
technique to invincibility.

Can it really be as simple as that? Yes. But the difficult thing is maintaining the balanced state of
mind needed during moving meditation. Many people have learnt the physical movements of the
Tai Chi Chuan solo form but have been unable to gain the psychological benefits of Tai Chi Chuan
as a meditation. This is because they could not attain this mysterious balanced state of mind. So
why is it so difficult?

While learning Tai Chi Chuan solo form students focused attention on every movement; this means
the conscious mind is totally absorbed in the learning process. But after learning the postures
thoroughly, many students find that something is “missing” - it is as though the spirit of the
postures has been taken away as soon as they are mastered. Where does the spirit go? The
explanation is simple. While learning the movements, the students’ conscious minds are fully
occupied but when the postures are mastered they become so familiar the conscious mind is no
longer needed and becomes `bored'. Then the postures are practised automatically (the body begins
doing one thing while the mind is elsewhere). In this split state the conscious mind wanders idly
searching for things to do; we begin to think about what's for lunch or worry about tomorrow’s
meeting or if we have to go to the dentist. The mind and body are separate and energy is dissipated.

This automatic pilot is sometimes beneficial. For example when driving a car we don't want to think
consciously about each movement when changing gear because we need a broader awareness of
what’s going on around us. But in moving meditation attention to detail is necessary to become
`whole'. The physical movements of Tai Chi Chuan are `dead' until we bring them alive with our
mind. The body is like a train set. Our will (conscious intent) is the electricity and when the current
is switched off the train must stop. So we must become continually attentive to every movement. If
the mind wanders we must stop moving because the intent is lost. Eventually, pauses the form will
became less frequent as the conscious mind becomes used to being fully attentive to the postures
without wandering. Then the form becomes whole again and Tai Chi Chuan is experienced as a
holistic moving meditation; mind and body working together. But there is more to moving
meditation than just mind and body.

The ultimate aim of meditation is the union of body, mind and spirit. The expansion of
consciousness leading to spiritual enlightenment comes from the unconscious mind and in my
opinion moving meditation has a distinct advantage over passive sitting meditation in creating a
conducive environment for this to happen.

Moving meditation V Sitting Meditation

Many people meditate sitting in lotus position trying to empty their minds and expand their
consciousness. In fact this often proves difficult. When our conscious mind is `empty' thoughts and
feelings flow in because a vacuum has to be filled. The sitting meditator has to make conscious
efforts to deal with these intrusions. So by attempting to empty our minds we often achieve the
reverse. On the other hand moving meditation occupies our conscious mind by a simple physical
activity and leaves our unconscious free to work its `wonders'.

Moving meditation has many applications outside the martial arts too. If we are worrying about an
important interview or exam it is better to go to the cinema the night before rather than stay up late
and study or work on what we are going to say. In the cinema our conscious mind will be absorbed
in the sights and sounds of film allowing our unconscious to solve any problems or remember
information that is too complex for our limited conscious mind to grasp. If I have a problem I take a
few moments to focus on it then practice Tai Chi Chuan making sure I am attentive only of my
movements during the form. Some time later - it could be hours or a day or so - I usually have the
answer which has been solved by my unconscious.

But why does moving meditation so often succeed in expanding the consciousness (as many
otherwise down-to earth martial artists will testify) while many sitting meditating nirvana-seekers
are disappointed? The secret is that in giving attention to simple movements the conscious mind is
doing what it does best; working within limitation. One's unconscious is freed and works in parallel
to bring up occasional insights of great profundity and feelings of peace and wholeness where
everything fits in place. Thus, without striving for enlightenment (in fact ignoring the unconscious
completely) we have expansion of consciousness within the limitations of a moving form. The
pragmatic oriental mind discovered with the martial arts and other forma of moving meditation that
a `prison' of form ultimately liberates the spirit whereas the “wide plane” of emptiness produced in
sitting meditation has nothing to focus on so we are drawn to wandering thoughts and emotions.
This is why many sitting meditators are taught to pay attention to their breathing; it creates a `form'
that the conscious mind can focus on.

There is a wonderful poem in Lao Zi’s Tao de Qing for the concept of becoming free within
limitation; `Without going out of the door we can know the World. Without looking out of the
window we can know the way of heaven.'

Relaxation is essential to attain a meditative state. Yet it is an illusive quality; if we `try' to relax we
are reacting only to an intangible word that means nothing if you are tense. The mind needs
practical help on how to relax. Moving meditation solves this problem by being attentive to certain
movements which are essential for relaxation. For example when we are relaxed we tend to lower
our shoulders and breath from our diaphragm - and all forms of oriental moving meditation
constantly pay attention to these small yet important points. So attention to minute detail of the
body's movements and posture creates not just relaxation in a practical way but a powerful sense of
`being here' and not just going through the motions. The difference between searching for
enlightenment and simply living attentively for the moment is exhibited in Tolstoy's War and Peace
when Peter who has been searching many religions and philosophy for peace and happiness only
finds it after almost being executed. In those final moments when he thought he was going to die he
discovered the joy of just existing and did not need to search any more.

The martial arts and moving meditation teach us that when we do anything it must be with our full
attention or it is not worth doing. There are times, of course, when day dreaming and fantasy are
important. But it is equally important to practice an activity we value with respect and full attention.
It must be fresh each time we do it - as though it is the first or last time. Imagine kissing a loved one
in the morning before leaving for work but knowing you will see them that evening (the kiss is so
automatic we almost do not register it). Now imagine kissing them for the last time before they are
taken away from you forever. The kiss would have infinitely more power and meaning. Yaqui
mystic Don Juan told Carlos Castaneda to let every action be like those of a dying man. Similarly,
any moving meditation should be new every time they are performed. To practice them without full
attention or doing them half-heatedly dissipates energy and produces the sensation that there is
`something missing'.

Non-martial artists can practice moving meditation to make otherwise hum-drum activities like
housework more rewarding. Next time, instead of day-dreaming do the chores slowly with full
attention on your movements and thinking of nothing else. You may find yourself a master of a new
art form; “Zen in the art of washing up!.

Copyright © 1998 by Michael Davies